Transfer and Articulation

By state law, the Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for establishing transfer policies and maintaining a statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement. Concerned that problems with transfer and articulation were limiting some students, the board has begun a comprehensive review of current policies and practices in the state.

Major-Related Programs (MRPs)

(formerly Major-Ready Pathways)

The 2004 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education affirmed that the state must help transfer students earn their bachelor's degrees as efficiently as possible by reducing the barriers they face on their way to a baccalaureate institution.

In 2005, the board convened workgroups, composed of representatives from two- and four-year colleges and universities, to develop transfer associate degrees, now called Major-Related Programs (MRPs). The MRPs are based on the current Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) and Associate of Science-Transfer (AS-T) associate degrees, which allow students to transfer a "package" of credits, eliminating the need to evaluate each course on a transcript. Students who complete the DTA have completed all lower-division general education requirements and are well-prepared to enter a four-year college or university at the junior level.

The MRP takes the direct transfer agreement one step further by specifying the prerequisite coursework that will provide the best preparation for entry into certain competitive majors. in 2005, the workgroups completed four MRPs: nursing, elementary education, pre-engineering, and engineering technology.

Major-Related Programs - agreements and required coursework:
- Nursing
- Elementary Education
- Pre-engineering
- Engineering Tech

- Business DTA - Agreement Update

Reports

Transfer Policy in Washington State - JAOG (December 2007)

Web-Based Advising Focus Groups - Final Report 

(April 2007)

Transfer and Articulation Progress Report (Sept. 2006)

Online Student Advising Pilot Project (July 2006)

Statewide Student Mobility Report (Sept. 2006)

2005-06 Statewide Student Mobility Report
Provides comprehensive data on student movement between the state's colleges and universities. The report includes a searchable database.

Competency-based Transfer Pilot Project: House Bill 1909 Final Report (December 2005)

Articulation and Student Transfer (January 2005)

Board Updates and Action

Articulation and Transfer - Major Ready Pathways
(February 2006)
Competency-based Transfer (January 2006)

Competency-based Transfer (December 2005)
Update on Articulation and Transfer (September 2005)

2004 Master Plan: Student Transfer (June 2003)
2004 Master Plan: Student Transfer (April 2003)
Role of Transfer in the Bachelor’s Degree: Staff Update and Presentation by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (June 2003)

Transfer and Articulation Issues and Strategies (June 2002)
Transfer and Articulation: Staff Update & Presentation by the SBCTC (March 2002)
Transfer and Articulation: Staff Update and Presentation by the Intercollege Relations Commission (February 2002)

Review of Transfer and Articulation Policies and Practices (December 2001)
Scope and Process of HECB Review of Transfer and Articulation Policies and Practices (July 2001)
Barriers to Student Learning and Institutional Responsiveness (May 2001)

Other Resources

Key Facts about Higher Education in Washington - 2007

Links

State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Intercollege Relations Commission
Joint Access Oversight Group

State Laws and Rules

State Statute - RCW 28B.76.240
State Statute - RCW 28B.76.2401
State Statute - RCW 28B 76.250
State Statute - RCW 28B.76.260

For more information, contact:
Andi Smith
Phone: 360.753.7890