Generally “transfer” is movement between any two educational institutions. Here, however the term is specifically used to describe advancement from a community college to a university. Transfer means that you begin your bachelor’s degree at a community college and complete it at a university.
Lower division courses are offered for freshman and sophomore level credit. All courses offered at a community college are lower division courses. Upper division courses are offered for junior and senior level credit. These courses are not offered at community colleges.
California has two public university systems. The California State University (CSU) has a more practical, career-oriented approach to education in contrast to the more theoretical research based approach at the UC. Both systems offer advanced degree opportunities (i.e. Master’s, Doctoral)
Ideally, you should complete the general education requirements and major preparation courses.
Minimum university course requirements vary by university system and/or institution.
For CSU: Completion of 30 units of general education courses with a grade of C or better including the “Golden Four”, which on the CSU-GE pattern is one course from each of the following areas completed with a C or better: Area A1 (Oral Communication), Area A2 (Written Communication), Area A3 (Critical Thinking), Area B4 (Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning)
For UC: Completion of the following course pattern requirements, earning a grade of C or better in each course: Two transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition, One transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning; Four transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, the physical and biological sciences
For Private/Out-of-State: Course requirements will vary from campus to campus.
To transfer to a UC or CSU with junior level status, you must complete 60 transferable semester units prior to transferring from RHC. Generally, units must be completed an entire term prior to transferring. For private, out of state universities/colleges, you can transfer with 12-30 units minimum.
Specific regulations vary from college to college. However, the California State University and the University of California allow a maximum of 70 transferable semester units towards the degree. Units above the maximum will be given subject credit. However, all transferable courses are calculated into the transferable GPA for admission. Different limits may apply if you have already attended a “four-year” institution. You should meet with a counselor for more detail.
The GPA necessary for admission can vary from year to year and depends on the campus, the major, and the applicant pool. The minimum GPA for admission eligibility to CSU is 2.0 (2.4 for California non-residents) in all transferable college units attempted. To be eligible for admission to UC the minimum GPA is 2.4 (2.8 for nonresidents) in transferable courses.
Impacted or selective majors are those for which the university receives more applications for admission than the campus can accommodate. Impacted is also an official designation by the CSU system that allows the department that offers an impacted major to require a higher GPA or specific major preparation. Selective is a term used by the UC to describe majors for which the same conditions exist and for which the university imposes the same kind of selection criteria (GPA and major preparation) to screen for the most qualified applicants.
It is required that you choose a major before transferring. In most cases you will be required to have major preparation coursework completed before you transfer, to ensure an easier transition to the university.
By participating in a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, you will receive early review of your academic records, early admission notification and specific guidance about major preparation and general education coursework. A student who fulfills specific TAG program requirements and earns a specific GPA will have guaranteed admission to a university.
General Education courses are usually introductory in nature and provide you with fundamental knowledge in English, mathematics, the arts and humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences. You will complete the majority of GE coursework needed to receive a bachelor’s degree while you are a student at a community college. After you transfer to a university, you may be required to take a few GE courses. The GE unit requirements of independent and out-of-state institutions vary, but the ration of lower division to upper division is similar. GE courses are divided into subject areas and GE patterns describe the number of courses that you must take in each subject area to meet total GE requirements. Each institution has its own GE (sometimes called breadth or core) pattern. There are also GE patterns that are accepted by the entire CSU and/or UC systems for transfer to any campus in that system.
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a general education program that California Community College transfer students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements at a California State University, University of California, and some California private universities, and out-of-state universities.
CSU GE Breadth is a general education pattern and is appropriate for students who intend to apply and transfer only to a California State University (CSU).
GE Certification is verification that you have completed lower division general education requirements (CSU GE or IGETC). The certification is sent to the university to which you have been accepted and where you plan to enroll. The university will not hold you to any additional GE requirements with full certification. A request for certification form must be obtained and turned into the RHC Admissions and Records office towards the end of your last semester.
To find out which courses are transferable visit ASSIST. ASSIST is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. You can also check to see which Rio Hondo College courses transfer in the RHC catalog and by meeting with a counselor or University Representative.
The UC and CSU system do not require high school grades and test scores when a student transfers as a junior with a minimum of 60 transferable units. For private schools it will vary from campus to campus.
In general, no. However, receiving an Associate Degree for Transfer can make you a more competitive applicant.
It depends on the courses taken. A student who has attended another college/university prior to their start at RHC is recommended to make a counseling appointment to have coursework from other colleges evaluated and given an educational plan based on the student’s goal.
Yes, you must report all colleges/universities attended on your admission application, including coursework completed from outside of U.S.
You must contact each campus to determine their policy on admitting students for a second Bachelor’s degree.
