Graduation Requirements

Delta College is committed to general education for our community college students. General education develops basic knowledge, critical thinking skills, and values that influence our behavior and motivate us as lifelong learners. Delta College, along with area employers, transfer institutions, and the greater community, agrees that general education is key to personal and professional success.

Students are prepared for 21st century challenges at the level of an associate degree by successfully completing courses required for their degrees. In doing so, students will meet these general education competencies:

  1. Think Critically: Produce a defensible conclusion or solution using critical or creative thinking.
  2. Communicate Effectively: Communicate effectively in oral, written, or symbolic expression.
  3. Think Civically: Demonstrate an understanding of diverse societies, ranging from local to global, in order to engage effectively in civic life.
  4. Cultivate Wellness: Demonstrate an understanding of wellness principles to promote physical and personal health.
  5. Utilize Technology Effectively: Solve a problem or accomplish a task using technology.
  6. Reason Quantitatively: Use quantitative information or analyze data within context to arrive at meaningful results.

Basic Requirements

  1. Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of “C” (2.0) in the courses required to complete a specific associate degree or certificate.
  2. Fulfill all of the prescribed requirements of the degree or certificate including courses, credit hours, grade, and/or hours of attendance.
    See Transfer, Validation, and Program Overview . (Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward any associate degree or certificate.)
  3. Successfully complete “key courses,” as defined in the program notes, if applicable, within a stated timeframe. If courses are outside of the timeframe, students may need to repeat certain courses, even though a passing grade was previously earned.
  4. File an application for an associate or dual degree and/or certificate with the Registrars Office at least three months before your anticipated graduation date.
  5. Fulfill all financial obligations to Delta College.
  6. The number of “P” (pass) credits applied to a degree or certificate must not exceed 20% of total required credits of the degree or certificate and must not exceed 12 credits.
  7. For certificates, a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of program credits or 24 credits, whichever is less, must be earned at Delta College. Any problematic exceptions to the two-thirds (2/3) or 24 credit requirement will be approved by the Curriculum Council and identified in Transfer, Validation, and Program Overview .
  8. For associate degrees, a minimum of sixty-two (62) credits hours must be earned. A minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours must be Delta College academic credits.

Courses designated by an “H” (for Honors), “C” (for courses that require co-registration in another course), “W” (for Writing), and “SL” (Academic Service Learning,) are considered course variations of a regular course and incorporate the same course content. Course variations are considered equal in meeting graduation requirements and prerequisites. Lab courses designated by an “L” are not considered a course variation.

Continuous Attendance

If your attendance has been continuous in the same program you may, for the purpose of graduation, elect either the program in effect at the time of your first registration at Delta or the program in effect at the time of your application for graduation. Continuous attendance is defined as attending a minimum of one semester during each academic year since your first registration or when you officially declared your program of study. If your attendance has not been continuous, you must follow the program in effect at the time of your readmission to Delta College.

Michigan Transfer Agreement

Completion of requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree or Associate in Fine Arts may fulfill the requirements for the Michigan Transfer Agreement. Please see Transfer and Career Education Articulations for an overview of this agreement.

It is highly recommended that all students consult with a representative of Admissions and/or Counseling/Advising & Career Services regarding transfer plans and course planning to ensure all course sections fulfill articulation and degree plans. It is also recommended that you review and work closely with your intended transfer institution to align all courses taken at Delta College to the general education and program specific requirements for the college or university you wish to attend after Delta College.

Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) Course Distribution Requirements (minimum of 30 credits) must be completed from distribution below. Note: A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) is required in all MTA courses.

English Composition, minimum one (1) course:

Second Course in College Composition or one (1) course from Communication, minimum one (1) course:

Mathematics, minimum one (1) course:

Social Sciences, from two (2) disciplines, minimum two (2) courses required from following:

Humanities & Fine Arts, from two (2) disciplines, minimum two (2) courses:

Natural Sciences, from two (2) disciplines, minimum two (2) courses including one (1) with a laboratory experience.

Natural Sciences Courses that count as a lab science (choose at least one [1]):

Natural Science Courses that do not count as a lab science:

* Note: HIS 111W & HIS 112W , may be included in either Humanities or Social Sciences groups, but may not be counted in both. BIO 230W & SOC 230W may be included in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences, but may not be counted in both. Credit may be earned in PSY 300W or SOC 300W but not both.

Group Requirements for Associate in Arts and Science Degrees

Many students earning the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science transfer successfully to four-year colleges or universities. Completion of the requirements for either the Associate in Arts Degree or the Associate in Science Degree may fulfill the requirements of the MTA articulation agreement. This agreement facilitates transfer of Delta College courses to participating colleges and universities. Information on the MTA Articulation Agreement can be found above and in the Transfer and Career Education Articulations section.

Specific major program requirements and acceptable courses within the group requirement areas differ among transfer colleges and universities. You must complete courses from at least two subject areas listed in each of groups above. “All” includes courses numbered 100-299; courses below 100 are excluded. Courses listed in more than one group may only be counted once.

Associate in Arts (A.A.)

Note: For specific course listings, please see the Associate in Arts Degree for program information.

  1. Fulfill all Basic Requirements.
  2. Successfully complete three (3) credits in College Composition I or an approved equivalent.
  3. Successfully complete three (3) credits in College Composition II or an approved equivalent.
  4. Successfully complete a minimum of eight (8) credits in each of:
    1. Humanities: Communication and one other discipline.
    2. Social Sciences: Foundational Civics and one other discipline.
    3. Science: Complete two Natural Science courses, including one lab science course of at least fifteen contact hours and one approved Mathematics (MTH 116, MTH 118, MTH 120 or higher) course.
    1. Designated Service Learning course across the curriculum (SL will appear after the course designation).
    2. A Social Science Civic Engagement project (1 credit). A faculty member must supervise this project, either as a project tied to a course, or as individualized instruction.

    Note: Students with previously-earned Baccalaureate or higher degrees from regionally accredited colleges and universities are exempt from this policy.

    1. Successfully complete a minimum of two (2) credits of Lifelong Wellness.

    Note: Students can meet the LWA activity course requirements with a current, nationally recognized personal training or group fitness instructor certification or military experience. The LWA requirement can be met with a full season of intercollegiate athletics validated by the Athletic Director. Students with a documented disability may obtain a waiver for the activity course through Disability Resources.

    Associate in Science (A.S.)

    Note: For specific course listings, please see the Associate in Science Degree for program information.

    1. Fulfill all Basic Requirements.
    2. Successfully complete three (3) credits in College Composition I or an approved equivalent.
    3. Successfully complete three (3) credits in College Composition II or an approved equivalent.
    4. Successfully complete a minimum of eight (8) credits in each of Humanities and Social Sciences. Successfully complete a minimum of twenty (20) in Science.
      1. Humanities: Communication and one other discipline.
      2. Social Sciences: Foundational Civics and one other discipline.
      3. Science: Complete two Natural Science courses, including one lab science course of at least fifteen contact hours and one approved Mathematics (MTH 116, MTH 118, MTH 120 or higher) course. The remaining credits can be taken from the Science Electives including Natural Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science classes.
      1. Designated Service Learning course across the curriculum (SL will appear after the courses designation).
      2. A Social Science Civic Engagement project (1 credit) A Faculty member must supervise this project, either as a project tied to a course, or as an individualized instruction.

      Note: Students with a previously earned Baccalaureate, or higher, degrees from regionally accredited colleges and universities are exempt from this policy.

      1. Successfully complete a minimum of (2) two credits of Lifelong Wellness.

      Note: Students can meet the LWA activity course requirements with a current, nationally recognized personal training or group fitness instructor certification or military experience. The LWA requirement can be met with a full season of intercollegiate athletics validated by the Athletic Director. Students with a documented disability may obtain a waiver for the activity course through Disability Resources.

      Associate in Applied Arts (A.A.A.)

      Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

      Associate in Business Studies (A.B.S)

      Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)

      1. Fulfill all Basic Requirements.
      2. Successfuly complete all courses listed in one of the Delta College occupational curricula. See Transfer, Validation, and Program Overview .
      3. Successfully complete six (6) credits in content-area writing courses.

      Note: Students with previously-earned Baccalaureate, or higher, degrees from regionally accredited colleges and universities are exempt from this policy.

      1. Successfully complete two (2) credits of Lifelong Wellness:

      LW — (2 credits), or LW — (1 credit) and any LWA course (1 credit), or LW 206A , LWA 206B and LWA 206C for occupational programs (2 credits) or LWT 210 , LWT 230 , LWT 240 , LWT 242 , LWT 251 (3-4 credits)

      1. Successfully complete an approved course in Foundational Civics:

      Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.)

      This degree will meet your needs if your goal is self-enrichment and you are not following a specific occupational or transfer program. All courses offered for academic credit at Delta College are applicable to this degree as per course descriptions. Because of the limited transferability, or in some cases non-transferability, of this degree, it is strongly suggested that you discuss this option with a counselor/advisor and consider fulfilling the Group Requirements.

      1. Fulfill Basic Requirements Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.
      2. Successfully complete six (6) credits in content-area writing courses.

      Note: Students with previously earned degrees from regionally accredited colleges and universities are exempt from this policy.

      1. Successfully complete an approved course in Foundational Civics.

      Associate Degree Requirements for Subsequent, Concurrent, and Dual Degree(s)

      Associate Degree(s) can be earned concurrently or following other earned degree(s).

      A. Subsequent Associate Degree Requirements

      Students may earn a Delta College associate degree after previously earning an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

      1. Writing, Lifelong Wellness and Foundational Civics graduation requirements will be waived for candidates with a Baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution unless occupational curricula competencies specify otherwise.
      2. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
      3. Satisfactorily complete a planned curriculum in one (1) degree, with the exception of the Associate in General Studies.
      4. Earn a minimum of twenty-four (24) additional semester hours of credit by instruction at Delta College. Accordingly, the minimum number of credits earned must equal the credits required for the first degree plus the 24 additional credits.

      B. Concurrent Degree Requirements

      Students may earn two Delta College associate degrees concurrently. While working on one degree at Delta College, students may complete courses applied to a second associate degree. Therefore, credits earned beyond those needed for the first degree may be applied toward the second degree.

      1. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
      2. Satisfactorily complete a planned curriculum in two (2) degrees, with the exception of the Associate in General Studies.
      3. At least 48 credits must be earned at Delta College: 24 credits to meet the residency requirements of the first degree, and 24 credits to meet the residency requirements of the concurrent degree.

      C. Dual Associate Degree Requirements

      Dual degrees are available for students in several fields. Requirements are generally completed concurrently. The Counseling and Advising Office has a listing of Dual Degrees. Also see Transfer, Validation, and Program Overview , Dual Degrees.

      1. Fulfill all Basic Degree requirements.
      2. Satisfactorily complete all courses listed in one (1) of the Delta College curricula approved for the Dual Degree.
      3. Satisfactorily complete a minimum of an additional twenty-four (24) semester hours as prescribed for the Degree. Accordingly, at least 48 credits must be earned at delta college: 24 credits to meet the residency of the first degree, and 24 additional program credits.