I'm trying to figure out the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum at West Valley College. How does it help with transferring to a UC or CSU? Any tips for making sure I meet all the requirements?
The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, or IGETC, is a series of courses that California community college students like those at West Valley College can complete to satisfy lower-division general education requirements at any CSU or UC campus. It's designed to streamline your transition from West Valley College to a university within the UC or CSU system by ensuring that you've covered general education course requirements common to all these institutions.
The IGETC covers areas like English communication, mathematical concepts, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences. Depending on your intended major and target university, IGETC may not be the best option. Some high-unit majors may recommend a different plan.
Firstly, review the IGETC course list provided by West Valley College. This will detail which courses satisfy each category of the IGETC. You should aim to complete all the course requirements in each of the five listed areas. You must get a grade of C or higher in all IGETC courses as lower grades will not be accepted.
A counselor at West Valley College can be a great resource in this process. They can help you map out suitable courses for your intended transfer major as well as any prerequisites you might need for upper-level coursework. Additionally, you should check with the specific UC or CSU you intend to transfer to, just to ensure that you're on the right path and meeting school-specific requirements. Regular check-ins with your counselor could prevent you from overlooking any course requirements.
Do remember to get the IGETC certification from West Valley College upon completion of the required courses as the certificate will be sent to the UC or CSU you will attend to confirm that you've satisfied the lower-division general education requirements.
Finally, keep in mind that meeting the IGETC isn’t a guarantee of admission. You still need to meet grade point average requirements and fulfill other application elements required by your target university.
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