Degree Planning

While many students choose to participate in Running Start to earn dual high school or college credit to satisfy high school graduation requirements, students who attend Green River College full-time can potentially earn an associate degree by the time they finish Running Start.

Green River College offers many degrees that Running Start students can pursue. There are several associate degrees designed for students who plan to transfer to a university and there are numerous career and technical programs that provide training for a specific career field. If your student intends to complete an associates degree through the Running Start program, careful planning is involved. Below are some resources to help you and your student navigate these options:

• Areas of Study
  Lists all Green River College degree options and degree requirements.
• College Transfer Center
  Provides information and resources for transferring to a university; including transfer equivalency guides, tips for transferring, transfer event calendar, and important dates and deadlines.
• Catalog
  The College catalog provides information related to the student code of conduct, academic policies and procedures, degree requirements, course descriptions and prerequisites, and campus departments.
• Class Schedule & Schedule Planner
  Tools to help students plan their schedule. Lists classes offered each quarter.
• Degree Planning Workshop
  This mandatory workshop is for all new Running Start students who are taking 10+ credits per quarter or plan on earning a degree at Green River. All other Running Start students are welcome to attend as well - your student will learn a lot! We will cover how to choose a degree based on a major or career interest, the ins and outs of transferring to a university, and how to plan classes for future quarters.
• Academic Advising
  After attending a degree planning workshop, students are welcome to meet with an educational planner to discuss further degree planning. Please call 253-833-9111, ext. 2674 to schedule an advising appointment.

Most Green River students are transfer-bound to a four-year college. The direct transfer agreement degrees are accepted by many in-state universities and some out-of-state. When a student is accepted at a college or university and transfers with an associate degree, the institution considers all credits to satisfy general education requirements and will view the student as a junior upon transcript evaluation. However, most universities require Running Start students to apply as freshmen if they transfer immediately following high school graduation. Running Start students may apply as transfer students if they complete one quarter of community college in fall quarter after high school. Green River College general education credits transfer well, regardless of the direct transfer agreement. Always check with the receiving institution regarding credit transferability.