2022-23 Pasadena City College Transfer Guidelines
This information is subject to change without notice; visit ArtCenter.edu/admissions for the most up-to-date information. 5/2022
All Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Science degree courses may be taken at ArtCenter, or some credits may be transferred
from another accredited college. There are two categories of credit that can transfer to ArtCenter—studio art and general
education—and at the time of admission we will inform you of your placement in the program and transfer credits offered.
Generally, qualifying courses weighted 3+ semester units are transferred equivalent to a 3-unit course at ArtCenter. A
maximum of 60 units of academic and studio credit may be transferred. ArtCenter does not require specific courses to be
completed prior to applying/transferring. This information is subject to change without notice.
Portfolio Requirements
The portfolio is the single most important part of the admissions process at ArtCenter College of Design. Please refer to the
ArtCenter catalog or website for the portfolio requirements for your proposed major, and meet with an ArtCenter admissions
counselor. To schedule an appointment, please call 626-396-2373 or schedule online via www.ArtCenter.edu.
1. Studio Art Credit
Studio credit is based on your portfolio as well as evaluation of your transcripts. For that reason, there are no classes that will
automatically transfer. Your portfolio is evaluated at the time of admission for any possible studio credit. We do not provide
studio credit based solely on your transcript. Refer to ArtCenter’s website for portfolio requirements for each major. We will
determine whether your portfolio demonstrates the same type of content and level as our own required classes. You must have
a grade of “B” or better to transfer a studio class. Our goal is to place you at the right level so that you will be properly
challenged, but not overly challenged, by our program. Receipt of studio transfer credit is the only means by which to shorten
the actual time required to complete the degree. If you need help deciding what studio classes to take to prepare your portfolio,
schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor who can suggest classes and resources upon reviewing your portfolio.
2. General Education Credit
For the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, ArtCenter requires 42-45 units in general education. However
each major/program has limitations on the number and type of general education transfer credits that must be completed.
Transfer credits fall within four categories or “distribution requirements” as listed in the table below. General education
credits do not shorten the total number of terms needed to complete your degree but do lighten your course load within a
term or provide room for electives. Pasadena City College general education classes that are UC/CSU transferable are typically
considered for transfer to ArtCenter. ESL and CABOT courses are not transferable.
Within the general education area, classes considered “Electives,” can be transferred with a “C” or better or “Pass,” and more
specialized classes called “Program” classes require a “B” or better. Some general education classes can be taken prior to
entering ArtCenter; most specialized “Program” or required courses can only be taken at ArtCenter. A class completed for
Program credit cannot be double counted for Elective credit. For a full explanation of Elective and Program classes by major,
visit ArtCenter.edu/transfer.
GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS BY MAJOR (in units/credits)
UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR
BUSINESS &
PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
HUMANITIES
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
SOCIAL
SCIENCE
+ ANY
QUALIFYING
CATEGORY
TOTAL
CREATIVE DIRECTION
3
3
3
3
15
27
ENTERTAINMENT-ANIMATION
3
0
3
3
3
12
ENTERTAINMENT-CONCEPT
6
3
3
3
6
21
ENTERTAINMENT-GAME
3
3
3
3
21
33
FILM
3
3
3
3
21
33
FINE ART
0
0
3
3
15
21
GRAPHIC DESIGN
3
3
3
3
15
27
ILLUSTRATION
3
3
3
3
21
33
INTERACTION DESIGN
6
3
3
3
12
27
PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING
3
3
3
3
18
30
PRODUCT DESIGN
3
3
3
3
6
18
SPATIAL EXPERIENCE DESIGN
3
3
3
3
6
18
TRANSPORTATION DESIGN
3
3
0
3
3
12
2022-23 Pasadena City College Transfer Guidelines
This information is subject to change without notice; visit ArtCenter.edu/admissions for the most up-to-date information. 5/2022
Grade Policy: All required general education or studio art program courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or
better. General education elective units may be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Advanced Placement/International Baccelaurate Policy: ArtCenter accepts general education AP exam results of 4 or 5,
and IB Higher Level Exam results of 5, 6 or 7. Official reports must be sent directly from College Board or the IB qualified
institution in order to receive credit. ArtCenter does not accept AP/IB studio art credit or IB standard level courses.
All transfer credit must be finalized by the end of the student’s first term at ArtCenter. No transfer credit will be
accepted for course work done after the student has enrolled in a degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to
declare and provide final official transcripts from all colleges attended. Unofficial transcripts will not be considered.
If you have questions regarding our application or portfolio requirements, visit artcenter.edu/admissions.
Call 626-396-2373 to schedule an appointment with one of our admissions counselors or to tour the College.
PROGRAM/REQUIRED COURSES and PCC EQUIVALENCIES
Transferable with grade of “B” or better.
PCC COURSE OFFERING
ENGL 001A, 001AH, 001B, 001BH, 001C, or 001CH
PCC COURSE OFFERING
ART 001A or 001B
ELECTIVE COURSES and PCC EQUIVALENCIES
Transferable with grade of “C” or better.
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES ELECTIVES: Refer to table on page 1 for specific major requirements.
COURSE AREA OF STUDY
PCC COURSE OFFERING
Accounting
ACCT 001A, 001B, 010
Business/Management
BUS 002, 009, 010, 011A, 012A, 012B, 016
Computer Programming
CIS 010, 031, 062; CS 003A, 003B, 066
Communications
COMM 001
Economics
ECON 001A, 001AH, 001B, 001BH
Marketing
MRKT 020
Speech
SPCH 001, 001H, 002, 003, 004, 006, 009-013
HUMANITIES ELECTIVES: Refer to table on page 1 for specific major requirements.
COURSE AREA OF STUDY
PCC COURSE OFFERING
Art History
ARCH 011, 024A, 024B; ART 001A, 001B, 001C, 003A, 003B, 004A, 004B, 004C, 004D, 005, 007, 008, 009; CINE 025;
DMA 002; PHOT 010; THRT 005A, 005B
Creative Writing
ENGL 005A, 005B, 006, 008, 009; TVR 017A, 017B; THRT 006
English
ENGL 001A, 001AH, 001B, 001BH, 001C, 001CH, 014, 026
Film History
CHIN 050; FRNC 050; SPAN 050; CINE 007A, 007B
2022-23 Pasadena City College Transfer Guidelines
This information is subject to change without notice; visit ArtCenter.edu/admissions for the most up-to-date information. 5/2022
Foreign Language
ASL 001, 002,003, 004; ARBC 001, 002; ARMN 001, 002; CHIN 001-005; FRNC 001-004; GRMN 001-004; ITAL 001-
004; JAPN 001-005; LATN 001, 002; PORT 001-004; RUSS 001-004; SPAN 001-004, 025, 031
History
DMA 004; HIST 001A-019, 025B, 025D, 025F, 025I, 027- 081; ETH 051, 071, 081
Humanities
HUM 001-004
Linguistics
ENGL 010, 011, 012; LING 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 016, 017
Literature
CHIN 012; ENGL 024, 025A-J, 026, 030A-C, 044A-085; ETH 065, 075, 085; FRNC 006, 012; GRMN 005, 012; ITAL 012,
050; JAPN 005, 012; SPAN 005, 006A, 006B, 012
Music History
MUSC 007A, 007B, 021-023, 024A, 024B, 025, 027, 028
Philosophy
PHIL 001, 001H, 003, 007, 008, 020A, 020B, 025, 025H, 031-037
Religion
RELG 001-003
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ELECTIVES (Science Lab not required): Refer to table on page 1 for specific major requirements.
COURSE AREA OF STUDY
PCC COURSE OFFERING
Anatomy
ANAT 025
Astronomy
ASTR 001, 012
Biology
BIOL 002, 003, 004, 010A-C, 011, 011H, 014, 016, 028, 030, 038, 039; MICR 002
Chemistry
CHEM 001A, 001B, 002A, 002B, 008A, 008B, 022
Computer Programming
CIS 012, 014, 016, 040; CS 001, 002, 003A, 003B, 003C, 006, 008, 018, 038-066
Engineering
ENGR 014, 015B
Environmental Science
ENVS 001, 002, 003, 010, 011, 012
Geology
GEOL 001, 002, 003, 004, 006, 012, 021, 022, 023
Physical Geography
GEOG 001, 004
Math
BUS 014A, 014B; MATH 003, 005A-005C, 005AH-005CH, 006A, 008-010, 015, 022, 055, 055H
Physical Anthropology
ANTH 001, 001H
Physical Science
PHSC 002, 003, 071A
Physics
PHYS 001A-001D, 002A, 002B, 008A-C, 010, 031A, 031B
Physiology
PYSO 001
Statistics
STAT 015, 018, 050, 050H
SOCIAL SCIENCE ELECTIVES: Refer to table on page 1 for specific major requirements.
COURSE AREA OF STUDY
PCC COURSE OFFERING
Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 002, 002H, 003, 004, 005, 006, 009, 012; ANTH 086; ETH 086
Cultural Geography
GEOG 002, 003
Culture Studies
ASL 015; CHIN 010, 022; FRNC 010, 016; GRMN 010; ITAL 010; JAPN 010; RUSS 011; SPAN 042A, 042B, 044A, 044B
Global Studies
GLBL 001, 002
Political Science
POLS 001, 002, 006, 007, 021, 022
Psychology
PSYC 001, 001H, 002, 003, 005, 021, 021H, 022, 023, 024, 025, 029, 031
Sociology
CHDV 010, 011, 015; ETH 014, 014H, 063, 073; SOC 001,001H, 002, 014, 014H, 015, 016, 022, 024, 030, 031, 035,
063, 073; SOSC 017
2022-23 Pasadena City College Transfer Guidelines
This information is subject to change without notice; visit ArtCenter.edu/admissions for the most up-to-date information. 5/2022
Humanities & Sciences (General Education) Elective Distribution Categories
Business and Professional Practices
Accounting
Economics
Business
Management
Communications
Marketing
Computer Programming
Speech
Humanities
Art History
History
Creative Writing
Humanities
Critical Theory
Literature
Design History
Music History
English
Photography History
Film History
Philosophy
Foreign Languages
Religion
Science and Technology
Anatomy
Geology
Astronomy
Marine Biology
Biochemistry
Math (College Level)
Biopsychology
Oceanography
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Physical Anthropology
Cognitive Psychology
Physical Geography
Computer Programming
Sustainability
Ecology
Zoology
Engineering
Social Science
Cultural Anthropology
Political Science
Cultural Geography
Psychology
Culture Studies
Sociology
Gender Studies