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 units in courses numbered 100 or above, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 ("C" average).
The 90 units must include the following:
- Basic Skills - 15 units
- Communication Skills - 10 units - ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102, ENGL& 235
- Quantitative Skills - 5 units - Any quantitative reasoning course in math or philosophy for which Algebra II (Intermediate Algebra) is a prerequisite
- Humanities - 15 units - Select from at least three of the disciplines listed on the distribution list. No more than 5 units in foreign language at the 100 level may apply.
- Social Sciences - 15 units - Select from at least three disciplines on the distribution list.
- Natural Sciences - 15 units - Select from at least two disciplines on the distribution list. Include at least one laboratory course.
- Health and Fitness - 3 units - Selected from either discipline listed on the distribution list.
- Diversity - 5 units - A 5 unit course listed as a Diversity (D) course. Diversity courses carrying another distribution designation can be counted toward both distribution requirements.
- College & Career Success - 3 units
- Academic Electives - 19 units - A minimum of 19 elective units 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 units from courses numbered 100 and above that are not included on the ICRC approved electives list. A maximum of three (3) PE units may be included in the AA degree.
Reviewed 2026
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 units 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 units
- Communication Skills - 5 units - ENGL& 101
- Quantitative Skills - 10 units - MATH& 151, MATH& 152
- Humanities and Social Sciences - 15 units - Select from at least three disciplines listed on the distribution list with at least 5 units from humanities (H) and 5 credits from social sciences (SS). The remaining 5 units can be from either category.
- Health and Fitness - 3 units
- Diversity - 5 units - A 5 unit course listed as a Diversity (D) course. Diversity courses carrying another distribution designation can be counted toward both distribution requirements.
- College & Career Success - 3 units
Track I - Biological Sciences, Environmental/Resource Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, and Earth Science
Core Requirements: 48-56 units
- CHEM& 161, 162, 163
- MATH& 163 or MATH& 146
- BIOL& 221, 222, 223 or PHYS& 221, 222, 223
- Additional requirements: 10-18 science units from courses normally taken by science majors, preferably in a 2 or 3 quarter sequence (biology majors should select physics or organic chemistry).
Remaining units: 1-9 units
Track II - Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Physics Education
Core Requirements: 26 units
- PHYS& 221, 222, 223
- CHEM& 161
- MATH& 163 or MATH& 146
Remaining units: 23 units
Electives up to a maximum of 2 units 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 2026
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 units 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 units 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 units - ENGL& 101
- Quantitative Reasoning - 5 units - See Distribution List
- Humanities & Social Science - 10 units - See Distribution List
- Health and Fitness - 3 units - See Distribution List
- College & Career Success - 3 units - Select BUS 100, COLL 100, SCIE 100, or TRDS 100
Reviewed 2026
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 units 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 units must include the following related instruction minimum requirements:
- Written Communication Skills - 5 units
- Health and Fitness - 3 units (from list of approved health or PE courses in Health and Fitness distribution (HF))
- Computation Skills - 5 units
- College & Career Success - 3 units
- Occupational Major - Programs vary in total units necessary to obtain a degree, although the minimum requirement is 90 units. Core program units are designed to meet occupational skills standards.
Reviewed 2026
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 units in courses numbered 100 or above, with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 ("C" average).
The 90 units must include the following:
1. Fifty-one (51) units taken in communication skills, humanities, math/natural sciences, social sciences, and health and fitness consisting of the following:
- A minimum of ten (10) units in communication skills, ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102, or ENGL& 235.
- A minimum of ten (10) units in each of the three general areas of knowledge (humanities, math/natural science, and social sciences).
- Three (3) units from the list of courses approved for Health and Fitness distribution.
2. An additional 39 units which you choose to satisfy your own educational plans or interests. Your choices can be occupational, personal enjoyment, physical education, or academic courses.
Reviewed 2026
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
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.