A6: Degree/Certificate Requirements

The student must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program and meet all program and credit hour requirements as outlined in the relevant College Catalog. 

The student must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. 

All classes with a grade of “I” (incomplete) must be completed, and the grade must be changed from “I” to a letter grade A-F. 

At least 24 credits for a degree and 12 credits for a certificate must be completed at Onondaga Community College. 

No more than 12 credits may be satisfied by Independent Studies. 

A minimum of 20 credits for any associate degree must be “unique credits” – credits that are not applied to any other degree the student has already earned or is currently working on. 

If a student is working on more than one degree and they complete all requirements for both during the same semester but do not have the minimum number of unique credits, they will be contacted by the Office of Registration & Records to choose which degree they want to receive. 

There are no restrictions on multiple certificates. 

40% of the required credits in a microcredential must be taken at Onondaga Community College. 

Students will be awarded a digital badge upon completion of the microcredential. The title of the credential and the complete record of the courses completed will also be reflected on the student’s transcript. 

Transfer credit is only considered for courses taken at regionally accredited institutions or for international transcripts that have been translated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) credential evaluator. 

Transfer credit will only be awarded for courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher that apply to the student’s current degree, certificate, or microcredential program. If the student’s program requires grades higher than a “C,” transfer credit will only be awarded for courses that meet the program’s minimum requirements. 

If a non-matriculated student submits a transcript for evaluation, the Office of Registration & Records will hold the transcript until the student is matriculated or accepted to a microcredential. 

If a student changes their program of study, the Office of Registration & Records will re-evaluate the student’s transcript. Any additional applicable credits will be awarded, and non-applicable credits will be removed. 

Transfer credits will appear on the student’s record with a grade of TR, which does not factor into the GPA. Because of this, transfer credit will not be awarded for any course that the student has already successfully completed or is currently taking.  

          Transfer credit may be awarded for a course the student previously failed. The transfer credit will fulfill the student’s program requirements but will not replace the failed         

          course in the student’s GPA. 

If transfer credit can be awarded for a course the student is registered for but hasn’t started yet, the student and their Navigator will be notified to drop the pre-registered course. Failure to drop the pre-registered course may negatively impact the student’s financial aid.  

          The student should speak with their Navigator if they wish to earn transfer credit for a class in progress. 

To submit a transcript for evaluation, students should have official copies of their transcripts sent to Onondaga Community College at transfereval@sunyocc.edu. 

CPL will only be awarded for courses that apply to the student’s current degree, certificate, or microcredential program, with the exception of Workforce courses/programs taken at OCC. 

CPL credits will appear on the student’s record with a grade of TR, which does not factor into the GPA. Because of this, CPL will not be awarded for any course that the student has already successfully completed or is currently taking.  

          CPL may be awarded for a course the student previously failed. The credits will fulfill the student’s program requirements but will not replace the failed course in the student’s 

          GPA. 

If CPL can be awarded for a course the student is registered for but hasn’t started yet, the student and their Navigator will be notified to drop the pre-registered course. Failure to drop the pre-registered course may negatively impact the student’s financial aid.  

          The student should speak with their Navigator if they wish to earn CPL for a class in progress. 

All credit for CPL is awarded at the discretion of the faculty. Current equivalencies can be found on our CPL website. 

Students wishing to earn credit for a license or certification, including those not listed on the CPL website, should submit a “Credit for Prior Learning Request” form, select “External License or Certification,” and supply any required documentation. 

If the student’s credential does not already have an established equivalency, it will be subject to approval by the department faculty before credit is awarded. 
  

Successful completion of certain non-credit Workforce programs at OCC may result in credit towards degree or certificate programs. 

Credits will automatically be applied to the student’s record upon successful completion of the Workforce course/program. 
  

Some departments may award credit upon the successful completion of an exam. Each department will determine the minimum standards for successful completion. 

Students interested in completing a department exam should submit a “Credit for Prior Learning Request” form and select “Department Exam.” Someone from the department will reach out to the student to schedule the exam. 

Departmental exams are only available for the courses listed on the CPL website. 

Students are charged for departmental exams, even if they do not earn credits. Costs may change; students should refer to the Tuition & Fees website for the current fees. 
  

Advanced Placement (AP) – requires a minimum score of 3. 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – requires a minimum score of 50. 

International Baccalaureate (IB) – courses must have the HL designation with a minimum score of 4. 

          Credit is not awarded for all exams. Students should refer to the chart available on the CPL website to see the current equivalencies. 

          Students wishing to earn credit for a standardized exam should have their official transcript or score report sent to the Office of Registration and Records 

          at transfereval@sunyocc.edu. 
  

Students may be eligible to earn credit for military experience as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). 

Students seeking credit for military experience should request their official transcripts through Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Air University and have them sent to the Office of Registration & Records at transfereval@sunyocc.edu. 
  

Students may have experience that doesn’t fit into the types of CPL listed above. In this case, students may request an individual review of their portfolio, resume, credentials, or other experience. 

Required materials and method of assessment will be determined by the faculty and will vary by course. Methods of assessment may include things like presentations, interviews, written work, demonstrations, and more. Faculty must document that the student’s experience aligns with the learning outcomes of the course(s) being reviewed. 

To request a review, students must submit a “Credit for Prior Learning Request” form and select “Review of my resume, portfolio, or other experience.” 
Students are charged for these reviews, even if they do not earn credits. Costs may change; students should refer to the Tuition & Fees website for the current fees. 

Liberal Arts & Sciences, SUNY Gen Ed, and total program credit requirements must still be met. 

Substitutions and waivers are reviewed by the Office of Registration & Records and subject to approval by the Department Chairperson of the student’s program and the Academic Dean. 

Courses may only be substituted, not waived, as a student must have completed the correct number of credits for their program at the time of graduation. 

To request a substitution, students should speak with their Navigator or Faculty Advisor as soon as possible. A college employee must submit the “Program Substitution & Waiver” form on behalf of the student. 

The “Program Substitution & Waiver” form must include an explanation of how the student will meet the program learning outcomes despite substituting a requirement. 

The form requires approval from the Department Chairperson, in consultation with program or discipline faculty, the Academic Dean, and the Office of Registration & Records. 

Substitutions are time sensitive, as they may impact a student’s financial aid and ability to graduate. 

To request to waive a program requirement, students should speak with their Navigator or Faculty Advisor as soon as possible. A college employee must submit the “Program Substitution & Waiver” form on behalf of the student. 

The form requires approval from the Department Chairperson, in consultation with program or discipline faculty, the Academic Dean, and the Office of Registration & Records. 

Waivers for program requirements are time sensitive, as they may impact a student’s financial aid and ability to graduate.