Transfer Degree FAQs

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What is the Transfer Degree Guarantee (TDG)?
The Transfer Degree Guarantee refers to a guaranteed and easy transfer for students from a 2-year community college to a Louisiana 4-year public university.  Course requirements for the Associate of Arts/Louisiana Transfer Degree and the Associate of Science/Louisiana Transfer degree are outlined in five curriculum options.  If a minimum grade of "C" is achieved in each course and the AALT or ASLT is earned, than all 60 hours of course work will transfer to a Louisiana public 4-year university.

What is the Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree?
The Associate of Arts/Louisiana Transfer Degree and the Associate of Science/Louisiana Transfer degree are offered by 2-year or community colleges as an interim step to the bachelor's degree.  They allow you to complete the first 60 hours of college work toward a 4-year degree while you attend the 2-year or community college.  The degrees are designed to give you the foundations to earn a bachelor's degree and to help you to make wise choices about the majors that are best for you.  

How can the Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree help me? 
You might find that as you consider college, you're not sure what field or fields of study you'd like to pursue.  That's okay.  Deciding on a major might take you a year or two because college offers an array of interesting studies and learning experiences.  The Louisiana Transfer Associate degree can help you make the most of your first two years of college, especially if you're not sure about a major.  When you earn the Louisiana Transfer Associate degree (39 hours of general education courses and another 21 hours of more specific courses), that 60 hour block of courses will transfer to the Louisiana public university of your choice.  While you won't lose any credits, the university might require you to meet other admission standards or course requirements for certain majors.  You should visit with an advisor early as a freshman and chart the coursework that's best for you.   

What Does the Louisiana Transfer Degree Guarantee?

• Admission to a Louisiana 4-year public university (you must meet the university's standards);
• Junior Level Standing with all of the rights and privileges that come with it;
• Transfer of all 60 hours (you must make a "C" or better in each course); and
• Equal opportunity to compete with 'native' university students for admission to limited access programs

What doesn't the Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree Guarantee?

• Admission to every university or degree program: you must meet university-specific or degree-specific admissions requirements (e.g. GPA, specific course completions, etc);
• That the courses taken for the Louisiana Transfer Associate degree will meet specified course requirements of all university majors; you need to consult an advisor or the university to confirm specific requirements. 

What areas of study can I pursue?
You may complete either an Associate of Arts/Louisiana Transfer (AA/LT) or an Associate of Science/Louisiana Transfer (AS/LT) degree, depending on the type of bachelor's degree you want to earn.  In every case, you should do some research, consider the career you want to pursue, seek advice from a college advisor, and learn which transfer degree program is best for you. 

How many hours must I take to earn a Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree?
You must complete at least 60 hours (non-developmental) of coursework as prescribed in the curriculum guide that matches your degree aspirations. 

What grades must I make to earn a Louisiana Transfer Associate Degree?
You must earn a "C" or higher in each course that applies to the degree.  If you earn less than a "C" in any course, you must either retake that course or earn at least a "C" in an equivalent (replacement) course.  Only the "C" (or higher) grades are guaranteed to transfer with the degree. 

Will I really enter the four-year institution as a junior?
Yes, as long as you complete the 60-hour transfer degree with a "C" or better in each course and meet the university's transfer admission requirements.

Is the TDG approach the same as "2+2" College Program?
No. Both help assure students of a smooth transfer from a community college to a Louisiana public university.  The "2+2" programs are cooperative agreements for specific courses of study such as engineering.  These agreements are offered by some community colleges and universities to assist students majoring in specific fields to transfer without losing credits.    

Does the TDG really guarantee that I can transfer from a community college to a four-year university in Louisiana without losing credits? 
Yes.  When you earn either an Associate of Arts/Louisiana Transfer (AA\LT) or an Associate of Science/Louisiana Transfer (AS\LT) degree, you can be assured that your 60 course hours will transfer for credit.  Four-year university faculty have participated in the process of identifying General Education courses that will transfer as a block.