FAQ on Transfer
Frequently Asked Questions about transferring to a UC or CSU
Which LTCC courses transfer?
At Lake Tahoe Community College, courses with middle digit of 0-4 will transfer to the California State University system. Course transferability to the University of California and University of Nevada, Reno is indicated below to each course in the LTCC catalog and schedule.
How many units do I need to transfer?
For UC and CSU, students must complete 90 quarter units that will transfer in order to be eligible for full junior status at the transfer school. Many private universities and out-of-state colleges will accept transfer students with fewer units. For example, students with 36 quarter units and 2.5 GPA are eligible for UNR transfer. Please check the catalog for the specific college you are interested in for transfer requirements.
Is there a maximum number of units I can transfer?
UC's and CSU's will accept up to 105 quarter units from LTCC toward your bachelor's degree. UNR will only accept 96 quarter units from LTCC.
What if I take more units than that?
Most colleges and universities will accept 105 quarter units towards the total number of units needed to complete your bachelor's degree; however, if you have taken more units than that, the content of the courses will be used to satisfy needed requirements. Students who have already attended a four-year institution should see an LTCC counselor about other possible unit limits.
What is the minimum GPA for transfer?
The minimum GPA needed to transfer to a California State University (CSU) is 2.0 for California residents and 2.4 for out of state residents. The minimum GPA needed to transfer to the University of California (UC) is 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for out of state residents. The GPA needed for transfer to private colleges varies so check their college catalog. Some majors and some colleges are impacted and will require higher GPA's for admission. Please see a counselor for further assistance.
What is a competitive GPA for transfer?
To be accepted to an impacted program or a very popular campus, the GPA for admission will need to be considerably higher than the minimum required. A GPA of 3.0 and higher may be required to be competitive for transfer admission. The GPA will vary each year according to the specific applicant pool at that time.
What are CSU-GE Breadth requirements?
CSU-GE Breadth requirements are courses in the arts and sciences that provides a broad educational experience. Courses are usually introductory in nature and provide students with fundamental skills and knowledge in English, arts, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, physical and biological sciences.
The CSU-GE pattern is one way for students who transfer to the CSU to complete the CSU lower division general education requirements at LTCC prior to transfer. Completing the entire CSU-GE pattern is not a requirement for transfer. There is an upper division GE requirement of 9 units which must be completed after transfer at the CSU from which the bachelor's degree is granted. It is not possible to complete all GE credits needed to graduate from a CSU at the community college.
What is IGETC?
IGETC or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum is a general education program which community college students can use to satisfy lower division general education requirements at any CSU or UC campus.
Completion of IGETC is one option for students to use when preparing for transfer. It is not the only option and for some majors, such as engineering and science, may not be recommended. Completing IGETC is not a requirement for transfer to either the CSU or the UC. If you have questions about which GE pattern to complete, talk to a counselor.
What is certification and why is it important for transferring students?
Certification of CSU GE or IGETC is an important step in the transfer process. The certification of GE is the official notice verifying that a transfer student has completed courses satisfying lower division general education requirements.
To be certified, all courses on IGETC must be completed with a grade of C or better.
The CSU-GE pattern can be certified by completing a specific subject area (Area A, Area B, etc.) or by completing the entire unit pattern.
What is the difference between an associate degree and a bachelor's degree?
An associate degree is a "two-year" degree granted by a community college to students who complete a specified program of study, usually totaling 90 units.
A bachelor's degree or baccalaureate is a "four-year" degree granted upon completion of at least 120 semester units or 180 quarter units. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees are offered by the California State Universities, the University of California, UNR and many private four-year colleges and universities.
What is the difference between lower division and upper division courses?
Lower division courses are offered for freshman and sophomore level credit. All courses offered at a community college are lower division courses. Upper division courses are offered for junior and senior level credit. These courses are not offered by community colleges.
What is articulation?
Articulation is the process of evaluating courses to determine whether coursework completed at one college will meet the requirements for admission, transfer credit, general education, or major preparation at another college.
Where do I go to get transcripts sent to another college?
To have your transcripts sent to another college, go to the Admissions and Records Office and fill out the transcript request form.
What is a major?
A major is a program of study which leads to a degree. It is the primary area of study in which the greatest depth of knowledge will be developed.
What is a minor?
A minor is a secondary field of study, not as comprehensive as the major. Minors are not available at community colleges.
Where can I find out what classes to take for my major?
Preparation for a major is an important step. Information as to which classes are required for a specific major can be obtained from the college catalog and from articulation agreements. For public institutions in California, articulation agreements between schools are stored on the web at ASSIST.ORG. Please see a counselor for further information.
What is an impacted major?
An impacted major is one that is very popular and more applications for admission are received during the priority filing period than the campus can accommodate.
If you are applying to a major that is impacted, the GPA for admission will be higher and you will need to complete lower division courses for the major prior to transfer.
How do I find out about transfer requirements for the schools I am interested in transferring to?
There are many resources available in Student Services to assist you. You will want to plan to visit the college you are interested in and also research the transfer requirements in the college catalog and on the World Wide Web. See a counselor for assistance in identifying transfer requirements for a particular major and university.
What is the difference between a CSU and a UC?
The California State University (CSU) is the system of higher education in California that grants the most bachelor degrees. CSU majors are commonly more vocationally specific than UC majors. It is sometimes called the "teacher training" institution. The CSU also grants master degrees.
The University of California (UC) is the research system of public higher education in California. The UC grants professional and doctorate degrees, as well as bachelor and master degrees.
The CSU has a more practical, career-oriented approach to education in contrast to the more theoretical approach offered by the UC.
What is the difference between a quarter and a semester?
Each college has an academic year with terms marking the beginning and end of classes. A quarter is one type of term within an academic year. Each quarter is 10-12 weeks in length, and there are usually three quarters (fall, winter and spring) per academic year. A semester is the other type of term within an academic year. Each semester is 15-18 weeks in length, and there are two semesters (fall and spring) in an academic year. In addition, most colleges offer an additional term during the summer. Lake Tahoe Community College is on the quarter system and offers a condensed 6 week summer session.
What is meant by priority filing dates for the CSU and UC?
There is a period of time when applications are first accepted for a specific term at the CSU and UC. Please refer to the Dates and Deadlines section for the priority filing dates.
