Bachelor Degree to Associate Degree

A pathway to the associate degree for students who have already achieved a bachelor’s degree

Students who wish to pursue an associate degree at College of San Mateo who have already been awarded a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States may be exempt from College of San Mateo local associate degree general education requirements. This pathway does not apply to Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA/AS-Ts). Students must complete at least 12 semester units in residence within the San Mateo County Community College District.
Students must complete 12 units or 50% of the units required for the major, whichever is fewer, at one or more of the San Mateo County Community College District colleges. All other local requirements may be waived if the completed bachelor’s degree includes coursework that fulfills the Title 5 minimum requirements for the associate degree as noted below.

Title 5 (55063) Associate Degree Requirements:

  1. Minimum of 60 units of lower division degree applicable coursework
  2. Completion of Freshman Composition (ENGL 100 equivalent at College of San Mateo)
  3. Completion of Intermediate Algebra or higher-level math course
  4. Completion of a transfer-level course in Ethnic Studies
  5. Satisfactory completion of at least 12 semester units in residence within the San Mateo County Community College District.
  6. Complete 12 units or 50% of the units required for the major, whichever is fewer, at one or more of the San Mateo County Community College District colleges.
  7. Completion of 18 units of general education:
    1. 3 semester units course in Natural Sciences
    2. 3 semester units course in Social and Behavioral Sciences
    3. 3 semester units course in Humanities
    4. 6 semester units in Language and Rationality
    5. 3 semester units transfer level course in Ethnic Studies

Students with external coursework, coursework completed at colleges and universities outside the San Mateo County Community District (SMCCCD), should use Transcript Evaluation Service (TES) to determine how it will be applied for degrees and certificates. For more information, visit the District Transcript Evaluation Service website.