Navigating the ADT Path to CSUF: Requirements and Benefits

The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program offers a streamlined pathway for California Community College students aiming to transfer to a California State University (CSU) and earn a bachelor's degree. This article focuses on the ADT program and its specific requirements and benefits for students transferring to California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

What is the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)?

The California Community Colleges-Associate Degree for Transfer Program (CCC-ADT) is designed to guarantee admission to a California State University (CSU) campus for community college students who complete an "associate degree for transfer." The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees are specifically intended for students planning to pursue a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus.

General Requirements for Upper-Division Transfer (UDT) Students

To be considered an upper-division transfer applicant, you must have completed at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit by the time you enter a CSU. Admission requirements for UDT students include:

Completion of at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable college credit, with 30 semester (45 quarter) units equivalent to general education courses.
A grade point average of 2.0 or better across all transferable college courses attempted (higher GPA may be required for high-demand majors and campuses).
Good standing at the last college or university attended.

ADT Graduation Benefits at CSUF

One major benefit of earning an ADT (prior to transfer) is the waiver of lower-division business core courses required for your major. The university will honor degrees earned any time prior to transfer for students to receive the graduation benefits of earning an ADT within the major. However, it's important to note that community colleges typically don't post ADT degrees immediately after graduation; it can take several weeks.

Specifically for Business Administration majors at CSUF:

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The lower-division business core courses will be waived.
Not all concentrations in the College of Business and Economics are approved for the ADT in Business Administration and Business Administration 2.0.
The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Economics is not considered a similar degree for the B.A. Business Administration or B.A. International Business majors. Therefore, you would only be eligible for the ADT guarantees and benefits if you choose the B.A.
You will also be eligible for the ADT guarantees and benefits if you earn an ADT in Business Administration or Business Administration 2.0 and choose the B.A.

Potential Loss of ADT Benefits

Under certain circumstances, your ADT status can be canceled, and the waiver of lower-division business core courses will be voided. This means you'll be required to complete any outstanding lower-division business core courses. This can occur in the following situations:

For transfer students admitted prior to fall 2022: If you choose to add a minor, a second major, a second concentration, or a certificate, your ADT status will be canceled, and your lower-division business core waiver will be voided. You will be required to complete any missing lower-division business core courses that you did not complete (e.g. calculus, business writing, etc.). This status also applies to students admitted prior to fall 2022 who choose a non-approved concentration, add a minor, a second major, a second concentration, or certificate.
For students admitted fall 2022 and after: The ADT status will be canceled, and the lower-division business core waiver will be voided only if the student chooses a non-approved concentration.

It's crucial to refer to your Titan Degree Audit (TDA) for any remaining requirements.

General Education Requirements for Transfer Students

All CSU students must meet the minimum of 48 semester units of General Education (GE)-breadth requirements to earn a bachelor's degree. The GE requirement includes 39 semester units of lower-division coursework and at least nine semester units of upper-division coursework. Area F - Ethnic Studies (effective 2021 catalog). Some majors include courses that meet both GE and major requirements. This is referred to as “double-counting.” It is recommended that students work with their academic advisor or transfer counselors to identify which courses can satisfy both GE and lower-division major course requirements. Transfer students can complete up to 39 semester units of lower-division coursework prior to transferring to the CSU.

The CSU General Education-Breadth (GE-Breadth) program allows California Community College transfer students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for any CSU campus prior to transfer. This curriculum provides an alternative to the IGETC requirements and can be a good option if you know you want to transfer to a CSU but don't know which campus you will attend, or if you know which campus you will attend but don't know which major you will pursue.

Students who began at a CCC or CSU prior to fall 2021, and maintained continuous enrollment, will not be held to the Area F Ethnic Studies requirement due to their pre-2021 catalog rights. CCC students who did not maintain continuous enrollment, but their transcript indicates completion of an Associate Degree for Transfer, Full GE Breadth certification, or IGETC certification, are not required to complete a course in Ethnic studies prior to graduation.

For STEM majors, students preparing for a major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) are eligible to complete IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) for STEM Majors, a separate IGETC track designed specifically for these disciplines, or the GE Breadth for STEM.For certification under IGETC for STEM Majors, students must complete:All courses in Areas 1, 2, and 5 of the traditional IGETC; and Two courses in Area 3 and two courses in Area 4. This general education plan will allow STEM students to concentrate on the required lower-division math and science courses needed for success in the major.

Because the IGETC pattern is accepted by both the CSU and University of California, with minor differences, it’s a good option if you’re undecided about the system to which you will transfer.If you’re enrolled in a major that requires extensive lower-division preparation, you may not be able to complete all the coursework for the IGETC pattern prior to transfer. You should consult with your community college counselor to determine which general education program is most appropriate for you.

Besides requirements for the major and general education, CSU campuses may require other courses for a bachelor’s degree. Read the catalogs of the CSU campuses to which you’re considering transferring to familiarize yourself with their graduation requirements.

Additional CSU Requirements

The California State University requires every student receiving a baccalaureate degree to be knowledgeable about the Constitution of the United States, American history, and state and local government. This requirement is generally known as the American Institutions and Ideals Requirement. You may even complete this requirement while at a community college. All California Community Colleges (CCC) have designated courses that satisfy the CSU's American Institutions and Ideals Requirement. Most CSU campuses permit courses that meet this requirement to satisfy General Education-Breadth requirements providing a CCC certifies your General Education-Breadth and American Institutions and Ideals requirements.

Resources for Transfer Students

CSU Transfer Planner: This online tool helps California Community College students explore and plan a successful transfer to any of the 23 California State Universities. You can learn about programs, admission requirements, save degree programs, track general education progress, and receive helpful tips.
ASSIST.org: This website provides information on course transferability between California Community Colleges and CSU campuses.
Business Advising Center at CSUF: Offers Four-year Roadmaps for each major and concentration.
EOP (Educational Opportunity Program): Designed to improve access and retention of historically low-income and educationally disadvantaged students.
Cal State Apply: The application portal for applying to CSU campuses.

Guarantee of Completing a Degree in 60 Units

If you are admitted to a CSU program deemed similar to your Associate Degree for Transfer, you are guaranteed to complete the baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree at the CSU in the similar discipline within 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units as long as you successfully complete all of the required coursework without the need to repeat courses or supplementing instruction with additional courses for minors or areas of emphasis. Some academic programs may require a performance evaluation, an audition, portfolio review, or set specific academic progress requirements to retain enrollment in the program. To uphold the guarantee of completing 60 semester (90 quarter) units, you must maintain continuous enrollment in the same academic major unless you have obtained an approved leave of absence from your campus.

Important Considerations

Continuous Enrollment: Undergraduate students who have maintained continuous attendance at a CSU or a CCC may elect to qualify for graduation from the CSU under catalog requirements in effect either: At the time they began attending any CCC or CSU campus; At the time they entered the CSU campus from which they will graduate; or At the time they graduate from the CSU. Contact your counselor for additional details.
Non-resident Students: Many CSU campuses have higher admission standards for nonresident students (out-of-state and international students). If you’re a nonresident or private school transfer student, it’s recommended that you complete at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units before applying to transfer. It’s recommended, too, that at least 30 semester units (45 quarter units) of general education requirements in written communications, critical thinking, speech, and quantitative analysis (mathematics) are completed. You can contact the CSU campus to which you are applying and request an evaluation of your transferable coursework.
English Language Proficiency: International students may need to demonstrate English language proficiency through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The CSU minimum score for the internet (iBT) version of the TOEFL is 61; some campuses may require a higher score. Contact the CSU campus for the most current minimum score requirements.
External Examinations: Transfer students may earn general education or lower-division major credits by taking a CSU-accepted external examination in place of a course. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Each campus in the California State University system determines how it will apply credits earned by external examinations toward the degree major.
Electives: Elective courses are those that count toward total transfer units needed for admission but are not used to fulfill lower-division admission, pre-major, general education, or graduation requirements. If you have not chosen a major, taking elective courses in different fields is a good way to explore your career interests and aptitudes. Check your college catalog carefully to be sure these courses are transferable to the CSU for at least elective credit.
Writing Skills: Many transfer students report that the biggest difference between their classes at a California Community College and those at the university is the amount of writing required at the CSU. While you’re taking courses that prepare you to transfer, you should also work on continued improvement of your reading and writing skills. Obtaining assistance with writing while you’re at a California Community College will prepare you for the demands of university study and help you prepare to satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement for the baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree.
Redirection: If you have a verified AA-T or AS-T degree and meet the CSU's upper-division transfer admission eligibility requirements, but you haven't been admitted to the CSU of your choice because that campus doesn't haven enough space, you will be redirected to an alternate campus. Redirection page on Cal State Apply.
Satisfactory completion of 18 or more units and all requirements for a major or area of emphasis. Note: Students may only use CSU GE Breadth or IGETC toward an AA-T or AS-T if they enrolled at a California Community College or California State University (CSU) and maintained continuous attendance prior to Fall 2025. These degrees may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system.

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