Our academic programs enable you to transfer to baccalaureate degree colleges and universities, or prepare you to enter a variety of career fields.  Several programs serve both purposes, depending on the elective courses you take. We offer associate degree programs, which require at least 60 credits of coursework, and certificate programs, which require up to 42 credits of coursework.

Associate of Arts programs consist of a broad range of general studies in the humanities, behavioral sciences, business, natural sciences, mathematics and technology with program options to focus on more specialized fields of interest. These options lead to the associate of arts degree and transfer status as a junior at many four-year colleges and universities. Many professions, including law, medicine, economics, education, and human services require a strong liberal arts background. Our programs are designed to provide a strong foundation in liberal studies that will enable you to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs at other institutions.

Our career degree programs consist of specialized education, which many include studies in the humanities, behavioral sciences, business, natural sciences, mathematics and technology, in addition to studies in specific career fields. Career degree programs lead to the associate of science degree.  We have designed these programs to prepare you for employment in a variety of career areas, as well as to enable you in many cases to transfer to baccalaureate degree programs at other institutions. Most career programs require some elective coursework in liberal arts. We encourage you to work with your advisor and our Transfer Office in selecting appropriate courses for your career and educational goals.

Certificate programs consist of specialized education in specific career fields, without the general education coursework required for a degree. We have designed our certificate programs to prepare you for early employment and/or to improve your specific job skills. You must complete at least 15 credits or two-thirds of the credit hours required for a certificate program (whichever is less) at GCC. In most cases, the courses required to complete a certificate may be used to fulfill requirements for an associate degree in the same field, If you complete the requirements for both the certificate and the degree simultaneously, you will receive only the associate degree.  Due to the sequence in which the certificate course requirements are offered, completion of these programs within the normal time frame is not always possible if you begin in your studies in January.