Degree and Certificate Graduation Requirements
Statement of General Education
A commitment to excellence in higher education for the community it serves is a core value of West Shore Community College. The College recognizes the importance of high quality, learning-centered, education and training opportunities, which will result in meaningful roles for the student in life, work, and society. Basic to these roles is the student’s ability to be productive through the acquisition of appropriate skills and to be adaptable in a changing, complex society.
As such, the College will create a general education program that conforms to accreditation guidelines and is designed to provide students with a broad yet integrated and coherent introduction to the skills, knowledge, and insights that are the foundation of a college education, the basis for career development, and the motivation for lifelong learning. Within this framework, and across programs and disciplines, the intent is to cultivate in each student the ability to communicate clearly, think critically and creatively, behave professionally and ethically, and adapt to our changing, complex, multicultural, and global world. The College will maintain a current listing of general education requirements for the associate degree and certificates and make them publically available to students and the community.
Further, the College recognizes the dignity, importance and uniqueness of each student, and therefore endeavors to provide the necessary opportunities for students to achieve social and personal goals. To this end, the College strives to create an environment conducive not only to intellectual growth but also to offer cultural and social experiences that contribute to the development of an educated individual.
Associate Degree (AA, AS, AAAS, and AGS) Requirements
Students should familiarize themselves with degree and graduation requirements more fully outlined in WSCC’s Catalog, available online at www.westshore.edu. Briefly, these include the following:
- Students must complete at least 60 passing credits in courses numbered 100 or higher.
- No more than 12 credits can be earned through AP or CLEP.
- A minimum of 15 credits with an overall grade point average of a 2.0 or higher (or the equivalent in a Pass/Fail sequence) must be completed at WSCC or through the MCO.
- NOTE: Nursing and Criminal Justice have different requirements. Students should see student manuals for graduation requirements for these programs.
Occupational Competency
In order to receive an Associate’s degree in an occupational program at West Shore Community College, students must take any required exams, such as NOCTI, NCLEX, MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate) and MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) appropriate to specific fields. These occupational competency tests are designed to measure student gains as a result of training at the postsecondary level at WSCC.
*Diplomas will not be distributed to students who have unpaid financial obligations to the College.
One and Two Year Certificates
West Shore Community College offers one- and two-year certificates in a number of occupational areas. Certificates prepare students to enter employment in a variety of fields. Most can be completed in one year. In addition, most certificates at WSCC are in part or in whole the first year of an associate’s degree. Requirements for certificates include:
- Courses may be taken through Michigan Colleges Online (MCO).
- A minimum of 10 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater (or the equivalent in a Pass/Fail sequence) must be taken at WSCC or through the MCO.
Developmental Courses
Credits earned from developmental courses, which are numbered 099 or below, are not applicable to graduation requirements nor are final grades used in the calculation of grade point averages.
Applying for Graduation
- Students must submit an Application for Graduation in order to graduate.
- Students should apply for graduation once registered for the final semester of the program. This will confirm they have completed all requirements and are ready for graduation at the end of the semester and will allow for any needed schedule changes. The graduation application deadline is no later than the second Friday of the semester in which they intend to graduate.
- In order to receive a diploma or request official transcripts, all outstanding balances must be paid in full.
Commencement
A commencement ceremony is held once each year at the conclusion of the winter semester, typically at the end of April or beginning of May. Students who have graduated after the Fall semester or who will graduate after Winter or Summer are invited to participate.
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