Page 63 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Kisker, Wagoner & Cohen (2012) have suggested seven curricular and policy-related elements
for effective transfer of associate degree to degree, a policy that has been practiced widely
in the US. The characteristics of the curricular and policy-related elements are elaborated as
follows:

(1) Common GE package
In terms of curricular structure, there are common GE packages that are used among the sub-
degree sectors and eligible for transfer, as a whole module, to some public degree institutions.

(2) Common lower-division pre-major and early-major pathways
Examples could be found in some institutions in the states of Arizona, Ohio, Washington and
California, which offer common lower-division major pathways to students and guarantee
their direct application towards the major at articulating institutions so as to avoid extra
credits requirement among those articulating students.

(3) A focus on credit applicability
It is suggested that the consideration of course transferability should be focused on how credits
can be recognized in particular academic and degree requirements at receiving institutions
instead of course-to-course transfer. The sub-degree and degree faculties can compromise on
a common lower-division pathway which allows transferability and articulation to students’
major studies at all public institutions.

(4) Junior status upon transfer
It is suggested that the students would be granted as junior status of specific degree
programme at collaborating institutions if they have earned a recognized associate degree.

(5) Guaranteed and/or priority university admission
Some states would offer degree admission for associate degree graduates with minimum GPA
2.0 within the state. However, as institutions or degree programmes cannot be specified, it
allows individual institutions within the states to maintain autonomy of admissions standards.
(6) Associate and/or bachelor’s degree credit limits
It is stated that associate degree articulating students will have granted exactly half of the
units required for a bachelor’s degree, and the students will be allowed to complete the
degree within same number of graduation units required.

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