Associate Degrees for Transfer

The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (Senate Bill 1440, now codified in California Education Code sections 66746-66749) guarantees admission to a California State University (CSU) campus for any community college student who completes an “associate degree for transfer”, a newly established variation of the associate degrees traditionally offered at a California community college. The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing these degrees (AA-T or AS-T) are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

In order to earn one of these degrees, students must complete 60 semester units of CSU-transferable coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept the AA-T or AS-T will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree (unless the major is a designated “high-unit” major). This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

To earn an AA-T or AS-T degree, students must complete the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to a California State University, including certified completion of one of the following:
    1. California State University General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE)
    2. Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
  2. Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units in an “AA-T” or “AS-T” major
  3. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors may require a higher GPA.
    • A “P” (Pass) grade is not an acceptable grade for courses in the major.
  4. Students preparing for a major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) are eligible to complete CSU GE Breadth for STEM or IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) for STEM
    • Students completing CSU GE Breadth for STEM majors (AS-T Biology, AS-T Chemistry, AS-T Environmental Science) are only required to complete 33 semester units for lower-division GE certification for transfer. This pattern allows students to defer completion of one course from CSU GE Area C and one course from CSU GE Area D until after transfer.
      Requirements of the CSU GE Breadth for STEM are:
      Area A:
      All courses in English Language Communication and Critical Thinking.
      Area B: All courses in Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning.
      Area C: One course in Area C1 Arts and One course in Area C2 Humanities.
      Area D: One course in any discipline in the Social Sciences.
      Area E: All courses in Lifelong Learning and Self-Development
      Area F: All courses in Ethnic Studies
  5. Students completing IGETC for STEM majors (AS-T Biology, AS-T Chemistry, AS-T Environmental Science) are allowed to defer completion of one course from IGETC Area 3, one course from IGETC Area 4, and one course in Area 6 (Language Other Than English/LOTE -- for students who have not previously satisfied LOTE through proficiency) until after transfer.

Requirements of the IGETC for STEM are:

  • All courses in Areas 1, 2, and 5 of the traditional IGETC; and
  • Two courses in Area 3 and two courses in Area 4.

It is highly recommended that students complete courses that satisfy the U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals requirement as part of CSU GE or IGETC before transferring to a CSU.

Benefits of the AA-T and AS-T Degrees

Besides the benefit of completing community college coursework with an associate degree in hand, this program also provides students with the necessary preparation to transfer to the CSU system and complete a baccalaureate degree with no more than 60 additional units. Students with an AA-T or AS-T degree will be guaranteed admission to a CSU campus with junior standing. While not guaranteed admission to their campus of choice, students will be given priority consideration for admission to their local CSU campus and to any CSU campus that offers a program that has been designated as "similar" by CSU. 

Associate Degrees for Transfer by Discipline

Administration of Justice AS-T
Anthropology AA-T
Biology AS-T
Business Administration 2.0 AS-T
Chemistry AS-T
Child and Adolescent Development AS-T
Communication Studies 2.0 AA-T
Computer Science AS-T
Early Childhood Education AS-T
Economics AA-T
English AA-T
Environmental Science AS-T
Film, Television, and Electronic Media AS-T
Geography AA-T
Geology AS-T
Global Studies AA-T
History AA-T
Hospitality Management AS-T
Kinesiology AA-T
Mathematics AS-T
Music AA-T
Nutrition and Dietetics AS-T
Philosophy AA-T
Physics AS-T
Political Science AA-T
Psychology AA-T
Public Health Science AS-T
Social Justice: Ethnic Studies AA-T
Social Work and Human Services AA-T
Sociology AA-T
Spanish AA-T
Studio Arts AA-T
Theatre Arts AA-T