Policies and Procedures

Section III Postsecondary Affairs

V. Articulation and Associate Degree Policy

It is the State Board of Education's intent that this policy will assist students as they transfer between institutions of higher education in the process of completing their educational agendas. In addition, the Board believes that this policy will provide the public institutions of higher education with the guidelines necessary to carry out their mission and service function to students so that they can successfully transfer between institutions without penalty.

1. Statewide Articulation

   1. Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees

      To facilitate the transfer of students, Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, the University of Idaho, the College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College, Brigham Young University Idaho (BYU Idaho), and Treasure Valley Community College, shall individually and jointly honor the terms of this statewide articulation policy.

      Students who complete requirements for the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at an accredited institution in Idaho and Treasure Valley Community College will be considered as satisfying the lower division general education core requirements and shall be granted junior standing upon transfer to a four year public institution in Idaho and will not be required to complete any additional lower division general education core courses subject to the conditions listed below.

      Transfer students from any in-state or out-of-state academic accredited institution who have completed the equivalent of the State Board of Education's general education core for the Associate Degree will not be required to complete additional lower division general education core courses. However, these students must obtain certification of such completion. Certification of successful completion of the lower division general education core for students who have not completed the Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree is the responsibility of the transferring institution.

      This transfer policy will provide for the fulfillment of all general education, lower division core requirements only. It is not intended to meet specific course requirements of unique or professional programs (e.g., engineering, pharmacy, business, etc.). Students who plan to transfer to unique or professional programs should consult with their advisors and make early contact with a program representative from the institution to which they intend to transfer.

      Transfer students who have not completed the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science or the general education core courses will not come under the provision of this articulation policy.

      A maximum of seventy (70) lower division credit hours or one-half of the total credits required for a student's intended baccalaureate degree, whichever is greater, will normally be accepted for transfer from accredited community or junior colleges.

   2. Associate of Applied Science Degrees

      Students who complete all or a portion of the State Board of Education's general education coursework for the Associate of Applied Science degree at one of the public postsecondary institutions in Idaho may fully transfer those completed general education core courses into an academic program. However, professional-technical transfer students who have not completed any courses under the general education core will not be covered under the provisions of this articulation policy.

2. Transfer Associate Degree

   The lower division general education core requirement must fit within the following credit and course requirements and must have a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours.

   	Required Courses	Minimum Credits
   a. Communications Coursework in this area enhances students’ ability to communicate clearly, correctly, logically, and persuasively in spoken English. Disciplines: Speech, Rhetoric, and Debate	1	2
   b. English Composition In meeting this goal, students must be able to express themselves in clear, logical, and grammatically correct written English. Up to six (6) credits may be exempt by ACT, SAT, CLEP or other institution accepted testing procedure. *3 or 6 credit hours depending upon initial placement results.	1	3 to 6*
   c. Behavioral and Social Science Coursework in this area provides instruction in:  (1) the history and culture of civilization; (2) the ways political and/or economic organizations, structures and institutions function and influence thought and behavior; and (3) the scientific method as it applies to social science research. Disciplines: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology. Note:  Courses must be distributed over two (2) different disciplines.	2	6
   d. Humanities, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language Coursework in this area provides instruction in: (1) the creative process; (2) history and aesthetic principles of the fine arts; (3) philosophy and the arts as media for exploring the human condition and examining values; and (4) communication skills in a foreign language. Disciplines: Art, Philosophy, Literature, Music, Drama/Theater, and Foreign Languages.	2	6
   e. Natural Science Coursework in this area: (1) provides an understanding of how the biological and physical sciences explain the natural world and (2) introduces the basic concepts and terminology of the natural sciences. Disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Physical Geography, Geology, and Physics. Note: Courses may be distributed over two (2) different disciplines and must have at least one (1) accompanying laboratory experience.	2	7
   f. Mathematics Coursework in this area is intended to develop logical reasoning processes; skills in the use of space, numbers, symbols, and formulas; and the ability to apply mathematical skills to solve problems. Disciplines: College Algebra, Calculus, Finite Mathematics, and Statistics.	1	3

3. Associate of Applied Science Degree

   This professional-technical degree requires a minimum of 16 credit hours of general education coursework selected from each institution's general education core and is comparable to the general education core of the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees. The courses completed from the general education core of the A.A.S. will be fully transferable to the A.A., A.S., and baccalaureate degrees.

   	Required Courses	Minimum Credits
   a. English/Communication In meeting this goal, students must be able to express themselves in clear, logical, and grammatically correct written English. Disciplines: English 101 required, English 102 or Communication 101; An Applied English or Technical Writing course may be used if found to be comparable to ENGL 102.	2	6
   b. Mathematics/Computation Coursework in this area is intended to develop logical reasoning processes; skills in the use of space, numbers, symbols, and formulas; and the ability to apply mathematical skills to solve problems. Disciplines: College Algebra, Calculus, Finite Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. An Applied Mathematics course may be used if found to be comparable to a traditional mathematics course.	1	3
   c. Social Science/Human Relations/Interpersonal Communications Coursework in this area provides the student with the skills needed for understanding individuals in the work place; appreciation of cultures of civilization; environmental awareness; economic factors; and the functioning of thought and behavior. Disciplines: Art, Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Geography, History, Literature, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Theater Arts. An applied human relations course may be used if found to be comparable to a social science/ humanities course.	1	3
   d. Natural Science Coursework in this area: (1) provides an understanding of how the biological and physical sciences explain the natural world and (2) introduces the basic concepts and terminology of the natural sciences. Disciplines: Biology, Botany, Genetics, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Astronomy, Biotechnology, Bacteriology and other related science-based courses. An applied science course may be used if found to be comparable to a science course.	0	0

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