"[C-STEP] was the perfect bridge between Wake Tech and UNC."
Abby Keller
Associate in Arts, Class of 2021
Wake Tech's University Transfer programs allow students to earn an associate degree while completing core coursework toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. Statewide articulation agreements ensure a smooth transition.
Some Wake Tech academic advisors serve as liaisons with specific universities and can provide additional information to students interested in transferring to those schools to continue their studies.
All Wake Tech academic programs offer an opportunity to transfer credits to a four-year college or university.
Associate in Arts (AA) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in one of the liberal arts disciplines – accounting, business administration, art, criminal justice, elementary education, English, history, political science, psychology, social work, sociology and other disciplines – or training at a professional school that requires a strong liberal arts background. These programs typically have fewer mathematics and science requirements than the Associate in Science (AS) degree.
Transfer opportunities for AA and AS graduates
The AA and AS degree programs transfer under two statewide agreements.
The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) governs the transfer of students from institutions in the North Carolina Community College System to constituent institutions in the University of North Carolina System. The CAA allows graduates of two-year associate degree programs who are admitted to UNC institutions to transfer with up to 60 credits, which could confer junior status. The CAA does not guarantee admission to a specific university.
In addition to the CAA, the North Carolina Association of Independent Colleges and Universities has created a comprehensive articulation agreement creating seamless transfer pathways for AA and AS graduates to transfer to signatory institutions.
Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, animal science, biology, chemistry, computer science, food science, forestry, mathematics, pharmaceutical science, physics, pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-pharmacy or other disciplines – or training in professional programs that require a strong mathematics and science background.
Transfer opportunities for AA and AS graduates
The AA and AS degree programs transfer under two statewide agreements.
The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) governs the transfer of students from institutions in the North Carolina Community College System to constituent institutions in the University of North Carolina System. The CAA allows graduates of two-year associate degree programs who are admitted to UNC institutions to transfer with up to 60 credits, which could confer junior status. The CAA does not guarantee admission to a specific university.
In addition to the CAA, the North Carolina Association of Independent Colleges and Universities has created a comprehensive articulation agreement creating seamless transfer pathways for AA and AS graduates to transfer to signatory institutions.
Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree and teach in the humanities or social sciences.
The Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation program is part of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), which governs the transfer of students between institutions in the North Carolina Community College System and the University of North Carolina System. The CAA allows graduates of two-year associate degree programs who are admitted to constituent UNC institutions to transfer with up to 60 credits, which could confer junior status. The CAA does not guarantee admission to a specific university.
Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree and teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.
The Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation program is part of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), which governs the transfer of students between institutions in the North Carolina Community College System and the University of North Carolina System. The CAA allows graduates of two-year associate degree programs who are admitted to constituent UNC institutions to transfer with up to 60 credits, which could confer junior status. The CAA does not guarantee admission to a specific university.
Associate in Engineering (AE) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline – aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical or mechanical.
Transfer opportunities for AE graduates
The Associate in Engineering to Bachelor of Science in Engineering Articulation Agreement (AE to BSE AA) is offered under a Uniform Articulation Agreement between the State Board of North Carolina Community Colleges and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. It applies to all North Carolina community colleges that operate the AE program and to these UNC constituent institutions:
Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in visual arts.
Transfer opportunities for AFA graduates
The Associate in Fine Arts, Visual Arts transfers to participating UNC System institutions through a statewide agreement. It guarantees that students successfully completing the AFA degree and meeting the receiving institution's requirements may transfer the 60 credits of the AFA program into seven UNC system schools' Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.
A similar agreement offers transfer opportunities to participating members of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
Wake Tech's career and technical education programs are designed for students who wish to earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and enter the workforce to begin a career in a technical field of study. Wake Tech offers AAS degrees in a range of interesting, in-demand occupations in fields such as health care, information technology, business, public safety and skilled trades.
Transfer opportunities for AAS graduates
In addition to statewide agreements with UNC System institutions that provide for the transfer the Associate Degree in Nursing (RN to BSN) and the Associate in Applied Science, Early Childhood Education, all Wake Tech AAS degree programs transfer in full or in part to four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina and elsewhere through innovative partnerships with local, state and online institutions, offering graduates of career and technical programs opportunities to build on the technical training they receive at Wake Tech.
RN to BSN transfer
The RN to BSN Uniform Articulation Agreement promotes educational advancement opportunities for registered nurses moving between North Carolina community colleges and the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System to complete Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.
This agreement between the State Board of North Carolina Community Colleges and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors applies to all North Carolina community colleges that operate associate degree nursing programs and the 11 constituent UNC institutions that operate RN-to-BSN programs:
Associate in Applied Science, Early Childhood Education
The Early Childhood Education Uniform Agreement is a statewide academic progression agreement that promotes educational advancement opportunities for early childhood education (ECE) students moving from North Carolina community colleges to the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System to complete a bachelor's degree in Birth-Kindergarten teaching licensure program or a bachelor's degree in a related Early Education non-licensure program.
This articulation agreement describes a progression degree plan that includes required general education for all Birth-Kindergarten (BK) education degree plans (licensure and non-licensure) and pre-major courses that are acceptable to all state-funded ECE-to-BK program (licensure and non-licensure) options. Students who follow the progression degree plan will have 60 hours applied to all of the North Carolina public ECE-to-BK programs, both licensure and non-licensure. ECE students following the plan are guaranteed not to take additional, and often duplicative, courses.
This agreement does not guarantee student acceptance into any bachelor degree program at UNC institutions. ECE students must meet applicable admissions criteria and policies designated by, and earn admission into, the UNC institution of their choice. These criteria and admissions requirements may include minimum GPA and Praxis scores and their associated timelines, as published by each university's bachelor's in Birth-Kindergarten and Early Education-related programs (both licensure and non-licensure).
ECU BSIT completion
Qualifying AAS degree graduates can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, with a concentration in either Mechanical Design or Architectural Design, at Wake Tech's Southern Wake Campus. Under a unique co-location partnership, East Carolina University offers in-person classes at Wake Tech in the evenings to allow working students to attend. ECU also has designated space on the Southern Wake Campus for registration and academic advising.
If you want to earn a degree, diploma or certificate from Wake Tech after starting a program of study elsewhere, we offer a variety of options to transfer credit hours from other institutions to complete your program here.
Wake Tech academic programs (credit and non-credit) that are designed to lead to professional licenses are tied to North Carolina or national certifications. Anyone intending to pursue professional licenses outside North Carolina after completing an academic program at Wake Tech should refer to the Professional Licensure section of the college's distance education authorization page for additional information.
"[C-STEP] was the perfect bridge between Wake Tech and UNC."
Abby Keller
Associate in Arts, Class of 2021
