Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer
Santa Clara, USA
Associate of Arts
DURATION
60 hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer (AA-T in Communication Studies) provides a clear pathway to a CSU institution for students who plan to transfer and complete a CSU major or baccalaureate degree in Communication Studies.
California Community College students who are awarded an Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer (AA-T in Communication Studies) are guaranteed admission with junior standing somewhere in the CSU system and given priority admission consideration to their local CSU institution or to a program that is deemed similar to their community college major.
This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or institutions. The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer (AA-T in Communication Studies) consists of lower division courses that provide fundamental skills for success in both personal and professional development.
Students gain self-awareness and the ability to build bridges with diverse audiences. The broad-based transfer curriculum includes interpersonal, intercultural, and group communication, public communication, argumentation and debate, and speech team activities.
The program is highly valued in both academic institutions and professional organizations.
What is an AA-T?
The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is intended for students who plan to transfer and complete a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing these transfer degrees:
- will earn an Associate's Degree from Mission College;
- are guaranteed admission to a similar major at a campus in the CSU system;
- will be prepared to start upper division coursework at the CSU;
- and will not have to complete more than 60 units after transfer.
Skills Needed
- Public speaking
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making skills
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation
- Ability to think on your feet
- Writing and Editing
- People skills
- Creativity
- Students will identify, explain, and apply theories about the communication process as they relate to various audiences and contexts.
- Students will create and implement effective communication strategies to orally deliver a message appropriate to the context.
- Students will identify, analyze, and evaluate their own verbal and nonverbal messages as well as those of others in a variety of contexts.
- Students will research, analyze, and critically evaluate reference material to support the development of communication competence.
To earn this degree, students must meet the following requirements:
- Completing the following major courses with grades of C or P or better.
- Completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units with a grade point average of at least 2.0; and
- Certified completion of either the California State University General Education Breadth pattern (CSU GE-B) or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Required Core Courses
Choose one from the following courses.
- COM 001 ---- Public Speaking (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- COM 001H ---- Public Speaking - Honors (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
List A/B - Select all Four (4) Courses
- COM 004 ---- Small Group Communication (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- COM 008 ---- Interpersonal Communication (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- COM 020 ---- Argumentation and Debate (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- COM 012 ---- Introduction to Intercultural Communication (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
List C - Select One (1) Course from the Following
- ANT 003 ---- Cultural Anthropology (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- ENG 001B ---- English Composition and Literature (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- ENG 001C ---- Clear Thinking in Writing (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- PSY 001 ---- General Psychology (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- PSY 001H ---- General Psychology - Honors (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- SOC 001 ---- Introduction to Sociology (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
- SOC 001H ---- Introduction to Sociology - Honors (3.0 Lecture) ---- 3.0
Scholarships at Mission
Mission College offers a variety of scholarships ranging from $50 to several thousand dollars per year. Eligibility may vary based on fields of study, community and/or college involvement, and/or financial need.
All continuing Mission College and new students, including graduating high school students and transferring students, may apply.
Current Scholarships Available
Mission College 2022-23 General Scholarships Application
New, returning, continuing, or transferring Mission College Scholarship opportunities are available. The 2022-23 MC Scholarship Application-visit the website for more details. The deadline has closed for this year.
NEW Spring 2022 Scholarship Opportunities!
Jim McEntee Legacy Scholarship: Deadline April 30, 2022. Download the application here: 21-22 Jim McEntee Scholarship
American Association of University Woman-AAUW (San Jose Branch Scholarship Application & Opportunity. For more information, visit the website. The deadline to apply is April 15,
NEW Chicana Latina (CLF) Foundation Scholarship
The Chicana Latina Foundation awards scholarships to Latina college students valued at $1500 each. Deadline to Apply: March 31st, 2022
NEW Progress Pride Scholarship!
For the first time, the Mensa Foundation seeks to award our Progress Pride Scholarship: up to two $10,000 scholarships. The scholarship is intended for college-bound, college, or graduate students at U.S. universities who identify as both BIPOC and LGBTQ—and who have demonstrated positive service to the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities.
POINT Foundation Scholarship
The Community College Scholarship Program launched in 2016 and went national in 2017. To be selected for the scholarship, students are evaluated on academic performance and potential, financial need, involvement in school and community, and goals for the future. Deadline to Apply May 3rd.
Mission Promise Program
Mission College is proud to expand our Mission Promise Program to make college more affordable for our new, first-time college students! Eligible students will have their enrollment fees paid for their first two years AND get up to $1,000 to pay for books or other educational expenses.
Dreamer Scholarships
Dreamers: Scholarship opportunity for undocumented and/or DACA recipients
- Immigrants Rising Scholarships
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation
- List of Undergraduate Scholarships
- Latinos in Technology (Includes Business and Nursing)
STEM Based
STEM: Science, Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) Scholarship Opportunities. New opportunities are open!
- NEW! Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship.
- NEW! Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship.
- Nordson BUILDS Scholarship Program.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Gates Millennium
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Society of Women Engineers
External Scholarships New opportunities!
Additional scholarship resources and links.
- pointfoundation.org (LGBTQI+ Scholarship Opportunity)
- Progress Pride Scholarship (BIPOC & LGBTQI+ Scholarship Opportunity)
- Latinos in Technology (includes Business and Nursing)
- Horacio Alger Scholarship (various & Career & Technical Scholarships)
- Pivotalnow.org (Foster Youth Scholarship Opportunity)
- National League of American Pen Woman (NLAPW) (females only scholarship)
- 2022 Scholarship Details 2022 NLAPW Application
- African American Scholarship Opportunity
- African American Scholarship
- Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
- Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship
- Soroptomist-Live Your Dream Award New!
- Live Your Dream Award NEW! (Due Nov. 15)
- VAPW Scholarship Application (Vietnamese American Professional Women Association of Silicon Valley Deadline May 1)
Jobs in the Field
- Broadcasting
- Consumer Affairs
- Public relations, marketing, and journalism
- Advertising
- Education
- Government, politics & law
- Human resources
- Negotiations
- Customer Services
- Recreation
- Management & Recruiting
- Community/ international affairs


