Associate of Science Transfer degrees (ASTs) represent a streamlined path for students transferring from an Oregon community college to an Oregon university who know which major/bachelor’s degree program they want to pursue. In contrast to other statewide transfer tools that prioritize university general education requirements (i.e. AAOT and ASOT), ASTs specify clear course-taking paths necessary for on-track progress towards a specific major/bachelor’s degree, with a guarantee of transfer from any Oregon community college to any Oregon public university.
The AST degrees identify the optimal and specific set of community college courses students need to take to transfer efficiently into the major at the university. The successful completion of the AST degree allows students to receive status at the public university, based on the number of academic credits referenced in the transfer agreement, including at least 30 credits of general education satisfied, that is comparable to the status of students with the same number of academic credits in the major course of study who began their postsecondary studies at the public university. The students will not be required to retake a course, as long as the minimum required grades have been earned.
All courses must be passed with a grade of “C-” or better. Students must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and meet the residency requirements at the community college awarding the AST.
When students complete an AST degree, the general education courses listed here, for which minimum required grades have been earned, are guaranteed to transfer into general education, degree, or major requirements for a bachelor’s degree at any Oregon public university.
Students who want to transfer prior to completing the AST requirements should talk with their community college advisor and an advisor at their target university prior to transfer about how their courses will count towards general education requirements and degree/major requirements.
Students are responsible for informing the admissions counselor or intake advisor at their receiving four-year institution that they are completing an AST. It is important for students to understand that completing the AST in two years and the bachelor’s degree in four years requires them to complete a minimum average of 15 credits per quarter (or 45 credits per year).
The guarantees and limitations below describe the minimum requirements to which all participating institutions have agreed. If an institution is not meeting the guarantees described below, a complaint can be filed with the Oregon Transfer Advisory Committee (OTAC).
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