One of the primary functions of the community college is to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. Napa Valley College is proud of its reputation for transferring students with strong backgrounds in their chosen academic areas. In addition to academic preparation, NVC students are accepted by transfer institutions because they have met the requirements for: a) admission, b) their major, c) general education, and d) graduation.
Students planning to transfer should complete lower-division courses for the major, general education, and elective courses at NVC for a total of 60 units so they can transfer with junior (upper division) standing. Although it is not required for transfer, many students also earn an Associate Degree of Arts prior to transfer.
NVC students may choose to transfer to a California State University, a University of California, or a private/independent college. Napa Valley College encourages students to use the many resources available to them to ensure smooth, successful transfer to the college of their choice. With careful planning, NVC students will transfer in a timely fashion, academically prepared to achieve their bachelor’s degree.
Counseling for Transfer Students
Counselors are available to assist students in planning their transfer programs. Since transfer requirements change frequently, students should see a counselor at least once per semester to be sure they are enrolled in appropriate classes each term.
Counselors are located in four locations across campus: Counseling Center, Administration/200 Building; Career Center, Administration/Room 205; Transfer Center, Library/300 Building; and EOPS/Financial Aid Office, Room 102 (EOPS/Financial Aid counselors work specifically with students eligible for these programs.).
Counselors provide students with information for admission and graduation from many colleges and universities. They use the following tools to help students with transfer planning.
• College Catalogs - catalogs are available for review by students in the Transfer Center, the Counseling Office, the college library, the Career Center and online.
• Articulation Agreements - written agreements with colleges and universities in California specifying NVC courses comparable to courses at those colleges.
• General Education Patterns - worksheets to ensure completion of general education requirements for the UC and CSU systems (see pages 97-101 for additional information).
• California Articulation Numbering (CAN) System - a system of course numbering which ensures a particular NVC course is equivalent to a comparable course at another college (see pages 103-104 for a complete listing of CAN-qualified courses at NVC).
• Individual Educational Plan - written plan outlining the major and general education courses a student needs to complete at Napa Valley College prior to transfer.
• Transfer Admission Agreements - written agreements with select colleges developed by a counselor which guarantee admission to a four-year university. Contact the Counseling Office or Transfer Center for deadlines and requirements.
The Transfer Center provides transfer advisement, counseling, current information, and special assistance to students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university. The following resources are available in the Transfer Center.
Transfer advisement for transfer requirements; transfer counseling for decision making.
College catalogs and brochures for California State Universities, University of California, all campuses, California Independent colleges and universities, and out-of-state institutions.
Internet access to college catalogs and transfer information.
Reference books to help students identify colleges offering degrees/programs/services in their areas of interest.
Articulation agreements that specify course equivalency between NVC and other California institutions.
Transfer workshops on specific majors, such as nursing, engineering, and teaching.
Individual appointments with representatives from four-year colleges to discuss admission and graduation requirements for their campuses.
On-the-spot admissions for transfer students.
Transfer Admission Agreements (TAA’s).
Admission application workshops for students planning to transfer to the California State University or University of California system.
Information on professional degrees and extended education programs.
For additional information on transfer services, call or visit the Transfer Center at 253-3115.
Napa Valley College students may transfer to any of the following colleges/systems:
• California State University System (23 campuses)
• University of California System (10 campuses)
• Independent (in-state or out-of-state) colleges and universities.
The California State University System (CSU)
The California State University system is the largest system of senior higher
education in the nation. Its 23 campuses located throughout California offer
over 1,500 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in more than 200 subject
areas. The CSU system provides undergraduate instruction in liberal arts and
sciences, and it prepares students in applied fields and professions, such as
nursing, computer science, engineering, and business.
The system works closely with the California Community Colleges to develop articulation for lower division courses. First priority for admission to a CSU campus at the upper division level is given to transfer students from the California Community College System.
The following sections explain admission, major, general education, and other requirements for transfer to the CSU system. Students should plan carefully so that they meet all transfer requirements. A maximum of 70 transferable units are acceptable from California Community Colleges.
Minimum Admission
Requirements
To transfer in junior standing, a student must complete at least:
• 60 transferable semester units with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (All NVC courses numbered between 100 and 299 are transferable to the CSU system), and
• complete
at least 30 semester units of general education with grades of “C” or better,
including areas A-1, A-2, A-3, and B-4 of the general education pattern on
page 98.
Special Notes:
• Students are advised to complete the lower division preparation for the major prior to transfer. High demand majors may require lower division preparation completion as a program entrance criteria.
• Students are encouraged to complete the entire general education pattern prior to transfer. Students who complete the CSU General Education pattern on page 98 or the IGETC pattern on page 101 will have their general education certified as complete. This means that no additional lower division general education courses will be required to graduate.
• Students who wish to transfer with freshman or sophomore standing must consult a counselor to determine entrance requirements.
• Students are advised to
file their applications for the CSU system as follows for priority
consideration:
| Term | CSU Priority Filing Period |
| Fall Quarter or Semester |
November 1-30 of the previous year |
| Winter Quarter or Semester | June 1-30 of the previous year |
| Spring Quarter or Semester | August 1-31of the previous year |
Contact the Transfer Center or the Counseling Office to obtain applications and information on application workshops.
Major Requirements
Students are advised to complete all of the lower division requirements for their major while attending Napa Valley College. By doing so, students are prepared to enter into upper division courses in the major upon entrance into the four-year college. Students should meet with a counselor to determine course equivalencies for their major and to develop an educational plan so they can ensure a smooth transition to the four-year institution.
High demand or impacted majors, such as architecture, nursing, business administration, engineering, and certain health and biological sciences, may require that all lower division major requirements be completed as part of the admission criteria. This is referred to as “supplemental admission criteria.” Such high demand majors may also require a GPA well above a 2.0, as well as supplemental applications or test scores. Students should review the catalog of their chosen school and consult a counselor to determine what, if any, supplemental admission criteria are required for their major.
General Education
Requirements: California State University
This pattern of General Education courses, totaling 39 semester units, will satisfy the lower division general education requirements for all CSU campuses. At least 30 of these 39 units, including areas A-1, A-2, A-3, and B-4 must be completed with a grade of “C”or better (not “C-”).
Courses transferred to NVC from other colleges may be included on this pattern if they are equivalent to NVC courses listed, or if they are on the general education pattern from the host college.
A new general education list is published each academic year since courses may be added or deleted. Catalog rights do not apply to general education certification, so students must consult the new list each year. If a course is taken when it fulfills a general education requirement, it continues to fulfill the requirement, even though it is removed from the general education pattern in a subsequent year. A course may be used to satisfy only one General Education area.
The list of courses approved for each of the following areas and sub-areas of the CSU General Education pattern is published each term in the schedule of classes. In addition, students may obtain a copy of CSU General Education pattern sheet from the Counseling Office, Transfer Center or Career Center.
A. Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking (A minimum of 9 units is required): One course must be taken from A-1, one from A-2, and one from A-3.
A-1. Oral Communication
A-2. Written Communications
A-3. Critical Thinking
B. Physical Universe and its Life Forms (A minimum of 9 units is required): One course must come from B-1, one from B-2, and one from B-4. At least one course from B-1 or B-2 must include a laboratory associated with a lecture.
B-1. Physical Science
B-2. Life Science
B-3. Laboratory Activity
B-4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
C. Arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Foreign Language (A minimum of 9 units is required): At least 3 units must be taken from Area C-1 and at least 3 units must be taken from Area C-2. The remaining units may be selected from either Area C-1 or Area C-2.
C-1. Arts (art, dance, drama, music)
C-2. Humanities (literature, philosophy, foreign languages)
D. Social, Political, and Economic Institutions and Behavior; Historical Background (A minimum of 9 units is required): A maximum of two (2) courses may be selected from one of the following categories:
D-1. Anthropology and Archaeology
D-2. Economics
D-3. Ethnic Studies
D-4. Gender Studies
D-5. Geography
D-6. History
D-7. Interdisciplinary Social or Behavioral Science
D-8. Political Science, Government and Legal Institutions
D-9. Psychology
D-10. Sociology and Criminology
E. Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development (A minimum of 3 units is required).
Note: Students may complete the IGETC pattern on page 101 in lieu of the CSU General Education pattern. Students should consult a counselor to determine the best choice for them.
Graduation Requirements
American History and Institutions Requirement:
All students seeking a
baccalaureate degree from the CSU system are required by California law to
demonstrate competence in the Constitution of the United States and in
American History. This includes the study of American institutions and ideals
and the principles of state and local government established under the
Constitution of the State of California. Most institutions allow these courses
to count as part of CSU General Education. Consult a counselor for additional
information.
American History Requirements: choose one course from HIST 120, 121, 150 or 152.
American Institutions Requirements, including state and local government: choose one course from POLI 120 or 121.
Ethnic Studies Requirement: An Ethnic Studies course is required for graduation from most of the California State Universities. This course may also be counted to fulfill one category of General Education. See a counselor for a list of Napa Valley College courses to fulfill this requirement at the college of your choice.
Other Requirements: Some colleges may have additional graduation requirements, such as courses in foreign language, and/or second-semester English composition. These courses are required for the bachelor’s degree and are not part of the admission criteria; however, students may wish to complete these requirements at NVC to minimize the number of courses to be taken at the four-year institution. Students should consult a counselor to determine what, if any, additional requirements are needed for their chosen major and college.