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Transfer 101 - Making the jump from a Texas community college to a four-year university is easier than you think. Whether you’re a high-school student or currently attending a community college, this portal provides a wealth of resources that will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Transferring Tips - Real tips on transfer from WTC advisors and counselors.
- Be sure to follow your transfer degree plan for the intended transfer university.
- Meet regularly with an WTC advisor or counselor.
- Always have a back-up plan.
- Be sure your major is offered at the university where you want to transfer to
- Know the maximum allowable number of transfer credits for the school where  you wish to transfer.
- Stand out in the classroom and stay in contact with professors you have enjoyed working with. They're a great resource when you need a letter of recommendation.
- Have a friend or instructor read your college application essays and request feedback. The transfer center on campus is a great resource.
- Know your targeted transfer school's duplicate course policy: some schools may average each grade for the same course, some schools will calculate the second attempt only, and others will take the highest grade earned into consideration.
- Be ready to submit original transcripts from EVERY school you've been to and give yourself enough time to have them submitted by the application deadline (this also applies to AP scores). This is important because some courses that WTC may not have accepted for credit may be accepted at your transfer school.
- Most institutions will accept College Algebra as satisfying the math requirement. At some Universities, however, the course will transfer as credit but will not satisfy the math requirement.
- Developmental education and ESL courses do not transfer to other colleges or universities.
- Government and foreign language courses should be completed at the same college or university since transferability issues may arise.
- Some schools set time limits on specific courses…some science courses are only good for 5 years.
- English 1301 & 1302 are required before taking a literature course at WTC. Some colleges and universities do not require ENGL 1302 prior to taking a literature course.
- Pre-requisites for similar courses may vary depending on the college or university you plan to attend. Meet with an advisor or consult the course catalog prior to registering for classes.
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The State of Texas has provided three important legislative initiatives that help ensure transfer of courses between state colleges and universities.
I. CORE CURRICULUM
The core curriculum is made up of the following courses:
English 1301 and 1302
Math 3 hrs.
Science 8 hrs.
Fine Arts 3 hrs.
English Literature 3 hrs.
History 1301 and 1302
(Texas History can substitute for one of the above)
Government 2301 and 2302
Social/Behavioral Science 3 hrs
Speech 3 hrs
P.E. Activity 1 hrs
(Specific course descriptions can be found in the WTC catalog)
Students who complete a portion of the core curriculum at one institution will have that portion met at the transfer institution. Students should always consult a counselor, however, to be sure the equivalent courses are being taken.
II. Transfer Curriculum/Resolution of Transfer Disputes for Lower Division Courses
If a course from WTC is initially deemed non-transferable by another public college or university, students should immediately contact the WTC Counseling Center. A counselor will work with the institution to resolve the problem.
If a satisfactory solution cannot be attained within 45 days, the issue will be sent to the Commissioner of Higher Education in Austin, Texas for a final ruling.
Students should be aware that some courses usually do not transfer including developmental, Career and Technical Program, and continuing education credits.
III. Common Course Numbering System
All lower division academic courses are assigned a 4-digit number by the State of Texas. For example, English Composition I is designated as “1301” and college algebra is “1314”. Some schools, such as WTC, have adopted these numbers as their own. Most Texas public universities, on the other hand, have kept their old numbering system intact. They, then, must provide a cross reference in their catalog showing how their course numbers match the common course numbering system set up by the state. For instance, one school may identify their English Composition I as a 103 but will show in an index that it is equivalent to English 1301, a common course number.
Students can thus see how their courses at one public college or university transfer to another by locating the index. This comparison of numbers can often be found on the institutions’ websites as well.
Note: Failure to find a course listed does not necessarily mean it will not transfer. For courses not listed in an index, students should consult a WTC counselor for further follow-up.
The Texas Common Course Numbering System is a voluntary, co-operative effort among Texas community colleges and universities to facilitate transfer of freshman- and sophomore-level general academic coursework.
The TCCNS System provides a shared, uniform set of course designations for students and their advisors to use in determining both course equivalency and degree applicability of transfer credit on a statewide basis. When students transfer between two participating TCCNS institutions, a course taken at the sending institution transfers as the course carrying, or cross-referenced with, the same TCCNS designation at the receiving institution.
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