DRAFT: Transfer Toolkit - The Transfer Student Journey
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Choosing a Degree | Transfer Advising
Finding a Transfer Institution | Transfer Credit
Advisors can help you explore careers, academic interests, and transfer opportunities while selecting a pathway that provides flexibility as goals become clearer.
Choosing the right degree
What is the difference between a transfer degree and an A.A.S. degree?
Transfer degrees, such as the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.), are designed primarily if you plan to earn a bachelor's degree. As a result, these programs include approximately 45 semester hours of transferable general education coursework that aligns with the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), the Independent CAA, and university degree requirements. You will complete substantial coursework in English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities/fine arts. The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is designed primarily for workforce preparation. A.A.S. programs include a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education coursework, with the majority of the degree focused on technical and career-specific courses that prepare you for employment in a particular field. Transfer degrees contain significantly more university-aligned general education coursework; they typically provide the most direct pathway to a bachelor's degree. However, North Carolina continues to expand transfer opportunities for A.A.S. graduates through articulation agreements, transfer pathways, and institution-specific partnerships that recognize both technical and academic learning.
What should I consider when asking an advisor for help selecting a degree?
When helping you select a degree, advisors should consider your career goals, educational aspirations, intended major, transfer plans, workforce interests, time to completion, and financial considerations. By understanding both your immediate and long-term plans, advisors can help you identify a pathway that supports your goals while preserving future educational and career opportunities.
What are the transfer degrees?
You can transfer to a baccalaureate degree-awarding institution through several pathways. The most common route is by completing a transfer-focused associate degree, such as:
- Associate in Arts (A.A.)
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Associate in Engineering (A.E.)
- Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
- Associate in Arts Teacher Preparation (A.A.T.P.)
- Associate in Science Teacher Preparation (A.S.T.P.)
These degrees are designed to align with bachelor's degree requirements and provide the strongest transfer benefits under North Carolina's statewide articulation agreements. The Associate in General Education (A.G.E.) is not a transfer degree and does not provide the same transfer protections.
What are the benefits of earning a transfer-designated degree?
If you complete an A.A., A.S., A.E., A.F.A., A.S.T.P. or A.A.T.P., you have earned:
- the protections of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA), and/or related Uniformed Articulation Agreements (UAA)
- Greater transfer protections
- Completion of many lower-division general education requirements
- Reduced risk of credit loss
- Clear pathways into bachelor's degree programs
- Potential savings in both time and tuition costs
Can A.A.S. students transfer?
Yes. If you earn an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree you can transfer through established pathways, articulation agreements, and institution-specific partnerships. Transfer opportunities for A.A.S. graduates continue to expand, allowing you to build on workforce-focused education while pursuing a bachelor's degree.
What are the benefits of earning an A.A.S. degree?
If you complete an A.A.S., you have earned:
- Direct preparation for employment in a specific career field
- Industry-relevant technical and professional skills
- Opportunities to earn workforce credentials and certifications
- Strong connections to local and regional employers
- Faster entry into the workforce
- Ability to earn while continuing education
- Growing transfer opportunities through A.A.S.-to-bachelor's pathways and articulation agreements
Today, you no longer need to choose between workforce preparation and future education. Many A.A.S. graduates enter the workforce, gain experience, and later continue toward a bachelor's degree through transfer partnerships specifically designed for career-focused learners.
Should I complete an associate degree before transferring?
In many cases, completing the associate degree provides the greatest transfer benefits and protections. However, you may transfer before degree completion if it aligns with your goals. If you transfer early you may not receive all of the protections and benefits associated with degree completion. Consult with the transfer institution to determine minimum transfer requirements.
I want to switch between a transfer degree and an A.A.S. degree. What do I need to know?
Meet with an advisor before you switch your major. When you change pathways, an advisor can help you identify how completed coursework applies to the new program. Students moving from an A.A. or A.S. into an A.A.S. program will often find that many of their general education courses will continue to count toward degree requirements. However, you may need additional technical courses to complete the workforce program. Students moving from an A.A.S. into an AA or AS frequently encounter the opposite situation. While you completed general education courses will often apply to the transfer degree, you may need to complete additional general education coursework to meet transfer degree requirements. Transfer degrees contain approximately 45 hours of transferable general education coursework and A.A.S. degrees require only 15 hours, so you may need additional courses in areas such as mathematics, science, humanities, and social sciences before completing the transfer degree. Before recommending a degree change, discuss with your advisor your educational and career goals, your intended transfer institution and major. Consider how completed credits will apply to the new degree, available A.A.S.-to-bachelor's pathways, and potential impacts on graduation timelines and financial aid. In many cases, you may not need to switch programs at all. An existing transfer pathway may allow you to complete your current credential while preserving opportunities for future education.
How do my career goals influence transfer planning?
Transfer planning begins with your educational and career goals. Whether you plan to enter the workforce immediately, pursue a bachelor's degree, or do both, selecting the appropriate degree and transfer plan can help you reach those goals more efficiently. Transfer planning is career planning.
How important is choosing a major early?
While you may change majors, identifying an intended field of study early can help ensure that coursework aligns with transfer and degree requirements. Selecting a major early reduces excess credits and improves time to completion.
Why should workforce programs care about transfer?
Many students continue their education after entering the workforce. Strong transfer pathways can help you build on workforce credentials and technical education while avoiding unnecessary repetition of coursework.
What if I am unsure about my goals?
You do not need to have every detail of your future mapped out before choosing a degree. Advisors can help you explore careers, academic interests, and transfer opportunities while selecting a flexible program as goals become clearer.
Do I have to choose between transfer and workforce preparation?
No. You can pursue pathways that support both career advancement and continued education. Many North Carolina programs are designed to equip you with workforce-relevant skills today while providing opportunities to earn additional credentials and degrees in the future.
What are certificate and diploma programs?
North Carolina community colleges offer certificate and diploma programs that provide focused education and training in specific career fields. These programs are designed to help you quickly gain the skills needed for employment, career advancement, or further education. A certificate (12-18 Semester Hour Credits) is the shortest credential and may be completed in a few months to a year. A diploma (36-48 Semester Hour Credits) requires more coursework and provides broader preparation within a career field. Both credentials are commonly offered in high-demand areas such as healthcare, business, information technology, advanced manufacturing, public safety, and skilled trades. Many certificate and diploma programs are embedded within associate degree pathways, allowing students to earn credentials as they progress toward an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) or other degree. This approach gives you opportunities to enter the workforce quickly while also maintaining the flexibility to continue your education in the future.
What is Continuing Education?
Continuing Education (CE) courses provide short-term, workforce-focused training that helps learners gain new skills, earn industry-recognized credentials, and prepare for employment or career advancement. While CE courses do not typically earn college credit, they can serve as an entry point into additional education. Continuing Education and Curriculum programs are increasingly connected to curriculum coursework through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), industry credentials, and other learning mobility initiatives. In some cases, learning completed through Continuing Education may be recognized and applied toward certificates, diplomas, or degrees. This coursework is not always accepted in transfer. If you are interested in continuing your education. you should speak with an advisor about available pathways and opportunities.
Completing a degree, whether it is a transfer degree or an A.A.S., or even a certificate of diploma, is a major milestone that should be celebrated. It's the starting point for all things awesome.
Transfer Advising
When should transfer planning begin?
Transfer planning should begin as early as possible, ideally during your first semester. If you are considering transfer, complete ACA 122: Transfer and Career Success and work closely with advisors to develop an academic plan.
What should my advisor discuss with me?
Advisors should help you connect your educational goals with an appropriate transfer pathway as early as possible. At a minimum, transfer conversations should include your intended major, potential transfer institution(s), course selection, degree requirements, transfer agreements, and expected timeline to transfer. You are encourage to complete a transfer-focused associate degree when appropriate, use available transfer guides and pathway resources, and understand how changing majors may impact the timeline of degree completion. Transfer success depends on both the transferability and applicability of credit, and you are encouraged to regularly review your academic plans and consult with both community college and university advisors throughout the transfer process.
Key topics to speak with your advisor include:
- Educational and career goals
- Intended major at transfer institution
- Intended transfer institution(s)
- Degree and pathway selection at community college
- Course planning and sequencing based on transfer guide(s)
- Transfer agreements and guaranteed admissions agreements
- Credit applicability at transfer institution
- Credit for Prior Learning
- Financial aid and scholarship considerations
- Timeline for transfer and transfer application deadlines
What resources are available to help me plan for transfer?
You should take advantage of academic advisors, transfer advisors, ACA 122: Transfer and Career Success, transfer guides, transfer fairs and events, transfer campus tours and events, university admissions representatives, and institutional transfer websites/portals.
Finding a Transfer Institution
How can I find my intended transfer institution?
You do not need to know exactly where you're planning to transfer when you begin college, but you should identify potential transfer institutions as early as possible. Different institutions and majors may have different admission requirements, recommended courses, and pathway expectations. You should:
- Explore institutional websites (See the Four-Year Institution section of this guide)
- Attend an open house or a transfer fair
- Reach out to an admissions representative
- Talk to students who attended that institution
- Connect with a faculty or staff member in their intended department
What should I know about transfer deadlines?
Transfer applications, financial aid, housing, and scholarship deadlines often occur months before enrollment. You should begin preparing for transfer at least one semester before you plan to move to a baccalaureate degree-awarding institution.
Starting the transfer process early is key. Explore your choices, align the transfer credit requirements, and apply for admission, scholarships and financial aid as soon as you can.
Transfer Credit
What are transfer credits?
Transfer credits are college credits earned at one institution that are accepted by another institution and applied toward a degree, diploma, or certificate.
What transfer agreements exist in North Carolina?
North Carolina supports transfer through the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA), Uniform Articulation Agreements (UAAs), bilateral agreements, and institution-specific transfer pathways.
What are transfer guides?
Transfer guides help students identify courses that align with a specific university and major. The UNC System publishes transfer guides that are updated annually on CFNC. The North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities transfer portal can help you transfer to their member institutions.
What is the difference between course equivalency and degree applicability?
A course equivalency identifies how a course transfers to another institution. Degree applicability determines whether that course fulfills a requirement within a specific academic program. A course may have an equivalency and still not satisfy a major requirement.
What is credit loss?
Credit loss occurs when previously earned credits do not transfer or do not apply toward a student's degree requirements.
What is excess credit accumulation?
Excess credit accumulation occurs when students earn more credits than are required to complete a degree, often increasing both time and cost to completion.
How can I see how credits will transfer?
You can use the UNC System Transfer Credit Tool, NCICU Transfer Portal, institutional transfer websites, and work with advisors or transfer admissions staff to understand transfer and degree applicability.
What happens when I change majors?
Changing majors may affect how previously earned credits apply toward degree requirements and can increase time to completion and overall cost.
Are there any transfer credit issues that can influence my success?
There are quite a few specific issues that may affect your decisions:
- Students should be cautioned to not take online science courses (specifically labs) if they intend to go into a medical, dental, or vet school.
- Students should ensure they have completed major specific prerequisites prior to transfer.
- A course that is completed by the completion of an Advanced Placement Exam (or other Credit for Prior Learning) may not transfer the same way it was applied to the associate's degree.
- There are known issues with transferring coursework that are different academic levels (100- and 200-level courses transferring as 300-level courses) and credit hours (a 3-credit course satisfying a 4-credit course), among others. Students should also review courses with an Admission Counselor or advisor at the baccalaureate degree awarding institution.
- Program accreditation (such as AACSB/Business, CSWE/Social Work) may influence how courses transfer.
