Common Definitions of Transfer
Articulation
Articulation is the process of evaluating how course content, level and credits between the sending and receiving
institutions interrelated. This evaluation will determine the status of individual courses as Direct Equivalent, Generally
Transferrable Course, or a non-Transferable Course.
Direct Equivalent Course
A Direct Equivalent Course is a transfer course that is considered by the receiving institution to have
fundamentally the same course content as a specific course and satisfies subject matter requirements at the
receiving institution.
Generally Transferable Course
A transferable course is a course taken at one college or university that can be used for unit, not direct
equivalent credit at another institution.
Non-transferable Course
A non-transferable course has been evaluated by the receiving institution and deemed unable to transfer for
reasons such as, but not limited to, being unaccredited, vocational, foreign, remedial or dogmatic in nature.
Memo of Understanding (MOU)
A Memo of Understanding is a written resolution between two institutions in the form of a legal document that
expresses an interest in working together to achieve a common academic goal for students.
Prerequisite Course(s)
A course or courses that must be successfully completed before a student can enroll in the next-level course or a more
advanced course.
Receiving Institution
The receiving institution is an educational institution that accepts transfer coursework from another institution.
Reverse Transfer
This is coursework transferred from a four-year institution to a two-year institution for the purpose of completing a
degree or certificate at the two-year institution.
Sending Institution
The sending institution is an educational institution that sends coursework to another college or university for
acceptable transfer.
Successful Completion
Minimum grade required to meet degree requirements is determined by the receiving institution.
Swirling
Student who take individual courses at multiple colleges, rather than enrolling at one school with the intent to complete
their degree there, are swirling.
Transfer
Transfer is the successful acceptance of credit for a course by the receiving institution as a result of an articulation
process.
Transfer Agreement
Transfer Agreements are signed agreements that identify a path to degree attainment by specifying which and how
courses apply to requirements.
Types of Transfer Agreement:
Degree Transfer Agreement
The Degree Transfer Agreement is designed to satisfy requirements of a specific Associate’s degree and to
promote direct transfer into the student’s major at a four-year institution.
2+2 Agreement
The “2+2” is a type of transfer agreement where all courses required for the associate's degree are direct
equivalents or collectively transfer to fulfill all lower-division graduation requirements in a particular field of
study at the receiving 4-year institution. This should allow the student to complete their associate's degree in
two years and their bachelor's in an additional two years.
Transfer Evaluation System (TES)
TES is a College Source database which stores numerous college catalogs, transcript keys, transfer equivalencies and
transfer evaluations. TES also provides a public website for the subscribing institution to display a comprehensive listing
of current course equivalencies.
Transfer Guide
A Transfer Guide is a comprehensive list of courses from a specific college that defines whether and how those courses
will transfer into the receiving institution. Transfer Guides appear in many forms including the Transfer Evaluation
System (TES), which is used by CNM and UNM.
Transfer Module
Transfer Modules are established by the New Mexico Higher Education Department and identify the courses to be taken
in the first two years of a specific degree program.
Rev. 7/5/12
These definitions were developed by a joint UNM/CNM team.