Degree Types
The types of certificates and degrees offered at Kaua‘i Community College are explained below. A list of programs are also provided on the Programs catalog page. The issuance of any certificate or degree requires that the student must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better for all courses applicable toward the certificate or degree.
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree
The A.A.S. degree is a 2-year technical-occupational-professional degree, consisting of at least 60 semester credits, which provides students with skills and competencies for gainful employment. This degree is not intended nor designed for transfer directly into a baccalaureate program. A.A.S. programs may, however, include some baccalaureate-level course offerings.
- Accounting: Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Automotive Technology: Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Carpentry Technology: Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Culinary Arts: Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology: Associate in Applied Science Degree
- Hospitality and Tourism: Associate in Applied Science Degree
Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree
The A.A. degree is a 2-year baccalaureate direct transfer liberal arts degree, consisting of at least 60 semester credits at the 100 and 200 levels. It is intended for students who plan to transfer to a 4-year institution or for students desiring two years of general education beyond high school. Only courses numbered 100 or above may count toward the degree, and all area requirements must be satisfied. The courses are likely to be transferable to any university. A transferrable course, however, may not be applicable to a particular program or major at the other institution. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the student consult with a counselor at the start of the liberal arts program.
Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree
The A.S. degree is a 2-year technical-occupational-professional degree, consisting of at least 60 semester credits, entirely at the baccalaureate level, which provides students with skills and competencies for gainful employment. Required courses are numbered 100 or above.
- Business: Associate in Science Degree
- Creative Media: Associate in Science Degree
- Early Childhood Education: Associate in Science Degree
- Electronics Technology: Associate in Science Degree
- Natural Science: Associate in Science Degree (Biological Sciences)
- Natural Science: Associate in Science Degree (Engineering)
- Natural Science: Associate in Science Degree (Physical Sciences)
- Nursing: Associate in Science Degree (Registered Nursing)
Academic Subject Certificate (A.S.C.)
The A.S.C. is a college credential for students who have successfully completed a specific sequence of credit courses from the A.A. curriculum. The course sequence must fit within the structure of the A.A. degree, may not extend the credits required for the A.A. degree, and shall be at least 12 credit hours.
- English Academic Subject Certificate
- Fitness Professional: Academic Subject Certificate
- Hawaiian Studies: Academic Subject Certificate
- Ho‘okele (Polynesian Voyaging): Academic Subject Certificate
- Mālama ‘Āina: Academic Subject Certificate
- Marine Option Program: Academic Subject Certificate
- Mathematics: Academic Subject Certificate
- Plant Biology and Tropical Agriculture: Academic Subject Certificate
Certificate of Achievement (C.A.)
The C.A. is a college credential for students who have successfully completed designated medium-length technical-occupational-professional education credit course sequences which provide them with entry-level skills or job upgrading. These course sequences shall be at least 24 credit hours, but may not exceed 51 credit hours (unless external employment requirements exceed this number).
- Accounting: Certificate of Achievement
- Accounting: Certificate of Achievement (Accounting Assistant)
- Accounting: Certificate of Achievement (Payroll Preparer)
- Accounting: Certificate of Achievement (Small Business Accounting)
- Accounting: Certificate of Achievement (Tax Preparer)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Automotive Green Technology)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Driveability Technician)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Electronics/Computer Control Technician)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Heavy Line Technician)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Master Automobile Service Technology)
- Business: Certificate of Achievement (Entrepreneurship)
- Business: Certificate of Achievement (Management)
- Carpentry Technology: Certificate of Achievement
- Culinary Arts: Certificate of Achievement
- Culinary Arts: Certificate of Achievement (Advanced Culinary Arts)
- Early Childhood Education: Certificate of Achievement
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology: Certificate of Achievement
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Achievement
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Achievement (Network Administrator and Security)
- Hospitality and Tourism: Certificate of Achievement
- Hospitality and Tourism: Certificate of Achievement (Hospitality Management)
- Medical Assisting: Certificate of Achievement
- Nursing: Certificate of Achievement (Practical Nursing)
Certificate of Competence (C.O.)
The C.O. is a college credential for students who have successfully completed designated short-term credit or non-credit courses which provide them with job upgrading or entry-level skills. These course sequences shall be at least 4 credit hours, but may not exceed 23 credit hours. The issuance of a C.O. with non-credit courses requires that the student’s work has been evaluated and determined to be satisfactory.
- Accounting: Certificate of Competence (Accounting Office Assistant)
- Accounting: Certificate of Competence (Basic Accounting)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Competence (Drive Train Specialist)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Competence (Engine Specialist)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Competence (HEV Diagnostic and Repair)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Competence (HEV Preventive Maintenance and Repair)
- Automotive Technology: Certificate of Competence (Undercar Specialist)
- Beekeeping: Certificate of Competence
- Business: Certificate of Competence (Entrepreneurship)
- Business: Certificate of Competence (Management Essentials)
- Business: Certificate of Competence (Retail Essentials)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Animation)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Digital Photography)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Digital Video)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Event Technology)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Graphic Arts)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Music Production)
- Creative Media: Certificate of Competence (Web Design)
- Culinary Arts: Certificate of Competence
- Culinary Arts: Certificate of Competence (Culinary Arts - Food Prep)
- Early Childhood Education: Certificate of Competence
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology: Certificate of Competence
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology: Certificate of Competence (Solar Energy Technology/Technician)
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence (Cisco I)
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence (Cisco II)
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence (Computer Support)
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence (Network Security)
- Electronics Technology: Certificate of Competence (Programming)
- Facilities Engineering Technology: Certificate of Competence
- Facilities Engineering Technology: Certificate of Competence (FENG Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing)
- Geographic Information Systems: Certificate of Competence
- Geographic Information Systems: Certificate of Competence (Advanced Geographic Information Systems)
- Hawaiian Botany: Certificate of Competence
- Hospitality and Tourism: Certificate of Competence
- Hospitality and Tourism: Certificate of Competence (Hospitality Essentials)
- Nurse Aide: Certificate of Competence
- Plant Biology and Tropical Agriculture: Certificate of Competence
- Public Health: Certificate of Competence
- Sustainability Science: Certificate of Competence