Transfer Admission Guarantee

Important information regarding Tennessee Transfer Pathways transfer of community-college programs to four-year colleges or universities in Tennessee.

What are Tennessee Transfer Pathways?

Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) are advising tools designed to help community college students plan for transferring to a Tennessee public university or select regionally accredited, non-profit, Tennessee private colleges and universities to complete their baccalaureate degree. The TTPs also constitute an agreement between community colleges and four-year colleges/universities confirming that community college courses meet major preparation requirements.

How do the Pathways work?

A student who completes all the courses listed on a particular Transfer Pathway will earn an A.A. or A.S. degree at the community college. When the student transfers to a Tennessee public or private college/university the transcript will certify that the pathway has been followed. The student is guaranteed that all the community college courses taken will be accepted at the college/university and the courses will count toward completion of the particular major.

If a community college student transfers to another Tennessee community college, he or she is guaranteed that all courses transfer.

Important Note:

  • Admission to UT, Knoxville is competitive. For UTK, the Pathways do not guarantee admission.
  • Provided that all other admission criteria are met, individual TICUA institutions may require courses specific to their mission that do not result in additional time spent toward degree completion.

When do the Pathways go into effect?

These Transfer Pathways have been effective beginning Fall 2011. They are reviewed annually and updated if needed.

What do I need to know?

  1. The student is responsible for following the TTP exactly to ensure transfer of all hours.
  2. Admission into a public or private college/university does not guarantee admission into a particular college or academic program.
  3. Not every community college offers every TTP. Check the links on this website to determine the availability of TTPs at individual community colleges.
  4. The courses contained in each Pathway are required to receive the Associate of Arts or the Associate of Science degrees. Some of these courses, especially math and science, may have pre-requisites that students must also complete.
  5. Particular public universities or programs may have additional requirements that apply, especially:
    • All universities require demonstrated competency in a single foreign language at the intermediate level for a Bachelor of Arts Degree. This requires a second year of foreign language, which students can take at the community college but may not be listed on the pathway for the A.A. Degree.
    • At some universities, foreign language may be required in certain programs leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree. Always check the university catalog to understand these specific requirements.
    • Students who plan to transfer to UT Knoxville are strongly encouraged to take non-U.S. history courses to fulfill the college history requirement.
  6. Upon transfer, community college students must complete all the upper-division course requirements of the respective university. Always check the university catalog. Students who plan to transfer to a regionally accredited, non-profit, private institution are strongly encouraged to review the specific college/university baccalaureate degree program for any courses required upon transfer that are specific to that institution's mission.
  7. Some baccalaureate degree programs require more than four years of full-time study. Engineering, certain science-related fields, computer science, and allied health are primary examples. Always check the university catalog.
  8. The Tennessee Transfer Pathways cover many of the majors available at Tennessee public and private colleges/universities. However, individual community colleges and four-year colleges/universities have articulation agreements in programs not covered by the Pathways. Check the websites or catalogs of individual community colleges to determine additional transfer agreements available at each institution.
  9. Community college students who transfer to public universities under specific articulation agreements in place prior to Fall 2011 will have five years to complete degree programs as prescribed in the particular agreements. This means that degree requirements must be completed by December 2016. Students affected by this transition may choose to follow the new TTPs if it is to their advantage.
  10. Community colleges and four-year colleges/universities may develop Dual Admissions agreements that will benefit students who transfer in all programs. For more information, check the Admissions Office at your institution.
  11. The TTPs include courses required to complete the general education core and beginning courses in the major. Additional information about the general education core is available on this website and in every institution's catalog.

What do I do next?

  1. Follow the links on this website to view the Transfer Pathways available.
  2. As soon as possible, meet with an academic advisor at your community college.
  3. Print this agreement for your records.