Selecting Your Program/Degree

Your education plan should reflect your interests, skills, and goals. But it is also important to choose general education and elective courses that enrich your educational program. Remember that academic advisors are available to assist you with this process.

Education plans vary in courses, credits, requirements, and may require special admission to the program. It is important to take courses in their proper sequence in order to build on previous learning. When you have a plan, you can do more than just check off course requirements. You can take ownership for your education plan and start getting the most out of your education.

Whether you have already chosen an education plan, or you are still exploring your options, there are people and resources to help you. Students who have not yet chosen a program are recommended to take courses listed in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (General Education/MnTC) to begin fulfilling general education requirements. Courses in English, Math, and Speech are great classes to start with. Refer to your placement results to understand which English and Math classes are right for you.

Transfer-In Information

A transfer student is a student who has earned 12 or more college level credits and has attained a GPA of 2.0 or above. Transfer students should not attend a Registration Planning Session (RPS).

Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth transfer into Anoka-Ramsey Community College:

1. Submit your application and official transcripts to the Records & Registration Office of Anoka-Ramsey Community College in a timely manner. Note: If you have attended other MnSCU institutions our Records & Registration Office can access eTranscripts if a request form is submitted: here.
2. Once Anoka-Ramsey has received your Official Transcripts, schedule an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to discuss course transferability and appropriate course selection. Please allow 2 weeks prior to meeting with an advisor for your transcript to be officially evaluated by the college.

For more information regarding transferring courses, you can refer to u.Select, which is a database that contains information on course equivalencies. Click here to learn how to use u.Select!

Transfer-Out Information

Many students attending a community college indicate that their goal is to work towards the completion of their general education requirements and transfer to a four-year college or university. Whether your transfer objective is clear or undefined, academic advisors are available to assist you with this important decision.

Will my credits transfer? It is best practice to consult with the institution you plan to attend to determine whether or not your credits will transfer. The academic advisors at Anoka-Ramsey can assist you in this process, and make referrals when necessary.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College has formed partnerships called articulation agreements with a number of other institutions. An articulation agreement makes the transfer process smoother. Academic advisors are available to assist you with understanding these agreements. Even if we don't have a specific articulation agreement with another college, our credits are commonly accepted. Another way to see if your credits will transfer (unofficially) is to use u.Select. Here is a link on how to use u.Select.

Advantage of an Associate in Arts (AA) degree? Most transfer students choose to pursue the Associate in Arts (AA) degree in preparation for transfer to a bachelor's degree. The AA degree is designed to help you complete your General Education/MnTC with twenty-one remaining elective credits. You may consider using these twenty-one credits to:

*Complete pre-requisites needed for anticipated four year degree program
*Explore career focused courses that will prepare you for work

Advantage of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (General Education/MnTC) The MnTC is a general education core of classes designed for seamless transfer that is included in the AA degree. Completion of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum at one institution enables a student to receive credit for all lower-division general education requirements upon admission to any other Minnesota public institution. (See the MnTC requirements and the Orientation FAQ for more information on MnTC.)

Be sure to discuss your transfer plans not only with an academic advisor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College but with an academic advisor from the institution you plan to transfer to. Transfer guides are available in Educational Services to help you choose courses based on the institution or program to which you plan to transfer.

Undecided?

It is not uncommon for entering college students to be undecided about an academic major/program or career choice. Even students who have started a major or degree plan admit to various levels of uncertainty or indecisiveness. That does not mean that undecided students should relax and think "everything will work out." Having a goal will motivate you to be more successful as a college student.

The college has a number of resources to help you with your career decisions. You could take an introductory course in a discipline that interests you or you could take a Career Development course (CAOR 1102). One great place to start, in terms of selecting courses for your first term, is the General Education/MnTC which includes classes in several disciplines including English Writing to support your success in future classes. You may wish to explore a variety of different subjects to determine your interests and talents. Note that the MnTC designated courses will transfer as your general education to a four-year university within the MnSCU system.

Within the counseling and advising area of Educational Services, we have a library of career information, transfer guides for other colleges and computerized career assessments. We encourage you to meet with an academic advisor to discuss your goals and begin the work of deciding what you want to do.