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There Is More Than One Path To Success
Your academic journey is unique. CSUN Connections aims to help you achieve an associate degree and get closer to your educational goals.
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What Is CSUN Connections?
CSUN Connections is a collaborative effort between CSUN, L.A. Mission College, L.A. Pierce College, and L.A. Valley College to further students' academic success, beginning with the completion of an associate degree.
What Is Reverse Transfer?
Reverse transfer refers to the process of transferring college course credit back to a community college in order to fulfill the degree requirements of an associate degree program. This is considered a “reverse” process, as students typically transfer credits in the other direction—from a community college to a four-year institution in order to fulfill the requirements of a bachelor’s degree. Through the Claim What You’ve Earned reverse transfer pathway, transfer students may combine credits earned across multiple colleges and universities in order to receive their associate degree from a participating CSUN Connections community college. In this way, students can “claim” what they have already earned, even as they continue working toward a bachelor’s degree.
FAQs CSUN Connections & Reverse Transfer
Why Focus on Reverse Transfer?
Research shows that a great majority of community college students transfer to a four-year institution without first completing an associate degree. Many of these students accumulate more than 60 credits along the way, though they tend to focus on completing requirements for a general transfer curriculum rather than for a particular associate degree program. Once at a four-year institution, community college students face steep odds to completion.
How is CSUN Connections Implementing Reverse Transfer?
In order to identify which students would be good candidates for the Claim What You’ve Earned reverse transfer pathway, the CSUN Connections partners conducted an electronic transcript exchange and preliminary degree audit. First, CSUN electronically shared all transcript data on file for each student with the student’s home community college. This not only included transcripts for CSUN and the home community college, but also for any other college or university that they student may have attended and submitted to CSUN during the admissions process. Home community colleges were defined as the community college where the student completed the most credit prior to transfer. Counselors at L.A. Mission, Pierce, and Valley colleges then reviewed student transcript data to determine if the student had already met all of the requirements for an associate degree program. A student may have satisfied associate degree requirements with just their community college coursework or through a combination of coursework from their home community college, CSUN, and/or any other colleges attended. In a few cases, counselors found that students had satisfied all the requirements for two separate associate degrees. These students are considered “Completers” on the Claim What You’ve Earned pathway. Not every student who the CSUN Connections partners identified for the Claim What You’ve Earned pathway will have met all requirements for an associate degree. In some cases, students may be just a few credits shy of completing an associate degree. These students are considered “Near-Completers” on the Claim What You’ve Earned pathway.
What Are The Benefits Associated With Completing an Associate Degree?
Completing an associate degree on the way to a bachelor’s degree offers students real benefits. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that associate degree holders enjoy median earnings that are 8% higher than that of individuals with “some college” but no degree. For the millions of nontraditional students who balance school with work, family, and other life responsibilities, this immediate labor market return can be significant. Beyond a bump in earnings, associate degree attainment also provides students important motivation to continue on the path to a bachelor’s degree. The Community College Research Center at Columbia University Teachers College reports that students who earn an associate degree have higher probabilities of completing a baccalaureate degree. Lastly, earning an associate degree may help the student advance in their career trajectory by qualifying them for jobs that have higher education requirements or making them eligible for promotion at their current jobs.
A Different Path Can Get You To The Same Goal
Things don’t always go according to plan. But you have what it takes to succeed! Rerouting through a participating community college can help you earn an Associate Degree for Transfer, and guarantee your admission back to CSUN.
Ernesto Cruz
Advising Lead, CSUN Connections Undergraduate Studies
CSUN Connections Undergraduate Studies Office: EU 150
- Phone: (818) 677-5216
Contact Us
| College | Faculty | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSUN | Ernesto Cruz | Advising Lead, CSUN Connections Undergraduate Studies | connections@csun.edu | (818) 677-5216 |
| LAMC | Tashini Walker | Transfer Center Counselor/Coordinator | transfer@lamissin.edu | (818) 364-7827 |
| LAVC | Anita Martinez | Transfer Center Counselor/Coordinator | martina@lavc.edu | (818) 947-2794 |
| LAPC | lapc-transfer@piercecollege.edu |