Does American River College's intersegmental general education transfer curriculum help?

I'm at American River College and planning to transfer to a CSU. How does the intersegmental general education transfer curriculum (IGETC) fit into this process? Is it worth completing, or should I focus elsewhere?

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) can indeed be very beneficial if you're planning to transfer from a California community college, like American River College, to a school in the California State University (CSU) system.

The IGETC is a series of courses prospective transfer students can complete in order to satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any CSU or University of California (UC) institution. By completing these courses prior to transferring, you will not need to take them after transferring, saving you time and allowing you to focus on your major-specific coursework.

What's important is to ensure that the majority, if not all, of the IGETC courses you take align with your intended majors at your target CSU schools. This increases the likelihood that your completed courses will be accepted by your target school(s) and count towards the completion of your intended degree.

Do bear in mind that while the IGETC can streamline the transfer process, it's not always required for transfer. For some high-unit majors, completing the major prerequisite classes would be more beneficial. Furthermore, while the IGETC covers most general education requirements at CSUs, some CSUs or specific majors may have additional graduation requirements. As such, it's always prudent to consult with your counselor or adviser regarding your specific academic plan.

So, it's worthwhile to complete the IGETC if it fits into your academic plan and future academic goals. The aim is to maximize the utility of your time and resources at American River College so as to ease the transfer process and set yourself up for success at your destination institution.