Degree Requirements

  • If graduation requirements change while students are enrolled in degree programs, they may elect to meet the new requirements or be held to those in effect when they first enrolled. Additionally, students applying for graduation through the reverse transfer process may elect to meet new graduation requirements or the requirements that were in effect when they first enrolled.
  • Students who did not attend the College for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions) must meet the requirements specified in the catalog at the time of re-enrollment, or they may choose to meet new requirements that develop as they complete their degrees.
  • Students may elect to meet certificate graduation requirements in effect at any time during their consecutive enrollment at the college.
  • Only courses numbered 100 and above may be applied to degrees or certificates.
  • Students interested in graduation through the reverse transfer process -- a process by which a student who is currently enrolled at a four-year institution may receive an associate degree -- must submit an official academic transcript from their four-year college/university and email registrarservices@oakton.edu to request an evaluation of their transcript for graduation.

Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate of Science in Engineering (A.S.E.), Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Minimum requirements for the awarding of the Associate in Arts, the Associate in Science, the Associate of Science in Engineering, the Associate in Fine Arts (– Art and – Music), and the Associate in Applied Science degrees are:

  1. A degree recipient must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours in the associate degree with courses taken at Oakton College.
  2. Completion of general education requirements as described on the respective degree pages.
  3. A maximum of 10 credit hours in career and technical courses may be applied to the A.S., A.S.E. or A.F.A. degrees. A maximum of 12 credit hours in career and technical courses may be applied to the A.A. degree. Information about career and technical courses is available in the Office of Advising, Transitions and Student Success.
  4. A maximum of four credit hours of physical education (PED) activity courses (e.g., tennis, golf) may be applied to meet the degree requirements.
  5. A maximum of four credit hours of independent study courses may be applied to meet the degree requirements.
  6. A maximum of 45 credit hours earned at other colleges may be applied to meet the degree requirements at Oakton (also see Transfer of Credit to Oakton).
  7. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all work completed at Oakton for A.A., A.S., A.S.E., A.F.A., and A.A.S. degrees.

To guide the selection of their courses at Oakton, students are advised to consult an academic advisor and the catalogs of the schools to which they are considering transferring.

Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.)

Minimum requirements for awarding the Associate in General Studies degree are:

  1. A degree recipient must complete a minimum of 15 credits in the associate degree with courses taken at Oakton College.
  2. Completion of general education requirements as described on A.G.S. degree page.
  3. Career and technical credit hours are limited to total number of electives for this degree, as described on A.G.S. degree page.
  4. A maximum of four credit hours of physical education (PED) activity courses (e.g., tennis, golf) may be applied to meet the degree requirements.
  5. A maximum of four credit hours of independent study courses may be applied to meet the degree requirements.
  6. A maximum of 45 credit hours earned at other colleges may be applied to meet the degree requirements at Oakton (also see Transfer of Credit to Oakton).
  7. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all work completed at Oakton for the A.G.S. degree.

Certificates

Minimum requirements for awarding a certificate are:

  1. Successful completion of courses required for the certificate. Consult the career program section of this catalog for the list of courses that meet requirements.
  2. A minimum of one-half the credits required for a certificate of less than 30 hours must be earned at Oakton; a minimum of 15 credits required for a certificate of 30 hours or more must be earned at Oakton.
  3. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all courses in the certificate curriculum. In some curricula, a minimum grade of C is required in each course or in designated courses.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Oakton identifies learning outcomes that students are expected to achieve when they successfully complete a course, certificate, associate degree, participate in a co-curricular event outside of the classroom, or engage with a student support service. Students will demonstrate their learning by completing assignments, exams or surveys, or by engaging in other activities that permit faculty and staff to assess the extent to which students have achieved these outcomes. Assessment results are used to improve teaching and learning and to maintain high standards of quality. The Oakton Program for Assessment and Learning (OPAL) committee, comprised of faculty, staff and administrators, steers Oakton’s learning outcomes assessment process.

Graduation Petitions

A student must complete an online petition for graduation at myOakton (my.oakton.edu) by the deadline listed in the academic calendar. Students are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony to receive a degree or certificate. Contact the Office of Student Life and Campus Inclusion at www.oakton.edu/life-at-oakton for more information on the commencement ceremony or email commencement@oakton.edu.