How Do I Transfer Classes from a Community College to a Cal State?

I'm attending a community college and hoping to transfer my classes to a CSU. Can someone explain the process and what requirements I might need to meet? Any tips for making sure all my credits transfer smoothly?

The best way to ensure a smooth transfer process from a California Community College to a Cal State (CSU) school is to follow the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway, specifically designed for this purpose. By earning an ADT (either an AA-T or AS-T), you'll benefit from the "degree with a guarantee," which indicates that if you meet the CSU's minimum eligibility requirements, you have a guaranteed spot somewhere within the system, though not necessarily at your first-choice campus.

1. Choose Your Field: The first step in this process is to select an approved ADT field of study that aligns with your major at the CSU school you're interested in.

2. Academic Counseling: Meet regularly with your community college academic counselor to ensure you're fulfilling all requirements for the ADT in your chosen field. They can also help you determine course equivalents and guide you in fulfilling other prerequisites.

3. Complete Required Classes: ADT programs vary depending on the specific degree and major, but you generally need to complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units, which include general education and major-specific courses.

4. Maintain GPA: You should aim to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 (C average), although some institutions and programs may require a higher GPA for competitive courses.

5. Apply to CSU: You'll then submit your application through the Cal State Apply website, where you will indicate that you are working towards or have completed an ADT.

6. Send Final Transcripts: After you've finished the community college semester, your final transcripts must be sent to the CSU entity to verify your grades and the completion of your ADT.

Remember, the ADT guarantees admission to a CSU school, but not necessarily your first choice. However, you will have a priority admission to your local CSU, and to a degree program that's similar to your ADT.

Lastly, you can use Assist.org, an official online resource in California for major preparation and course transferability between California's higher education institutions. It shows how the courses taken at one public California institution can be used to fulfill the requirements at another. It's an invaluable tool in ensuring the classes you take now will transfer to your desired CSU.