Student’s Responsibility

Any student wishing to transfer college credits to other institutions should begin appropriate planning during the first semester at Coastal in accordance with the following guidelines.

Each transfer student should:

Consult with an academic counselor during the first semester about long-range educational and/or career goals and determine which senior institutions have appropriate educational programs for the achievement of these goals;
Discuss with the academic counselor other factors that are important in choosing a senior institution such as tuition cost, distance from home, institution size, and available extracurricular programs;
Determine with the academic counselor which senior institutions are best suited in relation to all factors considered;
Write and/or visit the chosen senior institutions to consult with appropriate admissions officers and/or faculty as to the appropriateness of the planned course of study at Coastal and the appropriateness of the institutions for the student’s particular goals;
Continue to consult with the academic counselor each semester to review the progress at Coastal in relation to transfer goals, making any desirable or necessary adjustments in planning;
Apply to more than one senior institution of his/her choice at the earliest possible date during the second year at Coastal. Application deadline dates vary from one institution to another. Check by telephone or letter to ensure that the completed applications have been received and are under consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the quickest way to transfer to a four-year school?
Do Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees transfer to NC four-year institutions?
What is the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA)?
How do I know if the course I am taking is transferable?
What are the advantages of staying at Coastal Carolina Community College to earn an associate degree before transferring?
What is a college transfer program?
What is a bachelor’s degree?
What makes up a bachelor’s degree?
What is the general education core?
Is it necessary to finish the general education core before transferring to a university?
Is admission to a University of North Carolina institution guaranteed?
Will “D” or “F” grades transfer?
How many semester hours will transfer?
Does the CAA apply to private colleges and universities?

What is the quickest way to transfer to a four-year school?

The quickest way to transfer to a four-year school is by meeting the minimum course requirements. To do so, you will need to contact the school to which you wish to apply and ask for their minimum course requirements. Generally, you should anticipate taking college level courses in math, English, natural science, and history.

Do Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees transfer to NC four-year institutions?

As a rule, AAS degrees do not transfer to NC four-year institutions. Some general education credits will transfer, but you will lose many credits from an AAS degree program. AAS degrees are designed to help you learn skills necessary to be successful in the workforce; they are NOT designed to transfer. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Contact a counselor at (910) 938-6394 for more information.

What is the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA)?

The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) is a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between NC community colleges and public universities in North Carolina. The objective of the CAA is to facilitate the transfer of credits. This agreement has been approved by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina and the NC State Board of Community Colleges. The CAA provides certain assurances to the transferring student. For example, the CAA identifies community college courses that are appropriate for transfer as electives. It also specifies courses that will satisfy general education requirements.

The CAA defines a 44-semester credit hour general education core, which, if completed at a community college, is fully transferable to UNC institutions, and will satisfy general education requirements. This means that a transfer student who completes the general education core at a NC community college will not be required to take other general education classes at a UNC institution even if his/her 44-semester credit hour core does not completely match the university’s. Students should be aware that some universities have graduation requirements that transfer students must satisfy, such as physical education or a foreign language.

North Carolina community college students who earn an associate’s degree according to the guidelines of the CAA will be treated as juniors at any of the UNC institutions providing that they are admitted to the institution. Admission to any university or college is competitive. Students may also be required to apply directly to the department for their prospective majors.

Students graduating from NC community colleges under the guidelines of the CAA will have 64 semester hours of credit transferred to the UNC institution to which they are admitted. Because UNC institutions differ in their admission requirements, it is important that students intending to transfer contact the UNC institution(s) of their choice to learn of admissions requirements. To learn more about the admissions requirements of the different UNC colleges and universities, please visit www.cfnc.org.

How do I know if the course I am taking is transferable?

All Coastal courses are listed in the back of the College catalog, and it is indicated whether that course is transferable. If the course is transferable, the course description will have a paragraph that says the course meets Comprehensive Articulation Agreement requirements.

What are the advantages of staying at Coastal Carolina Community College to earn an associate degree before transferring?

Earning the entire associate degree at Coastal ensures that your coursework will transfer to meet all the general education requirements at a North Carolina college or university. In addition, courses at community colleges are significantly less expensive than four-year colleges and universities. Also, class sizes are generally much smaller at Coastal, and you will receive more personal attention while you are here.

What is a college transfer program?

A college transfer program is a set of courses that has been designed to transfer to most four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina. The set of courses includes a 44-semester hour general education core and 20 additional semester hours of transfer credit. In the North Carolina Community College System, the A.A. and A.S. degree programs are included in the CAA as college transfer programs.

What is a bachelor’s degree?

A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree granted by a college or university. Typically, community college students complete two of the four years of work needed at the community college and then transfers that coursework to the senior-level institution where students complete the last two years of work. Agreements that govern the transfer of coursework from community colleges to four-year colleges and universities are called “articulations.”

What makes up a bachelor’s degree?

There are three parts to a bachelor’s degree. The first is “general education.” This consists of courses in English, humanities, social science, natural science, and mathematics designed to give students a broad academic foundation. General education classes are typically taken during the freshman and sophomore years.

The second part of a bachelor’s degree is a “major.” This is a set of courses designed to make students knowledgeable in a particular field of study. Typically, these courses account for one or two years of study and are usually taken in the junior and senior years.

The third part of a bachelor’s degree is “elective” coursework. Electives allow students to broaden their academic horizon and explore subjects of interest. These classes may be taken at any time.

What is the general education core?

The general education core is a set of 44 semester hour credits of which, when completed, will meet the freshman and sophomore general education requirements at all UNC institutions. These requirements include classes in English composition, humanities and fine arts, behavioral and social sciences, mathematics, and natural science.

Is it necessary to finish the general education core before transferring to a university?

It is not necessary, but it is recommended. Students should talk with an admissions representative of the institution they are interested in attending to determine if they meet its admission requirements.

Is admission to a University of North Carolina institution guaranteed?

No, the CAA does not guarantee admission to a UNC institution or to a particular major. Admission requirements vary among UNC campuses. For additional information on UNC institutions, please visit www.cfnc.org.

Will “D” or “F” grades transfer?

No. Only college-level courses in which you receive a grade of “C” or higher will transfer.

How many semester hours will transfer?

If a student transfers to a UNC institution under the statewide CAA, a maximum of 64 semester hours will transfer. Students should consult an academic advisor or counselor since special program articulations may exist between community colleges and four-year colleges or universities in North Carolina or elsewhere that may permit the transfer of additional credit hours.

Does the CAA apply to private colleges and universities?

Some private colleges and universities participate in the CAA. Contact the admissions office of the private institution of interest for information. Phone numbers can be found at www.cfnc.org.