Completing Your Degree

A Degree as Unique as You Are!

Charter Oak State College's degree completion programs enable adults, who already possess college credits or work experience, to complete the Associate or Bachelor's (Baccalaureate) degree that meets their needs.

Charter Oak allows you to maximize the credits you have earned! If needed you may also earn additional credits in a variety of ways including:

Charter Oak's own online courses
Courses transferred from regionally accredited colleges and universities
Standardized tests - CLEP, DANTES, etc.
ACE-evaluated military credit
ACE-evaluated corporate training
Contract learning (independent study)
Portfolio assessment (experiential learning)
Connecticut Credit Assessment Program (CCAP)

For a step-by-step overview of how to earn your degree, visit Degree Completion Steps.

Charter Oak Degrees

You may complete one of four General Studies Degrees:

Associate in Arts
Associate in Science
Bachelor of Arts (Baccalaureate of Arts)
Bachelor of Science (Baccalaureate of Science)

Charter Oak Degrees at a Glance

Degree	Requirements
Associate in Arts	60 credits, including 45 liberal arts*
Associate in Science	60 credits, including 30 liberal arts*
Bachelor of Arts	120 credits, including 90 liberal arts* A Concentration consisting of 36 credits
Bachelor of Science	120 credits, including 60 liberal arts* A Concentration consisting of 36 credits

*All degrees require the satisfaction of general education requirements.

Students enrolled in a bachelor's or associate degree program at Charter Oak are required to successfully complete a 3-credit cornerstone course. Students must take this three-credit foundational course during their first term as an enrolled student. Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program are also required to successfully complete a capstone course in their concentration from Charter Oak State College to graduate.

Associate Degree Overview

You may earn an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree. Both degrees are in General Studies and require 60 semester credits including the completion of general education requirements. The Associate in Arts degree requires 45 liberal arts credits, while the Associate in Science degree requires 30. There is usually plenty of room for open electives.

Bachelor's (Baccalaureate) Degree Overview

You may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Both baccalaureate degrees are in General Studies and require 120 semester credits. In addition to satisfying general education requirements, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires 90 liberal arts credits, while the Bachelor of Science degree requires 60. Bachelor's degree-seeking students must also complete a Concentration in a specific discipline or combination of disciplines.

Concentration Basics
A concentration consists of a minimum of 36 credits in one or more fields of study. Concentrations can be in specific subject-areas like Business Administration, Child Studies, Psychology or Health Care Administration; or they may be multidisciplinary if you have a background or interest in related subject areas. The multidisciplinary concentrations, called Individualized Studies and Liberal Studies, are popular with students who have very specific or unique career interests because they can be customized based on those interests.

A concentration is similar to a major, but it offers far more flexibility by allowing you to work with the credits you have already earned to map-out a degree program that meets your career and personal goals. Our academic counselors and faculty will provide guidance in helping you choose credits to fulfill your concentration plan of study (CPS), but ultimately, you will need to explain the focus of your concentration and the manner in which credits you have selected fit into your concentration. In thinking about which concentration will work best for you, consider; your career goals, personal interests, when you want to complete your degree, and which credits you have already completed.

Not sure which concentration to choose? See the Concentrations / Fields of Study page for more information.