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Associate Degree

Home/Transfer Degrees/Direct Transfer Agreements/Associate Degree
Associate Degree 2022-09-08T14:31:54+00:00

Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degree (DTA-AA)

Colleges & Universities that Honor the Transfer Associate Degree

The following 24 baccalaureate institutions in Washington subscribe to the Intercollege Relations Commission (ICRC) Guidelines for the transfer Associate degree: The ICRC exists to facilitate the transfer of students between institutions of postsecondary education.

  • Bastyr University
  • Central Washington University
  • City University
  • Cornish College of the Arts
  • Eastern Washington University
  • Gonzaga University
  • Heritage University
  • Northwest Indian College
  • Northwest University
  • Pacific Lutheran University
  • Saint Martin’s University
  • Seattle University
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • The Evergreen State College
  • University of Washington
  • University of Washington Bothell
  • University of Washington Tacoma
  • Walla Walla University
  • Washington State University
  • Washington State University Tri-Cities
  • Washington State University Vancouver
  • Western Governors University-Washington
  • Western Washington University
  • Whitworth University

Note: Many of the above institutions apply provisos in accepting the DTA Associate degree.

The information listed below is copied verbatim directly from the Intercollege Relations Commission (ICRC) Handbook.

DTA Associate Degree provisos and Specific requirements by individual baccalaureate institutions

Provisos and specific requirements are submitted by each baccalaureate institution when there are exceptions and/or additional requirements to the standard DTA Associate degree.

Bastyr University

Although a student transferring to Bastyr University who has earned a Washington State DTA Associate degree will enter Bastyr having satisfied all General Education requirements, Basic Proficiency and Science Requirements are reviewed for transfer on a case by case basis.

Cornish College of the Arts

A student transferring to Cornish College of the Arts who has earned a DTA Associate degree will transfer sufficient credits to complete the Humanities and Sciences requirements for the BFA or BMus degree.

Transfer credit for major and college elective courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Courses are subject to the transfer guidelines established by Cornish College of the Arts and may be approved for transfer after the student completes a portfolio review or audition.

Gonzaga University

Students with an earned DTA Associate degree have fulfilled many of the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, as well as additional requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences. University Core requirements to be completed upon transfer include: First-Year Seminar, Christianity & Catholic Traditions, and Core Integration Seminar. Students will also take a major-appropriate college mathematics course, Reasoning, Human Nature, and Ethics, unless they have already fulfilled these requirements. Communication & Speech is recommended, but not required, for students who have not completed a course in speaking skills.

Northwest University

Northwest University accepts the DTA Associate degree from public community and technical colleges in Washington State. Students earning these degrees are granted an automatic 60 semester credits and junior class standing. For most degrees, the Core Curriculum Requirements, with the exception of the Biblical Literacy and Formation and Calling requirements, are satisfied. Majors with program-specific Core Curriculum requirements do not have all General Education Requirements automatically satisfied by the DTA Associate degree. Students must complete these specific courses either as part of the DTA Associate degree or at Northwest University. These program specific courses may also require higher than the C- minimum standard for transfer.

Pacific Lutheran University

Students who have completed the appropriate DTA Associate degree from any community college in Washington will be admitted with junior standing (60-64 semester hours) and will be regarded as having satisfied General University Requirements, except for one Religion course (Biblical Studies or Christian Thought, History, and Experience) and one Perspectives on Diversity course. PLU’s College of Arts and Sciences requirement is not fulfilled by the DTA Associate degree

Saint Martin’s University

Saint Martin’s University recognizes the DTA Associate degree from Washington’s community and technical Colleges. Students completing the DTA Associate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0 will be granted junior standing upon transfer. These students will have met the Saint Martin’s general education requirements with the exception of a course each in philosophy (transferable) and religious studies (generally completed at Saint Martin’s University). Seattle Pacific University Upon first matriculation at SPU, students who enter with a completed DTA Associate degree will fulfill all University general education requirements except 10 upper-division credits in University Foundations.

Seattle University

Students admitted to Seattle University for the first time with a completed DTA Associate degree will be granted 90 credits and junior standing. The following provisions apply: 1) Courses used to satisfy the DTA Associate degree communication skills, quantitative/symbolic reasoning skills as well as the lab science requirement must be graded C- (1.5) or higher; 2) Additional philosophy and religious studies courses will be required to satisfy lower division Core at SU; 3) Specific requirements of professional degree programs and upper division Core must be satisfied.

University of Washington Bothell

The University of Washington Bothell transfers credit on a course by course basis. Transfer students from Washington community and technical colleges who complete approved DTA Associate degrees, will be considered to have satisfied all or most of our general education requirements with the following provisos:
Intermediate Algebra and World Languages are the core minimum admission requirements required for transfer applicants with 40+ college credits. These can be met through high school or college coursework. If not satisfied in high school, students should be sure to include any missing core admission requirements in their education plan for the DTA Associate degree.

  • 5 credits of English composition should be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0
  • 10 additional writing credits (Composition or W-courses) must be completed at the University, if not completed as part of the transfer degree.
  • QSR courses will transfer according to the following course equivalency tables.
  • All students must complete 3 quarter credits of coursework to satisfy the university diversity requirement. Upper division coursework may be used to satisfy this requirement.

University of Washington Seattle

The University of Washington awards transfer credit on a course by course basis. Students transferring directly from a Washington community college with a DTA Associate degree will have satisfied most of the UW’s university-wide general education requirements with the following exceptions:

  1. In addition to the English composition requirement, all students must complete a minimum of 7 quarter credits of writing-intensive coursework. Upper division course work may be used to satisfy this requirement.
  2. All students must complete 3 quarter credits of coursework to satisfy the university diversity requirement. Upper division course work may be used to satisfy this requirement. See http://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/academic-planning/general-educationrequirements/diversity/.
  3. Each of the University’s schools and colleges has graduation requirements that meet or exceed university-wide general education requirements. Students entering the UW with a DTA Associate degree are not required to complete the additional graduation requirements prior to enrolling at the UW. Any unmet requirements may be satisfied at the upper division level upon enrolling at the UW. Learn about UW requirements by college and school.

NOTE: Admission to the UW is competitive. Prospective students should be advised that all freshmen and transfer students must meet a set of minimum admission subject requirements which include qualifying high school or college coursework in a world language and in mathematics. For complete information about admission subject requirements, visit UW College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs).

University of Washington Tacoma

The University of Washington Tacoma transfers credit on a course by course basis. Transfer students from Washington community and technical colleges who complete approved DTA Associate degrees, will be considered to have satisfied all or most of UW Tacoma’s general education requirements with the following provisos:

  • Prospective students should be advised that all freshmen and transfer students must meet a set of minimum admission subject requirements which include qualifying high school or college coursework in a world language and intermediate algebra. If not satisfied in high school, students should be sure to include any missing core admission requirements in their education plan for the DTA Associate degree. View UW Tacoma transfer admission requirements.
  • 5 credits of English composition should be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0. Additionally, students must complete a minimum of 10 quarter credits of writing-intensive coursework at the University, if not completed as part of the transfer degree, for a total of 15 credits. Upper division course work may be used to satisfy this requirement. View UW Tacoma website (authentication required).
  • All students must complete 3 quarter credits of coursework to satisfy the university diversity requirement. Upper division course work may be used to satisfy this requirement. View UW Tacoma website (authentication required).
  • Each of the University’s schools and colleges has graduation requirements that meet or exceed university-wide general education requirements. Students entering the UW Tacoma with a DTA Associate degree are not required to complete the additional graduation requirements prior to enrolling at the UW. Any unmet requirements may be satisfied at the upper division level upon enrolling at the UW Tacoma. View UW Tacoma website (authentication required).

Western Washington University

Satisfying Western’s General University Requirements (GUR) in full requires completing English Composition with a grade of C- or better or earning an Advanced Placement (AP) score of 4 or higher on either English Language & Composition or English Literature & Composition.

Whitworth University

Whitworth University grants junior standing to holders of the DTA Associate degree. In addition, transfer students are required to complete the one-course Biblical literature.

Requirements: one year of study in the same modern language at the college level, and one of the three interdisciplinary Western Civilization Core courses (Core 150, Core 250, Core 350).

Effective Fall term 2012 we will accept in transfer only courses that have a grade of “C” or higher. We do plan to make exception to that policy and continue to accept grades of “C-“or higher for all Washington Community College courses through Fall term 2013

Associate of Arts, Option A

Transferring out-of-state with an AA

Out-of-state colleges and universities offer a number of attractive programs and features that may be great transfer options for Highline students.

It is important for you to contact the Admissions Office of the college you are interested in attending to find out more about their admissions requirements, tuition costs, etc. for Washington students. You should also inquire if they accept Highline’s Associate degrees and how your credits will transfer to their institution.

If possible, it is a good idea to visit the campus of the out-of-state college you are interested in attending. Bring along an unofficial Highline transcript for review by your university. It is also a good idea to keep copies of your class syllabus so you can show them to your university.

Most out-of-state colleges will evaluate your credits on a course-by-course basis. Some colleges may accept your AA degree credits as a “block”, meaning all your degree credits will be accepted automatically without a course by course evaluation.

However, you will need to check with your university to see how they accept your AA degree.