Preparation for Transfer
Students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university must complete minimum admission requirements at the community college prior to transferring. Requirements vary among institutions. Therefore, students should become familiar with the courses for 1) general education, 2) major preparation, 3) admission requirements to meet minimum eligibility and selective majors, and 4) Grade Point Average (GPA).
Admission requirements may change from year to year. It is to the student’s advantage to select a transfer institution as early as possible and meet with an academic counselor, transfer center adviser, the university representative, and/or articulation officer for updated information. Students are encouraged to view the ASSIST website at www.assist.org, which provides the most up-to-date information on course articulation for California public universities.
In addition, students are welcome to visit the Transfer Center in the Student Services Center building. The Transfer Center offers a variety of services to assist students with the transfer process such as workshops, university fairs, campus tours, application assistance, and university contacts.
ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer)
ASSIST is a computerized student-transfer information system that can be accessed online. It displays reports of how course credits earned at one California Community College can be applied at the receiving institution. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and therefore features the most accurate and up-to-date information available about student transfer in California. For additional information regarding ASSIST, visit the Career and Transfer Center or the ASSIST website at www.assist.org.
California State University
The California State University system consists of 23 campuses located throughout the state. While each campus within the system has its own unique geographic and academic character, all campuses offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of subject areas.
Upper Division Transfer Requirements:
Students who have at least 60 transferable semester units (or 90 transferable quarter units) with a 2.0 grade point average completed by the time of entry to a CSU, are considered an upper division applicant. Applicants are eligible for admission to the CSU if they:
- are in good standing at the last college or university attended; and
- have completed 30 units of general education to include: one course in written communication, one course in oral communication, one course in critical thinking, and one transferable course in mathematics above intermediate algebra. The four courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Campuses that are impacted have supplemental admission criteria. Students should meet with a counselor and visit: www.calstate.edu/SAS/ for additional information.
Note: The majority of students transfer as upper division transfers, as most CSU campuses do not accept lower division transfer students. Please check with the individual campus for verification.
CSU General Education Breadth Requirements
General Education Breadth Requirements are designed so that students may take lower division general education courses at a California community college such that when a student transfers, the student will have completed most, if not all, of the lower division general education requirements.
Certification
Certification means that El Camino College has verified that the student has completed the lower division general education requirements for the CSU. For full certification, students must complete 39 units from Categories A through E of the CSU General Education Requirements. Twelve of the 39 units must be completed at El Camino College. CSU certification may be requested in Admissions. Courses may be listed in multiple categories, but can only be certified in one area.
CSU General Education Requirements
Area A - Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking
minimum 9 semester units or 12 quarter units
One course from each subsection.
Area B - Physical Universe and its Life Forms
minimum 9 semester units or 12 quarter units
One course must be completed from each subsection; one course must include a laboratory (marked by *).
3. The courses listed above in B.1. and B.2. marked with an asterisk meet the laboratory requirement.
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning:
Area C - Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages
minimum 9 semester units or 12 quarter units
At least one course from subsection 1 and one course from subsection 2.
Area D - Social, Political and Economic Institutions and Behavior; Historical Background
minimum 9 semester units or 12 quarter units
Courses must be selected from at least two different subsections.
Courses listed in more than one subsection/area can be used for credit in one subsection/area only.
1. Anthropology and Archaeology:
7. Interdisciplinary Social/Behavioral Science:
8. Political Science, Government and Legal Institutions:
10. Sociology and Criminology:
Area E - Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
minimum 3 semester units or 4-5 quarter units
One unit may be taken from:
Note:
(Warning: an Area E approved two-unit course would be required with one of these one-unit courses to meet the 3 unit minimum. El Camino College does not currently offer an approved 2-unit course in this area. See your counselor for further information.)
All CSU campuses have a graduation requirement in U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals of 6 semester units. One course is required from Group 1 and one course is required from Group 2.
University of California Admission Requirements
To be minimally eligible for admission to the University of California as a transfer student, a student must fulfill the following criteria:
- Complete 60 UC transferable semester units (90 quarter units) with a minimum GPA of 2.4 (2.8 for non-residents).
- Complete the following course pattern requirements, earning a grade of C or better in each course: two transferable college courses in English composition; one transferable college course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; four transferable college courses chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.
Note: The IGETC General Education Transfer Pattern will meet these course requirements. However, some students, depending on the transfer major and university, may not be well served by following IGETC.
- Complete as many major preparation courses as possible. Major preparation may be viewed at www.assist.org. Note: Selective majors are requiring certain courses to be completed before transfer with a higher grade point average.
The University of California will accept up to 70 UC transferable units from a community college. Students who complete more than 70 units at the community college may still complete courses to fulfill course requirements but will receive subject credit.
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses prospective transfer students attending California community colleges may complete at the community college to satisfy the lower division breadth/general education requirements at both the University of California and the California State University.
Students have the option of completing the IGETC or the specific lower division breadth/general education requirements of the school or college at the campus they plan to attend. The IGETC must be completed prior to transfer. The University has an agreement with each California community college that specifies which of its courses may be applied to each category of the IGETC. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
The IGETC is most helpful to students who want to keep their options open. Certain majors, however, will not be well served by following IGETC. Students who intend to transfer into majors that require extensive lower division preparation, such as those in engineering or the physical and natural sciences, should concentrate on completing as many prerequisites for the major before transfer.
The IGETC is not an admission requirement. Completing IGETC does not guarantee admission to the campus or program of choice. However, completing the lower division breadth/general education requirements, whether through the IGETC or the campus specific requirements, may be considered by the campus in the selection process. Students who do not complete the IGETC before transferring will be required to satisfy the campus-specific lower division general education requirements of the college they attend.
Certification
Certification means that the last community college attended prior to transfer will verify that the student has completed the entire IGETC pattern. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain full certification during the last semester of attendance prior to transfer. IGETC certification may be requested in Admissions.
IGETC Course Requirements
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
One course, 3 semester or 4-5 quarter units:
Area 3: Arts and Humanities
Three courses, 9 semester or 12-15 quarter units; at least one course from Arts and one course from Humanities:
Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Three courses, 9 semester or 12-15 quarter units, from at least two disciplines or an interdisciplinary sequence:
Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences
Two courses, 7-9 semester or 9-12 quarter units; one physical science course, one biological science course; at least one course must include a laboratory (*indicates a lab course):
C. Laboratory science courses are marked with an asterisk (*indicates a lab course):
Area 6 UC Only: Language other than English
The requirement may be met by one of the following:
A course at ECC: CH 1 , FREN 1 , GERM 1 , ITAL 1 , ITAL 2 , JAPA 1 , SLAN 111 ≠, SPAN 1 , SPAN 52A , SPAN 52B .
- Two years of high school coursework in a language other than English with a final grade of C or better. The two years must be in the same language (high school transcripts must be on file with ECC).
- Foreign language course (or courses) at another college or university that is comparable to two years of high school foreign language.
- Satisfactory score on the SAT II: Subject Test in languages other than English. (If taken before May 1995, use the first score; if taken after May 1995, use the second score): Chinese with Listening 500/520; French/French with Listening 500/540; German/German with Listening 500/510; Hebrew (modern) 500/470; Italian 500/520; Japanese with Listening 500/510; Korean /500; Latin 500/530; Spanish/Spanish with Listening 500/520.
- Score of 3 or better on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations in languages other than English.
- Score of 5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations in languages other than English.
- A Defense Language Institute language other than English course which is indicated as passed with a “C” or higher on the official transcript.
- Satisfactory completion of an achievement or proficiency test administered by a community college, university or other college in a language other than English. The test must assess the student proficiency at a level equivalent to at least two years of high school language. This conclusion must be posted on a transcript indicating unit, course title, and grade or on a document with letter head of the institution granting proficiency stating that the student has mastered proficiency in the language equivalent to two years of high school language.
- Language other than English “O” level exam with a grade of A, B, or C.
- Language other than English International “A” level exam with a score of 5, 6, 7.
- Satisfactory completion of C grades or better, of two years of formal schooling at the sixth grade level or higher in an institution where the language of instruction is not English.
Note: If the secondary school was completed in a non-English speaking country and the language of instruction of the secondary school was not English, language other than English proficiency can be certified for IGETC without further evaluation. The student must present appropriate documentation of attendance at the secondary school.
CSU Only: Graduation requirement in American History and American Institutions: HIST 101 , HIST 102 , HIST 105 , HIST 106 , HIST 108 , HIST 110 , HIST 111 , HIST 112 , HIST 122
Institutions: POLI 1
| + |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1993 or later. |
| ^ |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1995 or later |
| ~ |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1997 or later. |
| > |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1998 or later. |
| $ |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1999 or later. |
| ° |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 1999 or later. |
| ? |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2001 or later. |
| Σ |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2002 or later. |
| ø |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2003 or later. |
| & |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2004 or later. |
| © |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2005 or later. |
| ± |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2006 or later. |
| ? |
Indicates course only acceptable in this area if taken fall, 2007 or later. |
| # |
Indicates that transfer credit may be limited by UC or CSU or both; please consult with a counselor. |
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC): For general education courses taken after fall 2008, please check with your academic counselor or www.assist.org for course applicability and limitations.
|