This degree provides an opportunity for students to earn an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in a comprehensive area of study. It is intended for the student who may not be currently transferring to a university. A minimum of 60 semester units must be completed with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better in all degree-applicable units. Only courses numbered 1-299 may be applied toward this associate degree.

This degree is designed to equip students with the informative tools to support education in lifelong wellness and self-development. Students will be well acquainted with the vast landscape of wellness and self development, while considering the psychological, biological, developmental, and physical factors involved. They will be able to make more effective decisions about optimizing their own wellness, lifestyle, and performance across their lifespan.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

🗸 Analyze how physical, social, emotional, financial and/or intellectual factors contribute to wellness and healthful living
🗸 Apply the theories of Wellness and Self Development to personal, professional growth and/or vocational/life goals.
🗸 Apply an understanding of the interconnectedness between one’s personal self and others, thereby enhancing personal wellness and community relationships.
🗸 Create a lifelong understanding and development of themselves as integrated physiological, social, and psychological beings.
🗸 Acquire a knowledge base that encourages lifelong learning in order to effectively adapt to a complex and ever-changing society.

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study that examines the role of humans on the Earth and provides students with an understanding of the application of biological, chemical, and physical sciences to environmental systems.  The coursework examines the interrelated nature of environmental and social systems.

The Associate of Science in Environmental Science prepares students for transfer to a 4-year university or technical program for further study to prepare for a wide variety of careers.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

🗸 Critically evaluate the economic, social, and ecological perspectives of the major environmental issues.
🗸 Identify and describe the essential physical, chemical, and biological components of the earth’s natural systems, and explain how they interact and function.
🗸 Analyze and prioritize solutions to environmental issues based on sustainability, social justice, and ecological health.
🗸 Apply scientific literacy, technological tools, and quantitative reasoning to communicate environmental concepts to diverse audiences.

Communication Studies 2.0 will immerse students into the study of human communication. It includes public speaking, argumentation, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and small group communication. The importance of communication awareness, training, and skills are essential for successful and fulfilling personal, professional, and academic relationships and endeavors. Communication skills, theory, and practice are useful in any career including: education, business management, communication management, journalism, law enforcement, mass media and media arts, political science, public policy and administration, social work, public relations, advertising, broadcasting, technology, and finance.

Program Learning Outcomes

🗸 Analyze verbal and nonverbal communication through active listening skills.

🗸 Analyze the importance of diversity, differing belief and value systems, and civic responsibility through intercultural communication.

🗸 Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills that can be applied to personal and professional relationships.

🗸 Demonstrate applied communication skills that can be utilized in professional settings.

The Associate in Art for Transfer (AA-T) in Art History degree provides students with a solid foundation in art history, in preparation for transfer to a four-year institution. Successful completion of the AA-T degree satisfies lower division requirements and guarantees admission to the California State University (CSU) system (though not to a particular campus or major). The AA-T degree in Art History is designed to prepare those students interested in majoring in Art History and Museum Studies. It is also designed to prepare students who are considering careers in Art Conservation, Curator, Museum Administration, Teacher, Art Librarian, Art Authenticator and similar fields.

Program Learning Outcomes

🗸 Identify the artists and stylistic movements of specific works of art and explain their significance within the art-historical periods

🗸 Evaluate works of art within the art historical periods objectively and subjectively in order to interpret their purpose or meaning

🗸 Analyze the historical and/or cultural conditions that influenced the production of art within the art historical periods

The Language Program at Merritt College provides students the foundation for language study. In Spanish, students can earn an Associate of Arts degree or take individual courses that can transfer to a four-year institution. Among the courses are Elementary Spanish, Spanish for Bilingual Speakers, and Beginning Conversational Spanish. (Chinese language is also offered at Merritt.)

Career options include advertising, broadcasting, consulting, translating, counseling, education, film, foreign service, fund raising, human resources, journalism, international relations, law, management, ministry, politics, public relations, sales, social work, and various other related fields

The associate degree in Video Production for Video, Broadcast and Digital Cinematography covers the entire range of digital video, audio and media production, from script development, hands-on, current professional 2K and 4K production equipment, current editing and other post-production effects and applications, distribution, and media business management. The program has expanded into the VR/AR and drone worlds, and integrated basic networking into the department's programs. Production of creative content for video, film, sports and broadcast TV, radio, cable, web, mobile technology, and other emerging communications technologies will be studied.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Design and create digital media projects using state-of-the-art technology and skill sets, incorporating digital video/audio, aesthetic theory, interactivity, effects graphics and current distribution formats.

🗸 Apply appropriate critical and creative problem solving skills to analyze the aesthetic and production elements of video, television and other interactive media

🗸 Practice teamwork and collaboration and create a professional, industry-relevant showreel.

Career Opportunities

Video editor, camera operator, film/video producers, video effects artists, event videographer, sports videographer, audio/visual technician, live entertainment rentals and productions, corporate video/promotions, video for web sites, training video production, infomercial production, advertising video, web shopping videos, music videos.

This associate degree is designed for students who complete the first two years of college math, statistical analysis, and computer programming. It differs from our transfer degree in the IGETC or CSU Breadth Requirements. Students interested in this degree should consult with a counselor and the chair of the Mathematics Department. The degree will be awarded upon completion of the major course requirements listed below and the General Education requirements for the Associate in Science Degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Application Problems: Students should be able to read word problems, identify the type of problem, synthesize relevant information, create a mathematical relationship (equation) to determine unknown quantities and solve to determine the answer to the question posed.

🗸 Demonstrate the ability to apply statistical analysis of real world data using multiple representations such as graphs, text, or tables, being mindful of concerns around data bias and privacy.

🗸 Use programming and data analytics tools to make statistical inference on data and data sets using computational techniques.

Career Opportunities

The field of Data Science is one with a multitude of employment opportunities. Completing this degree will aid students in developing a wide variety of skills that are valuable in collaborative Data Science work environments. Students who complete this degree stand to improve their employment prospects in the field of Data Science, but also in many applied fields, such as Math, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biology, Sociology, or Finance.

A study of anthropology at Merritt College is intended to provide students with knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of cultural and biological contributions to human adaptations, in the past and in the present.  

Intended to meet the lower division requirements for anthropology majors or majors that have been deemed similar in the California State University (CSU) system.  

Successful completion of the degree affords students specific guarantees for transfer to the CSU system such as admission to a CSU with junior status, priority admission to their local CSU campus and to a program or major in anthropology or similar major. Students transferring to a CSU campus will be required to complete no more than 60 semester or 90 quarter units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree.  

To qualify for the Associate in Arts in Anthropology for Transfer (AA-T) degree, students are required to complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to a California State University, including both of the following:  

🗸 The California State University General Education – Breadth Requirements (CSU GE-Breadth) or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) and

🗸 19-22 semester units with a grade of “C” or better, or “P” if the course is taken on a “Pass/No-Pass” basis, in the major and an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. (Some universities may have limits on the number of Pass/No-Pass units they will accept for transfer. See a counselor for more information.)  

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:  

🗸 Analyze human biological and cultural adaptations, including the different factors that have affected and continue to affect humans biologically and culturally.  
🗸 Analyze the factors that cause modern human biological and cultural diversity and demonstrate an appreciation for, and sensitivity to, human biological and cultural diversity.  
🗸 Understand and apply the scientific and methodological approaches necessary for conducting research in the interdisciplinary fields of anthropology.

The Police Science degree and certificate program provides practical and technical instruction to meet the requirements of law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. The program is designed for men and women who are interested in careers as law enforcement officers, who are responsible for ensuring the security of human rights and maintaining social order according to the democratic system. Some responsibilities of law enforcement officers include enforcing laws and detecting and arresting violators of the law, crime prevention, and protecting life and property.

To qualify for the Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice: Police Science degree, students must satisfactorily complete the Degree Major requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of this catalog for more information on the local AA/AS overall requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements.

A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the minimum 32 units specified for the certificate (excluding the 9 additional units required for the degree major). The AA degree may be completed in four semesters, while the certificate may be completed in two semesters.

Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the degree or certificate will be able to:

🗸 Effectively use suppression equipment and practices.
🗸 Engage in public education and present prevention practices.
🗸 Employ chain of command and paramilitary management structure.
🗸 Recognize career hazards and safety equipment and practices.

The Corrections degree and certificate program provides preparatory instruction necessary for persons who wish entry into four-year institutions for careers as Correctional Officers, Counselors or Probation and Parole Officers with federal, state, and county agencies. Entry-level employment may be available after satisfactory completion of the AA degree or certificate requirements.

To qualify for the Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice: Corrections degree, students must satisfactorily complete the Degree Major requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of this catalog for more information on the local AA/AS overall requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements.

A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the minimum 32 units specified for the certificate (excluding the 9 additional units required for the degree major). The AA degree may be completed in four semesters, while the certificate may be completed in two semesters.

Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the degree or certificate will be able to:

🗸 Communicate appropriately, in both verbal and computer-generated written (narrative report) formats, within the criminal justice system.

🗸 Demonstrate professional, ethical, and respectful conduct to those of diverse cultures, customs, and beliefs in stressful, emotionally charged situations.

🗸 Critically analyze behaviors and situations for violations of criminal law, criminal procedure, and/or for possible defenses.

🗸 Develop and maintain relationships of trust and respect with co-workers, the community, employers, and criminal suspects.