Make Educational Choices to Support Your Goals

Why Are You Attending Oxnard College?

Every student has unique goals and motivations for attending college. Whether you’re preparing for a skilled trade, seeking career advancement, working toward a specialized profession, or planning to transfer to a four-year institution, Oxnard College offers a wide range of programs to help you succeed.

Your educational goals should guide the courses and programs you pursue. It’s important to stay focused on your objectives and understand the requirements needed to achieve them.

Planning is Key to Success

Some students begin their college journey with a clear sense of direction, while others are still exploring their options. Wherever you are in the process, Oxnard College counselors are here to help. Counselors work with students to identify and create education plans for academic, career, and personal goals.

In compliance with the Student Success Act of 2012, all students are required to complete an abbreviated educational plan for their first semester in order to receive priority registration. Meeting with a counselor early on is a vital step in planning your future.

What Do You Want to Accomplish at Oxnard College?

At Oxnard College, you can:

• Transfer to a four-year institution while completing an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), fulfilling general education certification, and/or completing UC Transfer Pathways requirements
• Earn an Associate Degree in a specific major or in General Studies with an area of emphasis
• Improve employability or gain job advancement skills through a Certificate of Achievement, Proficiency Award, or Certificate of Completion
• Prepare for credit courses by completing a Certificate of Competency

Proof of Your Success

Oxnard College offers six types of awards to recognize your academic accomplishments. These awards can be valuable credentials when applying for jobs or transferring to another institution:

Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT):

Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) include the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T). These degrees require completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units, which include general education and lower-division major coursework. Students earning an ADT are guaranteed admission into the California State University (CSU) system in a program deemed similar to the transfer major and can complete their bachelor’s degree with an additional 60 units of upper-division study.

Associate Degrees (AA or AS):

Associate in Arts (AA) or the Associate in Science (AS) require the completion of 60 degree-applicable units. These include general education courses and coursework in a chosen major. Associate degrees provide a broad academic foundation, enhance critical thinking skills, and may be earned in a specific major or as part of a General Studies program with an area of emphasis. Counselors are available to help students determine the most appropriate degree path for their goals.

Certificates of Achievement (COA): 

Certificates of Achievements are awarded for concentrated study in a specific field and typically require more units and in-depth coursework than a Proficiency Award. These certificates are recorded on the student’s transcript and make students eligible to participate in the spring graduation ceremony, offering official recognition of focused professional preparation.

Proficiency Awards (PA):

Proficiency Awards are designed to acknowledge the successful completion of one or more courses in a targeted career or skills area. While not recorded on a transcript and not eligible for participation in the graduation ceremony, Proficiency Awards still serve as a meaningful way to document and communicate newly acquired competencies to employers.

Certificates of Competency (Noncredit):

Certificates of Competency are noncredit awards granted to students who have demonstrated mastery of specific competencies that support career advancement or prepare them to enter credit programs. These certificates include the name of the award, date, area of study, and a list of competencies achieved. Some or all of this information may also appear on a special noncredit transcript.

Certificates of Completion (Noncredit)

Certificates of Completion are noncredit awards that are designed to improve employability or job opportunities upon completion of a designated sequence of noncredit courses. Students completing a Certificate of Completion will receive a document that includes the name of the certificate, the date it was awarded, a standardized code number and discipline name identifying the area of study, a statement of the goal of the program, and a list of courses completed by the student. Some or all of this information may also be recorded on a special noncredit transcript.