What is an Articulation Agreement?

Articulation Agreements with Maryland Schools - ARTSYS

Articulation Agreements within Montgomery County - The Universities at Shady Grove

Articulation Agreements with UMUC - Alliance

Articulation Chart Showing Montgomery College Agreements with Other Schools

What if An Articulation Agreement Isn't in Place?

A Guide to Developing Articulation Agreements

What is an Articulation Agreement?

Montgomery College is dedicated to creating partnerships with four-year colleges and universities. One important way of doing this is by forming articulation agreements. An articulation agreement is an officially approved agreement that matches coursework between schools. These are designed to help students make a smooth transition when transferring from Montgomery College to a four-year institution.  Some agreements state that four-year schools will accept an entire MC degree without question.  For example, the AA in Business will be accepted in its entirety by UMUC and Johns Hopkins School of Business & Professional Education.  Other agreements outline specific courses to take at MC as a students plans for transfer.  (By the way, "articulation" is defined as the joining together of pieces to create movement).

Articulation Agreements with Maryland Schools - ARTSYS

The main source of information about agreements between Montgomery College and schools in the State of Maryland is the ARTSYS website http://artweb.usmd.edu/ .  All Maryland public institutions and many private schools show listings under "Recommended Transfer Programs" that spell out which courses to take at MC in order to transfer smoothly into a specific major.  For example, a student who wants to major in Psychology at Towson University can get a printout from ARTSYS that lists each specific course at MC required prior to transfer. 

These institutions participate in ARTSYS:  

Articulation Agreements within Montgomery County - The Universities at Shady Grove

Through our partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove it is now possible to earn a Bachelor's Degree from a University System of Maryland (USM) institution in more than a dozen different curriculum options without ever leaving Montgomery County. Each of these degree programs is sponsored by a specific USM institution, and the degree will be awarded in the name of that sponsoring University. 

Majors at the Universities of Shady Grove include:  

Articulation Agreements with The University of Maryland, University College - Alliance

Students can complete both the associate’s degree and the bachelor’s degree in more than ten different majors in Montgomery County through the Alliance partnership between Montgomery College and the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). This program is designed for evening, part-time students.  As a part of this initiative, a student can submit one joint application and can enroll at either institution or at both simultaneously. Alliance students have access to services and facilities at both institutions and have an opportunity to earn college-level credits for learning gained through life and work experience. 

Articulation Agreements with Other Schools

Montgomery College has developed agreements with many other institutions, both in- and out-of-state.  Some agreements are tied to specific majors, while others refer to the general acceptance of Montgomery College credits.  The following list shows current agreements.

Chart maintained by Miller Newman & Tina Bak, Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Services.  Please refer questions to Professor Newman, (301) 251-7388.

What If an Intended Transfer Institution Doesn't Have an Articulation Agreement with MC?

Montgomery College credits and courses are widely transferable to most colleges and universities, even in the absence of an articulation agreement.  If a school is not listed elsewhere on this page, planning for transfer remains a simple process.  Meet with an MC counselor or adviser and mention the name or names of the schools of interest.  Using a catalog or catalogs from those schools, choose courses that are appropriate to meet general education and major requirements.  This list showing the transfer destinations of more than 6,000 students in the year 2002 - it should become clear that MC credits will go where YOU want to go - MC Transfer Destinations 2002.

Interested in proposing an articulation agreement?   

Faculty members who would like to work on the transfer of a particular major to another college or university use the  Guide to Developing Articulation Agreements to see the step-by-step process.  Refer questions to Professor Tonya Mason in the Office of the Executive Vice President, (301) 251-7388.