Graduation

Graduation Requirements

A certificate is awarded for successful completion of a core of technical credits designed to prepare a student for immediate employment. An associate degree represents the equivalent of two years of full-time study in a university transfer program or specialized technical field.

EvCC values study in subjects that broaden a learner’s perspectives and competencies. Therefore, some certificates and each degree requires students to take general education courses in communication, quantitative skills, human relations and other fields.

Students have the responsibility of verifying specific graduation requirements with their faculty advisors. Specific program requirements are stipulated in the program checklists available from Enrollment Services. 

Philosophy Statement on General Education

“At Everett Community College, we believe that all people have both a right and a responsibility to find out who they are, what they can become and how they relate to others. We further believe that societies, and communities within them, can neither sustain themselves, nor flourish without people who understand themselves and the world in which they live. General Education is the life-long process through which people accumulate the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to function more completely in complex and diverse societies. As an institution of learning, we acknowledge that we contribute to this process, and we commit ourselves to providing an environment within which people will have the opportunity to further their growth as individuals and members of society.” 

EvCC General Education Task Force, 1998

Requirements for All Certificates and Degrees 

The college provides assistance in determining completion of the required curricula for graduation through program checklists, advisors and counselors. 

However, the final responsibility for meeting all academic and graduation requirements rests with the individual student. All certificate- and degree-seeking students are assigned a program advisor. 

The requirements for all degrees are as follows: 

• For any associate degree, a minimum of 90 credits is required, at least 30 of which must be earned at EvCC in order to be eligible for graduation. The 90 credits may not include any under 100-level High School Completion (HSC) courses. At least 30 credits must be traditionally graded and calculated in the EvCC GPA. Exception to the 30-credit residency rule: ATA in multi-occupational trades may use a minimum of 20 credits to satisfy the residency requirement. Where applicable, a maximum of three physical education activity credits may be included (in the A-List electives only) in the total.

• For any associate degree, all students must complete a diversity course. Such courses are designated with a Diversity Class Attribute. The diversity course may also be used to meet degree requirements, such as Social Science or Humanities, depending on the course selected, although the credit will only be counted once.

• For a certificate, the minimum number of credits varies by program. At least one third of the minimum credits required for the certificate must be earned at EvCC.

Students must satisfy all specific requirements for the certificate or degree sought, including:

1. Students who apply for a certificate or degree while currently attending, or within 12 months of their last attendance, must satisfy the requirements in effect at the time of the award of the certificate or degree, or published in a catalog or program checklist in effect at any time during their most recent continuous attendance at EvCC. (Continuous attendance is defined as completing at least one term within consecutive 12-month periods.) Students needing longer than five years to complete a given certificate or degree may be subject to updated graduation requirements.
   
   Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to confirm remaining degree requirements.
2. Students who apply for a certificate or degree after an absence of more than 12 months are subject to the requirements in effect:
   1. at the time of their last attendance if, in fact, they fully met the requirements at that time. The certificate or degree is posted with the date of their last term at EvCC. Or,
   2. at the time they submit the application for the certificate or degree if they are using transfer credit from a more recently attended institution toward the EvCC certificate or degree. The certificate or degree will be posted with the date of the term in which the application was submitted.
3. Earn an EvCC cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0. (Transfer to four-year public and private colleges and universities is competitive. Many four-year institutions require a higher grade point average for admission.)
4. Fulfill all obligations to the college, financial or otherwise.
5. File an application for graduation with the Enrollment Services office. This should be done at least one quarter before the quarter of intended graduation. Students who plan to participate in the June commencement ceremony and have their name printed in the commencement program must RSVP. The deadline to apply for graduation is the 10th day of the intended last quarter or census day. See the Academic Calendar in the front of the Catalog. Applications received after that deadline will still receive consideration but may be delayed until the on-time applications are completed. 

Please note that degrees may be auto-conferred if it is determined by the Enrollment Services office that a student has met all requirements for a certificate or degree.