Transfer/University Parallel Programs

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 or the Associate of Science degree, each requiring a minimum of 61 semester hours. A broad selection of courses is offered that will transfer to four-year institutions.

University Parallel program requirements are specified by

• Tennessee Transfer Pathways. More than 60 pathways for transfer of Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Science in Teaching graduates in particular majors to Tennessee public colleges and universities.
• 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 the student to select courses that parallel the requirements of the four-year institution to which he/she intends to transfer.

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.

Tennessee Transfer Pathways

A student entering a community college in Tennessee who selects one of these majors with 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 in the program 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.

TTP programs for the 2018-19 academic year at Pellissippi State:

Visit Tennessee Transfer Pathways website for more information.

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 both Pellissippi State and 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 with Austin Peay State University, Bellevue University, Carson-Newman University, East Tennessee State University, King University, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Tusculum College and other public and private institutions. Pellissippi State also has transfer agreements with some private institutions for students with general Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Visit the articulation website for a current list of agreements and institutions.

Pellissippi State has program-specific Transfer Transition Guides with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) that provide an eight-semester plan for earning an associate degree at Pellissippi State and a baccalaureate degree at UTK. Visit the UTK website for a current list of Transfer Transition Guides.

TBR General Education Core and Transferability of Courses Among TBR Institutions

Effective as of fall semester 2004, each institution in the Tennessee Board of Regents: the College System of Tennessee shares a common lower-division General Education core curriculum of 41 semester hours for baccalaureate degrees and Associate of Arts and Associate of Science 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 and Associate of Science degrees*:

 *Foreign language courses are an additional requirement for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees. Both A.A. and B.A. degrees require proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to completion of two years of college-level work.

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

***Chosen from HIST 1110 , HIST 1120 ,  HIST 2010 , HIST 2020 , HIST 2030 , HIST 2210 , HIST 2220 . Students planning to transfer to out-of-state or private universities must check requirements and complete the appropriate courses.

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. or A.S. degree, the requirements of the lower-division General Education core will be complete and accepted by any state university in the transfer process.
• If an A.A. or A.S. 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 and accepted by any state university.) 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 state 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 lower-division 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.  

TN eCampus

TN eCampus courses are entirely online and are completely transferable among all the participating institutions. Students who pursue online programs 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.

Visit the TN eCampus website or call 1-888-223-0023 for more information.