Degree candidates at Cuyahoga Community College must be in good standing. An Associate of Arts degree will be granted to the student completing the following requirements:

Comprehensive Graduation Requirements

The Associate of Arts degree prepares students to continue their education at the bachelor’s degree level. When selecting courses for this degree, students should select courses according to the requirements of their intended transfer destination school and major; Undecided students may use the state-approved Transfer Module as a general guide for transferability.

The following degree requirements are intended to help ensure that students with an Associate of Arts degree have completed the first two years of a baccalaureate degree.

  1. The satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours at the 1000-level or higher.  No more than 3 credits of the 60 credits can be completed in Physical Education.
  2. The achievement of a minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 for all courses attempted at Cuyahoga Community College (with exceptions as provided under College policies for repeating a course, Grade Forgiveness and Fresh Start).
  3. The completion of a minimum of 12 credits of advanced coursework (exclusive 1800-level special topics and independent study/research courses) of the 60 semester credits. Advanced coursework is defined as follows: 2000-level courses, MATH-1400 level and above, BIO-1500 level and above, CHEM-1300 level and above, and PHYS-1200 level and above.
  4. The completion of no fewer than 20 of the required 60 semester hours at the 1000 level or higher while in attendance at Cuyahoga Community College.
  5. Special Topics, Independent Study/Research, and Cooperative Education courses may be applied to the general education and elective graduation requirements unless otherwise noted.

First Year Experience

All new, credit-earning students are required to satisfactorily complete the GEN-1070 First Year Experience course.  Students are expected to take the First Year Experience course during their first semester of enrollment.  Returning, Transfer, and current College Credit Plus Students are not required to take GEN-1070

Upon recommendation from a counselor, GEN-1022 Strategies for Success or GEN-1040 Career Exploration may be taken in place of GEN-1070 First Year Success Seminar.  Learn more about the First Year Experience.

General Education Requirements

Each of the College’s degree programs require that students complete a set amount of courses in the areas of general education which include: Communication, Mathematics and Data Analysis, Natural and Physical Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students completing the general education requirements, along with the specific program requirements for a degree will have achieved the College’s general education outcomes.

Communication (9 semester credits)

The communication skills of reading analytically, writing fluently, listening critically, and speaking articulately are essential. Students must complete the following to meet this requirement:

Mathematics and Data Analysis (3 semester credits)

The ability to integrate numerical, symbolical, and spatial methods for scientific inquiry into the physical, natural, or social and behavioral sciences is essential. Students must complete the following to meet this requirement:

Natural and Physical Sciences (6 semester credits)

The ability to undertake scientific inquiry in the physical and biological sciences is essential for students seeking an Associate of Arts degree. Students must complete the following to meet this requirement:

Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 semester credits)

The opportunity to obtain a broader knowledge of the Social and Behavioral Sciences in order to understand, analyze, and describe aspects of human behavior from diverse political, social, historical, and cultural perspectives is an important part of a liberal arts education. Students must complete the following to meet this requirement:

Arts and Humanities (9 semester credits)

The appreciation of the achievements of the Arts and Humanities provides the ability to integrate learning within a complex global perspective; to gain an awareness of and respect for different cultures; and to integrate ethical decision making in dealing responsibly with personal, family, and community issues. Students must complete the following to meet this requirement: 

  • Nine (9) semester credits selected from the following courses, must be selected from two disciplines. 
    Art
    ART-1010Art Appreciation3
    ART-1040Survey of Non-Western Art3
    ART-2020Art History Survey: Prehistoric to Renaissance3
    ART-2030Art History Survey: Late Renaissance to Present3
    Dance
    DANC-1100Dance Appreciation3
    English 2000-level literature courses
    ENG-2310American Literature I3
    ENG-2320American Literature II3
    ENG-2350British Literature I3
    ENG-2360British Literature II3
    ENG-2410Introduction to Literature: Poetry3
    ENG-2420Introduction to Literature: Fiction3
    ENG-2430Introduction to Literature: Drama3
    ENG-2510African-American Literature I3
    ENG-2520African-American Literature II3
    ENG-2601Literature for Children and Adolescents3
    ENG-2700World Literature3
    ENG-2710Shakespeare3
    ENG-2720Survey of Biblical Literature3
    ENG-2730Exploration of World Mythology3
    ENG-2770Rhetorics of Gaming: Introduction to Video Game Analysis3
    History
    HIST-2031Islam to the Modern Middle East3
    Humanities
    HUM-1010Introduction to Humanities3
    HUM-1020The Individual in Society3
    HUM-102HHonors Individual in Society3
    HUM-1030The Individual in Cosmos3
    HUM-2020Community Engagement Through the Humanities3
    Media and Journalism Studies
    MJS-1310Film Appreciation3
    Music
    MUS-1010Survey of European Classical Music3
    MUS-1020Survey of Jazz3
    MUS-1030Survey of Rock and Roll3
    MUS-1040Survey of African-American Music3
    MUS-1050Survey of World Music3
    MUS-2520Jazz History I2
    Philosophy
    PHIL-1000Critical Thinking3
    PHIL-1010Introduction to Philosophy3
    PHIL-101HHonors Introduction to Philosophy3
    PHIL-1020Introduction to Logic3
    PHIL-2010Comparative World Religion3
    PHIL-2020Ethics3
    PHIL-2031Philosophy of Science3
    PHIL-2040Philosophy of Art3
    PHIL-2050Bioethics3
    PHIL-205HHonors Bioethics3
    PHIL-2060Business Ethics3
    PHIL-208HHonors Social Justice3
    Religious Studies
    REL-1010Introduction to Religious Studies3
    REL-2010Religious Traditions of Western Christianity3
    REL-2060African-American Religious Experience3
    Theatre Arts
    THEA-1010Theatre Appreciation3
    THEA-1100Survey and Appreciation of American Musical Theatre3
    THEA-2210History of Theatre and Drama I3
    THEA-2220History of Theatre & Drama II3

Elective Graduation Requirements (24 Semester credits)

The remaining semester credit hours needed to complete the required minimum total of sixty (60) semester credits may be chosen from 1000-level courses and above, exclusive of developmental coursework. Courses taken for general education requirements cannot count toward fulfilling elective graduation requirements. Students wishing to maximize the use of credits toward a bachelor’s degree should select electives according to the requirements of their intended transfer destination school or major. The state-approved Transfer Module provides a general guide for transferability.

Cross-listed Courses

Cross-listed courses are identical courses offered in two or more subject areas. They differ only in subject area code and course number. Credit may be earned once for cross-listed courses.