Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy

The Ohio Articulation and Transfer policy was developed in 1990 to facilitate the transfer of students and credits from any state-assisted college or university to another. It encourages faculty recognition of comparable and compatible learning experiences and expectations across institutions. It also encourages students to complete “units” of educational experience as they progress (e.g., transfer assurance guides, transfer modules, associate and bachelor’s degrees).

The policy generally preserves the college or university’s practice of making admission decisions on the basis of academic standards, space availability, adherence to deadlines and payment of fees. However, it does specifically require that Ohio residents with a completed associate degree and a completed transfer module be admitted to all state-assisted institutions provided that they have a minimum 2.0 GPA for previous college-level courses. Further, these students shall have admission priority over out-of-state associate degree graduates and transfer students.

Although admission to a given institution does not guarantee admission to all degree granting programs, majors, minors or fields of concentration, incoming transfer students shall be able to compete for admission to specific programs on the same basis as students native to the receiving institution.

The policy distinguishes between the acceptance of credit by the receiving institution and the application of credit to the student’s chosen program. Transfer credits will be accepted by the receiving institution and posted to the student’s record and transcript. Transfer students will receive transfer credit for all college-level courses they have passed. From among the credits which have been posted to the student’s record and appear on the student’s transcript, the receiving institution, within the provisions of this policy, will determine how credits will or will not, be applied toward degree requirements at the receiving institution.

Upper- or lower-division credit is awarded for transfer based upon the level of course to which it is equated at the receiving institution. A course completed at one institution and transferred to Kent State is applied to the student’s degree audit in the same manner as its equivalent course at Kent State. If a lower-division course at the sending institution is transferred as equivalent to an upper-division course at Kent State, it will be counted as upper-division credit. Likewise, an upper-division course taken at the sending institution that is transferred as equivalent to a lower-division course at Kent State will be counted as lower-division credit. More information on the transfer policy can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Transfer Assurance Guides (TAG)

Transfer Assurance Guides (TAG) are groups of foundational courses that represent a commonly accepted pathway to the bachelor’s degree. Courses or course sequences identified as being a part of the TAG may be offered at any public higher education institution in Ohio and are guaranteed to transfer and apply toward the major. More information on the TAG policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Ohio Transfer 36

Ohio Transfer 36 (previously Ohio Transfer Module or OTM) is a set or subset of the general education requirements of a college. Ohio Transfer 36 consists of 36-40 credit hours of specific course credits in composition, mathematics, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural or physical sciences and interdisciplinary coursework. Ohio Transfer 36 was developed to assist movement of students from one Ohio public college or university to another and to avoid duplication of course requirements for transfer students.

Students who successfully complete the Ohio Transfer 36 at one college will have met the Ohio Transfer 36 requirements of the institution to which they transfer. Students may be required to meet additional general education requirements that are not included in the Ohio Transfer 36, as long as those requirements are identical to those of native students. More information on the Ohio Transfer 36 policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Career Technical Assurance Guides (CTAG)

Career-Technical Assurance Guides (CTAG) allow students who successfully complete a specified technical program at a high school or career center to transfer agreed-upon courses (that adhere to recognized industry standards) to Ohio public colleges and universities and have them applied toward an academic program. More information on the CTAG policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Beginning in 2009, students in Ohio who take a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination and earn a minimum 3 score are guaranteed college credit, usually towards their general education (Kent Core) curriculum, at Kent State. More information on the AP policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Military Assurance Guides (MTAG)

Beginning in 2016, students who completed military training, experience or coursework will be guaranteed college credit for specific courses at any Ohio public institution. This initiative is still in the planning stages. More information on the MTAG policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.

Industry-Recognized Credential Transfer Assurance Guides (ITAG)

The ITAG is a statewide transfer initiative that guarantees the award of college-level credit to students earning agreed upon industry-recognized credentials. The award of credit is based upon the knowledge, skills and competencies gained through credential attainment regardless of where the learning to prepare for the credential took place. More information on the ITAG policy and approved courses can be found on the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.