Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

Each campus in the California State University (CSU) system determines which ADT degrees are considered similar to majors it offers. These may align with specific emphases within a major or related programs at that campus. For more information, consult the CSU campus websites.

Priority admission at most CSU campuses means students who complete an AA-T or AS-T may receive a GPA boost (for example, a 0.1 bump) when applying to impacted majors at those campuses. If the major is non-impacted at a CSU, the boost may be higher (such as 0.2). These policies vary by campus and major—meet with a counselor to assess how your ADT may benefit your desired CSU campus.

While an ADT helps satisfy many major prerequisites, a CSU campus may still require additional lower-division coursework if deemed necessary preparation for the upper-division major. Even so, students completing an ADT remain guaranteed that their bachelor’s degree can be completed with no more than 60 semester units after transfer.

Yes. You may transfer without an ADT. However, some CSU campuses or impacted majors admit only students who hold an ADT. Foothill College strongly encourages ADT completion if you plan to transfer to a CSU or any university to maximize your chances and support your transition.

No. Completion of an ADT guarantees admission to a CSU campus system, not a specific campus or program. If your major requires an audition, portfolio, or special screening, you must meet those additional requirements whether or not you have an ADT.

Some institutions—including a number of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)—have agreements to admit students with an ADT. Most private or out-of-state universities are not currently part of this agreement and will evaluate your ADT based on how its coursework aligns with their admission and program requirements. If you are considering a private/out-of-state institution, consult a counselor for assistance.

The designation “Associate in Arts for Transfer” (AA-T) or “Associate in Science for Transfer” (AS-T) is determined by discipline. Generally, majors in science, math or business are classified as AS-T; others may be AA-T.

Yes. Courses completed at other California community colleges may be approved for your Foothill ADT if they align with the ADT requirements at that institution. Courses from other colleges/universities may also be reviewed for inclusion. Meet with a counselor promptly to evaluate transfer credit for your ADT.

The C-ID system assigns a statewide identifier to courses shown to be equivalent in content across participating California community colleges. If a course has a C-ID number, colleges/universities using that system recognize it as comparable. However, you should always confirm how a specific four-year university will accept courses via ASSIST and meet with a counselor for interpretation.

Foothill College offers multiple resources: schedule a counseling appointment, access our Degrees & Certificates catalog, visit the Transfer Center, or review “I Can Go To College” and the CSU Similar ADT Majors List. Counselors are ready to help you clarify your transfer path.