Associate of Arts, Direct Transfer Agreement

AA-DTA: Associate of Arts, Direct Transfer Agreement

This entire degree can be completed online.

The Associate of Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) degree is designed to transfer to four-year colleges and universities in Washington state.

DTA DEGREES PROVIDE STUDENTS:
  • Priority consideration in admissions for most humanities and social science majors at public universities (ahead of students without a degree).
  • Completion of lower division general education requirements.
  • Credit for all courses completed within the DTA up to and in some cases beyond 90 credits.
  • Opportunity to explore several fields of study through the category of up to 30 credits of elective courses.
  • Opportunity to complete prerequisites for a future major.

Students who transfer within these agreements must still meet requirements in major, minor and professional programs.

The information above reflects the 2026-2027 course catalog and is subject to change. Please check with your advisor for the most up to date information.

 

The AA-DTA Degree is a 90-credit transfer degree that fulfills the first two years of general education requirements for most four-year degrees in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Washington Colleges and Universities accepting the AA-DTA degree from Skagit Valley College:

Central Washington University

City University of Seattle

Eastern Washington University

University of Washington

Washington State University

Western Washington University

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 90 quarter credits in transferable courses numbered 100 or above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in order to graduate from SVC with an Associate of Arts degree. Credits must satisfy requirements listed below. A minimum of 60 quarter hours of general education courses are required. At least 25 college-level credits must be earned at SVC with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Students should check specific admission and program requirements and application deadlines to assist in successful transfer to a four-year institution. College counselors and academic faculty can advise students of special lower division requirements, including which courses fulfill Distribution Lists - AA-DTA requirements.

1. First Quarter Experience (2 cr.)

2. Communication Skills (15 cr.)

3. Quantitative Skills (5 cr.)

Select one course from the following:

4. Physical Education (3 cr.)

  •  Credits: (1)
  •  Credits: (2)
    Notes:
    • A maximum of three PE Activities credits can be used for the DTA: two credits for PE requirement and one additional credit toward restricted or “gray area” electives
    • PE 100 may also be taken with other activity courses, excluding PE 200.

       

5. Integrative Learning Experiences

Two Integrative Learning Experiences (ILE) are required. One ILE must be a Learning Community. The second ILE may be another Learning Community or an Integrative Experience.

  • A Learning Community (LC) is the integrated combination of two or more courses from different areas (for example, sociology and literature, or physics and math, or speech and economics, or composition and philosophy). Learning Communities are indicated in the course schedule.
  • Integrative Experiences (IEs) are curricular or co-curricular experiences designed by faculty in which students demonstrate their ability to integrate information, concepts, analytical frameworks, and skills from two or more areas in a purposeful project or experience. Integrative Experiences that are classes are indicated in the course schedule; co-curricular IEs are indicated in promotion and advising for the experience or project. Students may design a Learning into Action IE under the guidance of the supervising faculty member.

6. Equity Requirement

At least one Equity designated course is required for students pursuing an Associate in Science (AS-T), or an Associate Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) degree. Students should use the SVC online quarterly class schedule search or consult with their faculty advisor or counselor to identify courses that fulfill this requirement. See the list Equity Degree Requirement for the courses that fulfill this requirement.

7. Distribution Requirements (45 cr.)

Select credits from three areas of study: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities. A specific course may be credited toward no more than one distribution requirement.

Go to Distribution Lists - AA-DTA for a selection of eligible courses.

8. Electives (22-25 cr.)

In order to accumulate 90 college-level (100 or higher) credits for the degree, students will need additional elective credits. Students may select electives from the Distribution Lists - AA-DTA (Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities), other Academic Courses, or a maximum of 15 credits from Gray Area Courses. A maximum of nine Family Life credits may be counted as gray area electives. HMATH 100 and WMATH 100 cannot be included in elective credits for the degree.

 

Emphases

Emphases are designed by faculty for students with an interest in majoring in these areas at a four-year institution. While the specific emphasis will not be posted on the student’s transcript (the Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement degree will be listed), each emphasis has specifically chosen elective courses that are geared toward the student’s intended major.

EMPHASIS QUICK LINKS: