Transfer to CSU w/Certificate of Achievement?

Question

I want to transfer to CSULB with a Certificate of Achievement from a community college. But what are the circumstances for that as opposed to declaring yourself as simply a transfer student?

All I know is that in order to transfer, you need 60 units. And for the Certificate of Achievement, you need 18. Is that all there is to it? If you complete any courses that add up to 18 units, you automatically receive the Certificate of Achievement?

Any information about transferring and the certificate can be helpful.

Thanks.

I'm aware there are specific courses and such that need to be completed in order to transfer. I have the information for what needs to be taken and such. I should have made my question more clear: What is the difference in just transfering as opposed to transferring with a Certificate of Achievement? If I take more than 18 transferrable units (from the CSU GE requirements), does that automatically give me the Certificate of Achievement? Or does the Certificate of Achievement have their own list of speicific courses to take?

Answer 1

The certificate itself won't help you; it is just an acknowledgment from the college that you completed a certain number of courses In order to transfer, if they say you need 60 units, then they must be 60 units of a certain type. Four year universities like CSULB have what are called "articulation agreements" with community colleges. These are agreements as to which community college courses will substitute for courses offered at the university, and what the university will give credit for. That is why it is important to see an advisor to make sure the courses you are taking (or have taken) are transferrable For example, if you took 18 units of automotive repair or hair styling, you might be able to get a certificate of achievement from the community college (and I am not being critical of these courses, which are obviously practical and I'm really glad that the guy who fixes my car and my hairdresser have taken these classes), but you can't get university credit for them, so they won't count toward transferring.

Answer 2

You need to get your CSU certification. Before you do that, you should ask the counselor about the certificate situation. He or she will look at your classes and do the plug and chug thing, to make sure your're set. The certificate of achivement may require specific classes, other than the ones you need to fufill your CSU GE; you can't just take random classes. There should also be advisement sheets in the counseling office.