Counseling and Guidance

Transfer Information

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.

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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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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.