Changes and Updates:
Courses, Degrees, and Transfer Information

New changes effective Fall 2025
and why this information is
important for YOU to know.

Several new initiatives and legislative updates are being implemented across the California Community Colleges to facilitate students’ college completion and transfer process. These changes affect registration, course selection, degree selection, graduation, and transfer. This information is for you whether you are a new incoming, new, continuing, or returning student.

Learn more about the changes by reading the Changes that affect YOU as a student. For additional information and questions, visit the Frequently Asked Questions accordions below.

Changes that affect YOU

Our mission is to inform the campus community of upcoming changes designed to impact our students' college completion. Please read over this information to help you design your educational goals.

Choosing an Associate Degree for Transfer
(A.A-T or A.S-T)

If you have chosen a major/program of study at Mt. San Antonio College that has an Associate Degree for Transfer ADT, known at Mt. SAC as AA-T or AS-T. Your major has been changed to one of our ADT degrees to guarantee your admission to one of the 23 California State University (CSU) campuses. The ADT pathway will allow you to complete major prep and lower-division general education requirements designed for CSU transferand provide you with CSU admissions benefits after transfer.

New and returning students that have selected an Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) as their major/program will need to develop an educational plan to stay on track and be able to register for classes each term prior to completing 15 units. See a counselor.

Continuing students that selected an AssociateDegree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) will need to develop an educational plan in order to register for classes prior to completing 15 units. If you made a change to your educational goal and/or program of study after August 1, 2024, we advise you to make an appointment with a counselor to update your educational plan.
The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)

Effective the Fall 2025 semester, the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC). It is the singular transfer general education pathway for California Community College (CCC) students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for transfer and admission to the CSU and UC systems.

The new Cal-GETC GE pattern is intended to reduce the total number of units required to complete the transfer lower division general education requirements.
Common Course Numbering (CCN)

CCN is designed to align common course numbering to a select number of comparable courses. This process will assign the same course number to similar courses at all California community colleges to “streamline the transfer from two- to four-year postsecondary institutions and minimize excess credit accumulation.” All community colleges in the state must have the same course name and number for selected courses. Please refer to the 2025 Common Course Numbering Changes grid below.

Choosing an
A.A-T or A.S-T FAQs
- - 1. If I am a new student, what do I need to do now?
    New students should schedule a meeting with a counselor to develop an educational plan.
  - 2. What is the difference between ADT, A.A-T and A.S-T?
    The AA-T (Associates of Arts for Transfer) and AS-T (Associates of Science for Transfer) are both generally known as Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) as established by California's STAR Act (Senate Bill 1440). ADT is used to reference both the AA-T (Associates of Arts for Transfer) and AS-T (Associates of Science for Transfer) degrees awarded at Mt. SAC.
  - 3. The difference between A.A./A.S. and ADT degree?
    
    A.A. (Associate in Arts) and A.S. (Associates in Science) are a traditional local degree that students can earn to graduate and transfer to a 4-year university.
    
    ADT (Associate in Science for Transfer) is a degree created in partnership between community colleges and CSUs to facilitate transfer to a four-year school.
    
    ADT degrees are fully transferable to the CSU and are no more than 60 semester units or 90 quarter units. Student’s placement onto an ADT will be automatically changed if there is an existing Mt. SAC ADT for the declared major with exemptions or option to opt out listed in question 9 below.
  - 4. If I am a current student, what do I need to do now
    Current students that have completed 15 units and have an A.A-T or A.S-T as their major will need to meet with a counselor in order to register for classes.
  - 5. Where can I find a list of new and current ADT at Mt. SAC?
    Students can find a complete list of the new and current ADTs offered at Mt. SAC by visiting the transfer center website at Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T & AS-T)
  - 6. I met with a counselor, and we created an educational plan. How do I access the Educational Plan?
    To review the new educational plan, please view your education plan in the Mt. SAC Student Portal (link to Degree Works).
  - 7. I have no interest in transferring. May I change my major back to the traditional AA/AS/Certificate program?
    Yes! Students will simply meet with a counselor to update their degree objective.
  - 8. What if my plan is to transfer to a UC, private, or out of state school?
    Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor or visit the transfer center to see what option best suits their educational goal.
  - 9. Do I have to choose an ADT?
    If a student meets any of the following criteria, they can be exempt:
    
    Mt. SAC does not offer the ADT pathway you have chosen.
    
    Your major and educational goal is better served by a local degree (A.A or A.S).
    
    If you plan to transfer to a UC campus or a private college or university.
    
    If your educational goal is to obtain an A.A-T or A.S-T only and not transfer.
    
    If you are in a CTE program and educational goal is to obtain a certificate of achievement only.
    
    Students that are currently high school students and are participating in Dual Enrollment or Special Admit.
New Transfer General Ed Requirements FAQs
- - 1. What is Cal-GETC?
    The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) is the singular transfer general education pathway for California Community College (CCC) students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements for transfer and admission to the CSU and UC systems.
  - 2. When does Cal-GETC start?
    Cal-GETC shall be used by new incoming Mt. SAC students beginning in Fall 2025.
  - 3. Cal-GETC is not intended for students who:
    are not transferring and only getting the AA/AS degrees using Local GE
    
    maintained continuous enrollment at the CCC prior to Fall 2025
    
    earned an ADT
    
    met the full GE Certification for CSU GE Breadth or IGETC, whether transcribed on the official CCC transcript or in other forms.
  - 4. Cal-GETC applies to the following:
    New incoming students to the CCC Fall 2025 and thereafter
    
    Students with external credits from the UC, CCC, CSU, In-State-Private,and/or Out- of-State institutions who have lost catalog rights
  - 5. What if a student has catalog rights to use CSU GE Breadth or IGETC?
    For any student who begins at Mt. SAC prior to Fall 2025, please refer to Appendix A.
    
    The CSU GE Breadth is still an option for students with continuous enrollmentwho meet the requirements so long as they don’t stop out/lose catalog rights. There has not been further discussion of when to sunset this transfer general education pattern. It is still yet to be determined.
    
    The IGETC pattern is still an option for students with continuous enrollment who meet the requirements so long as they don’t stop out/lose catalog rights. This pattern is similar to Cal-GETC and is highly advised for students who are unsure about the UC/CSU. There has not been further discussion of when to sunset this transfer general education pattern. It is still yet to be determined.
  - 6. Are Counselors advising students about the American Institution (AI) requirements for CSU transfer-bound students?
    While these requirements are outside Cal-GETC, Counselors will still highly recommend the American Institution requirement courses for CSU/UC-bound students. Per Cal-GETC standards, CSU campuses have the discretion on whether to allow courses used to satisfy the CSU AI requirements. UC may require students to meet (some) AI graduation requirements if the student did not graduate from a high school in California.
  - 7. Are Counselors advising students about Language other than English (LOTE) for UC transfer-bound students?
    While these requirements are outside Cal-GETC, Counselors will still highly recommend transfer students to complete the LOTE for UC-bound students who do not meet the requirements through Advanced Placement, high school coursework, or others listed in the Cal-GETC standards. Per Cal-GETC standards, UC campuses have the discretion on whether to allow courses used to satisfy GE requirements to also count for UC LOTE.
  - 8. Are counselors advising students into ADT if the path exists? How do counselors advise local degrees vs. ADT degrees in the same department? (Music ADT vs. Music AA and Studio Arts ADT vs. Art AA)
    It depends on the scenario and is case-by-case. A counselor can assist the students in navigating the best option that will benefit them.
    
    There are many criteria that a counselor reviews with the student, such as, but not limited to:
    
    Is the ADT accepted (deemed similar) by the institution the student wants to apply and transfer to?
    
    Is there "pre-requisite," or admission coursework that is not listed on the ADT that students must complete before they can be eligible to transfer in that major?
    
    Is there coursework outside of the ADT that will extend a student’s time at the CCC?
    
    Is the student a returning CSU/UC student who does not need to earn an ADT degree with us, since theydon’t earn the benefits of being a transfer student
    
    Ultimately, the counselor will educate the student to make the best-informed decision that benefits the student. If completing additional coursework causes undue hardship,increases units, and/or the student’s time at Mt. SAC, the student may be exempted from the Auto-ADT placement and meet California statutory exceptions, “The student’s educational pathway is better served by a local associate degree.”
  - 9. Why do all students have to be on the ADT degree? How will counselors opt out UC-bound students?
    Per AB928, if an ADT pathway exists, students would be placed into it unless they meet the statutory exceptions.
    Statutory exceptions from auto-ADT placement include:
    
    an ADT pathway does not exist in the chosen major at the college.
    
    the student’s educational pathway is better served by a local associate degree.
    
    the student plans to apply to transfer to a UC campus or an independent college or university.
    
    the student is seeking to complete a community college baccalaureate degree program.
    
    the student is seeking to complete a CTE program that does not have an ADT pathway
    
    Ultimately, the counselor will educate the student to make the best-informed decision. If the student is transferring to a UC, the student may be exempted from the Auto-ADT placement, “The student plans to apply to a UC campus or independent college or university.” The student would be placed on a degree path accordingly. Students who earn an ADT degree are included in the UC comprehensive review process for admission.
  - 10. I am not a Counselor. How do I help transfer students if they have additional questions about ADT and Cal-GETC?
    Navigating the community college transfer landscape is complex and ever changing;therefore, students must be referred to a Counselor to ensure they are given accurateand up-to-date information based on the student’s educational goals.
    To list a few things, Counselors can help students create/update their SEPs, assess their educational major/career choices, provide personal counseling related to the student’s educational goal, review admission requirements for impacted campuses, change their majors, review specific transfer program requirements, and makerecommendations to other student services/programs.
  - 11. Will there be adequate counselors if the matriculation hold is implemented?
    Ed Code 7822 requires Student Education Plans (SEPs) for all enrolled California Community College students. As part of the matriculation hold, students must see acounselor at least once to develop some version of a SEP. If this is not accomplished, per local protocols, at the earliest census date or at the latest when the 15-unit requirement is triggered (Title 5, 55530), a hold will be placed on the student’s enrollment.
    
    Per Title 5, 55530, a first-time student is a student who enrolls at the college for thefirst time. This excludes students who transferred from another institution of higher education and does not include concurrent/dual enrollment students.
  - 12. If a student has catalog rights to 24-25 CSU GE Breadth and takes courses in the Fall of 2025 or Spring of 2026, would the course still count towards CSU GE Area E?
    Yes, the keyword is “catalog rights.” A course that fulfills CSU GE Breadth will be retained if the student has maintained continuous enrollment at Mt. SAC. There has not been further discussion of when to sunset this transfer general education pattern. It is still yet to be determined.
    
    If the student stops out or loses catalog rights and does not complete the CSU GE Breadth, the student would be following the Cal-GETC version that is effective at that time.
  - 13. We are seeing an increase in the number of high school students in dual enrollment programs who complete CSUGE and/or IGETC by the time they graduate from high school. Given that high school students cannot establish catalog rights to a CSU/UC, if a high school student gets CSUGE/IGETC certified from the community college on their transcript, does this allow them to utilize the CSUGE/IGETC certification, or do they default to Cal-GETC regardless since they are high school students?
    If the student completes the pattern, the CSU GE/IGETC certification will prevail over the timing issue. Note: The CSU/UC will evaluate the high school students admitted as first-time freshmen differently when establishing a student’s catalog rights and, in some cases, will have students follow their campus-specific GE pattern.
  - 14. If a new incoming student wants to take classes in the Summer of 2025, which pattern would the student follow?
    A new student taking a course in the Summer of 2025 must follow the 2024-2025 CSU or IGETC breadth, as Cal-GETC will not start until Fall 2025. Students that begin in Summer of 2025 and continue through the Fall 2025, will have the option to change their GE pattern from CSU or IGETC breath to the new Cal-GETC. For assistance and support in choosing a GE pattern, please see a counselor.
  - 15. Can students request a partial Cal-GETC Certification?
    
    Only a full Cal-GETC Certification may be forwarded to the CSU and UC with all areas completed. No partial Cal-GETC Certification will be accepted.
    
    At this time, no decision has been made with Cal-GETC for STEM majors.
  - 16. Can I get a “D” grade in Cal-GETC?
    Courses for Cal-GETC must be passed with a minimum grade of “C,” where a “C” grade is defined as a 2.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale. A “Credit” or “Pass” is acceptable, providing that it is equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. A college transcript must reflect this policy.
  - 17. If a student takes a new course for Cal-GETC Area and wants to use it as a reverse pass-along for CSU GE Breadth or IGETC, can the student do that?
    
    No, Cal-GETC is only available for students starting in the fall of 2025 and does not go backward.
    
    Students with catalog rights to the CSU GE Breadth or IGETC pattern must follow those GE patterns instead.
Common Course Numbering FAQs
- - 1. What is Common Course Numbering?
    AB 1111 is California legislation standardizing course numbers across all 115 California Community Colleges. Common Course Numbering is the result of a change in the California Education Code under AB 1111 (Berman), a California law requiring the standardization of course names and numbers across the state's community colleges. The goal is to streamline the transfer process between community colleges and four-year universities by ensuring that equivalent courses have consistent numbering and naming conventions across institutions.
  - 2. Why is Common Course Numbering important?
    Standardizing course numbers makes it easier for students to identify equivalent courses, avoid taking unnecessary or duplicate classes, and streamline the transfer process. This reduces time, lowers costs, and improves transfer efficiency.
  - 3. What’s changing?
    Affective Fall 2025, California community colleges will implement the Common Course Numbering (CCN) system mandated by Assembly Bill 1111. This system is designed to simplify transferring between colleges by standardizing course names and numbers across campuses.
  - 4. What does this mean for me?
    
    Some courses have updated names and numbers, but course content and credit remain the same.
    
    Example: SPCH 1A (Public Speaking) is now COMM C1000 (Introduction to Public Speaking).
    
    All courses in the department now use the COMM prefix instead of SPCH.
    
    Example: SPCH 8 (Professional and Organizational Speaking) is now COMM 8 (Professional and Organizational Speaking).
  - 5. Does this affect previously completed coursework?
    No. These changes are administrative and will not impact any coursework you’ve already completed.to track which courses will transfer smoothly and apply toward your degree.
  - 6. When will Common Course Numbering be implemented?
    The California Community College system will implement Common Course Numbering in phases. Phase 1 will begin Fall 2025 and includes the following six courses—ENGL 1A/H, ENGL 1C/H, MATH 110/H, POLI 1H, PSYC 1A/H, and SPCH 1A/H.
  - 7. Will all of Mt. SAC courses eventually change to Common Course Numbering?
    Yes, after the completion of Phase 1, for the Fall 2025 semester. There will be 2 additional phases that will occur to reflect additional courses. Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2026, and Phase 3 is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2027. For more information and updates please visit the Mt. SAC website.
  - 8. What courses will be changed in the Common Course Numbering?
    
    As shown on the previous page, the six courses are key general education and transfer requirements and will be standardized across all California community colleges. Additionally, all courses with POLI and SPCH prefixes will be updated to POLS and COMM, respectively, to align with the new course numbering.
    
    For example, POLI 2 will be changed to POLS 2, SPCH 7 will be changed to COMM 7, and Math 10 have also changed to STAT 10.
  - 9. How will this affect my current courses?
    If you are currently enrolled, completed courses will still fulfill your requirements, even if their course numbers change. However, you will see updated course numbers when planning for future semesters. For instance, your ENGL 1A will be listed as ENGL C1000 on your updated MAP and Mt. SAC transcripts.
  - 10. How does this impact my transfer plans?
    The common numbering system is designed to align with California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) requirements, making it easier.

Fall 2025 Common Course Numbering Changes

Current Mt. SAC Course Prefix, Number, and Title	New Course Prefix, Number, and Title (effective Fall 2025)
ENGL 1A or ENGL 1AH Freshman Composition or Freshman Composition Honors	ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H Academic Reading & Writing or Academic Reading & Writing Honors
ENGL 1C or ENGL 1CH Critical Thinking & Writing or Critical Thinking and Writing Honors	ENGL C1001 or ENGL C1001H Critical Thinking & Writing or Critical Thinking & Writing Honors
MATH 110 or MATH 110H Elementary Statistics or Elementary Statistics Honors	STAT C1000 or STAT C1000H Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Statistics Honors
PSYC 1A or PSYC 1AH Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Psychology Honors	PSYC C1000 or PSYC C1000H Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Psychology Honors
POLI 1 or POLI 1H Introduction to American Government & Politics or Introduction to American Government & Politics Honors	POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H American Government & Politics or American Government & Politics Honors
SPCH 1A or SPCH 1AH Public Speaking or Public Speaking Honors	COMM C1000 or COMM C1000H Introduction to Public Speaking or Introduction to Public Speaking Honors

Note: All POLI and SPCH Prefixes will be updated to POLS and COMM, respectively, to align with the new course numbering. For example, POLI 2 will be changed to POLS 2, and SPCH 7 will be changed to COMM 7.

Course Numbering
Timeline

Fall 2025

Common Course
Numbering Phase I

New Students who applied to Mt. SAC as of August 1, 2024 and continuing students must have educational plans by 15 units.
Fall 2026

Common Course
Numbering Phase II

23 additional course numbers will change to be aligned within the CCC, CSU, and UC systems.
Fall 2027

Common Course
Numbering Phase III

50+ additional course numbers will change to be aligned to facilitate transfer within the CCC, CSU, and UC systems.

Meet with a Counselor

Counselors can help you decide on your educational and career pathway and create an educational plan.

Download the Navigate App

Create your to-do lists, view your schedule and major, get access to campus resources and study buddies, apply for campus jobs, and so much more.

Visit the Transfer Center

As you prepare for transfer, a transfer specialist can help guide you through the university application process.

For additional resources visit: www.mtsac.edu/studentservices

A.A-T & A.S-T

A.A & A.S

Certificates

A.A-T & A.S-T

A.A & A.S

Certificates

Changes and Updates:Courses, Degrees, and Transfer Information

New changes effective Fall 2025 and why this information is important for YOU to know.

Changes that affect YOU

Choosing an Associate Degree for Transfer (A.A-T or A.S-T)

The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)

Common Course Numbering (CCN)

Choosing an A.A-T or A.S-T FAQs

New Transfer General Ed Requirements FAQs

Common Course Numbering FAQs

Fall 2025 Common Course Numbering Changes

Course NumberingTimeline

Fall 2025

Fall 2026

Fall 2027

Changes and Updates:
Courses, Degrees, and Transfer Information

New changes effective Fall 2025
and why this information is
important for YOU to know.

Choosing an Associate Degree for Transfer
(A.A-T or A.S-T)

Choosing an
A.A-T or A.S-T FAQs

Course Numbering
Timeline