Graduation
Blinn College Administrative Regulations Manual
- Subject:
- Graduation
- Effective Date:
- October 11, 2007; amended April 12, 2011, December 6, 2011, March 19, 2013, August 19, 2014, July 24, 2015, and April 25, 2024
- Board Policy Reference:
- EGC
Purpose
Guidelines
The District offers the following degrees, certificates, and occupational skills achievement awards to students who meet applicable requirements:
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree
- Associate of Arts (AA) degree
- Associate of Arts degree with Field of Study (FOS)
- Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree (Option A and Option B)
- Associate of Science (AS) degree
- Certificates - Level I, Level II, and Advanced Technical
- Occupational Skills Award (OSA)
The purpose of the degree programs listed above is to provide university parallel and pre-professional curricula that enable students to enter four-year institutions or their career path of choice. While the curricula suggested in the catalog for AA (including FOS), AS, and AAT degrees satisfy most senior institution requirements, students should confirm transferability with their intended college or university. Academic Advisors are available for guidance.
General Requirements for Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees
The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees shall be awarded to students fulfilling the general and specific degree requirements.
- Satisfy all the admission requirements.
- Meet the degree requirements as outlined in the College Catalog at the time of first admission or in any subsequent Catalog issued prior to the date of graduation, provided the student meets the requirements within five years of the catalog date.
- Meet the requirements listed in the College Catalog under which they are readmitted if their studies are interrupted for more than thirteen (13) consecutive months.
- Earn at least sixty (60) college credit hours as defined by the degree program. Only academic courses are applicable; technical and developmental courses are not.
- Earn at least twenty-five percent (25%) of their academic hours in residence at Blinn College.
- Earn at least nine (9) semester credit hours of sophomore-level courses.
- Transfer in (if applicable) no more than forty-five (45) college credit hours. Note: Students who transfer to another college without graduating and who otherwise meet the minimum number of hours in residence are encouraged to transfer hours back and graduate.
- Declare an area of degree concentration (major) appropriate for the degree sought. (See degree listings)
- Complete all three (3) areas (reading, math, and writing) of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI).
- Earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.0.
- Make a formal application for graduation. This can be done online through myBLINN by clicking the Apply for Graduation icon and following the steps for currently enrolled students. All others may apply for graduation at: Graduation Application.
- Clear all accounts owed to the College.
- Clear all holds.
The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees include Blinn’s Core Curriculum, General Academic Electives, and Area of Concentration and/or Field of Study courses—specifically focused on transfer requirements to area four-year colleges and universities. Students should consult with an academic advisor within the College’s advising office or chosen division/discipline to review pathway options.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree
The AAS degrees are awarded in a wide variety of programs, each with specific requirements. Check with an academic advisor for details. For the most current award plans, refer to Blinn Degrees and Certificates.
General requirements:
- Satisfy all the admission requirements.
- Meet the degree requirements as outlined in the College Catalog at the time of first admission or as outlined in any subsequent catalog issued prior to graduation, provided the requirements are met within five years from the date of the Catalog.
- Meet the requirements of the Catalog under which they are readmitted if studies are interrupted for more than thirteen (13) consecutive months.
- Earn at least sixty (60) college credit hours as defined by the degree program.
- Earn at least twenty-five percent (25%) of semester credit hours in residence with Blinn College.
- Earn at least nine (9) semester credit hours of sophomore-level courses.
- Complete the course requirements as outlined in the degree plan for the specified degree.
- Complete all three (3) areas (reading, math, and writing) of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA). Note: AAS students must complete all three areas unless given a special exception.
- Earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.0. Note: Specific grade requirements that are higher than 2.0 may be required for the Health Sciences Programs.
- Make a formal application for graduation. This can be done online through myBLINN for currently enrolled students. All others may apply at Graduation Application.
- Clear all accounts owed to the College.
- Clear all holds.
Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education (GIPWE):
To meet SACSCOC guidelines, each degree must have a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours of general education courses. These must include at least three (3) Semester Credit Hours in each area: Humanities/Fine Arts, Social/Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences/Mathematics. Courses must be transferable, found in the ACGM or the College’s approved inventory, and typically should be from the institution’s core curriculum. See SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation for more information.
Certificate Concentrations
For current award plans, visit Blinn Degrees and Certificates.
General requirements for certificate candidates:
- Satisfy all the admission requirements.
- Certificate Level II students must take the TSI Assessment test and cannot register for classes until this requirement is met. All three (3) areas (reading, math, and writing) must be completed unless given a special exception.
- Meet the certificate requirements as outlined in the College Catalog at the time of first admission or any subsequent Catalog prior to graduation, provided requirements are met within five years of the catalog date.
- Meet the requirements of the Catalog under which they were readmitted if studies are interrupted for more than thirteen (13) consecutive months.
- Earn at least twenty-five percent (25%) of certificate hours at Blinn College.
- Complete the course requirements as outlined in the award plan for the specified certificate.
- Earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.0. Note: Specific grade requirements higher than 2.0 may be required for Health Sciences Programs.
- Make a formal application for graduation. This can be done online through myBLINN for enrolled students, or at: Graduation Application
- Clear all accounts owed to the College.
- Clear all holds.
Occupational Skills Award
For current award plans, visit Blinn Degrees and Certificates.
- Satisfy all the admission requirements.
- Meet Occupational Skill Award requirements as outlined in the College Catalog at the time of first admission or in any subsequent catalog issued prior to graduation, provided requirements are met within five years from catalog date.
- Meet the requirements of the Catalog under which they were readmitted if studies are interrupted for more than thirteen (13) consecutive months.
- Earn at least twenty-five percent (25%) of award hours at Blinn College.
- Complete the course requirements as outlined in the award plan for the specified Occupational Skill Award.
- Earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.0. Note: Specific grade requirements higher than 2.0 may be required for Health Sciences Programs.
- Make a formal application for graduation. This can be done online through myBLINN, or at: Graduation Application
- Clear all accounts owed to the College.
- Clear all holds.
Additional Associate Degrees
With the following stipulations, students may obtain additional associate degrees:
- A student with an AS may obtain an AA or AAT, but not another AS degree.
- A student with an AA may obtain an AS, but not another AA or AAT degree.
- A student with an AAT may obtain an AS, but not another AAT or AA degree.
- A student with an AAS may obtain an AA (or AAT) and/or AS by completing all degree requirements.
- A student with an AAS may obtain additional AAS degrees by completing all degree requirements.
Blinn College 42-Hour Core Curriculum
For the current academic year Core Curriculum listing, visit Blinn Core Curriculum.
Graduate Guarantee
Transfer Credit
The College guarantees to its Associate of Arts, Associate of Art in Teaching, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science students (from May 1993 onward) that course credits will transfer to other public-supported Texas colleges or universities if the following conditions are met:
- Transferability means acceptance of credit toward a specific major and degree at a specific institution, identified by the student during the admission process before their first semester.
- Limitations on credit totals, grades, GPA, and transfer duration apply as described in the receiving institution's general undergraduate catalog.
- Transferability refers to courses in a written transfer/degree plan filed in the College's Academic Advising Office.
- Only college-level courses with Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Community College Academic Course Guide Manual approved numbers are included in this guarantee.
If all above conditions are met and a course is not accepted by a receiving institution, the student must notify the Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs at Blinn College within ten (10) days of the denial to begin the "Transfer Dispute Resolution" process.
If denial is not resolved, the College will allow the student to take tuition-free alternate courses, semester hour for semester hour, that are acceptable to the receiving institution within one year from degree granting. The graduate remains responsible for any fees, books, or related expenses.
Job Competency
If an Associate of Applied Science degree or Certificate graduate is judged by their employer to lack technical job skills identified as exit competencies by Blinn College, the graduate will be provided up to nine (9) tuition-free credit hours of additional skill training, subject to the following conditions:
- The graduate must have earned the Associate of Applied Science degree or Certificate (starting May 1993) in a technical, vocational, or occupational program listed in the College's catalog.
- The graduate must have completed requirements for the degree/certificate with the College, earning at least seventy-five percent (75%) of credits at Blinn College within a five-year period.
- Graduates must be employed full-time in a field directly related to the program as certified by the Vice Chancellor, Applied Sciences, Workforce and Economic Development.
- Employment must begin within two (2) months of graduation.
- The employer must certify in writing that the employee is lacking entry-level skills as validated by the program advisory committee and specify deficiency areas within ninety (90) days of the graduate’s initial employment.
- The employer, graduate, applicable instructional dean, job placement counselor, and faculty member must develop a written educational plan for retraining.
- Retraining is limited to nine (9) credit hours related to the identified deficiency and must be in regularly scheduled classes during the retraining plan period.
- Retraining must be completed within one year from the educational plan agreement.
- The graduate and/or employer is/are responsible for costs of books, insurance, uniforms, fees, and other course-related expenses.
- The guarantee does not imply the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a career pathway.
A student’s sole remedy against the College for skill deficiencies is limited to nine credit hours of tuition-free education under these conditions. Activation of the "Graduate Guarantee Program" may be initiated by contacting the Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs or Vice Chancellor, Applied Sciences, Workforce and Economic Development within ninety (90) days of initial employment.