Streamlined college credit transfer process

The recent credit transfer articulation agreements between the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and University System of New Hampshire (USNH) achieve a comprehensive, integrated approach to transfer policy that provides a seamless credit transfer process for many students. The agreement between the two systems applies to the Associate in Arts core curriculum and extends to specific disciplines and majors.

Expanding education opportunities

While the agreements do not articulate every possible major, they do include majors commonly chosen by students that are offered by a number of institutions. The agreements allow students to begin their degree at a two-year CCSNH college, build upon their academic performance and then transfer their credits to a four-year degree program at a USNH college or university.

These "2 + 2" agreements are especially useful in technical and professional fields in which students gain technical skill competence first and then broaden their perspectives with more general education. Agreements can also facilitate transfer between different but complementary programs, such as healthcare provider and management.

Eligible students

The agreements include transfer students, not "native" students who are completing courses at other institutions. A degree-seeking student who discontinues enrollment in one institution, enrolls as a degree-seeking student in another, and then re-enrolls as a degree-seeking student in the original institution is considered a "re-admitted" or "re-entry" student. Contacting the entering institution's admissions office is always best.

General education requirements

The General Education Core Curriculum is an integrated approach in which select courses are used to meet the receiving institution's lower-division general education requirements. All courses must be completed to ensure full articulation. Articulation agreements for the majors do not require completion of the courses for admission (nor does their completion guarantee admission), and the agreements do not imply that other courses aren't accepted at individual colleges.

Determining transferable courses

Many CCSNH general education courses are transferable to meet USNH General Education Core Curriculum requirements. Consult the Transfer Articulation Matrix for an overview of transferable programs.

A student's intended major at a USNH college may determine which general education courses should be taken at an CCSNH college. For example, some USNH majors require specific CCSNH math and English prerequisite courses.

It is important to consult the catalog of the institution where your student might be interested in starting college and the catalog of the institution where your student might be interested in transferring. Here you'll find listings of majors, programs and specific degree, certificate and diploma requirements. Every college and university offers its own distinct array of academic options. As a result, it is best to begin with a review of the appropriate college or university catalog.

Academic performance counts

A course grade of a "C" or higher is required for credit transfer. Only credits are transferred, not a student's grade point average (GPA).

Ways to earn a college degree

Additional credit transfer information

For more information on CCSNH and USNH credit transfer policies, visit www.ccsnh.edu and www.usnh.unh.edu. These websites contain:

Specific transfer articulation agreements
Online course catalogs describing policy and procedures related to admissions, fees and graduation requirements
Opportunities for sending questions and receiving answers about the agreements and their implementation
Timely information on program updates
Clarifications on course numbers and course prerequisites

The new transfer articulation agreements offer virtually seamless transfer opportunities to New Hampshire college students.