College of the CanyonsCollege of the Canyons

Live Chat

Graduation

Graduation is held at the end of the Spring term each year.  Students who have petitioned to graduate for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.  You must submit a petition for an associate degree at the Counseling Office by the first week of the term in which you plan to graduate.  You may check the student calendar for specific deadline dates.

The Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District as authorized by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall confer the degree of Associate in Arts or Associate in Science upon a student who has satisfactorily completed the degree requirements.  Please see the college catalog for specific degree or certificate program requirements. 

You may run a program evaluation via My Canyons to make sure you are completing your degree requirements and/or make an appointment with a counselor for more information.

 

Petition Deadlines

● The deadline to turn in a Petition for Associate Degree is the first week of the graduating semester.
NOTE: If a student would like to participate in the Graduation Ceremony and the student is petitioning to graduate in the summer semester, the Petition for Associate Degree is due by April 1st.
● The deadline to turn in a Certificate Petition follows the same deadline as the Petition for Associate Degree. It is on the first day of the semester in which the requirements are going to be fulfilled.
NOTE: There is no ceremony for those petitioning for Certificates.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When is my Graduation Ceremony?
    • There is one Graduation Ceremony per Academic Year. The Graduation Ceremony will include those students who graduated in the Fall term and those who Petition to Graduate in the Spring and Summer semesters as well.
  • How do I find out more about the Graduation Ceremony?
    • You can find out information about the upcoming graduation ceremony during the month of May at the Grad Fair which is hosted in the Student Center on the Valencia Campus. At the Grad Fair, you will receive 20% off the purchase of your cap, gown and tassel, order your graduation invitations, check the spelling of your name for the graduation booklet and diploma, and much more! If you are planning to graduate, please come to the Grad Fair. For information regarding the Grad Fair, please contact Student Development at 661-362-3238 or STCN room 102.
  • Graduation date for this year:
    • The graduation ceremony for 2013 will be posted as soon as it is announced.
  • When is the Honors Banquet?
    • The students graduating with Honors will receive an invitation to the COC Honors Banquet, which will be scheduled in May. You may visit the Honors site for more information (http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/Honors/).
  • Is there a Brunch Reception on the day of Graduation?
    • We will post a day and time for the 2013 graduation brunch as soon as it has been announced.
  • When should I expect my degree?
    • Degrees will be mailed to the graduated student at the address provided to College of the Canyons about 2 to 3 months after the graduation term is complete. The student is reminded to keep his/her mailing address up to date with College of the Canyons so that the degree is mailed to the correct address.
  • Where can I find a list of programs that College of the Canyons offers?
  • Where can I find a list of certificates that College of the Canyons offers?
  • What is the difference between a Certificate of Achievement and a Certificate of Specialization?
    • According to the College Catalog:
      • A Certificate of Achievement is awarded by the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District as authorized by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges when a student has successfully completed required courses in an approved program of study as specified in the Degree Curricula Santa Clarita Community College District and Certificate Programs section of this catalog. To qualify for the Certificate of Achievement, students must satisfy the following requirements:

        1. Complete at least half of the units required for the certificate program in residence;
        2. Earn a grade of “C” or better in each course required for the certificate;
        3. File a petition for the certificate in the office of Admissions and Records during the semester in which requirements will be completed
      • A Certificate of Specialization is a departmental award in an area of specialization requiring less than 18 semester units. This issuance of the departmental award is not recorded on the student’s official transcript. To qualify for the Certificate of Specialization, students must satisfy the following requirements:

        1. Complete at least half of the units required for the certificate program in residence;
        2. Earn a grade of “C” or better in each course required for the certificate;
        3. File a petition for the certificate in the academic department issuing the certificate during the semester in which requirements will be completed.
  • How are Catalog Rights determined?
  • Can I earn a second Associate Degree?
    • Yes. According to the College of the Canyon’s College Catalog:

      • College of the Canyons is authorized to award multiple associate degrees provided the following conditions are met:
        1. Minimum of 18 semester units are completed in each program.
        2. Minimum of 12 semester units are completed in residence at College of the Canyons.
        3. All current College of the Canyons general education and American Institutions requirements have been met.
  • What are the requirements for an Associate Degree?
  • How do I know if I am awarded honors with my degree?
    • According to the College Catalog:
      • Students who have attained a degree applicable grade point average of 3.5 for all college work and have completed a minimum of 30 semester units at a community college receive an honors designation at graduation. The grade point average for graduation is posted from the last semester or term completed prior to the graduation ceremony.