What degrees does Centralia College offer?

Centralia College's degree programs are compatible with most four-year colleges in Washington. Generally, after you earn an associate degree, you will be in a position to transfer as an incoming junior to most four-year colleges in the state.

Degree Options

The Associate in Arts degree represents the broad knowledge generally acquired in the first two years of a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. When you have earned the AA, you may transfer to a baccalaureate institution within the state of Washington with assurance that you have satisfied all or most of the basic requirements (General University Requirements/Distribution Requirements). This means, generally, that AA transfer students can begin work on their specialized, major-area course work as soon as they transfer.

Degree Requirements 

To qualify for an Associate in Arts degree, you must complete a minimum of 90 credits in courses numbered 100 or above, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 ("C" average).

The 90 credits must include the following:

Basic Skills - 15 credits

Communication Skills - 10 credits

ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102, ENGL& 235 

Quantitative Skills - 5 credits

Any quantitative reasoning course in math or philosophy for which Algebra II (Intermediate Algebra) is a prerequisite

Humanities - 15 credits

Select from at least three of the disciplines listed on the distribution list. No more than 5 credits in foreign language at the 100 level may apply.

Social Sciences - 15 credits

Select from at least three disciplines on the distribution list.

Natural Sciences - 15 credits

Select from at least two disciplines on the distribution list. Include at least one laboratory course.

Health and Fitness - 3 credits

Selected from either discipline listed on the distribution list.

Diversity - 3 credits

A 3- to 5-credit course listed as a Diversity (D) course. Diversity courses carrying another distribution designation can be counted toward both distribution requirements.

Academic Electives - 27 credits

A minimum of 27 elective credits are required. Elective courses may be selected to satisfy major emphasis requirements (see program summaries section), or to satisfy department requirements of the college/university you have chosen for transfer. If desired, you may include up to a maximum of 12 credits from courses numbered 100 and above that are not included on the ICRC approved electives list. A maximum of three (3) PE credits may be included in the AA degree.

Reviewed 2018

The Associate in Science degree represents attainments generally required by four-year colleges and universities for pre-professional programs in scientific disciplines. The need for early concentration on coursework in the chosen scientific major diminishes the general educational experience demonstrated by the Associate in Arts degree. By working with an advisor in the completion of one of the two Associate in Science tracks, you can transfer to one of the Washington state baccalaureate institutions with reasonable assurance that you have completed all or most of the prerequisite courses for the targeted science major.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 credits is required for the degree.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 ("C" average) is required for the degree.

Students completing this Associate in Science will receive the same priority consideration for admission to most Washington state baccalaureate institutions as they would for completing the direct transfer associate in arts degree and will be given junior status by the receiving institution.

Additional general education requirements, cultural diversity requirements, and foreign language requirements, as required by the transfer institution, must be met prior to the completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Students are responsible for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring. 

Courses for programs of study fall into two tracks that are listed in the program section of this catalog. These programs are designed to match specific major requirements and also to meet the general distribution requirements listed below:

Basic Skills - 15 credits

Communication Skills - 5 credits

ENGL& 101     

Quantitative Skills* - 10 credits

MATH& 151, MATH& 152   

Humanities and Social Sciences - 15 credits

Select from at least three disciplines listed on the distribution list with at least 5 credits from humanities (H) and 5 credits from social sciences (SS). The remaining 5 credits can be from either category.

Health and Fitness - 3 credits

Diversity - 3-5 credits

A 3-5 credit course listed as a Diversity (D) course. Diversity courses carrying another distribution designation can be counted toward both distribution requirements.

Track I - Biological Science, Environmental/Resource Sciences, Chemistry and Chemistry Education, Geology, Earth Science, Biology and General Science Education

Core Requirements: 46-54 credits

  1. CHEM& 161, 162, 163
  2. MATH& 163 or MATH& 146
  3. BIOL& 221, 222, 223 or PHYS& 221, 222, 223
  4. Additional requirements: 10-18 science credits from courses normally taken by science majors, preferably in a 2 or 3 quarter sequence (biology majors should select physics or organic chemistry).

Remaining credits: 3-11 credits

Track II - Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Physics Education

Core Requirements: 30 credits

  1. PHYS& 221, 222, 223
  2. CHEM& 161
  3. Computer programming (4 credits minimum)
  4. MATH& 163 or MATH& 146

Remaining Credits: 27 credits

Electives up to a maximum of 2 credits from courses numbered 100 or above that are not included on the ICRC approved electives list should be planned with the help of an advisor, based on the requirements of the specific discipline at the baccalaureate institution you wish to attend and using the programs listed in the catalog.

Reviewed 2018

The Associate in Applied Science-Transfer degree is for transfer to schools offering baccalaureates in applied science. This degree combines the technical focus of the Associate in Technical Arts with a minimum of 20 credits of transferable academic courses. This degree is not generally transferable. If transfer is your intent you should work with your advisor to make sure this is the degree for you.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the degree you must complete a minimum of 90 credits in subjects numbered 100 or above. You must also achieve a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 ("C" average).

Your courses must be selected in accordance with a college programs of study. Check with an advisor for a current list of programs. These programs are designed to incorporate specific and major requirements as well as meet general education and related instruction requirements.

The program must include:

English Communications - 5 credits - ENGL& 101

Quantitative Reasoning - 5 credits - See Distribution List    

Humanities & Social Science - 10 credits - See Distribution List       

Health and Fitness - 3 credits - See Distribution List

Reviewed 2018

If your plan is to prepare to compete for employment in an occupational field, you may choose to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree. Since this degree concentrates on a particular trade or skill, it does not have broad general education requirements. Whether a technical course will transfer or count as a degree requirement for a baccalaureate degree is at the discretion of the transfer college or university.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science degree, you must complete a minimum of 90 credits in subjects numbered 100 or above. You must also achieve a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 ("C" average).

Your courses must be selected in accordance with one of the programs of study outlined in the program section of the catalog. The programs of study are designed to incorporate specific major requirements and also to meet the general distribution requirements listed below.

The 90 credits must include the following related instruction minimum requirements: 

Written Communication Skills - 3 credits

Health and Fitness - 3 credits (from list of approved health or PE courses in Health and Fitness distribution (HF))

Computation Skills - 3 credits

Human Relations - 3 credits

Occupational Major

Programs vary in total credits necessary to obtain a degree, although the minimum requirement is 90 credits. Core program credits are designed to meet occupational skills standards. 

Reviewed 2018

The Associate in General Studies degree is designed for those students who do not wish to transfer to a four-year college or pursue an Associate in Technical Arts degree in a specific occupational area. It is a terminal degree with emphasis on improvement of basic skills, general knowledge in the areas of humanities, natural science, and social science, and some specialty of your choice.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the Associate in General Studies degree you must complete 90 credits in courses numbered 100 or above, with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 ("C" average).

The 90 credits must include the following:

1. Forty-three (43) credits taken in communication skills, humanities, math/natural science, social sciences, and health and fitness consisting of the following:

  • A minimum of ten (10) credits in communication skills, ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102, or ENGL& 235.
  • A minimum of ten (10) credits in each of the three general areas of knowledge (humanities, math/natural science, and social sciences).
  • Three (3) credits from the list of courses approved for Health and Fitness distribution.

2. An additional 47 credits which you choose to satisfy your own educational plans or interests. Your choices can be occupational, personal enjoyment, physical education, or academic courses.

Reviewed 2018

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degrees

A traditional bachelor degree requires general education classes from many disciplines and is designed to provide students a wide base of knowledge, allowing them to concentrate their education in the third or fourth year of their education. A BAS degree gives students the chance to focus their education on specific educational and career goals early within their education and incorporates more practical and concentrated hands-on learning in a specific industry or the career of their choice.

Certificates & Diplomas 

Students may be awarded a certificate of completion by successfully completing a set group of courses from a professional/technical program. These certificates require significantly fewer credits than a certificate of proficiency. The courses tend to concentrate on one set of skills.
Students may earn a Certificate of Proficiency by completing a professional/technical program which requires a minimum of 45 credits, includes related instruction, and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 (“C”).

Centralia College participates in High School 21+, a high school completion program. To earn a high school diploma in the HS21 Program, students must be 21 at time of completion. All students enroll in reading, writing, and math courses in addition to a study skills lab, where they work on completing courses that are not reflected on their transcripts.

Centralia College provides GED test preparation courses. The GED 2014 program is open to students age 16 and above. Any student under the age of 19 must also provide a high school release to enroll. The tests are available in Spanish.