Associate Degree
Orange Coast College awards the Associate Degree to students who have met all the requirements for graduation. OCC offers the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science Degrees. Check with your counselor to determine which degree you should complete and to obtain a grad check to attach to your graduation petition. The Associate Degree is not automatically awarded. A petition must be filed in the Watson Hall Enrollment Center Student Records window at the beginning of the semester in which the student completes the final requirements. Forms are also available online.
Petitioning periods for the Associate Degree are:
Summer - June 1 through July 15
Fall - August 15 through October 15
Spring - December 1 through March 15
Certificate Awards
Orange Coast College offers two types of certificate awards in career programs designed to prepare the graduate to enter a particular field of employment.
1. Certificate of Achievement: Requires 18 or more units in an approved program. Certificates of Achievement are not automatically awarded. A petition must be filed in the Records Office at the beginning of the semester in which the student will be completing his or her final requirements. Forms are also available online. Petitioning periods are listed below.
2. Certificate of Specialization: Approved programs of less than 18 units. Certificates of Specialization are not awarded automatically. Petitions are submitted to the Division Office of each specific program. The procedures for each division will vary (please call for details.) Most Division Offices prefer that students complete all of the required courses and then provide a copy of the transcript. Some divisions will allow applications for Certificates of Specialization prior to finishing. Certificates of Specialization are not printed on official academic transcripts.
Petitioning periods for Certificates of Achievement are:
Summer - June 1 through July 15
Fall- August 15 through October 15
Spring- December 1 through March 15
• A list of career programs and requirements can be found in the Career and Certificate Program Section of this catalog. Check with a counselor to determine the requirements for completion.
Waiver of Associate Degree and/or Certificate Requirements
Students wishing to substitute or waive courses which satisfy the Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement requirements must see a counselor and petition the Academic Petition Council. Counselors are located on the third floor of Watson Hall.
Course Auditing
In accordance with the California Education Code Section 76370 and district policy, students may audit courses specifically designated by the college as eligible for audit (primarily certain dance/musical/theatrical performance or physical education laboratory courses). Students who audit classes will be expected to participate in all class activities as required by the instructor. No credit is awarded. Further information can be obtained in the Division Deans’ Offices or in the Office of the Administrative Dean of Enrollment Services.
Academic Standards
Standards of academic excellence are cornerstones of learning institutions and therefore, should be maintained and promoted. It is the responsibility of all members of the college community to be familiar with ways to promote the highest standards of academic performance. The following guidelines are designed to clarify and facilitate attitudes and behavior consistent with standards of academic excellence.
Attendance
Please note that students who miss the first meeting of a class or who have too many absences MAY be dropped by the instructor at any time during the semester until the final deadline for withdrawal. However, it is the responsibility of the student to withdraw in order to meet all fee and withdrawal deadlines and to avoid grade penalties.
Absences
Instructors may allow absences for reasons of illness, emergencies, or college-sponsored activities including field trips, athletic events, speech tournaments, or other co-curricular activities. Those student activities should be scheduled to minimize absences from regularly scheduled classes. Instructors are responsible for sending Co-curricular Participation Lists to the office of the Dean of Students. Students, also, should inform instructors of upcoming co-curricular activities and ask for ways of making up the absences.
Absence/Make-up Activities
Instructors may require make-up activities equivalent to the lessons missed through absence. What constitutes an excused absence and any required make-up activities, should be stated clearly, preferably in writing, by the instructor at the start of the course.
It is recommended that a student not be absent more than the number of course units in order to maintain a passing course grade/credit. That is, one hour of absence for each unit of class. State law requires an accurate attendance record in order for the college to receive funding.
Working Students
Working students should remember that taking 15 units of college coursework requires about the same amount of time as working 40 hours a week; therefore, full-time students should work no more than 20 hours a week. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office or call (714) 432-5165 to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. No student should expect any instructor to lower course standards to accommodate them for not doing required coursework due to work employment.
Academic Honors
President’s List
Students are eligible for the President’s List after completing a semester of at least 12 units in courses awarding letter grades and a GPA of 4.0. A letter recognizing this achievement will be sent to the student. Your official transcript will show that you are on the President’s List. For additional information, please contact the President’s Office in the Administration Building.
Dean’s List
Students are eligible to be included on the Dean’s List after completing a semester of at least 12 units in courses awarding letter grades and in which a GPA of 3.50 to 3.99 is earned. To request a letter recognizing this achievement or obtain additional information, please contact the Office of Instruction in the Administration Building. Your official transcript will show that you are on the Dean’s List.
Honors List
Students are eligible to be included on the Honors List after completing a semester of 6.0 to 11.9 units in courses awarding letter grades and in which a GPA of 3.75 to 4.0 is earned. To request a letter recognizing this achievement or obtain additional information, please contact the Office of Instruction in the Administration Building. Your official transcript will show that you are on the Honors List.
Honors Program
The Orange Coast College Honors Program is designed to provide an enriched collegiate experience for highly motivated students. A major objective is to prepare students for transfer; however, the goals transcend this aim. The program celebrates the collaborative effort of students and instructors in environments that promote student initiative, knowledge, curiosity about the world of ideas, and concern for current social issues.
Honors Program benefits include: close interaction with highly motivated instructors and students, and access to special activities, privileges and scholarships. In addition, students who fulfill program completion requirements qualify for guaranteed priority consideration for transfer admission to several four-year institutions and honors designation on transcripts. Among the requirements: a minimum 3.25 GPA in all transferable coursework, with at least eighteen units of honors credit from three different campus departments.
OCC honors courses are challenging, offering more intensive study than is possible in most non-honors sections and stressing freedom of inquiry and student discovery. OCC honors courses are open to all students, whether or not they are enrolled in the Honors Program itself. In addition, there are no prerequisites for honors sections other than those that apply to non-honors sections of the same course.
Admission into the Honors Program is not automatic; all students must complete an application, and it is possible to apply prior to taking any honors courses. Because past performance does not always indicate future potential, we encourage students who do not currently meet admission requirements to work toward becoming Honors Program students by improving their GPA’s in honors and non-honors course sections.
Please visit the honors program website
(occhonors.org) or call (714-432-5601) for more information.
Alpha Gamma Sigma
Alpha Gamma Sigma is the California Community College Honor Society. It is an extension of the California Scholarship Federation at the secondary school level. Alpha Gamma Sigma was established in 1922. The Orange Coast Chapter is Alpha Kappa. The requirements for membership in this Chapter are:
Initial Membership
• Not previously a member of AGS
• Minimum cumulative and qualification semester GPAs of 3.50
• No grade lower than “C” (all D’s, F’s, NP’s lined out)
• Completion of 12 semester units in a maximum of 3 semesters for which letter grades were awarded (Units acquired more than two years prior to application will not be used prohibitively)
Continuing Membership
• Previously granted AGS membership
• Minimum cumulative and qualifying semester GPAs of 3.50
• Completion of at least 6 units in the qualification semester for which letter grades were awarded
• No grade lower than “C” since Initial Membership (all D’s, F’s, NP’s lined out)
• No more than two semesters between membership renewals
Permanent Membership
• Previously granted Initial Membership AND Continuing Membership (must have been a member for at least two semesters with no more than a two semester gap between membership renewals)
• Minimum cumulative and qualifying semester GPAs of 3.50
• Completion of a minimum of 60 units, at least 30 of which have been earned at OCC (units from other colleges will be considered upon review); a maximum of 6 units may have received P instead of a letter grade
• No grade lower than “C” since Initial Membership (all D’s, F’s, NP’s lined out)
Membership is not automatic. Students will be invited to join following the end of each semester, or may request an application if they feel they meet all the qualification criteria. Applications are submitted to the Academic Honors Office with appropriate dues.
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a national mathematics honorary society for community college students. The Orange Coast College chapter was established in 1971. If the student has earned a grade of “A” or “B” in Math A154 or a higher-level math course (except Math A160 or Math A220), completed at least 12 units for credit at OCC, and has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25, he or she will be invited to join. Membership is not automatic. The student will be notified of eligibility each year and must apply for membership and pay dues. For information, contact the Math and Science Division Office.
Phi Alpha Mu
Phi Alpha Mu was created in 1957 by the OCC social and behavioral science faculty. It grew from a desire to recognize, honor and encourage outstanding student achievement in OCC social and behavioral science courses. To achieve Phi Alpha Mu recognition and honor, a freshman student must have completed at least 12 units with a 3.50 grade point average in OCC social and behavioral science courses – American Studies, anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, geography, history, humanities, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies or sociology. If you meet these requirements and your Orange Coast College overall grade point average is at least 3.0, you are eligible to join Phi Alpha Mu, the social science honorary society. Pick up an application in the Social Science Division office in the Forum Building.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the only internationally acclaimed academic honor society serving two-year institutions. The American Association of Community Colleges recognizes Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges. The Orange Coast College Chapter is Beta Mu Alpha.
You may be eligible for membership if you meet the following minimum requirements:
• Twelve (12) semester units of associate degree level coursework.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.50
After acceptance, members must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or above.
Membership is not automatic. Students will be invited to join following the end of each semester, or may request an application if they feel they meet all the qualification criteria. Applications are submitted to the Academic Honors Office with one-time dues (currently $65.00). Acceptance enrolls the student in PTK international, regional and local chapters.
Psi Beta
Psi Beta is the national honor society in Psychology for Community and Junior Colleges.
The purpose of the society is to stimulate, encourage and recognize students’ outstanding scholarship and interest in psychology.
Psi Beta offers the experience of leadership, interaction with faculty outside the classroom, participation in community service, and meeting others with the same interests. It offers the opportunity to participate in national, regional and local programs.
Students must have completed at least 12 semester hours, 3 of which must be in psychology. The student’s overall GPA must be 3.0 or better; plus “B” or better grade must be received in psychology classes.
There is a one-time national registration fee of $50, which includes a certificate and lapel pin.
Academic Renewal Policy and Procedures
This Academic Renewal Policy for Coast Community College District is issued pursuant to Sections 55764 and 55765 of the California Administrative Code (Title 5) regulations. The purpose of this policy is to disregard past substandard academic performance of students when such work is not reflective of their current demonstrated ability. It is based on the recognition that due to unusual circumstances, or circumstances beyond the students’ control, the past substandard work will negatively affect their academic standing and unnecessarily prolong the rate at which they complete their current objectives.
If specific conditions are met, Coast Community College District colleges may disregard from all consideration associated with the computation of a student’s cumulative GPA up to a maximum of thirty (30) semester units of course work from a maximum of two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters taken at the Coast Community College District or taken at any college (for OCC AA degree graduation (GPA) purposes only). These conditions are:
1. The GPA of the coursework to be disregarded is less than 2.0.
2. A minimum of 12 semester units has been completed at any regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 2.0 in all coursework subsequent to the coursework to be disregarded.
3. At least 12 months have elapsed since the most recent coursework to be disregarded.
4. All coursework shall be disregarded except those courses needed as a prerequisite or to satisfy a requirement in the student’s redirected educational objective.
5. Credit for courses from other colleges or universities can be disregarded in order to meet the grade point average requirements for OCC AA degree graduation.
NOTE: It is important to understand that ALL COURSEWORK WILL REMAIN LEGIBLE on the student’s permanent record (transcript), ensuring a true and complete academic history. However, students’ permanent records will be annotated so that it is readily evident to all users of the records that the units are to be disregarded. This notation will be made at the time that the academic renewal has been approved by the appropriate college office.
Students may re-enroll only in courses in which substandard grades were earned (D, F or NP).
Students who have earned a satisfactory grade (A, B, C, or P) in a course taken during the semester of academic renewal are not permitted to re-enroll in that course.
If another accredited college has acted to remove previous coursework from consideration in computing the GPA, such action shall be honored in terms of its policy. However, such units disregarded shall be deducted from the 30 semester units maximum of coursework eligible to be disregarded at a Coast Community College District college.
Interpretation of the academic renewal procedure is the responsibility of the appropriate college official who may, for compelling reasons, make exceptions to the stated conditions provided the requirements of Title 5 (sections 55764 and 55765) are observed. All receiving schools may not accept our Academic Renewal Policy.
Procedures
1. Students requesting removal of previous coursework for certificate or degree consideration shall make an appointment to meet with a counselor for academic renewal. The petition shall indicate the semester(s) for coursework to be disregarded, and shall include evidence verifying the expiration of at least 12 months since the end of the last semester containing courses to be disregarded, and the subsequent completion of a minimum of 12 units with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
2. The Dean of Counseling, or his or her designee, upon verification of the conditions set forth in the policy statement, shall act to approve the petition and make the proper annotation on the student’s permanent record.
Interpretation of the academic renewal policy is the responsibility of the Dean of Counseling who may, for compelling reasons, make exceptions to the stated conditions provided the requirements of Title 5 (Sections 55764 and 55765) are observed.
Probation and Disqualification Policy
Probation
A student in the Coast Community College District shall be placed on probation whenever one of the two conditions listed below are met.
1. Academic Probation
The student has attempted at least 12
semester units at a district college and
a. has a grade point average of less than 2.0 in the most recent semester completed, or
b. has a cumulative grade point average of less than 2.0 in all units attempted.
2. Progress Probation
The student has attempted at least 12 semester units at a district college and the percentage of units in which the student has been enrolled for which entries of “W”, “I”, and “NP” are recorded reaches or exceeds 50 percent.
A student on probation from one district college shall be on probation at all three district colleges. All probationary students shall be notified of their status and provided with an opportunity for counseling services. (Title 5, Sections 55754, 55755)
Disqualification
A student in the Coast Community College District who is on academic or progress probation shall be disqualified whenever one of the two conditions listed below are met:
1. Academic Disqualification
Any student on academic probation for two consecutive semesters shall be academically disqualified. However, any student on academic probation whose most recent semester grade point average equals or exceeds 2.0 or whose cumulative grade point average equals or exceeds 2.0 shall not be disqualified but shall be continued on academic probation.
2. Progress Disqualification
Any student who is on progress probation for two consecutive semesters shall be disqualified for lack of satisfactory progress. However, any student on progress probation whose most recent semester demonstrated that fewer than 50 percent of his/her units were “W”, “I”, and “NP” shall not be disqualified but shall be continued on progress probation.
Appeal for reinstatement: When notified of disqualification, a student will be informed about appeal procedures, through the Counseling Division office.
Any student disqualified from a college within the Coast Community College District may be dismissed for a minimum of one semester. A student dismissed from one district college shall not attend another district college during the semester of disqualification. (Title 5, Section 55756)
Middle College High School
Orange Coast College’s Middle College High School provides a challenging environment on OCC’s campus for high school juniors and seniors. The school is a unique collaboration between Orange Coast College and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
Middle College High School provides high school juniors and seniors with a supportive and academically challenging atmosphere. It is designed specifically for students who, for a variety of reasons, may not be performing up to their full academic potential in a traditional high school setting. Classes are small, and individual attention is emphasized. High school classes are conducted from 7:35 a.m. - 2 p.m.
MCHS is a unique, full-time high school; students must enroll in five high school classes and one or two college courses (exceptions only with administrative approval). Students must live in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach, be in 11th or 12th grade and near grade level in credits.
Because students have access to a host of Orange Coast College resources, many will graduate from the program at the end of their senior year with a substantial number of college units to their credit. Those units will apply at OCC, or will transfer directly to another college or university.
For more information, please phone the Middle College High School Counseling Office at (714) 432-5732.