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Articulation


What is Articulation?

Articulation is the process of developing a formal, written agreement that identifies courses (or sequences of courses) on a “sending” campus that are comparable to, or acceptable in lieu of, specific course requirements at a “receiving” campus.  Successful completion of an articulated course assures the student and the faculty that the student has taken the appropriate course, received the necessary instruction and preparation, and that similar outcomes can be assured.

Norco College has articulation agreements with the California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), and many private universities.  Completing an articulated course for a specific major or for general education enables students to fulfill a university requirement for admission and/or graduation while at Norco College prior to transfer.  Articulation agreements between Norco College and the CSU and UC campuses can be found at www.assist.org.

What is ASSIST?

ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer) is the official repository of articulation for California's public colleges and universities that displays reports of how course credits earned at a community college can be applied when transferred to a California State University or University of California campus.

Transfer Planning

Successful transfer planning involves completing articulated courses for general education and major preparation based on the university that you would like to transfer to.  Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor to develop a Student Educational Plan.

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

California Community Colleges are now offering associate degrees for transfer to the CSU. These may include Associate in Arts (AA-T) or Associate in Science (AS-T) degrees. These degrees are designed to provide a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. 

California Community College students who are awarded an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission with junior standing somewhere in the CSU system and given priority admission consideration (usually through a slight GPA bump) to their local CSU campus or to a program that is deemed similar to their community college major. This priority does not guarantee admission to a specific major or campus. 

Students who have been awarded an AA-T or AS-T are able to complete their remaining requirements for the 120-unit baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90 quarter units. Not all CSU campuses accept all of the AA-T/AS-T degrees. To view the most current list of Norco College Associate Degrees for Transfer and to find out which CSU campuses accept each degree you should meet with a Norco College counselor and also visit the websites listed below.

 

AA-T/AS-T Websites

AA-T/AS-T Degrees offered at Norco College

AICCU ADT Commitment

Students can now transfer with an ADT to dozens of private, nonprofit colleges and universities.  The ADT Commitment is the Independent California College and University sector’s adaptation of the ADT pathway. While similar to the CSU ADT, there are also some differences due to the independent nature of the state’s nonprofit institutions.  You can find more information including a list of participating institutions on the AICCU Transfer Website.

Course Outlines

 

External Exams - AP, IB, CLEP, and DLPT

 

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)

  • Minimum score of 3 required on an AP exam for RCCD Associate Degree, CSU GE or IGETC credit.
  • Each university determines how an AP exam may count toward credit in a particular major and which scores they consider acceptable.

International Baccalaureate Examinations (IB)

  • Only passing scores on Higher Level (HL) IB exams are accepted.
  • Minimum score of 5 on an IB exam for IGETC credit.  RCCD GE and CSU GE require a minimum score of 4 on some exams and 5 on other exams (see chart).
  • Each university determines how an IB exam may count toward credit in a particular major and which scores they consider acceptable.

College Level Exam Program (CLEP)

  • Passing scores vary by exam subject (see chart).
  • Credit may be used towards RCCD Associate Degree and CSU GE requirements.  CLEP is not accepted towards IGETC or by the UC system at this time.
  • Each university determines how a CLEP exam may count toward credit in a particular major and which scores they consider acceptable.

Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)

  • Per CSU policy, passing scores may be used toward CSU GE area C2 Humanities.

General Education


Riverside Community College District General Education (RCCD GE) Requirements (PLAN A)

For students pursuing an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at Norco College who do not want to transfer to a university.  Students completing an ADT need to follow CSU GE or IGETC.


California State University General Education (CSU GE) Requirements (PLAN B)

For students who would like to transfer to a campus in the California State University (CSU) system.


Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Requirements (PLAN C)

For students who would like to transfer to a campus in either the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) system.  Some of the UC campuses do not accept or recommend IGETC for certain majors.  See a counselor for more details.


Certain private and out-of-state universities will accept the CSU GE or IGETC patterns.  Others will not.  The AICCU Transfer Guide is one resource you can use to check whether certain private universities in California accept CSU GE or IGETC.  It is very important to see a counselor for assistance in selecting the right general education pattern based on your educational goals.

Private and Out-of-State University Agreements


AICCU ADT Commitment 

Students can now transfer with an ADT to dozens of private, nonprofit colleges and universities.  The ADT Commitment is the Independent California College and University sector’s adaptation of the ADT pathway. While similar to the CSU ADT, there are also some differences due to the independent nature of the state’s nonprofit institutions.  You can find more information including a list of participating institutions on the AICCU Transfer Website and in their Transfer Guide.

Accreditation Resources

  • Course Credit may be accepted from colleges and universities designated as Institutional Accreditors towards a local RCCD associate degree or certificate.

Institutional Accreditation

  • Only coursework from institutions accredited by one of the seven formerly regional accrediting agencies as listed in this document may be considered for Cal-GETC, IGETC, and UC transferability.

UC Statement on Institutional and Formerly Regional Accreditation

 

Common Course Numbering (AB 1111)

In compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 1111, California Community Colleges are in Phase I of adopting a common course numbering (CCN) system for many general education and transfer pathway courses. The purpose of the CCN system is to ensure that comparable courses across all community colleges have the same course number. The goal is to streamline the transfer process from California Community Colleges to four-year postsecondary educational institutions and reduce excess credit accumulation.

The chart below provides a list of Phase I courses that will be offered with a comparison of the current course prefix, number, and title and the new course prefix, number, and title based on the CCN system that will be implemented beginning in Summer 2025 in RCCD:

CCN Crosswalk

Old Course

New Course

Effective

COM-1 Public Speaking

COMM-C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking

Summer 2025

COM-1H Honors Public Speaking

COMM-C1000H Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors

Summer 2025

ENG-1A English Composition

ENGL-C1000 Academic Reading and Writing

Summer 2025

ENG-1AH Honors English Composition

ENGL-C1000H Academic Reading and Writing - Honors

Summer 2025

POL-1 American Politics

POLS-C1000 American Government and Politics

Summer 2025

POL-1H Honors American Politics

POLS-C1000H American Government and Politics - Honors

Summer 2025

PSY-1 General Psychology

PSYC-C1000 Introduction to Psychology

Summer 2025

PSY-1H Honors General Psychology

PSYC-C1000H Introduction to Psychology - Honors

Summer 2025

MAT-12 Statistics

STAT-C1000 Introduction to Statistics

Summer 2025

MAT-12H Honors Statistics

STAT-C1000H Introduction to Statistics – Honors

Summer 2025

These changes will appear across the 25-26 college catalogs, class schedules, and other publications.  If you have any questions, please contact your counselor.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are we moving to Common Course Numbering?

Education Code Sections 66725-66725.5 [via Assembly Bill No. 1111 (Berman)] require implementation of a student-facing common course numbering (CCN) system across the California Community Colleges on or before July 1, 2027. The CCN system will assign the same course number to comparable courses across all California community colleges in order to “streamline transfer from two- to four-year postsecondary educational institutions and reduce excess credit accumulation.” The CCN system will establish a structure that maximizes credit mobility for all students, strengthening equitable transfer and student success. More specifically, it will support students in areas such as building cohesive academic plans, understanding how required courses transfer and apply to completion, and making informed course selections that support degree completion. This effort involves the coordinated engagement of many stakeholders, including faculty, administrators, staff and system officials.

What if I took a CCN course through RCCD under the previous number and title?

The old version and the CCN version are treated as exactly the same course.  Whether you took it under the old number or the new number, they will fulfill the same requirements and clear the same prerequisites.  If you previously completed the course with a successful grade, you do not need to re-take the course.

The number and title under which you took the course is what will appear on your transcript.

Did some discipline prefixes change?

Some RCCD discipline prefixes will change effective Summer 25 to align with the subject code that will be used for CCN.  Please see the COMM, ENGL, POLS, PSYC, and STAT course listings tab in the 25-26 catalog for a complete list of these updated courses.

Where can I find out more about the Common Course Numbering project?

Please visit the California Community College Chancellor's Office website.  If you have specific course questions you can ask your counselor.

 

Faculty Resources

CCN Templates

ASCCC CCN Website