By carefully constructing an educational plan, students can select Rock Valley College courses for transfer to a variety of four-year colleges and universities. When a student has selected a transfer school, it is important that the student review that institution’s specific admission and course requirements. Transfer information can be obtained in the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office.
The STU 100 – Planning for Success course is required for all new students intending to pursue an A.A., A.S., or A.E.S. This one-credit course is transferable to four-year colleges and universities and will apply toward graduation at RVC. Students are strongly encouraged to take this course in their first semester.
Although recommended for students seeking an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree or for certificate-seeking students, it is not a requirement.
Rock Valley College, like most other Illinois community colleges, has additional, specific degree requirements for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) transfer degree and other requirements for the Associate in Science (A.S.) transfer degree. These are described in detail on the Planning for Success – Education Plan page of this College Catalog.
At Rock Valley College, 16–21 elective credits for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree and 15–18 credits for the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be used by students to explore a particular field of study or major.
Students should schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor to discuss course selection.
Some transfer institutions require a diversity or Non-Western culture course as part of their general education requirements. Students are encouraged to complete any diversity or Non-Western culture courses required by their intended transfer institution as part of their general education core at Rock Valley College.
Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)
Rock Valley College is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide articulation effort designed to help Illinois college students transfer credit more easily among more than 100 participating colleges and universities. One of the main features of the IAI is the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC), a list of general education courses articulated statewide and accepted for transfer by all participating colleges and universities in Illinois.
Completion of the GECC at any participating Illinois institution assures transferring students that general education requirements for an Associate of Arts degree have been satisfied upon transfer to another participating institution. Students who plan to transfer to four-year colleges and universities are advised to complete an associate degree. Keep in mind that the IAI General Education Core Curriculum transfers as a package; course-to-course transfer credit is not guaranteed.
Students who have completed 30 semester credits of college-level coursework may transfer to an IAI-participating institution and choose either to complete the receiving institution’s lower-division general education requirements or to complete the IAI GECC. The receiving institution may require transfer students to complete institution-wide and/or mission-related graduation requirements beyond the scope of the IAI GECC.
General and detailed information about the Illinois Articulation Initiative, including the most current list of participating schools, is available on the
iTransfer website.
General Education Core Curriculum (GECC)
The requirements for an Associate Degree (A.A. or A.S.) at Rock Valley College consist of a minimum of 64 credit hours drawn from three components:
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General education core curriculum
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Additional degree requirements
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Baccalaureate-oriented courses taken in the major or minor, and electives
The IAI GECC consists of 37–41 credits for an Associate of Arts degree or 31–35 credits for an Associate in Science degree. These courses are considered essential for student success in college and in life. The GECC requires study in the areas listed below.
Associate of Arts
Communications: 9 credits
Mathematics: 3–5 credits
Physical and Life Sciences: 7–8 credits
Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 credits
Social Sciences: 9 credits
Associate in Science
Communications: 9 credits
Mathematics: 3–6 credits
Physical and Life Sciences: 7–8 credits
Humanities and Fine Arts: 6 credits
Social Sciences: 6 credits
Post-transfer: 6 credits
Post-transfer coursework may be taken at either the transfer institution or Rock Valley College and must include one course from Humanities or Fine Arts and one course from Social and Behavioral Sciences.
RVC Education Guarantee Program
University Transfer Guarantee
Rock Valley College guarantees that courses approved for transfer to another college will be honored either as program requirements or electives. If transfer courses are not accepted after all provisions of the University Transfer Credit Guarantee are followed, the college will allow the student to take additional Rock Valley College courses, up to the number of credits not transferred, without charge for tuition and fees.
Each Student Is Responsible for Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 64 credit hours of 100‑level courses or above that also meet the requirements of the General Education Core Curriculum.
- Achieve a cumulative 2.0 (C) GPA in all 100/200‑level courses attempted at Rock Valley College.
- Meet residency requirements by earning a minimum of 15 semester hours of 100/200‑level courses at Rock Valley College.
Students must submit an application for graduation, approved by an Academic Advisor, to the Records and Registration Office on the second floor of the Stenstrom Student Center by the dates listed below.
March 1 – Last day to apply for Spring graduation
June 1 – Last day to apply for Summer graduation
October 1 – Last day to apply for Fall graduation
Transferring
About Transferring
Students who earn the Associate of Arts or Associate in Science (A.A. or A.S.) degrees at Rock Valley College before transferring may be granted junior standing by many baccalaureate institutions, provided the general education requirements are completed. Transfer students should check early with their transfer institutions and advisors to ensure they are meeting all requirements specific to each individual institution. Some colleges and universities may conduct a course-by-course examination of work completed at Rock Valley College and may require students to complete additional general education courses at their institution. Students should work with Academic and Transfer Advisors, Career Services, or Career and Technical Education faculty, along with transfer institutions, to build a transfer degree program appropriate for their goals. As a general rule, earning an A.A. or A.S. degree is an excellent strategy for transfer.
Students who decide to transfer to another college in Illinois before earning an A.A. or A.S. degree will find that Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)–approved courses are accepted by most baccalaureate institutions. Transferring without completing the general education core curriculum may require students to complete general education requirements at the four-year institution.
Transferring from RVC
The Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office at Rock Valley College provides information about transferring to baccalaureate institutions. For successful transfer, the following guidelines are recommended for all students who plan to transfer:
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Investigate possible career paths through the Career Services, Advising, and Placement Office at (815) 921-4100 using labor market information and career interest surveys.
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Plan course selection at Rock Valley College with general education and introductory transfer courses in mind. The Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office at (815) 921-4100 can assist with course selection. Transfer guides for many baccalaureate institutions are available. Because transfer requirements change frequently, students should verify all transfer information directly with the receiving college or university. Transcript information is available through RVC Transcripts.
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Review examples of transfer program course guides available in department offices and on the college website.
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Visit the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office at (815) 921-4100 to access available resources, including internet access, college and career search programs, applications, college catalogs, and related materials.
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Research potential colleges and universities, including academic programs, entrance requirements, costs, application and transcript deadlines, and housing requirements.
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Study, as admission to a college or university is based in part on the Rock Valley College grade point average (GPA). Many students compete for limited seats in popular programs, and GPA may affect available options.
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Visit campuses when possible. Virtual tours are available online, and many college representatives visit Rock Valley College for College Night and other events throughout the year. The college visit schedule is available on the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office web page.
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Apply for graduation through Records and Registration at the beginning of the final semester at Rock Valley College. Students must apply for graduation even if they do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony.
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When applying, send the Rock Valley College transcript to the transfer institution through Self Service using RVC Transcripts. Students should request transcripts after grades are posted for each completed semester.
NIU & RVC Engineering Partnership
Rockford-area companies need local talent to fill a growing number of skilled jobs in engineering and technology. Business leaders and the community are putting their support behind NIU Engineering at RVC, a revolutionary program that began in Fall 2016. The program allows students to earn a Northern Illinois University (NIU) bachelor’s degree while attending Rock Valley College (RVC).
Students who earn an Associate Degree in Engineering Science (AES) or an Associate of Science (AS), along with the appropriate prerequisite courses, can earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from NIU without leaving the RVC main campus. Area businesses provide internship opportunities, mentoring, and interviews for job openings.
Similarly, students who earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), with appropriate prerequisite courses, can earn a Bachelor of Science in Technology with an emphasis in Applied Manufacturing Technology online from NIU. Students take RVC classes during their first two years of the program and then complete a combination of RVC and NIU online classes during the second two years.
For more information, please visit the
Electronic Engineering Technology program webpage
or call (815) 921-4100.
Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offer guaranteed admission to eligible RVC students. Students must meet minimum credit completion and GPA requirements to be considered for these guaranteed admission pathways. These programs guarantee admission to the university, not to limited-admission or competitive programs, such as nursing.
For more information, contact the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office at (815) 921-4100.
Rockford Ready Agreements
Rock Valley College and Rockford University have partnered to offer degree completion programs for students who complete an A.A.S. degree at RVC and then transfer to Rockford University to complete a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies (BSMS). Traditionally, an A.A.S. degree does not transfer; however, this program allows students to transfer career‑focused degrees, such as an A.A.S. in Business Administration, into the program. Upon completion of the A.A.S. degree, students can earn their bachelor’s degree in as little as 24 months through a combination of hybrid and online courses.
Reverse Transfer Credit
Reverse transfer credit is a program designed for students who attended a community college and then transferred to a university without earning their associate’s degree. Credits successfully completed at a university may be transferable back to your community college and used to determine if these courses will satisfy any remaining degree requirements for your associate’s degree. This is similar to the process on how credits transferred from your community college to a university – just in reverse. The community college will evaluate your university work and determine if credits taken at the University will fulfill any and all remaining requirements for your associate’s degree. All Illinois public universities and Rockford University participate in this partnership with Rock Valley College.
Baccalaureate Completion / Transfer Agreement
Transfer and Baccalaureate Completion Agreements
In addition to the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) with state universities for students who complete transfer degrees at Rock Valley College, the college also has written agreements with several baccalaureate completion institutions. It is the transfer student’s responsibility to ensure that all course requirements are met by communicating with the chosen four-year institution prior to transferring. Students may also contact these institutions for more information about how they can finish their degree without leaving the Rock Valley College district.
For additional information, contact the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office at (815) 921-4100.
Partner Institutions
American InterContinental University
Career Education Corporation
Attn: Educational Alliance Center
231 N. Martingale Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (855) 377-1888
American InterContinental University admissions documents and resources
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Aurora University
350 Constance Boulevard
Williams Bay, WI 53191
Phone: (262) 245-8587
Aurora University George Williams College
- Business
- Recreation
- Special Education
Bellevue University
Community College Partnerships
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005
Phone: (800) 756-7920
Bellevue University community college partnerships
Beloit College
700 College Street
Beloit, WI 53511
Phone: (608) 363-2000
Guaranteed Transfer Admission
Beloit College
Columbia College
1001 Rogers Street
Columbia, MO 65216
Phone: (573) 875-8700 or (800) 231-2391
Columbia College
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide – Rockford
Embry-Riddle Rockford Center email
Franklin University (Online Campus)
Columbus, OH
Phone: (888) 341-6237
Franklin University Global Alliance
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Health Services Administration
- Management Information Systems
- Public Safety Management
- Technical Administration
Governors State University
One University Parkway, Office of Admission
University Park, IL 60484
Phone: (708) 534-4490
Governors State University admissions email
Governors State University
B.A. in Communication with a Filmmaking and Multimedia Concentration
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
Phone: (866) 885-1239 or (800) 892-3050
Northern Illinois University locations
AAS Transfer Pathways
B.S. in Engineering Technology with an emphasis in Applied Manufacturing Technology (online) for students with AAS degrees in:
- Automotive Service Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Electronic Engineering Technology
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Mechatronics
B.S. in Public Service Leadership for students with AAS degrees in:
- Criminal Justice
- Fire Science
B.S. in Health Sciences (online) for students with AAS degrees in:
- Dental Hygiene
- Nursing
- Respiratory Care
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion for students with an AAS in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology for students with an AAS in Fitness, Wellness, and Sport (Exercise Science emphasis)
Offered by NIU on the RVC Main Campus:
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Western Illinois University
Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree (BOT/BA)
Online degree completion with no time limits
Phone: (309) 298-1929
Western Illinois University BOT program email
Western Illinois University School of Extended Studies