Transferring to a 4-year College or University
In the following topic, you will be learning some of the key transfer information that new- to-college students should be aware of. Many students choose to complete their first two years toward a Bachelor’s degree at a community college and then transfer to a four-year university.
For students attending a California Community College such as Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), students will be required to complete 60 transferable units to the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) systems. English, Math, general education, major preparation courses and elective classes compose the 60 transferable units. The classes at SBCC tend to be smaller, and the tuition, a lot cheaper.
Keep in mind that it could take longer than two years to meet the transfer requirements depending on factors such as your assessment test results in English and Math, the amount of units you take each semester, and your major requirements. Most students transfer in their junior year with a minimum of 60 transferable units to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) systems.
As a transfer student, you will be focusing mainly on the completion of required general education (GE) and major preparation courses. General education courses are really a pattern of classes determined by a four-year university to represent their general philosophy of what makes a well-educated graduate. Each university has its own philosophy, thus its own general education requirements.
Completing the IGETC or CSU General Education Breadth
CSU General Education Breath Pattern
Grade Point Average
Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
Major Preparation Courses
Private and Out of State Colleges
Transfer Resources
Transfer Guarantee Admissions (TAG)
Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) matrix
Undecided Students
Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
The good news is that the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) institutions have come to an agreement for a pattern of general education courses that will be accepted throughout both systems. This program is called Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum or (IGETC). The IGETC satisfies the General Education requirements for both the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems.
The Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) represents approximately 35 to 40 of the 60 transferable units required to attend the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) campuses. All courses used on the IGETC pattern must have a “C” or a Passing grade in order to satisfy that requirement area. If you are undecided on where you will be applying, It is recommended that you follow the IGETC pattern.
You can view the worksheet at:http://www.sbcc.edu/transfercenter/files/IGETC.pdf or watch this video.
If you have additional questions regarding the IGETC, you can meet with an academic counselor, visit the Transfer Center at SBCC, or view our frequently asked questions at the following link Or you can watch the IGETC FAQs video here.
CSU General Education Breadth Pattern (CSUGE)
An alternative to the Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern of General Education is the California State University Breadth pattern known as the (CSUGE). This pattern of courses is accepted for transfer to any California State University campus. The (CSUGE) satisfies 39 units of general education towards the 60 CSU transferable units needed to transfer. However, it is not accepted at any University of California (UC) institution. You can follow this general education pattern if you know that you will be only applying to a California State University campus (CSU). You may view the CSU General Education Breadth pattern worksheet at: http://www.sbcc.edu/transfercenter/files/CSUGE.pdf
Private or Out of State Universities
If you are interested in transferring to a private or out of state university, you
will need to contact each university individually to identify their transfer requirements.
Each university typically publishes on their website its own pattern of general education
courses, the minimum number of transferable units they require, and major preparation
classes. Some private and out of state universities accept the Inter-Segmental General
Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. Please check with each university for their current information. If you would like more information regarding private universities in California, please
click on this link, American Independent California Colleges and Universities, AICCU.
Undecided Students
It is common for students to be undecided on which university they want to transfer to. In this case, we recommend you start with the Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern to complete your general education. The IGETC will meet the general education requirements for both the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. In addition, most of the IGETC courses are transferable to private and out of state universities. It is highly recommended that you check with each campus on the most up to date requirements and visit different universities that you are interested in transferring to. This will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the campus and it has helped many students in choosing a university.
You can inquire within the Transfer Center to sign up for campus tours or to meet with various University Admissions representatives at: (805) 730-4347 or visit their website by clicking on the following link: http://www.sbcc.edu/transfercenter/.
Completing the IGETC or CSU General Education Breadth
For most majors we recommend that students complete the Inter-Segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) General Education pattern or California State University General Education Breadth (CSUGE). However, some majors such as Physical andBiological Science, Engineering, and Computer Science are considered high unit majors and students are recommended not to complete the IGETC or CSU General Education pattern in its entirety. In order to graduate in a timely manner from the four-year university, students pursuing these majors are recommended to finish their General Education at the four-year university. Werecommend that students focus on completing their English, Math, major preparation courses, one course in Arts, one course in Humanities and one course in the Social Sciences area. Please see an academic counselor after the third week of school to receive assistance with planning your next semester courses. Once you have received an acceptance letter from a four-year university and you are in your last semester at Santa Barbara City College, you will need to request certification of the IGETC or CSU general education pattern at the Transfer Center. Please visit the Transfer Center for more information regarding the IGETC or CSU certification form.
In the following video you will learn how you can double count courses to fulfill both major and General Education requirements.
Major Preparation Courses
Grade Point Average
Currently, it is increasingly becoming more competitive to transfer to a four-year university. We recommend students to do their best in their classes and try to achieve the highest grade possible. In California, each year there is an increase in applicants applying to transfer and a decrease in public funding. As a result, the accepted transferable grade point average has been on the rise to meet the transfer admissions selection criteria. We would like to encourage students to take the time, energy, and commitment that is required to do well in college. We recommend you apply to multiple universities, giving yourself more options. Click on the following link to learn how to calculate your grade point average.
Transfer Resources
There are many resources on campus that are designed to provide assistance with your transfer goals. The Transfer Center, located in Student Services Building, First Floor, provides many of these tools and resources. Click on the following link to the Transfer Center Website to learn more about it. http://www.sbcc.edu/transfercenter/.
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission to a particular campus. Admission to the campus and program of choice often requires students to meet more demanding transfer admissions selection criteria. Click on the following UC link to learn more about admissions and the application process. Click on the following website link to learn more about California State University (CSU) admissions and application process: www.csumentor.edu.
One resource that the Transfer Center offers is the Transfer Achievement Program (TAP). This program is a comprehensive support program designed to assist students who are planning to transfer to a four-year university and whose college success may be challenged for a variety of reasons such as: first generation, low-income, and ethnically underrepresented.Our goal is to facilitate a smooth transition from Santa Barbara City College to a four-year university. http://www.sbcc.edu/tap/.
Another resource that The Transfer Center offers is the Transfer Academy. The Transfer Academy (TA) is a program that guides you through the process and courses needed to qualify for guaranteed transfer to one of ten universities by the most efficient and effective means possible. As one of the leading community colleges in California - and the nation - Santa Barbara City College is known for its excellent transfer rates to four-year universities by offering you excellent teaching and support services, a highly transferable curriculum and a comprehensive Transfer Center. For more information, please click here.
Transfer Guarantee Admissions (TAG)
Guaranteed Admission is more commonly referred to as a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. A TAG is a contractual agreement between you, Santa Barbara City College, and a four-year college or university. Students who meet and maintain stated admission and major requirements are guaranteed admission to a specific four-year college or university. You can click on the following link, TAG to learn more about it.
Currently, there are seven University of California (UC) campuses who offer guaranteed admission to California community college students who meet specific requirements. By participating in a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, students receive early review of their academic records, early admission notification, and specific guidance about major preparation and general education coursework.
Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) matrix
The Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) provides a list of current participating campuses, eligibility criteria, and campus-specific notes. These are subject to change. It is highly recommended that you visit the Transfer Center for current TAG information and deadlines. Here is a link to the matrix, UC TAG Matrix.
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