Academic Catalog

Transfer Requirements

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 carefully study 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. The Transfer Center also provides links to many university resources on its website. To ensure that appropriate transfer coursework is being undertaken at Cerritos College, students should plan to communicate regularly with a counselor.

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 (CSU) and University of California (UC) 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, IGETC, or Cal-GETC. 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.

The California State University (CSU) no longer uses ACT or SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses. If accepted to a CSU campus, ACT or SAT test scores can be used as one of the measures to place students in the proper mathematics and written communication courses. 

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 must include English composition, oral communication, critical thinking, and mathematics. The English composition, oral communication, critical thinking, and 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. 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

Cerritos College courses needed for career or pre-professional pathways can be found at the Transfer Center website as well. Career pathways inform students of common course requirements for professional preparation that can be completed at Cerritos College. 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 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 bachelor's 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 associate degree. Students should consult with a counselor regarding options for completing a related associate 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)

The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T)

California community colleges offer associate degrees for transfer to the CSU. These may include Associate in 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 on the CSU's Associate Degree for Transfer & Campus Search website. 

An AA-T or AS-T degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to 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 education plan that best meets their goals and needs.

Associate Degree for Transfer Requirements

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

  1. A minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units. At least 12 of those units must be earned at Cerritos College.
  2. A 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. A minimum of 18 semester units in an “AA-T” or “AS-T” major as detailed in the Degrees, Certificates, & Courses 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 General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).

Students with catalog rights prior to 2025-2026, may wish to use a different transfer GE pattern, which may include CSU GE for STEM and IGETC for STEM for certain Associate Degrees for Transfer majors. See a counselor for more information.