Understanding College of the Redwoods Transfer Degree

Does anyone know how the transfer degrees at College of the Redwoods work? I'm especially curious about the specific benefits they offer for university transfers. Would love some pointers!

Sure, happy to shed some light on this!

Institutions like College of the Redwoods often offer what they call Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADTs). These are special degree programs designed to streamline the transfer process for students looking to complete their bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

Here's how it works: you'll complete a curriculum that fulfills the lower-division general education requirements and also includes specific prerequisites for your intended major at the four-year institution. This allows you to enter your intended university as a junior, having satisfied all or most of the lower-division requirements for your major.

In regards to the benefits, there are quite a few. First, these degrees guarantee admission to a university within the California State University system (though not to a particular campus or major). Second, they can often lead to priority admission consideration. Third, the degrees also provide a GPA bump in certain circumstances when applying to impacted majors or campuses. Lastly, students earning these degrees may be granted 60 semester/90 quarter units when transferring to a CSU.

However, it's critical to note that while these degrees provide a streamlined transfer to schools within the California State University system, they may not be as beneficial if you plan to transfer to an out-of-state institution, or to a non-CSU school within California. In these cases, a standard associate's degree might be more suitable.

In terms of your major and future career interests, you'd want to consider which degree option would allow you to take the specific prerequisite courses you'd need. It's always crucial to speak with a transfer advisor at both College of the Redwoods and your intended four-year institution to discuss your personalized transfer plan.

As a final point, institutions often have articulation agreements with certain universities, enabling a more seamless transfer process, so you may want to research those as well to help guide your decision.