Associate of Arts General Degree

Minimum Competency Standards for Program Admission

Students desiring to enroll in the Associate of Arts degree program must meet or exceed the entrance examination score based on the results of a basic skills assessment test (Accuplacer). Otero College uses multiple measures to direct students into appropriate English, reading and mathematics courses and to advise students in the selection of other courses. Prior to enrollment, all new students must complete an assessment. Please call Student Services at 719-384-6831, for more information regarding course placement.  (This skills assessment and placement applies to both degree or certificate programs).

Graduation Expectations

The Colorado Community College System’s (CCCS) colleges have adopted a set of guidelines to define the conditions under which a student can expect to graduate with an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree in two calendar years. The Academic Advising Center at each individual CCCS community college can provide additional information. The CCCS colleges guarantee that a student will be able to complete all course work necessary to earn an AA or an AS degree from a specific CCCS college in 60 credit hours and in 24 months. Students must satisfy all the conditions described below to be eligible for this guarantee:

1. Enroll at the same community college for at least four consecutive semesters, excluding summer.
2. Register within one week of the beginning of registration for each semester.
3. Have completed all required remedial coursework before beginning the count of two years to degree completion.
4. Enroll in and pass (with a C or better in each course) an average of 15 credit hours in coursework that applies to the AA/AS in each four consecutive semesters.
5. Obtain a recommended plan of study for the AA or AS degree plan of study, signed by the student and community college advisor, prior to registration for the second semester, and according to the requirements of the students’ community college.
6. Follow the signed plan of study.
7. Continue with the same degree (AA or AS) from entrance to graduation.
8. Retain documentation demonstrating that all the above requirements were satisfied. (Advising records, transcripts, etc.).

Associate of Arts – General Education Core

Students who complete an Associate of Arts degree are guaranteed to transfer 60 credit hours of courses required for those degrees to a four-year school, once they have been accepted for admission. Students who follow this plan should be able to finish a Bachelor of Arts degree within another 60 credit hours.

To earn an A.A. degree, a student must complete the specified number of GT Pathways general education courses in Written and Oral communication, Math, Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural and Physical Sciences, to total 37 credits, as listed on the chart on the following page. In addition the student completes 23 credits of transferable electives.

Academic and Related Requirements

A. Earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average from Otero College.
B. Complete a minimum of 15 semester hours at Otero College.
C. Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours as outlined in the above Course Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree.
D. Complete with a grade of “C” or higher all required courses (38/39 semester credit hours) that are to be counted towards the general education core curriculum.
E. Complete the application for graduation form by the end of the first week of spring semester and pay for cap, gown, and diploma by March 1.
F. Be enrolled in Otero College classes for semester of intended graduation.
G. Complete the requirements for graduation in effect at the time of first-time enrollment. (NOTE: Students not enrolled for two semesters are required to complete all degree requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment.)
H. Meet all financial obligations to the College.

Graduation Restrictions

A. May not use Basic Skills courses (those numbered below the general education core curriculum) toward the degree program.
B. May not be granted more than one academic degree in the same semester.
C. May not apply career and technical education courses toward the degree program other than those specified above.

Core requirements = 37 credits Elective requirements = 23 credits

AA Degree Total = 60 credits (100 level or higher)

*Remedial courses, (courses below 100 level) do not count toward graduation requirements

PLEASE NOTE: Some degrees may exceed the typical 60 credit hours required to successfully graduate.