TRANSFER FAQs

What is the difference between the terms "articulation agreement", "transfer guides", and "transfer pathways"?
There is no difference. Different colleges and universities use different terms for the same thing.
Is transfer pathway the same thing as the Pathway to Illinois program?

No, these are not the same thing.  

"Transfer pathway" is a general term for an agreement between Parkland and another college or university.  It identifies coursework that you can take at Parkland, to prepare to transfer into a specific bachelor's degree program at the other school. 

Parkland Pathway to Illinois is a program that allows you to take classes at both Parkland and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at the same time, with the goal of fully transferring to UIUC. For information on the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program, please visit Pathway to Illinois.

What is the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)?
The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) is an agreement among 100+ Illinois colleges and universities to accept a package of courses, the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC), for their general education requirements.
Do I have to take all of my GECC classes before transferring?

You can transfer without completing the GECC package, but it is highly recommended to complete it first. If your transfer school participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative, they must accept your completed GECC package as a whole. This means that all your GECC credits will transfer, and you will have completed all lower-division general education requirements for your bachelor's degree program.

If you do not complete the GECC package first, your transfer school will evaluate the classes you took at Parkland individually for transfer credit. You may need to take additional general education classes after transferring.

What is the General Education Certificate (GEC)?

At Parkland, the General Education Certificate (GEC) is a program that includes all classes within the GECC package. Once you have completed all the required classes, the GEC credential can be added to your transcript. To have it added, complete a Petition to Graduate and choose the credential called "General Education Core Curriculum (GECC)".

With this credential, you will be able to transfer to a participating four-year college of your choice, without having to take additional lower-division general education classes.

Is the GEC (General Education Certificate) from Parkland the same thing as a GED (General Education Diploma)/High School Equivalency Certificate?
No, a GEC and a GED are not the same thing. If you want to earn your GED, contact Parkland's Adult Education department for information about our GED test-prep classes.