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Frequently Asked Questions

 


Can Piedmont Technical College help me get started on a four-year degree?

Yes. Piedmont Technical College offers a variety of transfer opportunities and transfer courses. Piedmont’s academic advisors, admissions counselors, and the colleges transfer coordinator are trained to assist students with transfer questions.
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What is the difference between transfer degrees and career degrees?

Piedmont Technical College has two transfer degrees—an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science. These degree programs parallel the first two years of a four-year program and include a significant number of liberal arts courses. Piedmont’s other two-year degrees are considered career degrees. Career programs provide practical courses designed to prepare students for employment. Although students can still transfer with these career degrees, many of the career-specific courses may not transfer. Some career programs have special articulation agreements with senior institutions that create a transfer pathway for specific careers—students are advised to talk with their advisors about these articulation agreements.
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What is the difference between joint admissions programs, articulation agreements, and course-by-course transfer?

Piedmont Technical College has established joint admissions programs with Lander University, Newberry College, and USC-Aiken. These agreements include one enrollment/application fee (Piedmont’s), free transcripts, a wide selection of transferable courses, and most of all a smoother transfer pathway. (Visit the site’s location on Joint Admissions Programs for more information.)

Articulation agreements are special program agreements with senior institutions. These agreements designate specific courses that will transfer to that senior institution for specific two-year programs the agreements address. These agreements usually address specific career programs such as Criminal Justice, Business, or Engineering Technology, where course-by-course transfer is often limited. (Visit the site’s location on Specific Program Articulation agreements for more information or contact Piedmont’s transfer coordinator.)

Most senior institutions instate and out-of-state have course-by-course transfer for designated transferable courses. Students should consults the institution’s transfer guide for a list of these transferable courses or seek guidance from the institution’s admissions office.
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When am I considered a transfer student?

Students who have taken college-level course work in a degree-seeking status after graduation from high school are classified as transfer applicants when seeking admission to a senior institution.
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Will all the courses I take at Piedmont transfer?

Not necessarily. Students seeking to transfer to a senior institution should consult that institution’s transfer guide (found on their web site) for a list of courses that will transfer. Students should also review the list of 86 courses that transfer to any public senior institution in the state. Students may also seek assistance from a Piedmont academic advisor, Piedmont’s transfer coordinator, or the senior institution transfer officer.
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What are Statewide General Education Transfer Blocks?

General Education Transfer Blocks were approved by the SC Commission on Higher Education to assist students in transferring to any public senior institution in South Carolina. Information on these blocks can be found at this site's link entitled CHE Guidelines.
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If a course transfers, how will it count?

Just because a course transfers does not mean it will count in a specific major or program. Students are advised to review the senior institution’s catalog for program and graduation requirements. Most institutions have designated general education requirements/courses, such as foreign language, history, and fine arts, which are requirements for graduation. Senior institutions will usually count all approved transfer courses toward a transfer student’s class status, i.e. junior, senior. Students may also wish to review the SC Commission on Higher Education’s Transfer Blocks for information on specific blocks of courses that will count toward specific programs of study at all senior public institutions in South Carolina.
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How many courses must I have before I can transfer?

Technically a student could transfer at any time. But most senior institutions consider a student a transfer student only after they have successfully completed 30 transferable semester hours and maintained a 2.0 grade point ratio on a 4.0 scale. Transfer applicants who have completed fewer than the 30 semester hours usually must submit a high school transcript along with standardized test scores and are treated like freshmen in the application and acceptance process.
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How many transferable courses can I transfer?

The maximum number of transferable courses from a two-year college that will be accepted varies from senior institution to senior institution. Many accept a maximum of 60-64 semester hours. Students are advised to consult the senior institution’s transfer guide for accurate information on this maximum number. (Note: Nursing/medical programs often accept a higher number of transferable courses from two-year colleges.)
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What grade do I have to make on a transferable course for it to transfer?

Students must make a minimum of a “C “ grade on a transferable course for it to transfer.
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How does my GPA at Piedmont impact the transfer process?

A student’s GPA from Piedmont (and other institutions he/she may have attended) is always used in evaluating a transfer applicant for admission. Senior institution GPA admission requirements and program/college requirements vary from college to college. Students are advised to consult the senior institution’s catalog or transfer guide for exact and accurate information on this requirement.
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Can I retain my Life Scholarship or be eligible for the Life Scholarship when I transfer?

For current information on Life Scholarship, consult the Piedmont Technical College Financial Aid Scholarship link.
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How will financial aid work when I transfer?

When you know you are going to transfer to another college you need to list that college on you original FAFSA application. If you have questions contact Piedmont's Financial Aid office at (864) 941-8365.
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Do senior institutions have “Transfer Scholarships”?

Some colleges do offer scholarships to transfer students. These scholarships are usually awarded in early spring each year. Students are advised to contact the senior institution's Financial Aid Office or consult the college’s catalog for information on scholarships.
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Do all senior institutions have transfer officers or coordinators that will assist me with transfer questions?

Yes. All senior institutions have transfer officers/coordinators housed in their admissions office. Students are advised to ask for these coordinators when seeking admission to the institution.
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Do senior institutions have application deadlines for transfer students?

Yes. Most senior institutions have application deadlines each semester for admission processing purposes. Students are advised to look for these deadlines in senior institutions’ catalogs and on their web sites. These deadline dates vary widely from institution to institution but usually it is best to apply at least a full semester before the semester you are hoping to transfer.
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What is the key to a smooth transfer?

Students should ask questions of their Piedmont academic advisor(s), review pertinent college catalogs or web sites for transfer information, visit the senior institution they are going to transfer to, consult with the Senior institution’s transfer advisor, and most of all take responsibility for their educational goals. 
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Can I still receive an Associate's Degree if I transfer before completing all my courses at Piedmont?

Yes, you can still receive your Associate's Degree even if you transfer before completing all your coursework at Piedmont. You can do this through the Transfer Back program. The Transfer Back program is available to students who will transfer to another college before completing degrees, diplomas or certificates at PTC.  Participants can transfer credits back to PTC to complete their programs of study and receive the degree, diploma or certificate after leaving the College.  Contact the Registrar for application forms.

 Last Updated March 06, 2007