Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should remember that admission and subject requirements will vary. Consequently, students planning to transfer should study carefully the requirements set forth in the catalogs and brochures of the institutions that interest them. Such publications may be obtained directly from the colleges and universities. Many websites allow students to access such information via the Internet. Many of these links are available at the Transfer Center website, www.cerritos.edu/transfer. To ensure that appropriate transfer coursework is being undertaken at Cerritos College, students should plan to communicate regularly with a counselor.

Interstate Passport

The Interstate Passport enables the successful transfer of a block of lower-level, general education course credit to other institutions participating in the Interstate Passport Network (IPN). Students who earn their Passport at Cerritos College will not be required to repeat or take additional coursework to meet lower-division, general education requirements in the Interstate Passport’s nine areas upon transfer to any other IPN institution. Students with an interest in achieving the Passport-LDGE should visit our website at www.cerritos.edu/interstate-passport/ and contact their advisor.

Independent and Out-of-State Colleges and University Transfer Requirements

There are many choices for transfer students when deciding to earn a bachelor’s degree and beyond. In addition to the California State University and University of California systems, there are many California independent institutions. There are also many colleges, private and public, located throughout the United States to which Cerritos College students can transfer. Each of these institutions has its own unique requirements for admission. In order to determine eligibility, students should refer to the school’s catalog or website and consult with a counselor at Cerritos College and/or the university of choice. It is recommended to consult with a Transfer Center Counselor.

General Education Requirements for Independent and Out-of-State Colleges and Universities

In planning for transfer, students should consider the general education requirements for all institutions of interest. Many in-state independent institutions accept CSU general education and IGETC. Students transferring to independent or out-of-state institutions should refer to the school’s catalog or website and meet with a counselor to determine appropriate general education requirements. Cerritos college has articulated general education requirements with a number of independent institutions. You can visit the Transfer Center’s website at www.cerritos.edu/transfer for a complete list of articulation agreements.

The California State University

Transfer Requirements

Lower Division Transfer Requirements: If you have completed fewer than 60 transferable semester (90 quarter) units, you will qualify for admission if you have a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher in all transferable units attempted, are in good standing at the last college or university attended, and meet the admission requirements for first-time freshmen; i.e., you have completed with a grade of “C” or higher each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory subject requirements and have a qualifiable eligibility index. If you did not complete all the subject requirements in high school, appropriate college courses may be used to make up the missing subjects. Nonresidents must meet the eligibility index for nonresidents. Note: Not all California State Universities accept lower division transfers. Please go to www.calstate.edu to find out more.

Test Scores: Freshmen and transfer applicants, who have fewer than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of transferable college credit, must submit scores, unless exempt, from either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Board or the American College Testing Program (ACT). If you are applying to an impacted program and are required to submit test scores, you should take the test no later than December if applying for fall admission.

Registration forms and dates for the SAT and ACT are available from school and college counselors or from a campus testing office. Or you may write to:

The College Board (SAT) American College Testing Program (ACT) Registration Unit
Box 592  Registration Unit
P.O. Box 168
Princeton, New Jersey 08541

The College Board (SAT) American College Testing Program (ACT) Registration Unit
Box 592  Registration Unit
P.O. Box 168
Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Freshmen—The campus to which you are applying will provide information regarding when to submit your official high school transcript. Transcripts must be received in sealed envelopes directly from the high school from which you graduated.

Upper Division Transfer Requirements: Completion of at least 60 transferable semester (90 quarter) units, a grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher in all transferable units attempted (nonresidents must have a grade point average of 2.4), and in good standing at the last college or university attended are required. In addition, you must have completed at least 30 semester (45 quarter) units of college courses with a grade of “C” or higher in each course to be selected from courses in English, arts and humanities, social science, science, and mathematics at a level at least equivalent to courses that meet general education requirements. The 30 general education semester (45 quarter) units (Plan B/Plan C) must include ENGL 100 Freshman Composition, oral communication, critical thinking, and transferable mathematics. The ENGL 100 Freshman Composition, oral communication, critical thinking, and transferable mathematics courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.

Although 2.0 is the minimum, California State University is becoming more competitive and students should try to maintain the highest possible grade point average.

TOEFL Requirement: All undergraduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, who have not attended schools at the secondary level or above for at least three years where English is the principal language of instruction must present a minimum score of 500 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Some campuses may require a score higher than 500.

Transcripts: Final official transcripts must be submitted prior to enrollment to verify that all required coursework has been completed successfully. CSU campuses will either delay admission or not permit registration or attendance until receipt of final transcripts.

Transfers: Request that official transcripts be sent directly from all colleges or universities previously attended even if no coursework was completed. Transcripts must be received in sealed envelopes from each institution attended. You should keep personal copies of all transcripts and test scores to complete the admission application and for academic advising sessions.

University of California

Transfer Requirements

The University of California considers you a transfer applicant if you graduated from high school and enrolled in a regular session at another college or university. You cannot disregard your college record and apply as a freshman.

If you plan to attend a California community college before applying to the university, you should take courses that are transferable, that satisfy university and college requirements, and that fulfill prerequisites in your major. For assistance in planning for transfer to the University of California, see a community college counselor or university advisor. Many of the university admissions advisors are available for appointments through the Transfer Center.

California Residents

There are three ways in which you can meet the University’s minimum admission requirements for transfer students. These requirements are described below. Please note that even though options 1 and 2 are possible, the number of University of California campuses actually accepting students with these two options is very limited.

1. If you were eligible for admission to the University when you graduated from high school—meaning you satisfied the Subject,¹ Scholarship, and Examination Requirements—you are eligible to transfer if you have a “C” (2.0) average in your transferable college coursework.
2. If you met the Scholarship Requirement but did not satisfy the Subject Requirement,¹ you must take transferable courses in the subjects you are missing to be eligible to transfer. You will need to earn a grade of “C” or higher in each of these required courses, and an overall “C”  (2.0) average in all UC transferable college coursework. If you completed less than 18 quarter or 12 semester units of UC transferable college coursework, you must satisfy the Examination Requirement for freshman applicants.
3. If you were not eligible for admission to the University when you graduated from high school because you did not meet the Scholarship Requirement, or you did not meet the Scholarship Requirement and did not complete all the required “a-g” subjects,¹ you must:
   1. Complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of UC transferable college credit with a grade point average of at least 2.4, and
   2. Complete a course pattern requirement to include:
      1. Two transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition; and
      2. One transferable college course (3 semesters or 4-5 quarter units) in Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning.

¹

Residency Status: The requirements for bonafide California residents also apply to dependents of University of California graduates and employees. The manner in which legal residence is defined for tuition purposes is different. If you have questions about your residency status, contact the Admissions or Registrar’s Office at the campus you wish to attend.

Career Pathways

In addition, Cerritos College courses needed for career pathways (listed in boldface) can be found at the Transfer Center website address as well www.cerritos.edu/transfer-center/includes/transfer-and-major-paths.htm. Career Pathways informs students of common course requirements for professional preparation which can be completed at Cerritos College. Career Pathways such as pre-medical studies for medical school preparation are not majors offered at the university level and may not meet all requirements for various transfer majors in this area. Some Career Pathways provide students with a listing of the Cerritos College courses that meet requirements for selected professional programs such as Liberal Studies for elementary school teaching. Career Pathways detail courses that may be taken at Cerritos College and that may or may not count toward a specific major for BA/BS degree requirements. Students following a career pathway who plan to transfer should also complete the preparation for a major available at the university where they plan to transfer. Career Pathways do not lead to an AA or AS degree. Students should consult with a counselor regarding options for completing a related associate’s degree.

• Family and Consumer Science (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Chiropractic (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Dental (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Medical (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Optometry (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Pharmacy (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Physical Therapy (Career Pathway)
• Pre-Veterinary (Career Pathway)
• Social Work - Human Services (Career Pathway)
• Teaching Credential Preparation (Career Pathway)

Certificate of Achievement

Cerritos College is authorized to award a Certificate of Achievement to any student who satisfactorily completes an organized curriculum designed for a specific occupational goal. In order to obtain a Certificate, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Complete the course requirements for the chosen program of study as detailed in the “Programs of Study” section of this catalog.
2. Maintain a minimum grade point average of “C” (2.0) in all required courses, including a GPA of 2.0 for all departmental courses specified, as well as a 2.0 for all course outside the major designated as requirements in the curriculum pattern.
3. A minimum of twelve (12) units of coursework within the certificate must be taken at Cerritos College if a Certificate of Achievement is to be awarded by this institution.
4. Upon completion of required course work, file a “Petition for Certificate of Achievement” form. The petitions are available in the Counseling Center.
5. Units earned toward the Certificate of Achievement may be applied toward an Associate of Arts Degree.
6. Credit toward the Certificate of Achievement is not granted for classes taken as part of the Adult Education Program.
7. Courses completed for a Certificate of Achievement that are also to fulfill requirements for the major in an A.A. Degree must be completed with a grade of Pass, or “C” or better.

Requirements for the Associate of Arts for Transfer ( AA-T) or Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T)

California Community Colleges are now offering associate degrees for transfer to the CSU. These may include Associate of Arts (AA-T) or Associate in Science (AS-T) degrees. These degrees are designed to provide a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree.

California Community College students who are awarded an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission somewhere in the CSU system to a CSU program that is deemed similar to their community college major. This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses.

Students who have been awarded an AA-T or AS-T are able to complete their remaining requirements for the 120-unit baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90 quarter units.

To find out which CSU campus accepts each degree as similar, please meet with a Cerritos College counselor. You can also locate this information at www2.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/Pages/associate-degree-for-transfer-major-and-campus-search.aspx.

An AA-T or AS-T degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a specific CSU majors or campuses or to a university that is not part of the CSU system.

Current and prospective community college students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to review their options for transfer and to develop an educational plan that best meets their goals and needs.

Requirements

The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:

1. Minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units. At least 12 of those units must be earned at Cerritos College.
2. Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors may require a higher GPA. Please consult with a counselor for more information.
3. Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units in an “AA-T” or “AS-T” major as detailed in the Majors, and Certificates section of the catalog. All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of “C” or better or “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.
4. Certified completion of the California State University General Education –Breadth pattern (CSUGE Breadth-Plan B) OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC- Plan C) pattern.

Students pursuing an ADT in Biology or Chemistry have the option of using CSU General Education for STEM or IGETC for STEM. The CSU General Education for STEM requirements can only be used by students pursuing the Biology or Chemistry ADT and the IGETC for STEM requirements can only be used by students pursuing either the Biology or Chemistry ADT.

For IGETC or STEM Certification

Complete the following courses before transfer:

• All courses in Area 1 (except 1C for UC-bound students), 2, and 5 of the traditional IGETC; and
• One course in Area 3A; one course in Area 3B; and two courses in Area 4 from two different disciplines.
• Complete the following courses after transfer:
• One remaining lower-division general education course in Area 3;¹
• One remaining lower-division general education course in Area 4;¹ and
• One course in Area 6 for UC-bound students who have not satisfied it through proficiency.¹

¹

These deferred lower division courses must be replaced with calculus and/or science courses required by the major before transfer.

For CSU

If any specific AS-T degree allows IGETC for STEM Majors as its general education pattern, the specific courses that should replace the deferred lower division general education courses may be indicated on the Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) for that discipline.

For UC

UC will accept IGETC for STEM if the UC school/college/major program to which the student transfers accepts partial IGETC certification.

For CSU & UC

Alternatively, STEM students may complete the traditional IGETC. However, IGETC and IGETC for STEM Majors may not be appropriate for those colleges or majors which prefer that transfer students follow a more prescribed lower-division curriculum.

For CSU GE Breadth for STEM Certification

Complete the following courses before transfer:

• All courses in Areas A, B, and E of the traditional GE Breadth curriculum; and
• One course in Area C1 Arts and one course in Area C2 Humanities; and
• Two courses in Area D from two different disciplines
• Complete the following courses after transfer:
• One remaining lower-division general education course in Area C¹; and
• One remaining lower-division general education course in Area D.¹

¹

These deferred lower division courses must be replaced with calculus and/or science courses required by the major before transfer.

Verification of Completion

Locally approved certificate programs may consist of one or more courses that lead to an occupationally relevant set of skills.