Degrees and Certificates

Degrees

Associate in Arts Degree (AA)

The Associate in Arts degree is awarded to students who complete a general program of liberal arts courses which may be applied to meet baccalaureate degree requirements at a four-year college or to fulfill the general education interests of the student. Students who plan to transfer to other colleges, including the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, should work closely with a counselor to help ensure that courses taken for the AA degree are also applicable at their next campus.

Associate in Science Degree (AS)

The Associate in Science degree is designed to prepare students for employment in career and technical fields, and/or transfer to a baccalaureate granting institution in a science technology, engineering, mathematics, or other articulated baccalaureate-level programs of study.

Certificate Programs

The College offers certificate-level programs within the Associate in Arts degree (Academic Subject Certificate) and certificate-level programs (Certificate of Achievement and Certificate of Competence), which are designed to prepare students for entry-level employment or upgrading of work skills in several vocational fields.

In the vocational area, certificates are offered in Agripharmatech, Information Security, Mental Health Technician, Veterinary Assisting, and Web Support.

In the Associate in Arts degree, most credits completed in certificate-level programs (Academic Subject Certificate) may be applied to meet the Associate in Arts degree program requirements.

Academic Subject Certificates (ASC)

The Academic Subject Certificate is a college credential for students who have successfully completed a specific sequence of credit courses, from the Associate in Arts curriculum. The sequence must fit within the structure of the AA degree, may not extend the credits required for the AA degree, and shall be at least 12 credit hours. The issuance of the Academic Subject Certificate requires that the student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better for all courses required in the certificate.

Professional, Occupational and Technical Certificates

Certificates of Achievement (CA)

The Certificate of Achievement is a college credential for students who have successfully completed designated medium-term technical-occupational-professional education credit course sequences, providing them with entry-level or job upgrading skills. These course sequences shall be at least 24 credits hours but may not exceed 45 credit hours (unless external employment requirements exceed this number). The issuance of a Certificate of Achievement requires that the student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better for all courses required in the certificate.

Certificates of Competence (CO)

The Certificate of Competence is a college credential for students who successfully complete designated short-term credit or noncredit courses, providing them with job upgrading or entry-level skills. The issuance of a Certificate of Competence requires that the student’s work has been evaluated and determined to be satisfactory. Credit course sequences shall be at least four (4) but less than 24 credits. In a credit course sequence, the student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better of all courses required in the certificate.

Noncredit Workforce Training

  • Certified Nurse’s Aide
  • CPR, First Aid and AED
  • Foodservice
  • Ocean Education and Safety
  • Office Worker Pathway