About PA TRAC

1. Participating Colleges & Universities

Article XX-C of the Public School Code of 1949 mandates Pennsylvania's 14 community colleges and the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education participate all aspects of the statewide transfer system and PA TRAC. Several other institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania voluntarily participate. Collectively, all of these colleges are referred to as "participating PA TRAC colleges".

The commonwealth has four state-related universities -- Lincoln University, Penn State University (PSU) , Temple University and University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) -- that have varying levels of participation in the statewide transfer system. Lincoln University has elected to participate fully in the transfer system and is considered a "participating PA TRAC college". PSU, Temple and Pitt meet the minimum legislative requirements for state-related institutions; each has identified at least 30 credits from the 30-Credit Transfer Framework that they will accept for transfer from the participating PA TRAC colleges.

2. 30-Credit Transfer Framework

An important part of Pennsylvania’s transfer system is an advising tool called the "30-Credit Transfer Framework", which is a menu of courses from which students can select up to 30 credits to transfer toward the degree requirements of nearly any major offered by the participating PA TRAC colleges.

The Transfer Framework consists of foundation courses in the areas of English,Public Speaking, Math and Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Fine Arts and Humanities. Framework courses are the type of course work generally completed during the first and second year of most bachelor degree programs. By enrolling in Transfer Framework courses, students can earn the equivalent of one full-year of study, while having peace of mind in knowing that if or when they choose to transfer, they can take their credits with them.

The Transfer Framework has been benefiting students since the fall semester of 2008.

3. Statewide Program-to-Program Articulation

Statewide Program-to-Program (P2P) Articulation allows students who graduate with specified associate degrees to transfer as juniors into bachelor’s degrees in similar fields of study at participating PA TRAC colleges. By aligning the program curricula of associate degrees and bachelor degrees, Statewide P2P serves as pathways into undergraduate majors and maximizes the number of credits that transfer and apply toward the bachelor degree .

Statewide P2P Articulation applies only to eligible students transferring between the participating PA TRAC colleges. Statewide P2P was first implemented in the fall semester of 2012.

Use the Statewide Program-to-Program Agreement Search to find out the specific P2P programs offered by PA TRAC colleges.

4. Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA TRAC)

PA TRAC is a "one-stop shop" for transfer information related to Pennsylvania's statewide transfer and articulation system and the participating PA TRAC colleges. PA TRAC tools and resources help students plan their transfer to a PA TRAC college and learn how they can benefit from the statewide transfer policies.

5. Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) coordinates, maintains and assesses the statewide transfer system through the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee (TAOC). TAOC is comprised of representatives from the participating PA TRAC colleges, state-related universities, the PASSHE Office of the Chancellor, the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges and PDE.