Congratulations on your decision to include Southwestern Community College as part of your academic transfer process. Your educational experience at SCC will be filled with academic challenges in a highly supportive environment.

This transfer packet is designed to provide you with important transfer information and options. Hopefully, the majority of your transfer questions will be answered in the following pages; however, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to stop by my office, or give me a call (800-447-4091 ext. 245). I look forward to working with you during your SCC tenure.

Cheryl Contino-Conner, Director
Student Support Services

Transfer Flowchart

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Flowchart Explanation

MAR (Minimum Admissions Requirements)
MAR stands for minimum admissions requirements for all students beginning their NC University experience fall semester 1990 and beyond. The following course work is required for admissions in addition to an institution's own specific requirements:

English ~ four course units
Math ~ three course units which include algebra I, algebra II and geometry
Science ~ three course units which include life/biological, physical and laboratory
Social Studies ~ two course units which include U.S. History
FALL 2004 ~ two units of foreign language
FALL 2006 ~ one additional unit of mathematics beyond algebra II will be required

Special consideration is provided (when a MAR deficiency occurs) in the following categories: if you graduated before 1989; if you are at least 24 years of age; if you have an excellent academic record through the 11th grade and have completed all requirements for high school graduation; if you are a transfer student who has an AA, AAS, BA, BS degree; if you are a transfer student pursuing a degree under an articulation agreement; or if you are a transfer student who has completed six semester hours of transferable course work in the following areas: English, math, science, social behavioral sciences and foreign language.

If you have met MAR requirements, have a decent GPA and SAT score, application to the university can be made any time during your SCC tenure.

SCC Longevity
Knowing how long you want to stay at SCC will be a factor in deciding your SCC course work.

If you want to get to the university setting as soon as possible, you must pay careful attention to the MAR. If you MET MAR but were denied acceptance into the university, you must take 30 transferable hours (6 hrs each in Eng, math, science, social science and foreign language), earning a grade of C or better, before you re-apply. If you DID NOT MEET MAR, then take ONLY MAR deficient course work and NOTHING else, then reapply to the university; however, this will not assure your acceptance as your high school GPA and SAT score will still be considered. If you are still denied acceptance, then you must take 30 transferable hours earning a grade of C or better before you can reapply If you choose NOT to complete a degree before transferring, credit is awarded on a course per course basis and you must abide by the receiving institutions general education requirements. Your academic history will be a strong factor in determining how many courses must be completed before admission is granted into the senior institution.

If you are in no hurry to get to the university, discuss with your advisor the degree that will work best to help you achieve your future goals.

University Decisions
Knowing which university you want to attend will take some of the guessing out of your SCC course work.

If you know where you want to go and are choosing not to complete a degree, be sure you follow the course articulation agreement between SCC and your chosen institution and work closely with your advisor to reduce your lost credit rate.

If you do not know which university you want to attend, at a minimum, the 44 hour core is your safest bet as this will allow you to complete all of the general education requirements at any public NC university.

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AA Transfer Degree
In 1997, the North Carolina Community College System and the University of North Carolina System reached an agreement to help facilitate the transferring of students from the community college into the university. This agreement is known as the "North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement." This agreement identifies community college courses that are appropriate to satisfy general education requirements, pre-major requirements and electives. If you fully meet the 44 credit hour core at a community college (not multiple community colleges), the university will recognize that all of your general education requirements have been met. Furthermore, if you choose to complete the additional 20 credit hours worth of classes to complete the associate's degree, you will be treated as a junior at any UNC institution, providing you are admitted. All courses taken must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better. If you earn a "D" you can still earn the degree and the MAR will be waived; however, the general education requirements may not have been met. Because universities differ in their admission requirements, you are encouraged to contact the university to learn admissions specifics.

General Education Core:
English Composition Eng 111 and 113	6 semester hours
Humanities & Fine Arts Prefixes: Eng, Hum, Art, Mus, Phi, Rel, Dra, Fre, Spa, Com	12 semester hours
Social & Behavioral Sciences Prefixes: His, Ant, Geo, Pol, Psy, Soc, Eco	12 semester hours
Mathematics Mat 140 or higher and Cis 110 or higher One must be a mathematics course	6 semester hours
Natural Sciences Choose from: Bio 110, 111, 112, 120, 130, 140, 140A, Chm 131, 131A, 132, Phy 110, 110A	8 semester hours

** Physical Education is the only area that the receiving institution may require which is not part of the 44 core hours. Three (3) credit hours are recommended.

*To complete the AA degree, choose 17 additional elective hours from the above prefixes. College transfer general education, elective and/or pre-major courses are required. Courses in health, physical education, college orientation and study skills may be included. Work experience may be included up to 1 SHC for career exploration.

It is not necessary to complete the degree or the 44-hour core, but it is highly advisable! If you do not complete the degree, or core, you will have to meet specific general education requirements at your chosen university. Also, without the degree or 44 hour core requirements met, transfer equivalencies are provided on a course-to-course basis. This process does not always work to benefit you. If you decide not to do the core or the degree, be sure to work VERY closely with your advisor who will assist you with the most up-to-date course transfer agreements.

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About Pre-Major Associate in Arts
Southwestern Community College has 10 pre-major Associate in Arts Degrees. The following Pre-Major Associate in Arts Programs at SCC are co-operatively designed with four-year state institutions to achieve a seamless junior-level transfer. If you complete one of these pre-major packages at SCC (consisting of 64-66 semester hours) you will be guaranteed transfer with full junior status into a baccalaureate major; assuming you are admitted.

These programs of study are strongly recommended for SCC transfer students who feel sure of their eventual major.

• Business Administration
• Business Education and Marketing Education
• Criminal Justice
• History
• Nursing
• Physical Education
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Social Science Secondary Education
• Sociology