Degree and Commencement Requirements

Approved by the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College on April 21, 1960. Amended on April 15, 2004. Amended on June 26, 2014. Degree Requirements amended August 19, 2021. Degree Requirements and Program Graduation Requirements amended on February 26, 2024

Contents
  1. Degree Requirements
  2. Program Graduation Requirements
  3. Commencement Requirements

Degree Requirements

Completion of an Associate Degree Program requires a minimum of 60 credits exclusive of credit equivalent courses, such as ESL, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

Completion of a Certificate Program requires a minimum of 30 credits, a program GPA of 2.0, good academic standing and complying with all accreditation standards where appropriate.

Effective Fall 2024: Students accepted into the College in Fall 2024 or later can take three (3) courses for a maximum of 6 credits of Exercise and Human Performance (EHP) and/or Health and Wellness (HPW) courses toward a degree or certificate requirements.

In an extenuating circumstance, a substitution for a graduation requirement may be requested from the Program Director. Substitutions may be granted for no more than three (3) courses for a maximum of eleven (11) credits. All course substitutions must comply with General Education, SUNY Student Mobility, and the New York State Department of Education policies.

In addition, course substitutions can only be done when the courses are equivalent, for example, a liberal arts course can only be substituted with another liberal arts course. In addition, students may elect to take a course on a pass/fail basis.

The maximum number of pass/fail courses that can be used toward degree/certificate requirement shall not exceed two (2) classes for a maximum of eight (8) credits. Please refer to the College’s approved Pass/Fail policy for further information.

Courses that are repeated in order to earn a higher grade can only be used one time to fulfill a degree requirement.

All students seeking an Associate degree or Certificate must provide documentation indicating that the graduation applicant has received a high school diploma or its equivalent before the degree/certificate is conferred.

(Please also refer to Dual Degree Policy)

Program Graduation Requirements

New Students

Students who enter the College for the first time on or after September 1, 2024, are required to follow the program graduation requirements in effect at the time of their acceptance to the College. For example, a student entering in the Fall 2024 semester must meet program graduation requirements that are in effect in the 2024/25 academic year. See the current College Catalog for the most recent program requirements.

Re-Admit Students

Students who entered the College prior to September 1, 2024, and are formally readmitted after that date are required to follow the program graduation requirements in effect at the time of their readmittance to the College. For example, a student who started in 2006 and who was readmitted in Fall 2024 must follow all program graduation requirements published in the 2024/25 academic year. See the current College Catalog for the most recent program requirements.

Current Students

Current students, including those in designated High School Program such as P-Tech, requesting to change to a different or more current degree/certificate/microcredential program must file the Curriculum Change Request Form with Records and Registration. Students cannot select a degree program older than their year of acceptance to the College. Any Curriculum Change Request Form received after the last day to drop a course (see the official date on the Academic Calendar) will become effective in the next semester. For example, a form received on October 1st will become effective in the Spring semester.

Commencement Requirements

Candidates for graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony if they have six or fewer credits remaining toward completion of a degree program and if they have satisfied all other graduation requirements. Candidates who have credits remaining toward completion of a degree program will be appropriately differentiated on the commencement program from those who have completed all requirements for graduation.

Candidates having six or fewer credits remaining toward completion of a degree program who are allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony must first be registered to complete the necessary courses at the earliest opportunity.