Associate Degree

Delaware County Community College awards Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), and Associate in Science (AS) degrees.  Additionally, the College offers a Certificate of Competency and a Certificate of Proficiency.

To graduate from a degree program, students must:

• Earn a minimum of 60 credit hours, exclusive of basic, developmental, and continuing education courses.
  • Of these, at least 24 must be earned at Delaware County Community College with at least 15 hours in graded courses (courses for which grade points are issued) for the associate degree.
  • Not more than 12 credit hours may be transferred back after completing attendance at this college.
  • A maximum of three credits of physical education activities may be applied toward the 60 credit hours.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Complete the approved curriculum satisfactorily.
  • Curricula are itemized lists of courses and credits required for professional and technical competence.
  • All approved curricula include courses required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and general education requirements.

Certificate of Proficiency

Delaware County Community College will award a certificate of proficiency to students who complete 30 credits of an approved career program.

• Program credits will not normally include physical education, developmental, basic and/or continuing education courses. 
• Program credits will usually consist of twenty-four (24) credits in the career specialty and six (6) credits in general education. Exceptions may be made upon recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee.
• At least 50% of the credits must be earned at Delaware County Community College.
• The student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• At least six credit hours must be in courses that are awarded grade points.

Certificate of Competency

The College will award a certificate of competency to students who complete an approved credit-bearing career program that requires less than 30 credits.

• General education courses may not be required for programs that have less than thirty (30) credits.
• The student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• At least six (6) credit hours must be in courses that are awarded grade points.

Dual and Additional Degrees

A student who has already received a Delaware County Community College degree or certificate may qualify for an additional degree or certificate by

• meeting the requirements of the additional curriculum and
• completing at least 12 credits at the College subsequent to those received for the previous degree or certificate.

For Delaware County Community College degree holders, the curriculum leading to an additional degree or certificate must be different from the previous degree(s). General Studies and Technical Studies may not be earned as additional degrees. A degree at the College with options or concentrations is considered one degree and will be awarded only once. Some curricula are very similar and students may not earn degrees in both. Some examples are:

• Mathematics/Natural Science and Science for the Health Professions;
• Computer Information Systems and Information Technology; or
• General Business and Business Administration or Accounting.    

For Delaware County Community College certificate holders, the curriculum leading to an additional certificate must be different from the previous certificate(s) and the curriculum leading to a first degree can be the same as or different from that of the certificate.

Students who complete all requirements for two degrees and at least 12 additional credits at the same time may receive two diplomas. General Studies, Technical Studies, and other restrictions listed above under degree holders may not be awarded as part of a dual degree. A certificate and degree in the same or similar curricula may not be awarded at the same time. Students may pursue no more than two degrees at one time and they must inform their advisors of the intent to follow two degrees. They must file two separate graduation applications.