Pro: A clearer pathway for students

Pro: A clearer pathway for students

When it comes to transferring, community colleges have made it quite simple to transition over to four-year universities. Most college students know that the first two years of school can make or break you.

Students tend to enroll in difficult classes in the start of their educational path without knowing how to balance a proper schedule. They go in with little to no knowledge as to what classes they’re about to take or need to take. Some don’t even have a clue as to what they plan on majoring in.

The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), which was implemented in the fall of 1991,  has become a solid foundation as to what needs to be tackled and focused on to make successful transfer completion requirements.

IGETC hopes to be as simple as a check-off list for students to follow. The more things you get to cross off your list (sections or classes taken), the more you know that you are that much closer to moving onto bigger and better things. It gives students less stress knowing that once they are at their chosen university, they don’t have to worry about where they stand, as far as graduation goes.

This plan, if followed correctly, aspires to get students onto the next level in their academic endeavours as quick as possible.

Many students today work or have children and are trying to save as much as possible to keep tuition debt at a minimum.

It keeps our options open for those who don’t know what their majors are. They can simply stick to IGETC course guidelines until they transfer on.

It is not required for IGETC coursework to be completed at the same college.

According to the University of California website, “Courses taken at more than one California community college may be used to fulfill IGETC. Coursework may only be applied in the area or category it was approved for in the IGETC agreement at the community college where it was completed.”

The website also states, “IGETC courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. A grade of Credit or Pass may be used if the college’s policy states it is equivalent to a grade of C or better.”

Completion of the program allows students to not only graduate, but with the inclusion of the UC Tag program, it also allows students a guaranteed admittance to the UC of their choice.

Congruently, counselors can take advantage of the simplicity of IGETC by using the courses guidelines as guidance for them to map out your next step in classes. Most will have it already filled out for you, so that he or she can go over your progress to transfer.

IGETC helps cover all aspects of intermediate college education or different areas of curriculum, which prepares the student for what is to come in a higher level institution.