What is Articulation?
Articulation refers to how transfer units (for courses or external tests like AP and IB) or transfer programs (like the Associate Degrees for Transfer) are used to meet program requirements at CSUSB.
Articulation Quick Links
Below is a set of links to our most requested services. See the top menu for a complete list of services available through the articulation unit in the Office of the Registrar.
Transfer Course Credit
Degree-seeking students are required to submit transcripts from all institutions attended. An unlimited number of units may be transferred from accredited four-year institutions (see below). A maximum of 70 semester units or 105 quarter units transferred from community colleges may be applied toward the cumulative unit requirement for a Bachelor's Degree. CSUSB will award transfer course credit from institutions accredited by one of the following agencies:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Transfer Course Descriptions
Students who need to locate course descriptions for classes completed elsewhere can likely find them at CollegeSource Online. This database contains PDF catalogs for colleges and universities throughout the United States. It also houses copies of CSUSB catalogs dating back to 1991-92.
Credit for Prior Learning
In accordance with the provisions of this policy, presidents of the California State University (CSU) campuses or their designees shall apply toward admission eligibility and/or the degree, academic credit earned from (1) examinations, (2) learning, skills, and knowledge acquired through experience, (3) learning acquired outside formal higher education and/or (4) education, training and service provided by the Armed Forces of the United States.
Awarding academic credit for prior learning promotes access for fair and equitable recognition of prior learning, helps support student retention and persistence, reduces time to graduation and assures quality and equity across various academic experiences.
Credit for Prior Learning Policy
Articulation Resources for Students and Counselors
ASSIST: ASSIST is the official repository of course articulation information between the three public systems in California (the community colleges, the CSUs, and the UCs). The site is currently undergoing a system upgrade, so not all articulation agreements may be visible. New agreements are published daily, as the system allows.
Associate Degree for Transfer: The ADT program allows students to earn a two-year degree at a California Community College, transfer to a CSU with a similar major, and complete the four-year degree in no more than 60 semester units. CSUSB offers a similar major for nearly every available ADT.
Articulation Resources for Faculty
Course Outlines: Faculty can find links on this page to the databases of course outlines for the California Community Colleges. Some databases may also include program outlines/requirements.
TES: The Transfer Evaluation System (TES) contains catalog data, such as course descriptions, for colleges throughout the United States. Department chairs should have login access.
C-ID: The C-ID site contains information on California's Course Identification Numbering System (C-ID). These are the course numbers referenced in the Transfer Model Curricula (TMCs), which form the basis of the Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADTs).
Transfer Model Curriculum: This site maintained by the California Community College Chancellor's Office houses the official templates for the Transfer Model Curricula. The community colleges use these templates to create their own versions of these degrees, which are called ADTs.