2023-2024 College Catalog 
    
    Dec 12, 2024  
2023-2024 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Parallel/Transfer Pathways


Students planning to earn a baccalaureate degree at a four-year college or university may complete the first two years at Pellissippi State by earning either the Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science or the Associate of Science in Teaching degree, each requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours. A broad selection of courses is offered that will transfer to four-year institutions.

University Parallel program requirements are specified by

  • Articulation/transfer agreements. Prescribed curricula developed cooperatively by Pellissippi State and four-year colleges and universities.
  • General associate degree requirements. Programs designed with the flexibility to allow students to select courses that parallel the requirements of the four-year institution to which they intend to transfer.
  • Tennessee Transfer Pathways. Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Science in Teaching designed for transfer to Tennessee public and many private colleges and universities.

University Parallel core curriculum requirements are applicable to associate degrees earned by completing the requirements of a Tennessee Transfer Pathway (TTP), an articulation agreement or a general associate degree. Academic advisors are available for all University Parallel students. Prior to registering each semester, the student is expected to consult with an advisor to review the student’s academic plan and select courses for the upcoming semester.

University Parallel Guarantee

Pellissippi State will refund the tuition of any Pellissippi State graduate for any course passed with at least a C grade if that earned course credit does not transfer to a college or university within two years of graduation from Pellissippi State. Such courses must be listed as transferable on the transfer equivalency table provided by the receiving institution. The transfer guarantee program is limited to those institutions participating in TTPs or maintaining an articulation agreement with Pellissippi State and to the courses identified in transfer equivalency documents.

Articulation/Transfer Agreements

An articulation agreement is a document that specifies the curriculum agreed to by Pellissippi State and a four-year college or university to satisfy the degree requirements at Pellissippi State and at the receiving institution. Completion of freshman and sophomore requirements leads to an associate degree at Pellissippi State. The remaining requirements for the baccalaureate degree are completed at the four-year institution. Students must successfully complete all courses outlined in a particular program and must satisfy all other academic regulations of Pellissippi State and the receiving institution. Exceptions to the agreement can only be approved by the four-year institution.

Pellissippi State has program-specific articulation agreements and transfer agreements for the general Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Visit the transfer hub for a current list of agreements and institutions.

TBR General Education Core and Transferability of Courses Among TBR Institutions

Each Tennessee public university and TBR - The College System of Tennessee shares a common lower-division general education core curriculum of 41 semester hours for baccalaureate degrees and the Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science and the Associate of Science in Teaching degrees. “Lower-division” means freshman and sophomore courses. The courses composing the general education curriculum are contained within the following subject categories:

Baccalaureate degrees and Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Science in Teaching degrees1:

Communication 9 hours2
Humanities/Fine Arts 9 hours
(at least one course must be literature)
Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 hours
History 6 hours3
Natural Sciences 8 hours4
Mathematics 3-5 hours
TOTAL 41 hours

 1Modern language courses are an additional requirement for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. The Associate of Arts degree requires proficiency in a modern language equivalent to completion of one year of college-level work.

2Six hours of English composition and 3 hours in English oral presentational communication are required.

3Chosen from HIST 2010 , HIST 2020 , HIST 2030 , HIST 2210 , HIST 2220 , HIST 2310  and HIST 2320 . Students planning to transfer to out-of-state or private universities must check requirements at the institution and take the appropriate courses.

4Credit toward graduation cannot be received for both courses in either of the following pairs: BIOL 1010 and BIOL 1110; BIOL 1020 and BIOL 1120.

Although the courses designated by Tennessee Board of Regents institutions to fulfill the requirements of the General Education subject categories vary, transfer of the courses is assured through the following means:

  • Upon completion of an A.A., A.F.A., A.S., or A.S.T. degree, the requirements of the lower-division General Education courses will be complete and accepted by any Tennessee public university in the transfer process.
  • If an A.A., A.F.A., A.S., or A.S.T. is not obtained, transfer of General Education courses will be based upon fulfillment of complete subject categories. (Example: If all 8 hours in the category of Natural Sciences are complete, then this “block” of the general education core is complete.) When a subject category is incomplete, course-by-course evaluation will be conducted. The provision of block fulfillment pertains also to students who transfer among Tennessee public universities.
  • Institutional/departmental requirements of the grade of C will be honored. Even if credit is granted for a course, any specific requirements for the grade of C by the receiving institution will be enforced.
  • In certain majors, specific General Education courses must be taken. It is important that students and advisors be aware of any major requirements that must be fulfilled under General Education.

A complete listing of the courses fulfilling general education requirements for all system institutions is available on the TBR website under Transfer and Articulation Information.

University Parallel Transfer Program Learning Outcomes

The Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Science in Teaching degree programs are designed for students seeking to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Upon completion of the Associate of Arts transfer program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired within the general education core. 
  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired from transfer electives  
  • Locate and evaluate information from a range of credible sources using proper attribution and citation. 
  • Solve problems using skills developed across the curriculum. 
  • Exhibit understanding of content spoken, written, or signed in the target language with an awareness of context, audience, purpose, and point of view. 
  • Produce meaningful communication, oral, written or signed in the target language, taking into account the context, purpose, and audience. 
  • Compare and contrast salient aspects of target language culture and the learner’s first language culture. 

Upon completion of the Associate of Fine Arts transfer program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired within the general education core.  
  • Locate and evaluate information from a range of credible sources using proper attribution and citation.  
  • Solve problems using skills developed across the curriculum.  
  • Demonstrate key skills which apply to specific artistic experiences in music, theatre, and/or visual art. 
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key terms and/or concepts as applied to specific artistic experiences in music, theatre, and/or visual art.  
  • Generate and communicate a variety of imaginative and meaningful ideas. 

Upon completion of the Associate of Science transfer program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired within the general education core. 
  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired from transfer electives. 
  • Locate and evaluate information from a range of credible sources using proper attribution and citation. 
  • Solve problems using skills developed across the curriculum. 

Upon completion of the Associate of Science in Teaching transfer program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and/or skills acquired within the general education core.
  • Locate and evaluate information from a range of credible sources using proper attribution and citation.
  • Solve problems using skills developed across the curriculum.
  • Explain educational topics and strategies as they relate to the teacher, the student, and the school.
  • Identify the key components of an effective lesson plan.
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors expected of highly qualified educators.

General Associate of Arts and General Associate of Science

General Associate programs are designed with the flexibility to allow students to select courses that parallel the requirements of the four-year institution to which they intend to transfer. Articulation agreements and transfer guides are available, as well as tables listing Pellissippi State courses and equivalent courses at four-year colleges and universities at the online Transfer Hub (www.pstcc.edu/transfer/).  Students should plan their program of study in consultation with their Pellissippi State advisor and an advisor at the receiving institution.

Tennessee Transfer Pathways

A student entering a community college in Tennessee who selects one of these majors with an accompanying transfer pathway, completes required courses and earns an associate degree can transition as a junior to a Tennessee public university. Some specific academic programs may have competitive admissions, but students will be advised about requirements when they first enroll at Pellissippi State.

All earned credit hours outlined on the pathways will apply toward a bachelor’s degree in the same discipline. These pathways guarantee admission to all public universities in the state, except for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where competitive admission standards will still apply.

TTPs for the 2023-2024 academic year at Pellissippi State:

(A.A. - Associate of Arts, A.F.A. - Associate of Fine Arts, A.S. - Associate of Science and the A.S.T. - Associate of Science in Teaching degrees)


Visit Tennessee Transfer Pathways website for more information.

TN eCampus

TN eCampus courses are entirely online and are completely transferable among all the participating institutions. Students who pursue online courses should be highly motivated, independent, active learners who have good organizational and time management skills. Students also should have the discipline to study without external reminders and be able to adapt to new learning environments.

Contact(s): Director of Distance Education, 865-694-6691; pframp@pstcc.edu