Graduation Requirements

A. Resident Requirement

Satisfactory completion of at least 12 semester units in residence within the San Mateo Community College District colleges.

B. Scholarship Requirement

A 2.0 grade point average is required in all degree applicable coursework taken within the San Mateo Community College District, and all incoming degree applicable coursework taken outside the District. If a student’s cumulative GPA is below 2.0, the college may compute the GPA based solely on the courses used to satisfy degree requirements. 

C. Major Requirement

Associate degrees require a minimum of 18 units in the major. Complete 12 units or 50% of the units required for the major, whichever is fewer, at one or more of the San Mateo County Community College District colleges. A grade point average of 2.0 in the major is required. All classes applied to the major (core and selectives) must receive a grade of “C” or pass or better. Some programs may require courses to be taken for a letter grade only. Please review your program’s specific major requirements for possible exceptions. For additional information on the use of Pass/No Pass classes to satisfy degree requirements, please refer to the Pass/No Pass Grading Option information found in the Grades and Academic Standards section of the catalog.

D. General Education Requirements

General Education is the part of an educational program which introduces students to areas of study that develop breadth of outlook and contribute to balanced development. This general education is complementary to, but different in emphasis from, the specialized education received for a job, a profession, or from focusing on a particular field of study. The purpose of the program in General Education is to assist students in moving toward the following goals:

  • Developing critical and constructive thinking for problem solving and value discrimination.
  • Understanding their relationship to their biological, physical, and cultural environment.
  • Understanding the creative activity of others and participating to some extent in creative activity.
  • Using basic mechanical, mathematical, and communication skills to solve everyday problems, understand ideas of others, and express ideas effectively.
  • Developing a code for personal and civic life as a responsible citizen in a democracy.
  • Maintaining good mental and physical health and social adjustment.
  • Critically examine the social and historical significance of race, ethnicity, identity, and difference in a diverse society.

Students may complete any one of the following patterns to meet the general education requirement for associate degree completion: 

  • Cañada local general education pattern - 25 units minimum
  • California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) – 34 units minimum

E. Exceptions to General Education

Those students who wish to pursue an associate’s degree from Cañada College and have been awarded a Bachelor’s or Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in the US may be exempt from Cañada College’s general education requirements. Students must submit an official transcript from the institution granting the Bachelor’s or Associate's degree to allow for verification of degree completion and completion of all Title 5 minimum requirements for the associate degree as listed under the "Degree Pathways" section of this catalog.