Student Transfer

Centralia College has transfer agreements with most of the four-year colleges and universities in Washington.

Only the Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed specifically to transfer. These degrees are covered by Statewide Transfer Agreements.

Depending on the college to which a student transfers and their major, they may need to select specific courses within a degree to ensure full transferability. These transfer degrees assure the transfer of credit, but not automatic or guaranteed admission, since each institution has separate admission criteria based on grades, test scores, and other considerations.

The Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degree is designed for transfer to specific four-year colleges and universities for students pursuing specific professional/ technical programs. The AAS-T degree is not designed for general transfer.

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and Associate in General Studies (AGS) are NOT generally designed for transfer. There are a few very specific exceptions to this. The ATA degree can sometimes be used to transfer, but only to a few colleges under very special circumstances. These circumstances are called Alternatives for Transfer of Occupational Programs (ATOPS) degrees. The most common are “Upside Down Degree Programs” or “Articulation Agreement Programs.” Unless a student has absolutely confirmed that one of these special and very limited exceptions applies to their plans, they are advised not to use the ATA degree for transfer purposes. The AGS degree may contain some courses that transfer, but the AGS degree does not transfer anywhere as a package.

AA Associate in Arts

General Transfer include courses required for the student’s major.

AS Associate in Science - Technical and Science

Transfer select courses based on the four-year college and the student’s major.

AAS-T Associate in Applied Science-Transfer

Specific/Restricted Transfer include courses required for the student’s major.

AAS Associate in Applied Science

Not designed for general transfer. Ask about “Upside Down Degree” or special articulation agreements.

AGS Associate in General Studies

Not designed for any transfer. No exceptions.

Student Rights in the Transfer Process

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has published a Policy on InterCollege Transfer and Articulation Among Washington Public Colleges and Universities. This policy spells out student rights in the transfer process.

This policy states, in part, “Students have the right to expect fair and equitable treatment from the public colleges and universities in Washington, both sending and receiving institutions. They have, in turn, the responsibility of seeking out current information pertaining to their educational objectives and for acquiring appropriate information when they change their academic plans. When a student changes a major or degree program, the student shall assume full responsibility for meeting the new requirements. Colleges shall make every effort to help students make transitions as smoothly as is feasible.”

Transfer Degrees

Associate In Arts (AA)

Centralia College’s Associate in Arts (AA) degree and other degrees based on the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) conform to rules established by the Inter College Relations Committee (ICRC) and are maintained by the Joint Transfer Council (JTC). This means that if a student successfully completes one of these degrees, they will have met most, if not all, of the general university requirements at many baccalaureate colleges in Washington.

This is the first step in preparing for entry with junior standing. The second step is including courses required by the student’s major. As of the printing of this catalog, the following baccalaureate colleges and universities will accept either of these degrees from Centralia College in accordance with the Direct Transfer Agreement under the ICRC guidelines.

Colleges or universities marked with an * have some special requirements which must be satisfied at Centralia College and/or at the baccalaureate institution in order to complete all the general undergraduate requirements. These additional requirements are called provisos.

• Bastyr University*
• Central Washington University
• City University
• Cornish College of the Arts*
• Eastern Washington University*
• Gonzaga University*
• Heritage University*
• Northwest University*
• Pacific Lutheran University*
• Saint Martin’s University*
• Seattle Pacific University*
• Seattle University*
• The Evergreen State College
• Trinity Lutheran College
• University of Washington*
• University of Washington-Tacoma
• Washington State University
• Western Washington University
• Whitworth College*

Students are encouraged to meet frequently with their advisor, review the catalog and transfer guide of the institution to which they are planning to transfer, and consult with representatives of the baccalaureate institution. They should do this planning very early. This is especially important if the student plans to transfer to an institution that has provisos as indicated by the “*”.

Meeting general undergraduate requirements is important but not sufficient. It is also important that students meet the specific requirements required by their college major. Most college majors require students to take certain courses to prepare for entry as a junior in their major.

These requirements vary from major to major and from college to college. Usually these requirements can fit within the Associate in Arts or other degrees based on the Direct Transfer Agreement Degrees. If a student does not fold these courses into their degree at Centralia College, they may have to extend their college program by taking additional courses either at Centralia College or at the baccalaureate institution. Early selection of a college major is very important in planning a transfer program. Also, early planning with an advisor is imperative. Early decision making and early planning can save additional coursework.

Associate In Science (AS)

Centralia College’s Associate in Science (AS) degrees conform to rules established by the Inter College Relations Committee (ICRC) and are maintained by the Joint Transfer Council (JTC). This specialized degree program is designed for students pursuing science, technical, engineering, and pre-professional degrees. The Associate in Science degree places more emphasis on completion of mathematics and pre-major science, computer science, or engineering classes before transfer to enable students to begin upper-division coursework immediately.

The Associate in Science degree is divided into two tracks, depending upon academic major interest:

• Associate in Science Degree Track 1 - Biological Sciences, Environmental/Resource Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology and General Science Education.
• Associate in Science Degree Track 2 - Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Atmospheric Sciences and Physics Education.

Students who successfully complete either degree will have met most, if not all, of the lower-division science and mathematics major requirements at many baccalaureate colleges in Washington. This is the first step in preparing for entry with junior standing. The second step is including courses required by the student’s major.

As of the printing of this catalog, the following four-year colleges and universities will accept either of the degree tracks from Centralia College in accordance with statewide agreements under the ICRC guidelines.

• Central Washington University
• Eastern Washington University
• Gonzaga University
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• The Evergreen State College
• University of Washington
• Washington State University
• Western Washington University
• Whitworth College

Meeting all general undergraduate requirements is not as important for the AS program. Students will finish the requirements at the four-year college. It is more important that students meet the specific requirements required by their intended college major. Most science and technical majors require students to take many courses to prepare for entry as a junior in their major. These requirements vary from major to major and from college to college. Usually these requirements can fit within the Associate in Science degree. Students who do not fold these courses into their degree at Centralia College may have to extend their college program by taking additional courses either at Centralia College or at the baccalaureate institution. Early selection of a college major is paramount in planning an AS transfer program. Also, early planning with an advisor is imperative. Early decision making and early planning can save additional coursework.

Associate In Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T)

Centralia College’s Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degree is designed to meet the requirements of specific four-year colleges and universities. This specialized degree program is for students pursuing professional- technical degrees. In general, technical degree programs are not designed for transfer. However, several four-year colleges and universities have specific degree programs that accept the AAS-T degree. Institutions and majors outside the specifically designed degrees will accept very few of the units in the AAS-T degree.

Students should meet frequently with their advisor, review the catalog and transfer guide of the institution to which they are planning to transfer, and consult with representatives of the baccalaureate institution. This planning should be done very early.