Community College Courses - Dual Enrollment

Q: How does UC treat "mixed records" that combine high school and community college coursework?

A: When students apply to UC, they self-report all UC-approved coursework completed at both secondary and post-secondary institutions. Thus, students who complete coursework at a local community college or university must report those courses on their application. UC-transferable California community college courses are listed on the ASSIST web site. Many of these courses can be used to fulfill the "a-g" subject area requirements. Even if high school seniors have a large number of units from community college coursework, they would still apply as freshmen, not transfers.

Q: If a community college course is a UC transferable course, can the student obtain honors credit (i.e., A = 5.0)?

A: Yes, the student can receive honors credit as long as the course fits into the "a-g" subject area pattern of courses.

Q: If a community college course is UC transferable, does the community college course need to be reflected on our school's "a-g" course list?

A: No, we do not include community college courses on a high school's course list. Those courses are entered in a separate section of the student's application form.

Q: If a community college course is UC transferable (e.g., Eng 100), can a student use this course to satisfy a UC eligibility requirement?

A: Yes, usually a 3-unit community college course equals 1 year of high school credits. There is also an exception in English and math for transferable courses to clear high school subject requirements. In the English area, to clear the first 3 years of high school credits, the college course does not have to transfer, but to clear 12th grade English, the course does have to transfer to UC. Also, in math, college courses in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II,and Trigonometry do not transfer to the University, but these course can be taken and used to clear high school subject credits. Courses that do not transfer to the University can clear subject deficiencies, but will not receive the additional honors credits. A list of UC-transferable community college courses is available at ASSIST.

Q: Can students take Visual & Performing Arts courses offered at the community college or another university in order to meet the new VPA requirement?

A: Yes. According to a July 2002 policy clarification, students can take any UC-transferable 3-semester unit (or 4-quarter unit) community college or university level VPA course to meet the VPA eligibility requirement, as long as it clearly falls within one of the four disciplines of VPA (music, dance, theatre, visual arts). Students, counselors, and others can go to ASSIST to find out which courses are transferable.