WCJC awards the Associate of Arts degree for students planning to pursue four-year degrees. The purpose of the AA degree is to provide programs in university-parallel and pre-professional areas that enable students to enter four-year institutions as juniors.

Applicants for the Associate of Arts degree must:

1. Satisfy all conditions for admission.
2. Successfully complete at least 60 semester hours of college-level courses.
3. As part of the total 60-hour requirement, successfully complete 42 semester hours of core curriculum requirements:
   1. Nine semester hours in Communications: ENGL 1301 and 1302, and SPCH 1315;
   2. Three semester hours in Mathematics;
   3. Eight semester hours in Laboratory Science;
   4. Three semester hours in a Humanities;
   5. Three semester hours in Performing/Visual Arts;
   6. Six semester hours in History: HIST 1301 and 1302;
   7. Six semester hours in Government: GOVT 2301 and 2302;
   8. Three semester hours in Social/Behavioral Science;
   9. One semester hour in Kinesiology.
4. Pass all three sections of the THEA test or satisfy the basic skills requirement in any way prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
5. Earn a cumulative overall grade point average of 2.0.
6. Complete no more than forty percent (40%) of required course work via distance learning delivery methods (internet, video, or ITV).
7. Complete at least 24 semester hours, including 9 of the last 15 hours, at Wharton County Junior College.
8. Complete at least 15 hours of sophomore-level courses.
9. Meet all financial obligations to the college.
10. Fill out application for graduation by deadline date:  July 15 - August graduation; November1 - December graduation; or April 1 - May graduation.
11. All courses in the Course Description of the catalog are designated "Type: Acad" if they are academic transfer courses.  Only academic transfer courses may be used.

To aid students in planning their course of study at WCJC, the college provides suggested courses of study for the first two years in this section of the catalog for various four-year degrees. At the same time, the college urges students to consult the catalog of the senior institution of their choice to insure they are taking the courses required by that institution.

Programs and courses within programs are subject to deletion or change without notice by action of the Board of Trustees of Wharton County Junior College.