frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Transferring To A College or University
I Want to Transfer – How Do I Get Started?
Know the kind of environment that you consider to be valuable and seek it out. Are the following factors important to you?
- Does the university offer the major(s) that I am interested in?
- How many students attend the university?
- What is the faculty to student ratio?
- What kinds of student support services are offered?
- What is the community like around the campus?
- Is there housing and transportation?
- How many students are in a typical class?
If you have not decided on a major, then talk with a counselor as soon as possible. A counselor can provide you with resources to help you begin to research to determine your career objective and your major.
When should I use the Transfer Center?
The Transfer Center has college catalogs, computer stations, and knowledgeable staff to respond to your questions about transfer. During the major application periods, the Transfer Center will assist students with their applications and review before the student submits. The Transfer Center staff is here to assist students with transitioning to a university.
When do I apply to transfer?
This depends on the deadlines given by the institution you are applying to and the term for which you are applying. But, find out this information early so you can be ready to apply when the time comes. Generally, you apply one full academic year before you are ready to enroll.
CSU campuses accept applications until they are full. Some majors at some campuses are impacted and require students to apply early. Use the CSU Mentor website to check application deadlines. Private and out of state colleges and universities vary in their admission dates and deadlines. Interested students should check the websites of each college and university.
What GPA do I need to transfer to a UC or CSU?
The GPA necessary for admission varies from campus to campus and from major to major. Check with each campus you are interested in transferring to for the GPA requirements.
How do I determine if my units are transferable?
To see if your classes are transferable to a UC or CSU, just go to www.assist.org; click on the community college where you took the course; go to the bottom of the page and click on UC transferable courses or CSU transferable courses. If your course is on that page during the corresponding time period, then your courses are transferable.
For transferability to non-UC or CSU universities, determination of transferability is made by the receiving institution. Many universities will not be able to provide you with a direct response until you have applied. However, if we have an agreement with the university, we may have course to course articulation that exists. Check the articulation section of our website by clicking here.
How many units do I need to transfer?
For the UC and CSU system, you will need to have 60 transferable units to transfer. For all other institutions, it depends on the receiving university. Many universities will accept transfer students with fewer than 60 units. Some universities may require the SAT or ACT if you don’t have enough to be considered a transfer student. Check the university website for the required number of units.
How many units can I transfer?
This varies by university so check with each. Generally for the CSU and UC systems, if all your work has been completed at a community college, then they will let you apply 70 units from a Community College toward your Bachelor's Degree; but there is no maximum number of units you may accrue.
What is the difference between the University of California (UC) system and the California State University (CSU) system?
California has two public university systems. The UC system emphasizes a theory based approach to learning, and offers doctorate programs in most disciplines, along with graduate opportunities in medicine, dentistry, business, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The CSU offers traditional and career specific majors, with graduate opportunities at the Master's level.
What is articulation?
Articulation agreements allow for us to see the equivalence of our courses at universities. These agreements help with educational planning as it will let you know which courses they want you to take to fulfill their general education pattern or the major that you are targeting. Articulation agreements are useful tools to help you to transfer. Check the articulation section of our website by clicking here. If we do not have an articulation agreement with your target institution, it does not mean you cannot transfer there. You can still apply and be admitted.
What is General Education (GE)?
GE is a program of 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. It may also help you make decisions regarding your major.
The UC and CSU have a set pattern of GE courses you can follow. For the CSU system, you can choose from the CSUGE Breadth or from IGETC. The UC system will accept the IGETC. You can find the advising sheets in the Transfer Center or Counseling Department. Please note that there are some schools that recommend not following the IGETC. Please work with a counselor.
What is a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)?
A TAG is a formal agreement that outlines the requirements that must be met before transfer in order to be guaranteed admission into the university. Currently, LASC has TAGs with UCLA and CSU Northridge. Details for the TAG are on the Transfer Center website. In addition, if you participate in the Honors Program, you will have additional perks such as UCLA’s TAP (priority consideration for admission). Please check with a counselor for additional information.
What is the difference between lower division and upper division courses?
Lower division refers to the freshman and sophomore level courses. Upper division refers to junior and senior level courses. All courses offered at LASC are lower division courses.
Can I use my foreign coursework when transferring?
If you attended an international college or university, you need to be sure to ask many questions. It is the college or university that you want to transfer to that must tell you which courses they are going to accept, not LASC. It is important that you contact the college or university that you plan to transfer to as well as meet with a Counselor early in your academic career at LASC.
I received bad grades at another college. Do I have to tell the college or university that I plan to transfer to that I went to that college?
Yes. You are required to report all previous institutions that you have attended.
What happens if I don't report all previous institutions that I have attended?
If you provide false information, you could potentially have your admission or degree revoked.
Can I change my major after I transfer?
In some cases, yes, and in some cases, no. The ability to change a major completely depends on the rules governing major changes at the college or university that you will be attending. Don't assume this is easy to do. In fact, sometimes it can be impossible.