Transfer Planning
College of San Mateo can help students plan an educational program at CSM which will prepare them to transfer to the University of California, California State University or a private college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with a CSM counselor and use the resources of CSM’s Transfer Services to develop an educational plan which will assure a smooth transition to the transfer institution of their choice. While completing transfer requirements, students may also want to earn units toward an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree at CSM. With careful planning, both objectives can be reached by taking essentially the same set of transferable courses.
Course Identification Numbering System (C-ID)
The Course Identification Numbering System (C-ID) is a statewide numbering system independent from numbers assigned to courses by local California community colleges. You can find C-ID approved course on the C-ID website by community college. A C-ID number next to a course signals that the course is comparable in content and scope to all courses with the same C-ID course number, regardless of their unique titles or local course numbers. The C-ID designation is used to identify comparable courses at different community colleges. However, courses with same C-ID numbers do not necessarily carry the same transfer articulation. Always use ASSIST to confirm how each college's courses will be accepted/applied at a CSU or UC campus.
The C-ID numbering system is useful for students attending more than one community college. It is also an important part of the Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T, AS-T). All AA/AS-T degrees include course requirements that are part of the C-ID system. As you review the chart below, be advised that courses are being added to the CSM C-ID list on an ongoing basis. For more information, meet with a College Counselor.
| College of San Mateo Course | C-ID Number |
|---|---|
| Accounting 121 | C-ID ACCT 110 |
| Accounting 131 | C-ID ACCT 120 |
| Administration of Justice 100 | C-ID AJ 110 |
| Administration of Justice 102 | C-ID AJ 200 |
| Administration of Justice 104 | C-ID AJ 120 |
| Administration of Justice 106 | C-ID AJ 124 |
| Administration of Justice 108 | C-ID AJ 160 |
| Administration of Justice 120 | C-ID AJ 140 |
| Administration of Justice 125 | C-ID AJ 220 |
| Administration of Justice 185 | C-ID AJ 150 |
| Anthropology 110 | C-ID ANTH 120 |
| Anthropology 125 | C-ID ANTH 110 |
| Anthropology 127 | C-ID ANTH 115L |
| Anthropology 350 | C-ID ANTH 150 |
| Art 101 | C-ID ARTH 110 |
| Art 102 & 103 | C-ID ARTH 120 |
| Art 204 | C-ID ARTS 110 |
| Art 207 | C-ID ARTS 200 |
| Art 214 | C-ID ARTS 270 |
| Art 223 | C-ID ARTS 210 |
| Art 225 | C-ID ARTS 210 |
| Art 231 | C-ID ARTS 210 |
| Art 301 | C-ID ARTS 100 |
| Art 401 | C-ID ARTS 101 |
| Biology 210 & 220 | C-ID BIOL 130S |
| Biology 210 & 220 & 230 | C-ID BIOL 135S |
| Biology 230 | C-ID BIOL 190 |
| Biology 250 | C-ID BIOL 110B |
| Biology 260 | C-ID BIOL 120B |
| Biology 310 | C-ID NUTR 110 |
| Business 100 | C-ID BUS 110 |
| Business 103 | C-ID BUS 140 |
| Business 201 | C-ID BUS 125 |
| Chemistry 192 | C-ID CHEM 101 |
| Chemistry 210 | C-ID CHEM 110 |
| Chemistry 210 & 220 | C-ID CHEM 120S |
| Chemistry 231 | C-ID CHEM 150 |
| Chemistry 231 & 232 | C-ID CHEM 160S |
| Communication Studies 110 | C-ID COMM 110 |
| Communication Studies 115 | C-ID COMM 115 |
| Communication Studies 130 | C-ID COMM 130 |
| Communication Studies 140 | C-ID COMM 140 |
| Communication Studies 150 | C-ID COMM 150 |
| Communication Studies 170 | C-ID COMM 170 |
| Computer Information Systems 110 | C-ID IT IS 120 |
| Computer Information Systems 254 | C-ID COMP 112 |
| Computer Information Systems 255 | C-ID COMP 122 |
| Computer Information Systems 256 | C-ID COMP 132 |
| Computer Information Systems 262 | C-ID COMP 152 |
| Computer Information Systems 264 | C-ID COMP 142 |
| Computer Information Systems 278 | C-ID COMP 122 |
| Computer Information Systems 279 | C-ID COMP 132 |
| Dental Assisting 721 & 722 | C-ID DENA 105X |
| Dental Assisting 770 | C-ID DENA 100X |
| Digital Media 100 | C-ID JOUR 100 |
| Digital Media 103 | C-ID ARTS 100 |
| Digital Media 113 | C-ID FTVE 130 |
| Digital Media 122 | C-ID CMUS 120X |
| Digital Media 150 | C-ID FTVE 125 |
| Economics 100 | C-ID ECON 202 |
| Economics 102 | C-ID ECON 201 |
| Engineering 100 | C-ID ENGR 110 |
| Engineering 210 | C-ID ENGR 150 |
| Engineering 215 | C-ID ENGR 220 |
| Engineering 230 | C-ID ENGR 130 |
| Engineering 260 | C-ID ENGR 260 & ENGR 260L |
| Engineering 270 | C-ID ENGR 140B |
| English 100 | C-ID ENGL 100 |
| English 105 | C-ID ENGL 100 |
| English 110 | C-ID ENGL 120 |
| English 161 | C-ID ENGL 200 |
| English 165 | C-ID ENGL 105 |
| Ethnic Studies 108 | C-ID SJS 110 |
| Film 100 | C-ID FTVE 105 |
| Fire 715 | C-ID FIRE 100X |
| Fire 720 | C-ID FIRE 110X |
| Fire 730 | C-ID FIRE 140X |
| Fire 740 | C-ID FIRE 130X |
| Fire 745 | C-ID FIRE 120X |
| Fire 748 | C-ID FIRE 150X |
| Geography 100 | C-ID GEOG 110 |
| Geography 110 | C-ID GEOG 120 |
| Geography 150 | C-ID GEOG 125 |
| Geology 100 | C-ID GEOL 100 |
| Geology 101 | C-ID GEOL 100L |
| History 100 | C-ID HIST 170 |
| History 101 | C-ID HIST 180 |
| History 201 | C-ID HIST 130 |
| History 202 | C-ID HIST 140 |
| Kinesiology 101 | C-ID KIN 100 |
| Kinesiology 119 | C-ID KIN 101 |
| Literature 201 | C-ID ENGL 130 |
| Literature 202 | C-ID ENGL 135 |
| Literature 220 | C-ID ENGL 140 |
| Literature 221 | C-ID ENGL 145 |
| Literature 231 | C-ID ENGL 160 |
| Literature 232 | C-ID ENGL 165 |
| Math 125 | C-ID MATH 130 |
| Math 200 | C-ID MATH 110 |
| Math 222 | C-ID MATH 155 |
| Math 241 | C-ID MATH 140 |
| Math 251 | C-ID MATH 210 |
| Math 252 | C-ID MATH 220 |
| Math 253 | C-ID MATH 230 |
| Math 268 | C-ID MATH 160 |
| Math 270 | C-ID MATH 250 |
| Math 275 | C-ID MATH 240 |
| Music 100 | C-ID MUS 110 |
| Music 111 | C-ID MUS 125 |
| Music 112 | C-ID MUS 135 |
| Music 113 | C-ID MUS 145 |
| Music 114 | C-ID MUS 155 |
| Music 120 | C-ID CMUS 150X |
| Music 131 | C-ID MUS 120 |
| Music 132 | C-ID MUS 130 |
| Music 133 | C-ID MUS 140 |
| Music 134 | C-ID MUS 150 |
| Music 202 | C-ID MUS 100 |
| Music 286 | C-ID CMUS 140 |
| Music 290 & 291 | C-ID CMUS 100X |
| Music 423 | C-ID MUS 185 |
| Music 424 | C-ID MUS 185 |
| Music 425 | C-ID MUS 185 |
| Music 430 | C-ID MUS 180 |
| Music 452 | C-ID MUS 180 |
| Music 470 | C-ID MUS 180 |
| Music 501 | C-ID MUS 160 |
| Music 502 | C-ID MUS 160 |
| Music 503 | C-ID MUS 160 |
| Music 504 | C-ID MUS 160 |
| Paleontology 110 | C-ID GEOL 110 |
| Paleontology 111 | C-ID GEOL 110L |
| Philosophy 100 | C-ID PHIL 100 |
| Philosophy 160 | C-ID PHIL 130 |
| Philosophy 175 | C-ID PHIL 140 |
| Philosophy 200 | C-ID PHIL 110 |
| Philosophy 244 | C-ID PHIL 120 |
| Physics 210 & 220 | C-ID PHYS 100S |
| Physics 210 | C-ID PHYS 105 |
| Physics 220 | C-ID PHYS 110 |
| Physics 250 | C-ID PHYS 205 |
| Physics 260 | C-ID PHYS 210 |
| Physics 270 | C-ID PHYS 215 |
| Physics 250 & 260 & 270 | C-ID PHYS 200S |
| Political Science 100 | C-ID POLS 150 |
| Political Science 110 | C-ID POLS 130 |
| Political Science 130 | C-ID POLS 140 |
| Political Science 150 | C-ID POLS 120 |
| Political Science 200 | C-ID POLS 110 |
| Psychology 100 | C-ID PSY 110 |
| Psychology 110 | C-ID SOCI 130 |
| Psychology 120 | C-ID PSY 200 |
| Psychology 120 | C-ID POLS 160 |
| Psychology 121 | C-ID SOCI 125 |
| Psychology 121 | C-ID MATH 110 |
| Psychology 200 | C-ID PSY 180 |
| Psychology 201 | C-ID CDEV 100 |
| Psychology 220 | C-ID PSY 150 |
| Psychology 300 | C-ID PSY 170 |
| Psychology 410 | C-ID PSY 120 |
| Social Science 302 | C-ID ADS 140X |
| Social Science 307 | C-ID ADS 180X |
| Social Science 308 | C-ID ADS 130X |
| Social Science 310 | C-ID ADS 195X |
| Social Science 315 & 316 | C-ID ADS 200X & ADS 210X |
| Social Science 317 | C-ID ADS 170X |
| Social Science 319 | C-ID ADS 190X |
| Social Science 333 | C-ID ADS 160X |
| Sociology 100 | C-ID SOCI 110 |
| Sociology 105 | C-ID SOCI 115 |
| Sociology 110 | C-ID SOCI 130 |
| Sociology 121 | C-ID POLS 160 |
| Sociology 121 | C-ID SOCI 120 |
| Sociology 141 | C-ID SOCI 150 |
| Sociology 160 | C-ID SOCI 140 |
| Spanish 110 | C-ID SPAN 100 |
| Spanish 120 | C-ID SPAN 110 |
| Spanish 131 & 132 | C-ID SPAN 200 |
| Spanish 140 | C-ID SPAN 210 |
Transfer of Credit
Students planning to transfer can complete their freshman and sophomore level of transfer classes at College of San Mateo and transfer to the baccalaureate institution with junior standing. Students must complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units in order to transfer as juniors. Typically, students must complete units that apply to an approved general education pattern and lower division major preparation as transfer preparation.
Associate Degree for Transfer Can Benefit Students Intending to Transfer to the CSU System
College of San Mateo offers associate degrees (AA-T and AS-T) designed to support transfer to the California State University system. Students who complete the requirements for an Associate Degree for Transfer are eligible for an associate degree AND meet minimum admissions requirements for junior standing at a California State University. Although earning an Associate Degree for Transfer does not guarantee a student admission to all California State University campuses or majors, it does secure priority admission consideration to his/her local CSU campus.
To enhance a student's competitiveness and success as a CSU applicant, in addition to completing the requirements for the associate degree for transfer, it is strongly recommended that students utilize the ASSIST website to see if there are additional courses suggested or required for a particular major at a specific campus.
On page 104 find a list of current Associate Degrees for Transfer available at College of San Mateo. They are noted as "AA-T or AS-T" on the list.
CSM Transfer Services
Visit the Transfer Services website. CSM’s Transfer Services provides information and offers workshops on choosing a college, transfer admission requirements, completing transfer admission application forms and writing the application essay. Transfer Services staff can provide details about special Transfer Admission Guarantees that CSM has developed with a number of four-year UC and private institutions which can guarantee students transfer admission.
Students with a clear transfer objective stand the best chance of meeting requirements in a timely manner. They can make the best use of their time and course work by deciding on a transfer institution and major as soon as possible. Students unable to make these decisions when they enter College of San Mateo may follow a general transfer pattern of courses while taking advantage of Transfer Services resources in making transfer plans.
Once students choose a major and the university to which they plan to transfer, they should use www.assist.org, an online student transfer information system, to see how courses completed at College of San Mateo are applied when transferring to a university. This website also lists courses required for majors. Transfer Services staff and CSM counselors can assist students in planning for transfer, and four-year university representatives often visit CSM to meet with students interested in transferring to their institutions. It is wise for students to consult the catalog of the university to which they plan to transfer to become familiar with specific transfer admission requirements. Many college and university catalogs are available for reference both in the Transfer Services Office and online. Students may also write directly to the admissions office of the institution to obtain an information bulletin which outlines requirements for admission as a transfer student.
Transfer Services is located with the Counseling Center in Building 10, Room 340.
Requirements for Transfer Students
A student can transfer from College of San Mateo to a four-year college or university as a junior without loss of time or credits by completing the following:
- Lower Division Preparation for the Major These courses provide the necessary background to prepare the transfer student to enter the major as a junior. Use the Assist website for this information.
- General Education Requirements (Sometimes called “Breadth Requirements”) These are the courses required to obtain a bachelor’s degree regardless of major. Courses in writing, critical thinking, sciences, humanities and social sciences are included in general education.
- Electives Upon completion of major and general education requirements, elective courses can be taken to bring the total number of transferable units to the required 60 units for transfer to UC and CSU.
Students Request General Education Certification Prior to Transfer to a UC or CSU Campus
The UC and CSU systems ask community college transfer students to provide verification of completion of lower division general education requirements. To accomplish this, students must request the Admissions and Records Office (the request can be made on WebSMART) to send a CSU GE or IGETC Certification with the final transcript to the transfer institution. This certification is used by the transfer destination, in addition to the official transcripts, to confirm full or partial completion of CSU GE or IGETC requirements.
Students who transfer without CSU GE or IGETC Certification will be required to meet the general education requirements of the specific UC or CSU campus to which they transfer. Meeting these local general education requirements requires taking additional general education courses after transfer.
Transfer Admission Procedures
Students should take the following steps to apply for admission as a transfer student to a four-year college or university:
- Request an application from the Admissions Office of the transfer institution approximately
one year in advance of planned transfer. Applications for the University of California
and the California State University are available online at the following websites:
UC website, CSU website - Submit completed application during the specified filing period. Students are discouraged from sending them early as they will not be accepted before the initial filing date.
- If an entrance exam (SAT, ACT) is required for transfer admission, register for the exam at least six months in advance of transfer.
- Submit a request to the CSM Office of Admissions and Records to have a transcript of your academic record sent to the transfer institution at the time(s) specified by that institution. Transcripts must be requested well in advance of the date required. Four-year colleges and universities will also require transcripts of work completed at all other educational institutions.
- After admitted to a CSU or UC campus, request a CSU GE or IGETC certification to be sent with your final transcript.
California State University
The California State University offers instruction to undergraduate and master’s degree students in the liberal arts and sciences, applied fields, and professions, including teaching. Nearly 1,500 degree programs in 240 subject areas are offered. CSU assigns high priority to California community college transfer students who have completed the first two years of their baccalaureate program, including those applying for impacted programs.
The California State University has twentythree campuses: Bakersfield, California Maritime Academy, Channel Islands, Chico, Dominguez Hills, Fresno, Fullerton, East Bay (Hayward), Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, Sonoma and Stanislaus.
University of California
The University of California offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in a broad array of subject areas. Last year, more than 6,000 students transferred from California’s community colleges to the University, and more than one-fifth of UC’s bachelor degrees were awarded to students who started out at a community college. The University is encouraging even more community college students to take this step in the coming years.
The University of California has a long-established relationship with College of San Mateo and has developed several special programs to help community college students with the transfer process. The University’s articulation agreements with CSM make it possible for prospective transfer students to select appropriate courses. Community college students receive priority consideration for transfer admission. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum allows prospective transfer students to satisfy the lower division breadth/general education requirements of any UC campus before transferring.
While all of the campuses have similar requirements for undergraduate admission, they differ in size, enrollment, and in academic programs offered. In addition, the campuses vary in styles of campus life, with student populations reflecting a variety of cultures from the United States and abroad. The University of California includes nine general campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. A tenth campus in San Francisco offers graduate and professional programs in the health sciences.
California Independent Colleges and Universities
There are more than 300 privately supported (or independent) degree-granting colleges and universities in California. Independent institutions enroll about one-quarter of all students attending four-year colleges and universities in California. The most distinctive feature of California’s accredited independent colleges and universities is their diversity of character, academic emphasis, and programs. They include both religious and secular institutions, non-profit and profit-making institutions, and professional schools that offer only a single occupational specialty as well as universities offering a full array of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs.
When choosing from among the privately supported colleges and universities in California, you may wish to review the type of certification a particular institution has received. Note: In selecting a California independent college or university, students are advised to give first priority to those institutions which are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. If you would like more information about the certification process as specified in California’s Education Code, please contact the California Postsecondary Education Commission at (916) 445-1000.
