Transfer Studies Certificate

Each year, over 2,000 Montgomery College students transfer successfully to four-year institutions across the state
and across the nation. The Transfer Studies Certificate is a new program to help smooth the way.

The Transfer Studies Certificate is designed for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university. Students should meet with a counselor or adviser to select appropriate courses required by the transfer institutions) of interest.

Courses	Credits
Foundation - two courses:
English foundation (EN 102 or 109)	3
Mathematics foundation (MA 110 or higher)	3

Distribution - four courses: Choose from attached Distribution Lists or the MC 2004-2005 Catalog, p. 67 - 70
Arts distribution	3
Humanities distribution	3
Behavioral and social sciences distribution	3
Natural sciences lab distribution	4

Electives - 11 credits *






Total number of credits	30

* Meet with a counselor or adviser to choose elective courses to fulfill additional general education requirements and/or academic major requirements of the transfer institution(s). EN 101 may be used as elective credit for this certificate.

Why Choose the Transfer Studies Certificate?

Many students plan to transfer to another school after only a short time at Montgomery College. The Transfer Studies Certificate allows you to identify yourself as a transfer student right away. You will receive mailings about advising, transfer workshops and scholarship information.

Transfer students can tailor their programs to meet the admissions requirements of any four-year institution, public or private, in-state or out-of-state.

Transfer Studies Certificate students will be encouraged to seek academic advising prior to the registration rush each semester. Following a plan created with an adviser will help to reduce the number of credits that may not transfer.

By issuing this certificate, Montgomery College will receive recognition from the state of Maryland for its role in preparing students for transfer.

Students who have earned 30 transferable credits at a community college may apply for admission to most four-year schools and be evaluated solely on their college record. Students whose SAT scores and/or high school records did not meet freshman entrance requirements have a second opportunity to be admitted to competitive colleges based on their college performance only.

This Certificate contains General Education Requirements courses for most Associates degrees offered (AA, AAS, and AS). Students can easily elect to remain at Montgomery College to complete any of these degrees prior to transfer. Completion of an AA degree may increase transferability and opportunities for scholarships.

Can I be enrolled in both a major and in the Transfer Studies Certificate program? Yes - students may declare majors like Business or Engineering, and as they enter the semester that they fulfill the 30-credit requirement for the TS Certificate, they can apply for and be issued a Certificate.

Choosing Courses for the Transfer Studies Certificate

The critical message of the Transfer Studies Certificate is to seek advisement each semester when choosing courses for transfer. Students don't necessarily have to have a specific major in mind for this Certificate, but giving as much information as possible to an adviser will help you choose courses. Be ready to answer these questions:

What transfer school or schools are you considering?
If you're completely undecided about where you want to go (and this is normal!), think about whether you want to look at public or private schools, in Maryland or out-of-state.
What major or majors are you thinking about? Your choices for math and electives may vary depending on the majors that interest you. Even vague possibilities of majors can be helpful - or telling us those that you may have ruled out.
Having a major in mind is NOT essential, but this doesn't mean that you have to avoid the question altogether. Use courses in the General Elective column to do some exploration - "Introduction to..." classes may help.
Does this mean I shouldn't get an Associate of Arts degree? Not at all! Some schools prefer that you finish two years prior to transfer. The Transfer Studies Certificate is a way to begin planning for whatever fits your transfer needs.

Transfer planning can begin the moment you enroll at Montgomery College. Visit colleges and universities to get a feel for what kind of atmosphere you might like. Follow the Montgomery College Steps to Transfer link for detailed advice on the planning process.

General Education Courses: Choose courses from the menu below. The Transfer Studies Certificate has selected out half of the General Education courses you'll need for most transfer schools - so be sure to keep this in mind as you select classes. Here's a chart to compare requirements:

Transfer Studies Certificate

Associate of Arts Degree

Foundation - two courses:		Foundation: Four courses:
English foundation (EN 102 or 109)	3	English foundation (EN 102 or 109)	3
Mathematics foundation (MA 110 or higher)	3	Math foundation (MA 110 or higher)	3
		HE - Any health course	1
		SP Course - SP 108, 112 or 212	3

Distribution - four courses: Choose from Distribution Lists or the MC 2004-2005 Catalog, p. 67 - 70		Distribution - seven courses: Choose from Distribution Lists or the MC 2004-2005 Catalog, p. 67 - 70
Arts distribution	3	Arts distribution	3
Humanities distribution	3	Humanities distribution	3
		One Additional Arts or Humanities	3
Behavioral and social sciences distribution	3	Behavioral and social sciences distribution (2 from 2 different disciplines)	6
Natural sciences lab distribution	4	Natural sciences, 2 courses, one must have a laboratory	7

Click here for a printable spreadsheet for the Transfer Studies Certificate - 30 credits
Printable copy of the MC General Education Requirements, 2005-06

Click here for a printable spreadsheet for the Associate of Arts in General Studies - 60 credits (recommended for transfer)