Glossary of Transfer Terms
AP (Advanced Placement)
An exam that students can take and receive college credit for courses taken in high school. Credit awarded is determined by the college, school or major at the U.C. campus that the student transfers to.
Articulation
Articulation is the process that links two educational institutions to help students make a smooth transition from the community college to the university or college without experiencing a delay or duplication of coursework It involves the evaluating of courses to determine whether course work completed at one institution will meet requirements for admissions, transfer credit, general education and/or major preparation at another institution.
ASSIST
A website that contains articulation information between the community colleges of California and the specific campuses of the University of California and some of the California State Universities. http://www.assist.org
Bachelors Degree (BA or BS)
The diploma awarded to an undergraduate that his completed all graduation requirements.
Catalog
The one college publication that contains all the information that a student needs to know about the college. All rules and regulations, college policies, degree programs and course descriptions are contained in the catalog.
CSU
The California State University system consisting of 24 campuses.
EAP (Education Abroad Program)
A program of study at 120 colleges in 35 countries sponsored by the University of California. It is available in the junior year of undergraduate study ranging from one quarter to a full academic year. Transfer students may apply for EAP before enrolling at a U.C. campus, but only under certain conditions.
General Education
A pattern of courses designed to expose students to broad areas of knowledge in communication, the sciences, arts and humanities and social sciences.
GPA (Grade Point Average)
A grading scale that ascribes a point value to letter grades based on the number of units called grade points. A GPA is determined by the formula total grade points for all coursework/total graded units attempted = GPA.
Impacted Major
Any major at a college or university that has more applicants than it can admit. Colleges screen applicants to such majors by various criteria including the completion of specific courses and a higher GPA than the minimum required for general college admission to the college
IB (International Baccalaureate)
An examination whereby a student can receive college credit for courses taken in high school.
Intercampus Transfer
A transfer between U.C. campuses that may be granted due to a student's personal circumstances and availability in the prospective major. An application must be submitted in a specified filing period. Some U.C. campuses do not accept any intercampus transfers to students who have completed more than 120 quarter units.
Lower Division
A term used to describe courses that are usually taught during the freshman and sophomore year of college. California community colleges can only teach lower division courses.
Major
A specific course of study that is the focus of the undergraduate degree emphasizing one specific academic discipline.
Minor
Additional coursework in a specific academic discipline other than in one's declared major, usually related to the major, but not always.
Mixed Record
The academic record of a student who has attended a university or baccalaureate granting college and a community college.
Petition
The ability to ask for, in writing, for a special exception to a specified rule or policy.
Quarter System
The division of the academic year into four equal parts. All U.C.s, except Berkeley, are on a modified quarter system. In the U.C.s, three quarters constitute an academic year, with summer school considered an optional quarter.
Repetition
Repeating a course where a "D", "F", or "No Credit" (NC) was earned. A Withdraw ("W") is not considered a repetition.
Selection Criteria
When a U.C. campus cannot admit all the eligible applicants, it applies standards that identify high academic achievers with other qualities that can contribute to the strength and diversity of the individual U.C. campus.
Semester System
The division of the academic year into two equal parts. Berkeley is the only U.C. campus on the semester system.
Subject Credit
When a student completes a course after the maximum units allowable for transfer, he/she can earn credit for completion of the specific subject, yet receive no additional units or credit.
TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee)
A program that assists students at participating community colleges in transferring to certain U.C. campuses.
TCA (Transfer Course Agreement)
A document published by the University of California for every California community college that determines the transferability of all courses from that community college.
U.C.
The University of California consisting of nine campuses.
Unit
A specific numerical value ascribed to college courses. Sometimes referred to as credit hours.
WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
One of the eight regional agencies that accredits all colleges and university in that region. Courses taken at one accredited college are accepted for credit at any other accredited college.