GENERAL EDUCATION
General Education at Merced College (MC) includes specifically approved courses required of all students, regardless of the program of study or career goals, for an Associate in Arts degree (AA), Associate in Science degree (AS), Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T), or Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T).
Students who have earned an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by one of the following United States institutional accrediting agencies* or CSU/IGETC/Cal-GETC Certification from a California Community College will also satisfy all general education and competency requirements for Merced's non-transfer associate in arts/associate in science degrees except for the program-specific graduation requirements.
*United States institutional accrediting agencies:
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), formerly the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Note: The accrediting agencies above were formerly known as U.S. regional accrediting agencies.
Local General Education Breadth
All Associate in Arts degree (AA) and Associate in Science degree (AS) are REQUIRED to complete Associate Degree Breadth Requirements.
Associate Degree Breadth Requirements 2025-2026
Transfer General Education Breadth
All Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) are REQUIRED to complete the requirements for an approved intersegmental lower-division general education pattern used for transfer to the University of California or the California State University. Beginning Fall 2025, Cal-GETC will be the General Education pattern used to confer Associate Degrees for Transfer. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to understand what courses fulfill Cal-GETC.