Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
A Baccalaureate degree is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a minimum of 120 semester units, including:
- Completion of the academic path with a grade of C or higher in each course (Title 5 §55063);
- Completion of at least 50% of academic path units at Santa Monica College; Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis;
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU GE or IGETC;
- Completion of nine (9) semester units of upperdivision general education coursework with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher. Only three (3) of the nine (9) units may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (Title 5 §55063).
Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) Requirements
The Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) is designed to facilitate transfer admission to a CSU campus in a similar major as a student has pursued at Santa Monica College. A current list of schools and the degrees they deem to be similar to majors they offer can be found at smc.edu/adt.
Students considering transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state school should consult a counselor regarding that institution’s transfer requirements.
An Associate Degree for Transfer is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) in all CSU-transferable coursework and a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units, including:
- Completion of the academic path with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063);
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU GE or IGETC. (Please note: Students transferring to CSU must complete IGETC Area 1C.);
- Completion of a minimum of 12 semester units of degree-applicable coursework at Santa Monica College.
Students interested in earning an Associate Degree for Transfer should consult with a counselor before enrolling for classes at SMC. Additionally, while a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) is required for admission, some majors and campuses may require a higher GPA. Please consult with a counselor for details.
Associate Degree (AA/AS) Requirements
An Associate degree is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units, including:
- Completion of the academic path with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063);
- Completion of at least 50% of academic path units at Santa Monica College; Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis;
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: SMC GE, CSU GE, or IGETC;
- Completion of the SMC Global Citizenship graduation requirement.
Certificate Of Achievement Requirements
A Certificate of Achievement is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a designated minimum number of units.
- At least 50% of the units required for a Certificate of Achievement must be completed at Santa Monica College. Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis; (Exception: For IGETC/CSU GE Certificates, 50% of the units required for Certificates of Achievement must be completed at any combination of California Community Colleges.
- Students must receive a grade of C or higher in each course to successfully complete a Certificate of Achievement. (Exception: For CSU GE Certificates of Achievement, a minimum grade of D- (0.7 on a 4.0 scale) is required for each course, except for Area A and B4, which must be completed with a C or higher. The minimum overall grade point average (GPA) on the CSU GE pattern must be a C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale).
- Students must complete each course of the academic or career path with a grade of C or higher, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063).
Department Certificate Requirements
A Department Certificate is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a designated minimum number of units, including:
- Completion of the academic or career path with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063);
- Completion of at least 50% of academic or career path units at Santa Monica College. Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis.
Note: Department Certificates are not noted on student transcripts. Students must submit a petition to the relevant academic department to be awarded a Department Certificate.
Noncredit Certificate Requirements
SMC offers two types of certificates for noncredit programs of study:
- A Certificate of Completion (Noncredit) is granted upon successful completion of the coursework required for a program of study that prepares students to enter or advance in the workforce, and
- A Certificate of Competency (Noncredit) is granted upon successful completion of the coursework required for competency-based programs such as ESL.
Students in noncredit courses receive progress indicators — P for Pass, SP for Satisfactory Progress, and NP for No Pass — for the courses they complete.
Certificates of Completion (Noncredit) and Certificates of Competency (Noncredit) are NOT intended as a substitute for any credit certificate or Associate degree.