Graduation
Central Texas College confers the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, the Associate of Applied Science, and Certificates of Completion.
Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees are primarily designed to allow the transfer of credits earned at CTC to a bachelor’s degree at most four-year Texas colleges and universities. The degrees require 60 semester credit hours of which 42 are core curriculum courses (CORE) transferable toward the general education requirements of a bachelor’s degree at Texas state-supported colleges and universities. Some degrees include complete or partial field of study courses (FOS) designed to transfer toward a bachelor’s degree and be applied to an appropriate major at Texas colleges and universities. For more information on the CORE and FOS courses, refer to the Degrees and Certificates section of this catalog.
Associate of Applied Science Degrees are designed to prepare students for employment. All programs require a minimum of 15 semester hours in general education courses selected from specific core curriculum components. Many of the fastest growing careers in the state of Texas require these degrees and certificates.
Certificates of Completion, Level I are 15 to 42 semester credit hours and Level II are 15 to 51 semester credit hours. Within many of the associate of applied science degrees, there are certificates of completion that can be finished in less than two years. The certificates are building blocks for students to move from basic to more advanced workplace competencies. Most certificates allow students to build toward the associate of applied science degree.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate from Central Texas College, the student must:
- Apply for graduation by the deadline date.
- Successfully complete all courses required in the program of study.
- Earn a “C” or better grade for any major or major-related elective course in the program of study.
- Complete at least 25 percent of the degree or certificate semester credit hours at CTC (to fulfill residency requirements).
- Earn at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale on all CTC coursework. All courses completed at the time the degree or certificate requirements were met are calculated in the CTC GPA, even if the courses were not used to meet specific degree or certificate requirements.
- Earn at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, which includes transfer credits applied to the degree and CTC coursework.
- Meet state, institutional, licensure and other agency rules as applicable.
- TSI-obligated students seeking an associate degree or a certificate level 2 must be TSI complete or exempt in reading, writing, and mathematics. For TSI non-exempt students the requirement to be TSI complete may be waived for students if enrolled in a designated level II certificate that did not include entry-level freshman coursework. Such students are still required to have taken the TSI Assessment 2.0 or 1.0 based on TSI requirements.
Graduation Contact Information: Email graduation.info@ctcd.edu or call 254-526-1592.
Graduation with Honors
Candidates for degrees conferred by Central Texas College may be eligible to graduate with highest honors or honors. Certificates of completion do not qualify for honors. To graduate with honors or highest honors from CTC, the student must:
Highest Honors
- Have a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale on all coursework taken, which includes all CTC courses taken and any transfer credits that apply toward the degree program the student is graduating with; and
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester hours of traditional study with Central Texas College. Courses with grades of “P” or developmental coursework are not considered when determining the minimum 30 semester hour residency requirement.
Honors
- Have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale on all coursework taken, which includes all CTC courses taken and any transfer credits that apply toward the degree program the student is graduating with; and
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester hours of traditional study with Central Texas College. Courses with grades of “P” or developmental coursework are not considered when determining the minimum 30 semester hour residency requirement
In any graduating class, the student(s) with a 4.0 GPA and who meets all other requirements above will be designated as graduating with highest honors.
Applying for Graduation
Students who have reached the final semester of their degree or certificate program should apply for graduation by the dates listed below. The Application for Graduation is available on the CTC website or may be picked up at the Graduation office located in the Enrollment Center Building 209.
| Semester of Graduation |
Deadline |
| Fall |
October 1 |
| Spring |
February 1 |
| Summer |
June 1 |
Graduation applications received after the deadline will be processed the next semester. Final course grades, high school transcripts or GED scores, and official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges or universities previously attended must be on file before issuance of the degree or certificate.
Students who do not complete remaining degree or certificate requirements by the end of the month of graduation (31 May, 31 August, or 31 December) will be declared nongraduates and are required to reapply for graduation in a following semester.
Commencement
Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas, holds three graduation ceremonies per year, in May, August, and in December. To participate in the graduation ceremony in May, students must complete degree or certificate requirements by the end of the spring semester. For August and December ceremonies students must complete their program requirements by the end of the summer semester and fall semester respectively.
Candidates for graduation who attend a CTC site outside Texas or complete program requirements through distance learning may participate in the graduation ceremonies held at the Killeen campus. Caps and gowns are purchased directly through the CTC Bookstore in Killeen, Texas.
Reverse Transfer Graduation
If you transfer to a university before completing an associate degree at CTC, you can still earn your associate degree through reverse transfer. Texas public universities are required to identify, track, and follow up with each student who has (1) earned at least 30 semester credit hours at a community college and (2) completed a total of 66 semester credit hours. Once a student meets these requirements and students have submitted a signed consent form for release of information, the university will release courses, grades, and credit information to the lower institution of higher education. CTC will review the information. If CTC determines you have completed the course and degree requirements for an associate degree, CTC will award you the degree.
Replacing a Lost Certificate or Degree
If a certificate or degree has been lost, stolen, or damaged, assistance on how to obtain a replacement may be obtained through the Student Services Graduation office in Killeen, Texas. Diplomas are provided through Parchment, Inc and are ordered by the student through their Parchment account. An appropriate fee is required to replace a diploma.