Getting Your Degree At Napa Valley College

An associate degree documents students’ educational achievements and provides them with a foundation for future learning. Since most jobs in the future will require some education beyond high school, the associate degree will make students more competitive in the job market.

Associate Degree (AA/AS) Requirements

To be awarded the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science degrees (AA or AS), students must meet the following requirements:

Unit Requirement – 60 semester units in courses numbered between 90 and 399. Units from other colleges may be used if they are determined acceptable by the Admissions and Records Office. These units must include both completion of major or area of emphasis requirements and general education requirements as specified in this AP and published in the NVC catalog.
Scholarship Requirement -
1. Major or Area of Emphasis: Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better, with a grade of "C" or better in all courses in the major or area of emphasis.
2. Degree-Applicable Courses and General Education: Complete all associate degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in degree-applicable coursework. The GPA is calculated using only the courses applied toward degree requirements, or all degree-applicable courses taken - whichever is more advantageous to the student. General education coursework is included in this calculation.
Note for Transfer-Bound Students: Those pursuing transfer to a four-year institution should be aware that transfer admission requirements including GPA and course grade standards may differ from those required for a local associate degree. Consult a counselor or review the transfer requirements for your intended institution.
Residence Requirement – Completion of 12 semester units at NVC and attendance at NVC during the semester prior to graduation or 30 semester units completed at NVC.

Graduation Requirements

Note: Students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university are exempted from the General Education and Graduation requirements.

1. General Education Requirement

Completion of 18-21 semester units of general education; one course of at least three units in each area.

2. Health, Wellness and Self Devlopment

(Minimum 1 course, total of 3 semester units required)
Exemptions are the following: students majoring in Health Occupations or Veterans with 6 months of service. May be double counted.

Course List
Code	Title	Units
ARTS-100	Survey of Studio Arts	3
ARTH-101	Introduction to Visual Culture	3
BUSI-297	Personal Money Management	3
CDEV-C1000	Child Growth and Development	3
CFS-121	Health, Safety & Nutrition	3
CFS-140	The Child, Family and Community	3
CFS-196	Music and Movement in Early Childhood	3
COMS-101	Computer Information Systems	3
COUN-100	College Success	3
COUN-104	Foundations of Well-being	3
COUN-105	Planning for Transfer Success	1.5
COUN-110	Career/Life Plan	3
COUN-111	Career Decision-Making	1.5
DANS-128A	Salsa and Latin Social Dance I	1-1.5
DANS-128B	Salsa & Latin Social Dance II	1-1.5
DANS-128C	Salsa & Latin Dance Teaching Assistant	1-1.5
DANS-133	Barre Fitness	1-1.5
DANS-136	Jazz Dance I	1-1.5
DANS-136B	Jazz Dance II	1-1.5
DANS-136D	Jazz Dance Teaching Assistant	1-1.5
DANS-137A	Tap Dance 1	1-1.5
DANS-137B	Tap Dance 2	1-1.5
DANS-137C	Tap Dance Teaching Assistant	1-1.5
DANS-138	Modern Dance Level I	1.5
DANS-138B	Modern Dance II	1.5
DANS-138D	Modern Dance Teaching Assistant	1.5
DANS-160	Dance Appreciation	3
DANS-170	Dance History	3
DART-120	Introduction to Digital Art	3
EDUC-100	Teaching as a Profession	3
ENGL-200	Introduction to Creative Writing 1	3
ENGL-203	Poetry Workshop 1	3
ENGL-205	Fiction Workshop	3
HELH-100	Community First Aid & Safety	3
HELH-106	Personal & Community Health	3
KINE-100	Swimming	1.5
KINE-100B	Intermediate Swimming	1.5
KINE-103	Fitness for Life	1.5
KINE-123	Tennis	1.5
KINE-123B	Intermediate Tennis	1.5
KINE-130	Yoga	1.5
KINE-130B	Intermediate Yoga	1.5
KINE-148	Walking for Fitness	1.5
KINE-148B	Intermediate Walking for Fitness	1.5
KINE-151	Weight Training	1.5
KINE-151B	Intermediate Weight Training	1.5
KINE-151C	Olympic Weight Training	1.5
KINE-154	Mat Pilates	1.5
KINE-154B	Intermediate Pilates	1.5
KINE-160	Adaptive Physical Education	1.5
KINE-169	Corrective Physical Education for TA's	1.5
KINE-174	Skills and Conditioning for Team Sports	1-3
KINE-176	Team Sports	1-1.5
KINE-176B	Intermediate Team Sports	1-1.5
KINE-178	Pre-Season Conditioning	1-3
KINE-200	Coaching & Athletic Administration	3
KINE-201	Introduction to Kinesiology	3
KINE-285	Men's Basketball Team	0.5-3
KINE-286	Women's Basketball Team	0.5-3
KINE-287	Baseball Team	3
KINE-290	Golf Team	3
KINE-291	Soccer Team	3
KINE-295	Women's Flag Football Team	3
KINE-297	Women's Volleyball Team	3
LIBR-100	Information & Library Research Skills	1
PHOT-120	Foundations of Photography	3
PSYC-C1000	Introduction to Psychology	3
PSYC-124	Psychology of Adjustment	3

3. Completing a Major

Refer to the Programs of Study section of the catalog for the list of required courses to complete the major. Students should consult with a counselor and their program coordinator to ensure that all requirements for the major are being met. Multiple Associates Degrees: Students can complete the requirements for more than one degree upon graduation, providing that all requirements are met for each academic program.

4. Petition to Graduate

Associate Degrees: All candidates for AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T graduation must schedule a counseling appointment to apply for graduation and must file a petition in the Admissions and Records Office by the ninth week of the semester they wish to graduate. During the summer, students must file during the fifth week if they want to graduate in the summer semester.

Certificates of Achievement: Candidates applying for a Certificate of Achievement must apply for graduation with the program coordinator. Graduation petition deadlines are posted on the Admissions and Records website.

Only eligible students earning a degree or certificate of achievement from the previous summer and fall semester, as well as the current spring semester are eligible to participate in the annual commencement ceremony, which is traditionally held on the second to last Thursday in May. Check the Office of Student Affairs website for more information about commencement.

Associate of Arts Degrees (A.A.)

Associate of Science Degrees (A.S.)

California Community Colleges offer Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) to the California State University (CSU) campuses. These degrees are specifically called the Associate in Arts (AA-T) or Associate in Science (AS-T) degrees. These degrees are designed to provide a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. California Community College students who are awarded an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission with junior standing somewhere in the CSU system and given priority admission consideration to CSU campuses in the admissions process if their desired major is deemed similar to their community college ADT major. This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses.

Effective Fall 2026, Napa Valley College will replace the AS-T in Mathematics and the AS-T in Physics with the Transfer Aligned AS-T degrees in Mathematics 2.0 and Physics 2.0. The Transfer Aligned Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT 2.0) are designed to align with University of California Transfer Pathways and to prepare students for transfer into corresponding majors at participating CSU and UC campuses.

Students who have been awarded an AA-T or AS-T are able to complete their remaining requirements for the 120-unit baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90 quarter units. Only courses numbered 100 or higher can be applied to the AS-T or AA-T degrees. Courses numbered below 100 are applicable for other NVC degrees, but not for the AA-T or AS-T degrees.

Students who began coursework under previous catalog requirements may continue under those requirements in accordance with catalog rights. Students are encouraged to consult with a counselor to determine which degree pathway best supports their transfer and educational goals. To view the most current list of Napa Valley College Associate Degrees for Transfer and to find out which CSU campuses accept each degree, please check the I Can Go To College website. Current and prospective community college students are strongly encouraged to meet with an NVC Counselor to review their options for transfer and to develop a comprehensive educational plan that best meets their goals and needs.

Associate Degree For Transfer (ADT) Requirements

To be awarded the Associate in Arts for Transfer or the Associate in Science for Transfer degrees (AA-T or AS-T), students must meet the following requirements:

Unit Requirement: A student is eligible for graduation with the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 CSU transferable units.
Scholarship Requirement: Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better with a "C" or better in all classes in the major.
Residency Requirement: Completion of at least 12 semester units at Napa Valley College and be in attendance during the semester prior to graduation or have accumulated 30 units of coursework at Napa Valley College.

Graduation Requirements

1. General Education Requirement

Students seeking an Associate in Arts for Transfer or an Associate in Science for Transfer may complete one of two patterns for general education - the California State University General Education (CSU-GE) or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. Students completing the IGETC pattern for transfer to a CSU campus should complete the Oral Communications requirements to meet additional admission criteria. Students completing the IGETC pattern for transfer to a UC campus should have the Language Other Than English (LOTE) Requirement completed.

2. OPTIONAL: CSU GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IN U.S. HISTORY, CONSTITUTION & AMERICAN IDEALS

Not part of Cal-GETC; may be completed prior to transfer

(One course from Group 1 and One course from Group 2; 6 semester or 8 quarter units)
*Note: Courses for this requirement may double count for Area 4.

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Group 1: U.S. History
Select one course from the following;
HIST-150	History of American Women 1600-1900	3
HIST-152	History of American Women Since 1900	3
HIST-C1001	United States History to 1877	3
HIST-C1002	United States History Since 1865	3

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Group 2: Political Science
Select one course from the following;
POLS-C1000	American Government and Politics Of American Government	3

3. OPTIONAL: UC GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH

(Not part of Cal-GETC; may be completed prior to transfer)

Proficiency equivalent to two years of high school study in the same language with a minimum grade of “C” or better.

Alternate ways to meet this requirement (Official High School/College transcript and/or Exam Score must be on file for verification)

College course (must list course and college)
High school course (must list course and college)
Completion by examination (must list name of exam, score and date taken)
1. SAT II : Subject Test in Languages other than English
2. International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination with a score of 5 or higher
3. Language other than English "O" level exam with a grade of A, B, or C
4. Language other than English International "A" level exam with a score of 5, 6, or 7
5. An achievement test administered by a community college, university or other college in a language other than English
Two years of formal schooling at the sixth grade level or higher in an institution where the language of instruction is not English
Faculty member verification of a student's competency

4. Completing a Major

This requirement is satisfied by completing the courses listed as required for the major under various disciplines in the college catalog. Refer to the Programs of Study section of the catalog for the list of required courses to complete the major. Students should consult with a counselor and their program coordinator to ensure that all requirements for the major are being met.

Multiple Associate Degrees: Students can complete the requirements for more than one degree upon graduation, providing that all requirements are met for each academic program.

5. Petition to Graduate

All candidates for AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T graduation must schedule a counseling appointment to apply for graduation and must file a petition in the Admissions and Records Office by the ninth week of the semester they wish to graduate. During the summer, students must file during the fifth week if they want to graduate in the summer semester. Candidates applying for Certificate of Achievement must apply for graduation with the program coordinator. Graduation petition deadlines are posted on the Admissions and Records website (select the Admissions and Records Calendar).

Only eligible students earning a degree or certificate of achievement from the previous summer and fall semester, as well as the current spring semester are eligible to participate in the annual commencement ceremony, which is traditionally held on the second to last Thursday in May. Check the Office of Student Affairs website for more information about commencement.

Associate of Arts Degrees for Transfer (AA-T)

Associate of Science Degrees for Transfer (AS-T)

Certificates of Achievement

Certificates of Achievement must be approved by the Chancellor's Office and must consist of at least 8 units or more of degree-applicable course work. The certificate of achievement is designed to demonstrate that the student has completed coursework and developed capabilities relating to a career or general education. After successful completion of the required courses with a "C" or better, students must complete the petition form with their respective program coordinator. Once complete, certificates of achievement will appear on a student's transcript.

Requirements:

Complete major courses (with a grade of "C" or better, unless otherwise specified) as outlined in the catalog for a program approved as a Certificate of Achievement. Work with your Program Coordinator to certify that all requirements are met.
Complete the petition form (Program Coordinator's signature is required) on the Admissions and Records website by the deadline and submit to the Office of Admissions and Records, North Lobby of Building 1300-Student Services Building. Petitions received after the deadline will be processed the following semester.

Local and Skills Certificates

Skills Certificates and Local Certificates are not transcriptable, but usually give students a specific skillset or are achieved while working towards a degree. After successful completion of the required courses with a "C" or better, students must complete the petition form with their respective program coordinator to receive their local or skills certificate.

Requirements

Complete major courses (with a grade of "C" or better, unless otherwise specified) as outlined in the catalog for a program approved as a Local or Skills Certificate. Work with your Program Coordinator to certify that all requirements are met.
Complete the petition form (Program Coordinator's signature is required) on the Admissions and Records website, and submit this form to the Office of Academic Affairs, Room 1532- Building 1500 Administration Building.