Important information for transfer students.
Cougar TRACS
Requirements for admission
as a transfer student
Priority dates
Junior writing portfolio
Transferring from a Washington
community college
Cougar TRACS
With the Cougar TRACS system, you can find out over the web what college credits will transfer, how you can prepare for a specific major, and how your credits will apply to general education and degree program requirements. With this highly innovative transfer tool you can plan your course of study, save it, and revisit it as your college degree progresses. Or, if you are unsure of your major, compare requirements of different degrees and view them on customized reports. Check out TRACS for answers to your specific transfer questions.
Requirements for admission as a transfer student
- Have successfully completed transferable coursework from an accredited college or university beyond your high school graduation (not including the summer immediately following your graduation)
- Have a college GPA of at least 2.50
Priority dates
January 31 is the priority application date for fall semester. Applications for spring semester are accepted on a continuing basis.
Once we have received your application, application fee, and official transcripts from all colleges you have attended, the Office of Admissions will determine the total number of transferable college credits, your cumulative grade point average in the transferable work, and which General Education Requirements you have completed. Courses that are applicable to your major will be evaluated by the department in which you plan to major. If the evaluation of your college transcripts shows that you have fewer than 27 semester (40 quarter) hours of transferable work, you will be asked to send your high school transcript and SAT or ACT results.
The junior writing portfolio
WSU requires all students to submit a portfolio of their academic writing during their junior year. The purpose of the junior writing portfolio is to ensure that you are ready to handle the writing and communication challenges you will face in the upper-division courses in your major and in your profession after you graduate.
The writing portfolio consists of two parts:
- A packet containing three samples of graded writing you’ve done for your college courses
- An impromptu timed essay
All students are required to complete at least one of the two parts the semester after reaching 60 credits (the other half can be completed the following semester).
Keep all the papers you write for your college courses. You can use papers written for classes you took before transferring to WSU in your portfolio packet. See the junior writing portfolio guidelines for more information.
Transferring from a Washington community college
Many of WSU's transfer students began their studies at Washington community colleges. Students who earn an approved Transfer Associate degree at a Washington community college generally transfer to WSU with junior standing and with their basic General Education Requirements fulfilled. If you are attending or plan to attend a community college in Washington you should contact the WSU Office of Admissions as early as possible. Visit our Transfer Equivalency Menu or contact our office for a Transfer Guide to see how courses will transfer to WSU from your community college.
Should I obtain my associate degree before transferring to WSU?
There are two factors that need to be considered before you decide to pursue the AA degree.
First, the Transfer Associate degree is not required for admission to WSU. If you have a qualifying college GPA and at least 27 semester (40 quarter) hours of transferable college credit, you are eligible for admission, provided space is available at the time of application. If you have fewer than 27 semester (40 quarter) hours of transferable credit, you must also meet the freshman admission requirements.
Second, consider your intended major. For most of WSU's programs, earning the associate's degree before transferring is a good strategy, particularly if you incorporate specific lower-division courses into your AA degree that will be required in your major at WSU. In some cases it is in your best interest to pursue a course-by-course strategy because of the large number of specific course requirements in the program. For intended majors in science and engineering, it is generally in your best interest to pursue the AS (Transfer) degree due to the large number of mathematics and science courses required as prerequisites for upper-division courses. For a few of WSU's programs, such as architecture, lower-division courses are not available at community colleges, and it is best to enter WSU as soon as possible. You should consult with the Transfer Advisor at your community college and your major department at WSU before you decide which route to pursue.
Information you may need:
- Transfer Student Admission Requirements
- Qualifying as a Washington state resident
- Requirements for adult students
- Request more information from WSU