Glossary

These are definitions for terms you'll likely encounter throughout the transfer admissions and application process.

Articulation

Articulation is the process by which community college courses are approved to fulfill requirements at UC campuses. Articulation is often specific to the community college, campus, and major — so don't assume that a course will fulfill requirements based on the title alone. Check ASSIST for articulation details.

Full sequence

A full sequence is a two- to three-term series that covers a wide range of material in a single subject.

Some series are articulated in sequence rather than as individual courses, because the order in which topics are covered can vary between campuses and community colleges. Use assist.org to ensure you're taking courses that will get you full credit for the comparable sequence at the UC campus you're interested in.

Highly selective

Majors designated as highly selective receive many more qualified applicants than there are spaces available.

The stronger your major preparation, the more competitive you will be for these slots.

IGETC

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses that California community college students may complete to satisfy the lower-division breadth/general education requirements before transferring to either the California State University or most colleges and majors at UC campuses.

IGETC includes 11 courses (34 semester units) in the following subjects:

  • English communication
  • Mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning
  • Arts and humanities
  • Social and behavioral sciences
  • Physical and biological sciences
  • Language other than English
  • Ethnic Studies

IGETC is not an admission requirement, and not all UC campuses recommend fulfilling IGETC for all majors. Check ASSIST to determine which courses at your community college fulfill IGETC requirements. Learn more about IGETC.

IGETC for STEM

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses that California community college students may complete to satisfy the lower-division breadth/general education requirements before transferring to either the California State University or most colleges and majors at UC campuses.

IGETC for STEM is a separate IGETC track available for students planning to major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. UC will accept IGETC for STEM only if:

  • you’re earning an associate degree for transfer (ADT) at a California community college that offers IGETC for STEM as an option for those degrees AND
  • the UC major program or college you’re applying to accepts partial IGETC certification.

Although IGETC for STEM is an option, you should prioritize completing major-preparation courses for the specific campuses and programs you’re considering.  

Consult ASSIST to determine whether IGETC is a good option for you and what courses at your community college fulfill IGETC requirements.

Seven-course pattern

To be considered for UC transfer admission as a junior, you must complete a pattern of seven UC-transferable college courses.

Each course must be worth at least 3 semester/4-5 quarter units, and must be passed with a grade of C or better. Use ASSIST to find transferable courses at your community college.

  • 2 courses in English composition
  • 1 course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning
  • 4 courses from at least 2 of the following subject areas:
    • arts and humanities
    • social and behavioral sciences
    • physical and biological sciences

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)

Six UC campuses offer guaranteed transfer admission to California community college students who meet specific requirements.

The requirements to qualify for TAG are often much more strenuous than the transfer application eligibility requirements, but strong students should consider filing a TAG application.

By participating in a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, you may receive early review of your academic records, early admission notification and specific guidance about major preparation and general education coursework.

The TAG matrix provides a list of participating campuses, eligibility criteria and campus-specific notes.

Please note: A revised matrix will be available at the beginning of August. In the meantime, please visit the individual campus TAG website for the most current information (you can find links to their websites on our TAG page).