Determine if you have a transfer articulation agreement. An articulation agreement allows you to take your first two years of study at a community college to earn an associate's degree and then transfer those hours to a four-year university. This allows for you to enter the university as a junior without losing credits or taking duplicate courses. Review a list of colleges allowing for a transfer of credits and in different majors. Contact the submissions personnel at your community college to review your student case or contact the submissions staff at the university. Certain university websites have transfer credit tools that can assist in determining which universities allow for transferable credit courses.
Locate information from the university's course program list concerning your major or if the university offers that particular course of study. You may find that the university no longer handles the course or the course is new to the campus and there may be a delay in adding it to the transferable course guide listing. Evaluate the campus programs to determine if the transfer will be for a "non-degree credit" course. Certain universities have different requirements depending on the level of coursework and content, which will determine how transfer courses will fit into its program guidelines. A campus may decide that the transfer course is below the coursework's required level and only grant a remedial (non-degree) transfer credit or no credit. A few campuses will not accept the transfer course if it has no relationship to any program coursework that is offered.
Review the transfer agreement to see if your transfer course will satisfy the university's general requirements along with the requirements for the major. General education requirements will outline the basic competency or proficiency the student requires for the course. These requirements can include English composition, foreign language, mathematics, social sciences and humanities. Also, determine if the campus transfers just your credits or if your grades will also transfer from the community college. Different campuses have different polices concerning such transfers, especially when deciding on whether to admit the student into the university.
Properly research all information concerning your transfer course, grades and credits to decide on the right college and degree you wish to pursue, and allow your school counselor or admission staff employee to guide you in the process to allow for an easy transition.