ASSIST Introduction

The California public higher education system includes the California community colleges, California State University system, and University of California system which offer thousands of degree programs.

Transferring from a California community college to a university requires current information and thoughtful planning. ASSIST is here to help!

What is ASSIST, and how can it be used?

• ASSIST provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer in California; it is the official repository of articulation agreements for California's public colleges and universities. Articulation shows how courses taken at one college or university can be used to complete requirements at another.
• ASSIST lists courses that fulfill university admission, freshman/sophomore (lower division) major and general education, and university graduation requirements, in addition to transferable elective courses that can be used to reach the number of units needed to transfer to a university.
• ASSIST does not contain information about private, out-of-state, or international colleges/universities.

We hope the ASSIST website is one of the many tools you will use in the planning and preparation process of your future university admission and successful graduation.

ASSIST does not take the place of a counselor on your campus. It is intended to help students and counselors work together to establish an appropriate path toward transferring from a public California community college to a public California university.

We are committed to your future success.

California Community Colleges
California State Universities
University of California

Transfer Basics for CSU and UC

Students interested in transferring to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus are generally required to have a minimum of 60 transferable semester units including:

• Minimum Transfer Requirements: (detailed below)
• Major Preparation: These courses will depend on your intended major and university.
• General Education (GE) Breadth: Courses from a variety of disciplines that help you develop a well-rounded education.
• Electives: Additional transfer level courses completed to meet the required number of units for transfer and/or to complete a Bachelor's degree requirements.

Freshman and/or sophomore level courses are referred to as lower-division courses.

Junior and/or senior level courses are referred to as upper-division courses.

High-unit majors (e.g., Engineering, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, etc.) generally require fewer units of general education and more units of major preparation prior to transfer.

Minimum Transfer Requirements

Within the minimum 60 transferable semester units required for upper division transfer, students must complete some specific courses to meet admission requirements.

For CSU: (The Golden Four Requirements) (grades C or better)

• An Oral Communications course,
• A Written Communications course,
• A Critical Thinking course, and
• A Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning course

NOTE: Some CSU campuses will admit lower division transfer students (students with fewer than 60 transferable units). Students should consult CSU Mentor (www.CSUMentor.edu) for more information.

For UC: (The Seven-Course Pattern)

• Two English Composition courses,
• A Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning course, and
• Four courses chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the physical and biological sciences.

Some additional terms to remember:

• IGETC: General education pattern certified by the CCC and accepted by all CSU campuses and most UC campuses for many majors. Students should consult a CCC counselor for more information about IGETC.
• IGETC for STEM: Students preparing for a major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics may be eligible to complete a separate IGETC track specifically for these disciplines. Consult your counselor for more details.
• CSU-GE Breadth: General education pattern recommended for students who intend to transfer to a CSU campus; it works for many majors.
• UC GE Breadth: A UC campus-specific pattern of courses and/or a unique pattern of courses for a specific School/College at a UC campus.
• Major agreements: Agreements showing requirements for a particular major and the community college courses that fulfill those requirements.

ASSIST provides information that can be used to:

• Research and locate majors at specific campuses under Explore Majors
• View lists of all transferable courses
• View transfer admission requirements
• Discover which courses fulfill requirements for a specific major at a CSU or UC campus
• Look up the courses that will fulfill general education/breadth requirements, including IGETC, CSUGE-Breadth, CSU American Institutions, and/or UC campus GE Breadth requirements.