Psychology and Sociology Articulation Agreement

I. Background

Since the adoption of a revised Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) in 2015, the two organizations have worked collaboratively to strengthen the transfer relationship and to provide greater opportunity for students. With the selection of North Carolina by Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the awarding of a grant by the Teagle Foundation, the process has accelerated specifically in psychology and sociology. Accordingly, NCCCS and NCICU institutions have been focused on forging productive, collaborative relationships founded on the common goal of best serving students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in these two disciplines in North Carolina’s institutions of higher education.

This articulation agreement, jointly created by the NCICU and NCCCS partnership, and signatory institutions, is a result of the work done under the Teagle Foundation grant to CIC. It encompasses work done for transferring students with an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science. The Articulation Agreement is focused on facilitating transfer for students who begin studies at a community college and then transfer to one of the signatory NCICU Bachelor of Arts programs focused on these disciplines. There are multiple Bachelor of Arts-granting institutions within NCICU whose majors include sociology and psychology. While the individual names of these Bachelor of Arts degrees may vary slightly among NCICU institutions, for the sake of consistency and clarity this agreement refers to all four-year degrees as “Bachelor Degrees” within this document.

II. Purpose and Rationale

The goal of this agreement is the creation of a more seamless and rational transfer process for community college students.

This document presents a uniform, academic progression agreement that will promote educational advancement opportunities for Associate degree graduates transferring between North Carolina community colleges and the signatory institutions of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in order to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology or Sociology or a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. It describes a progression degree plan that includes required general education and prerequisite courses that are acceptable to all signatory programs.

Community College graduates must meet the admission requirements and associated timelines as published by each Bachelor degree program. Applicants to four-year institutions should follow the regular application process for those institutions.

III. Policies

The Articulation Agreement is made between the State Board of the North Carolina Community College System and signatory NCICU institutions. The agreement includes only those institutions in both systems that sign it, since the agreement is developed under the Teagle/CIC grant. However, it is the intention of both the State Board of the North Carolina Community College System and NCICU to encourage other institutions, which were not involved in the grant-funded project, to join the agreement as soon as they wish once it is signed.

A. Associate to Bachelor Independent Transfer Committee (ABITC)

Authority to interpret and make changes in this agreement rests with the Associate to Bachelor Independent Transfer Committee (ABITC). The ABITC is an ad-hoc eight-member, committee co-chaired by the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of the North Carolina Community College System and the President of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (or their designees). The CAO and President will also appoint the remaining members from their sectors. Questions concerning this agreement should be directed to the appropriate system’s CAO with an explanation of the institutional policy that may (appear to) conflict with the agreement. The CAO will forward unresolved questions to the AIBTC for resolution. Each entity will appoint one ex-officio non-voting member of the AIBTC.

B. Transfer Credit Appeal

Transferring students who perceive that the terms of this agreement have not been honored may follow the Transfer Credit Appeal Process as outlined below.

IV. Regulations

A. Transfer Credits

This Articulation Agreement establishes the procedures governing the transfer of credits for students who graduate from the relevant North Carolina Community College programs and apply to the relevant Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs at signatory NCICU institutions. This Articulation Agreement does not address admission to a specific institution or Bachelor of Arts or Science program within an institution. Students should follow an individual institution’s admissions process.

  1. Eligibility
    To be eligible for the transfer of credits under this Articulation Agreement, an applicant must earn an Associate degree in a signatory North Carolina Community College with a GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of C or better in all transfer courses. An applicant must meet the receiving institutions admissions requirements.

    The student’s program of study must meet the criteria set forth in the curriculum standard as defined below.
  2. Procedures governing transfer
    1. The agreement enables students who have graduated from a NCCCS institution with the relevant Associates degree to complete a common list of courses that meet the entrance requirements at programs at signatory NCICU institutions. NCICU institution admissions are competitive; therefore, no student is guaranteed admission to a specific program.
    2. A student who completes a relevant degree with a GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of C or better in the courses listed in Appendix E and meets the receiving institution’s admissions requirements will have fulfilled the Bachelor of Arts or Science program entry requirements, and all courses in the Universal General Education Transfer Component will transfer with course equivalency to fulfill general education requirements. This agreement does not exempt students from meeting the minimum admissions requirement.
    3. Graduates holding the relevant Associate degree will receive at least 60 semester hours of academic credit for courses with a grade of C or better toward the appropriate Bachelor of Arts or Science degree upon admission to a signatory NCICU institution.
  3. Certification of the Associate degree completion
    Certification of completion of the Associate degree in is the responsibility of the community college at which the courses were completed. Transcript identification of the Universal General Education Transfer Component Courses is also the responsibility of the community college at which the courses were completed.
  4. Transfer of courses not originated at North Carolina community colleges
    Transfer courses that do not originate in a North Carolina Community College or signatory NCICU institution may be used under this Articulation Agreement with the following stipulations:
    1. Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
    2. Courses may total no more than 14 semester hours of general education course credit.
    3. If the courses are used to complete the Associate degree, the courses will transfer as a part of the degree.
  5. Transfer of Advanced Placement (AP) course credit
    Advanced Placement (AP) course credits, awarded for a score of three or higher, are acceptable as part of a student’s successfully completed Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree under the ICAA. Students who receive AP course credit at a community college, but do not complete the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree will have AP credit awarded on the basis of the senior institution’s AP policy.

B. Impact of this Agreement on other articulation agreements

This Agreement takes precedence over bilateral articulation agreements established between signatory NCICU institutions and the North Carolina Community College System but does not necessarily preclude such agreements. This Agreement is designed and intended to be fully compliant with the existing Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Community College System and signatory NCICU institutions; its intent is to make clear to students intending to major in sociology or psychology that the NCICU institutions desire to enroll Community College graduates and to map out specific pathways (see Appendix E) to facilitate such transfers. Additionally, this agreement specifically includes a commitment by its signatories to work together to enhance academic advising and administrative procedures and policies (such as student financial assistance) to facilitate such transfers.

Institution-to-institution articulation agreements that fall within the parameters of this agreement and enhance transferability of students from community colleges to senior institutions are acceptable. Institutional agreements conflicting with this agreement are not permitted.

Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure

Guiding Principle: If a student from a North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) college believes the terms of the Articulation Agreement have not been honored by a signatory NCICU institution to which the student has been admitted, the student may invoke the Articulation Agreement Transfer Credit Appeal Procedure.

Steps in Filing an Appeal

  1. No later than the last day of classes of the first semester for which admission is offered, the student must submit a Transfer Credit Appeal Form along with any supporting documentation to the appropriate Psychology or Sociology Chair/Executive (or other campus designee) at the signatory NCICU campus to which the student has been admitted. Students first enrolling at the senior institution in a summer session must submit their appeal by the end of the subsequent fall semester.

    The student must specify on the appeal form the specific Articulation Agreement language that is in contention. Appeals that lack this information will not be considered.

    The Psychology or Sociology Chair/Executive (or other campus designee) will review the appeal and respond in writing (email or letter) to the student within 15 business days of receiving the student’s appeal.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Psychology or Sociology Chair/Executive (or other campus designee), the student may appeal on the same form to the next designated administrator i.e. Dean/Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer (Provost) of the specific signatory NCICU institution within 15 days of written notice of the director’s decision.

    The designated administrator will review the appeal and respond in writing (email or letter) to the student within 15 business days of receiving the student’s appeal.
  3. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the designated administrator, the student may appeal to the Associate to Bachelor Independent Transfer Committee (ABITC). The student must submit the appeal to the committee within 15 days of the receipt of the Provost’s decision. The appeal to the Associate to Bachelor Independent Transfer Committee appeals subcommittee should be sent to:

    Associate to Bachelor Independent Transfer Committee
    North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
    530 N. Blount Street
    Raleigh, NC 27604

    The committee will review the appeal and notify the student of the final decision within 10 business days of receiving the appeal.

Transfer Credit Appeal Form

Associate in Arts degree

Curriculum Standard for students planning to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Students earning an Associate in Arts degree from any one of the North Carolina Community Colleges or from Louisburg College who have met the course distribution requirements below under the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) will have met the general education requirements of NCICU signatory campuses for credit toward a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Courses listed below in BOLD are either preferred or, if designated, required.

Universal General Education Transfer (UGETC) Component

(All Universal General Education Transfer Component courses will transfer for equivalency credit.)
English Composition (6 SHC)
ENG 111Writing & Inquiry(3 SHC)
ENG 112Writing/Research in the Disciplines(3 SHC)
Communications and Humanities/Fine Arts (9 SHC)
Select three courses from at least two different disciplines/prefix codes
ART 111Art Appreciation(3 SHC)
COM 120Introduction to Interpersonal Communication(3 SHC)
COM 231Public Speaking(3 SHC)
DRA 111Theater Appreciation(3 SHC)
ENG 231American Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 232American Literature II(3 SHC)
ENG 241British Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 242British Literature II(3 SHC)
MUS 110Music Appreciation(3 SHC)
MUS 112Introduction to Jazz(3 SHC)
PHI 215Philosophical Issues(3 SHC)
PHI 240Introduction to Ethics(3 SHC)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (9 SHC)
Select three courses from two different disciplines.
ECO 251Principles of Microeconomics(3 SHC)
ECO 252Principles of Macroeconomics(3 SHC)
HIS 111World Civilizations I(3 SHC)
HIS 112World Civilizations II(3 SHC)
HIS 131American History I(3 SHC)
HIS 132American History II(3 SHC)
POL 120American Government(3 SHC)
PSY 150General Psychology (Required)(3 SHC)
SOC 210Introduction to Sociology(3 SHC)
Math (3-4 SHC)
Select one course from the following (Some senior institutions may REQUIRE MAT152):
MAT 143Quantitative Literacy(3 SHC)
MAT 152Statistical Methods I (Preferred)(4 SHC)
MAT 171Precalculus Algebra (4 SHC)
MAT 172Precalculus Trigonometry (4 SHC)
MAT 271Calculus I(4 SHC)
MAT 272Calculus II(4 SHC)
Natural Sciences (4 SHC)
Select 4 SHC from the following:
AST 111Descriptive Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 111A Descriptive Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
AST 151General Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 151A General Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
BIO 110Principles of Biology(4 SHC)
BIO 111General Biology I (Preferred)(4 SHC)
CHM 151General Chemistry I(4 SHC)
GEL 111Geology(4 SHC)
PHY 110Conceptual Physics (3 SHC) and PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab (1 SHC)

An additional 18-20 SHC of courses should be selected from general education courses within the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA), AND

An additional 9-11 SHC of courses should be selected from the courses classified as pre-major, elective, general education, or UGETC within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university. It is recommended that the pre- major courses for psychology include credit hours chosen from the following courses: PSY 211, Psychology of Adjustment; PSY 215, Positive Psychology; PSY 230, Biological Psychology; PSY 231, Forensic Psychology; PSY 237, Social Psychology; PSY 239, Psychology of Personality; PSY 241, Developmental Psychology; PSY 243, Child Psychology; PSY 246, Adolescent Psychology; PSY 249, Psychology of Aging; PSY 259, Human Sexuality; PSY 263, Educational Psychology; PSY 271, Sports Psychology; PSY 275, Health Psychology; PSY 281, Abnormal Psychology.

Academic Transition (1 SHC)
ACA 122College Transfer Success(1 SHC)
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program: 60-61*
*One semester hour of credit may be included in a 61 SHC Associate in Arts program of study. The transfer of this hour is not guaranteed.

Students must meet the receiving university’s foreign language and/or health and physical education and/or religion requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer.

Curriculum Standard for students planning to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Students earning an Associate in Arts degree from any one of the North Carolina Community Colleges or from Louisburg College who have met the course distribution requirements below under the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) will have met the general education requirements of NCICU signatory campuses for credit toward a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Courses listed below in BOLD are either preferred or, if designated, required.

Universal General Education Transfer (UGETC) Component

(All Universal General Education Transfer Component courses will transfer for equivalency credit.)
English Composition (6 SHC)
ENG 111Writing & Inquiry(3 SHC)
ENG 112Writing/Research in the Disciplines(3 SHC)
Communications and Humanities/Fine Arts (9 SHC)
Select three courses from at least two different disciplines/prefix codes
ART 111Art Appreciation(3 SHC)
COM 120Introduction to Interpersonal Communication(3 SHC)
COM 231Public Speaking(3 SHC)
DRA 111Theater Appreciation(3 SHC)
ENG 231American Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 232American Literature II(3 SHC)
ENG 241British Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 242British Literature II(3 SHC)
MUS 110Music Appreciation(3 SHC)
MUS 112Introduction to Jazz(3 SHC)
PHI 215Philosophical Issues(3 SHC)
PHI 240Introduction to Ethics(3 SHC)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (9 SHC)
Select three courses from two different disciplines.
ECO 251Principles of Microeconomics(3 SHC)
ECO 252Principles of Macroeconomics(3 SHC)
HIS 111World Civilizations I(3 SHC)
HIS 112World Civilizations II(3 SHC)
HIS 131American History I(3 SHC)
HIS 132American History II(3 SHC)
POL 120American Government(3 SHC)
PSY 150General Psychology (Required)(3 SHC)
SOC 210Introduction to Sociology(3 SHC)
Math (3-4 SHC)
Select one course from the following (Some senior institutions may REQUIRE MAT152):
MAT 143Quantitative Literacy(3 SHC)
MAT 152Statistical Methods I (Preferred)(4 SHC)
MAT 171Precalculus Algebra (4 SHC)
MAT 172Precalculus Trigonometry (4 SHC)
MAT 271Calculus I(4 SHC)
MAT 272Calculus II(4 SHC)
Natural Sciences (4 SHC)
Select 4 SHC from the following:
AST 111Descriptive Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 111A Descriptive Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
AST 151General Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 151A General Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
BIO 110Principles of Biology (Preferred)(4 SHC)
BIO 111General Biology I(4 SHC)
CHM 151General Chemistry I(4 SHC)
GEL 111Geology(4 SHC)
PHY 110Conceptual Physics (3 SHC) and PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab (1 SHC)

An additional 18-20 SHC of courses should be selected from general education courses within the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement {ICAA}, AND

An additional 9-11 SHC of courses should be selected from the courses classified as pre-major, elective, general education, or UGETC within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university. It is recommended that the pre- major courses for psychology include credit hours chosen from the following courses taught at the community college: PSY 211, Psychology of Adjustment; PSY 215, Positive Psychology; PSY 230, Biological Psychology; PSY 231, Forensic Psychology; PSY 237, Social Psychology; PSY 239, Psychology of Personality; PSY 241, Developmental Psychology; PSY 243, Child Psychology; PSY 246, Adolescent Psychology; PSY 249, Psychology of Aging; PSY 259, Human Sexuality; PSY 263, Educational Psychology; PSY 271, Sports Psychology; PSY 275, Health Psychology; PSY 281, Abnormal Psychology.

Academic Transition (1 SHC)
ACA 122College Transfer Success(1 SHC)
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program: 60-61*
*One semester hour of credit may be included in a 61 SHC Associate in Arts program of study. The transfer of this hour is not guaranteed.

Students must meet the receiving university’s foreign language and/or health and physical education and/or religion requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer.

Curriculum Standard for students planning to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Students earning an Associate in Arts degree from any one of the North Carolina Community Colleges or from Louisburg College who have met the course distribution requirements below under the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) will have met the general education requirements of NCICU signatory campuses for credit toward a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

Courses listed below in BOLD are either preferred or, if designated, required.

Universal General Education Transfer (UGETC) Component

(All Universal General Education Transfer Component courses will transfer for equivalency credit.)
English Composition (6 SHC)
ENG 111Writing & Inquiry(3 SHC)
ENG 112Writing/Research in the Disciplines(3 SHC)
Communications and Humanities/Fine Arts (9 SHC)
Select three courses from at least two different disciplines/prefix codes
ART 111Art Appreciation(3 SHC)
COM 120Introduction to Interpersonal Communication(3 SHC)
COM 231Public Speaking(3 SHC)
DRA 111Theater Appreciation(3 SHC)
ENG 231American Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 232American Literature II(3 SHC)
ENG 241British Literature I(3 SHC)
ENG 242British Literature II(3 SHC)
MUS 110Music Appreciation(3 SHC)
MUS 112Introduction to Jazz(3 SHC)
PHI 215Philosophical Issues(3 SHC)
PHI 240Introduction to Ethics(3 SHC)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (9 SHC)
Select three courses from two different disciplines.
ECO 251Principles of Microeconomics(3 SHC)
ECO 252Principles of Macroeconomics(3 SHC)
HIS 111World Civilizations I(3 SHC)
HIS 112World Civilizations II(3 SHC)
HIS 131American History I(3 SHC)
HIS 132American History II(3 SHC)
POL 120American Government(3 SHC)
PSY 150General Psychology(3 SHC)
SOC 210Introduction to Sociology (Required)(3 SHC)
Math (3-4 SHC)
Select one course from the following (Some senior institutions may REQUIRE MAT152):
MAT 143Quantitative Literacy(3 SHC)
MAT 152Statistical Methods I (Preferred)(4 SHC)
MAT 171Precalculus Algebra (4 SHC)
MAT 172Precalculus Trigonometry (4 SHC)
MAT 271Calculus I(4 SHC)
MAT 272Calculus II(4 SHC)
Natural Sciences (4 SHC)
Select 4 SHC from the following:
AST 111Descriptive Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 111A Descriptive Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
AST 151General Astronomy (3 SHC) and AST 151A General Astronomy Lab (1 SHC)
BIO 110Principles of Biology(4 SHC)
BIO 111General Biology I(4 SHC)
CHM 151General Chemistry I(4 SHC)
GEL 111Geology(4 SHC)
PHY 110Conceptual Physics (3 SHC) and PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab (1 SHC)

An additional 18-20 SHC of courses should be selected from general education courses within the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement {/CAA), AND

An additional 9-11 SHC of courses should be selected from the courses classified as pre-major, elective, general education, or UGETC within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university. It is recommended that the pre- major courses for sociology include credit hours chosen from the following courses: SOC 213, Sociology of the Family; SOC 215, Group Processes; SOC 220, Social Problems; SOC 225, Social Diversity; SOC 230, Race and Ethnic Relations; SOC 232, Social Context of Aging; SOC 234, Sociology of Gender; SOC 240, Social Psychology; SOC 242, Sociology of Deviance; SOC 244, Soc of Death & Dying; SOC 245, Drugs & Society; SOC 250, Sociology of Religion; SOC 254, Rural and Urban Sociology.

Academic Transition (1 SHC)
ACA 122College Transfer Success(1 SHC)
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program: 60-61*
*One semester hour of credit may be included in a 61 SHC Associate in Arts program of study. The transfer of this hour is not guaranteed.

Students must meet the receiving university’s foreign language and/or health and physical education and/or religion requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer.