Transfer glossary

Like many fields, higher education has its own lingo. Here are a few terms you may come across as you prepare to transfer.

Articulation Agreement/Transfer Agreement: A formal written agreement between a community college and four-year institution that outlines conditions for transfer. Transfer agreements often describe how credits will transfer between institutions and/or general requirements for admissions.

Course/Transfer Equivalency Guide: An online guide published by some colleges to help you estimate which of your classes will transfer. You can also use the equivalency guide for planning which classes you should take to meet prerequisites for your intended major. For example, your target college might state that Biology 241 is a prerequisite to enter their biology program. When you check the guide, you might find that Biology 200 at your current college is equivalent to Biology 241.

Lower Division Courses: Introductory level classes that are labelled as 100 or 200 level. You will primarily take lower division courses to satisfy general education requirements. Many community colleges only offer lower division courses.

Major Prerequisites: Courses that must be completed before you can be admitted into a specific major. It’s important to talk to advisors at both your current and target college to ensure you’re completing the appropriate classes since course names will likely differ between the institutions.

Transferable Courses: Courses that can be applied toward graduation requirements when you transfer. You may find that some, but not all, of your courses transfer. The process of transferring credits can be particularly messy when transferring to an institution in a different state. Prior to transfer, talk to admissions officers at your target college to understand their policy for transferring credits. If you find that only a few of your credits will transfer, it may be worth considering different colleges!

Upper Division Courses: Classes that are labelled as 300 or 400 level. As you progress in your major, most of your classes will be upper division courses.