Illinois Articulation Agreement

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Illinois Articulation Initiative

Harper College is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide articulation effort to help Illinois college students transfer easily. This effort involves public community colleges, public universities and private colleges and universities, and includes the articulation of lower-division general education and major field courses. This agreement is in effect for students entering college as first-time freshmen in summer of 1998 (and thereafter). The following summary highlights the major features of the initiative.

1. One of the main features of the IAI is the General Education Core Curriculum and a list of statewide articulated general education courses that will be accepted for transfer by all participating colleges and universities in Illinois.
1. Students who complete the AA degree that contains the General Education Core Curriculum at a community college will have their lower-division general education core requirements satisfied at the participating Illinois college or university to which they transfer.
2. Students who complete the General Education Core Curriculum at any participating college or university in Illinois will have their lower-division general education requirements met upon transfer to another participating college or university in Illinois.
3. Students who have 30 semester credits of college level coursework can transfer to an IAI participating institution and have the option of completing the institution's lower-division general education requirements or the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.
4. The General Education Core Curriculum and the list of statewide articulated general education courses will be a great advantage for students who are undecided about what university they want to attend after transfer, as well as for students who are undecided about their major because the "core" will transfer to all participating colleges and universities in Illinois.
2. Another main feature of the initiative is a program guide and list of statewide articulated lower-division courses for each baccalaureate degree major field that will transfer and satisfy major field requirements at participating colleges or universities in Illinois that offer that degree.
3. The General Education Core Curriculum, the program guides for the major fields and the statewide list of articulated courses will greatly help advisors provide accurate information on the articulation of courses to students planning to transfer.

See the IAI website for more information.

General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) Credential

The General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) is a starting point for your transfer destination.  The GECC consists of 37-41 credits of Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) general education courses taken from five different categories and are accepted by most public four-year institutions in the state of Illinois as well as many private institutions.  This is not considered a degree or certificate, nor is it an industry recognized credential. 

The GECC Credential is designed for students who are unsure about a career, major, or program, but plan on transferring to a four-year institution in Illinois.  Completion of this credential ensures the student can seamlessly transfer to an in-state four-year institution, having satisfied their general education requirements.  Student must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all courses to complete their GECC/IAI credential and are encouraged to speak with their transfer schools directly to determine if they are GECC/IAI participants.  Students should also work with their transfer school directly to determine how coursework will be accepted.  The GECC Credential is comprised of only Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) approved general education courses, many of which are offered online.  

Specifically, the General Education Core Curriculum requires:

Communications

• 3 courses (9 semester credits) Must include a two-course sequence in writing completed with grades of C or better (6 semester credits) and one course (3 semester credits) in oral communication.

Mathematics

• 1 course (3-5 semester credits)

Physical and Life Sciences

• 2 courses (7-8 semester credits) Must include one course selected from the life sciences and one course from the physical sciences. One course must be a lab.

Humanities and Fine Arts

• 3 courses (9 semester credits) Must include at least one course selected from humanities and at least one course from the fine arts.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

• 3 courses (9 semester credits) Must include courses selected from at least two disciplines.

TOTAL: 12 -13 courses (37-41 credits)

Refer to specific approved courses under course descriptions listed in the catalog or see the IAI website.

Illinois Articulation Initiative Transcript Requirements

As a participant of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), Harper College requires the following for completion of the core to be noted on the official transcript:

1. Initial enrollment date at an IAI participating institution effective summer 1998 (and thereafter).
2. Completion of the Associate in Arts (AA) degree starting with the 1998-99 catalog and/or completion of the General Education Core Curriculum requirements and attainment of a minimum of 37 semester hours.
3. Attainment of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
4. Students who are completing a degree under these requirements will have completion of the core transcript at the time of the degree certification.
5. Students who are not completing a degree must formally request the Registrar’s Office certify the completion of the core by submitting a “Petition to Certify the Illinois Transferable Education Core Curriculum.”