CCC to UC

IGETC: General Education Certification

IGETC = Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum

IGETC is a simple, straightforward way for transfer students to complete their UC/CSU general education requirements. If completed, IGETC fulfills most lower division general education requirements for most majors at a UC or CSU. IGETC is the best route for completing lower division general education for many transfer students. However, for some students, another method for fulfilling general education may be better. Learn more about IGETC and other options below.

we recommend igetc for

  • Students with target majors that have little to no major-specific coursework requirements
    • Students that have little to no major-specific coursework have the space in their schedules to complete IGETC
  • Students who are unsure about what college they want to attend and who plan to apply to a wide variety of UCs/CSUs
    • This allows students the freedom of not having to worry about specific general education requirements for all the schools they’re applying to.
  • Students who are interested in attending a CSU
    • With one additional course, IGETC also fulfills CSU general education requirements
  • Students who are already close to fulfilling IGETC or who want to reduce the amount of general education they will have to complete after transferring

we do not recommend igetc for

  • Students with target majors that have a large amount of major-specific coursework
    • It is recommended that these students focus on fulfilling major-specific requirements before general education
    • These majors tend to be in the STEM field
  • Students who only plan to apply to a few UCs
    • These students may be able to instead focus on fulfilling the specific general education requirements for those UCs

It is true that IGETC can make the CCC to UC transition a lot easier for many students. However, it’s not for everyone. IGETC requires the completion of a large amount of courses. This can be difficult for students who already have lots of lower-division major requirements to fulfill. Also if you are only applying to one school, deciding to complete IGETC may have you taking unneeded additional courses.

If you’d like to learn more – a link to official guidance on IGETC issued by each UC is below.

This page also details which colleges ACCEPT, RECOMMEND, REQUIRE, or DO NOT ACCEPT IGETC. 

Read official guidance on IGETC offered by each UC campus

How to Complete IGETC

Transfer Tip

Use ASSIST to figure out which courses at your school apply to IGETC. Click on the button below to view our guide to ASSIST.

ASSIST Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Do UCs only accept IGETC or something else?

Unlike CSUs, which accept either CSU GE-Breadth or IGETC, UCs only accept IGETC as completion of lower-division general education courses. However, IGETC completion is NOT required for all majors and UCs. See your prospective major and UC for more information about IGETC requirements.

Is Area 6 required for all majors?

IGETC for STEM majors does not require Area 6 (Language other than English). Area 6 is required, however, for the regular IGETC certification.

What is the difference between IGETC for STEM majors and regular IGETC?

IGETC for STEM is a separate IGETC track available for students planning to major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. UC will accept IGETC for STEM only if:

  • you’re earning an associate degree for transfer (ADT) at a California community college that offers IGETC for STEM as an option for those degrees AND
  • the UC major program or college you’re applying to accepts partial IGETC certification.

Although IGETC for STEM is an option, you should prioritize completing major-preparation courses for the specific campuses and programs you’re considering.  

More info at: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/transfer-requirements/glossary.html#igetcstem

Can I "double-count" some of my courses?

Unfortunately, IGETC only allows for one course to be counted per area. This means a course cannot be counted for more than one area, or “double-counted.”

What if I can't complete IGETC in time?

Contact the colleges you applied to. Some may be able to accept something called partial IGETC (learn more here).

What is IGETC certification? How do I get it done?

IGETC certification verifies that you have completed the required courses for the lower-division education policy. In order to receive your certification, an appointment will need to be set up with an academic counselor so they can review your completed courses and send the certification to your school. This appointment is set up once you are admitted into your prospective school. Usually, certification is not completed until the Fall quarter/semester.

If you have not yet fully completed IGETC, your counselor may award you with a partial certification instead.

**IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST CERTIFICATION**