What Is an ADT?

  • Associate Degrees for Transfer include Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T ) degrees.
  • These are intended primarily for students who plan to transfer into a similar baccalaureate major at a CSU campus.
  • Students who earn an ADT and meet certain CSU admission requirements are guaranteed priority admission to a CSU campus, though not necessarily to a specific campus or major.

Update for Transfer Students

If you’re a new student who declared an associate degree for transfer (ADT) as your goal, you’ll find a helpful sample education plan already loaded in your Degree Works account. Check it out and contact your counselor for assistance. (You can find your educational goal on the Student Registration page in MyPortal, where you can update it as needed.)

De Anza Offers These ADTs

  • Administration of Justice (AS-T)
  • Anthropology (AA-T)
  • Art History (AA-T)
  • Biology (AS-T)
  • Business Administration 2.0 (AS-T)
  • Communication Studies 2.0 (AA-T)
  • Computer Science (AS-T)
  • Early Childhood Education (AS-T)
  • Economics (AA-T)
  • English (AA-T)
  • Environmental Science for Transfer (AS-T)
  • Film, Television and Electronic Media (AS-T)
  • Global Studies (AA-T)
  • History (AA-T)
  • Journalism (AA-T)
  • Kinesiology (AA-T)
  • Law, Public Policy, and Society (AA-T)
  • Mathematics (AS-T)
  • Philosophy (AA-T) 
  • Political Science (AA-T)
  • Psychology (AA-T) 
  • Social Justice Studies - General (AA-T)
  • Sociology (AA-T)
  • Studio Arts (AA-T) 


You can also check the Academic Programs webpage or the De Anza College catalog for the most current list of ADTs offered at De Anza. 

Planning and Applying for an ADT 

Be sure to click each of the three tabs below for important instructions.

  • Planning for an ADT

    Plan to earn an ADT by following the steps below:

     

  • Applying for the ADT

    Step 1 – For CSU Transfer Students

    (If you're not planning to transfer to CSU, you can skip ahead to Step 2 below)

    • Apply to CSU during the appropriate application filing period and report your intent to receive the ADT on your CSU Admissions Application, specifying the major and expected completion date.
    • Check to see if the ADT will be accepted by the CSU campus(es) for your intended major. Also check CSU campus websites for updates.
     
    Transfer Term

    CSU Priority Application Filing Period

    		 ADT Award Schedule*
      (Check individual CSU campuses for application periods and transfer limitations) (This is to receive ADT admission benefits)
    Spring Aug. 1 – Aug. 31 By end of summer before you transfer
    Fall Oct. 1 – Dec. 1 By end of spring before you transfer

    * Policies differ by campus, so students should check with individual CSU campuses for ADT completion deadlines.

    • The ADT verification is usually required.
    • Students awarded the ADT after the specified term should check with CSU for possible graduation benefits.  
     

    Note: Most campuses require completion of the minimum  CSU admission requirements (including 90 CSU transferable units, 2.0 CSU transferable GPA, the "Golden Four" courses: Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning, and at least 45 quarter units of general education courses with grades of "C-" or better) by the summer before spring transfer and by spring before fall transfer.

    Continue to Step 2 below.

    Step 2 – For All Students

    If you're not transferring to CSU, you can start here. (You only need to follow Step 2 below.) Your ADT application will be processed in the same time frame as other De Anza associate degrees.

    • Meet with a counselor or advising to file an ADT Graduation Application. 
    • For most majors we recommend filing for the degree right after enrolling in all of your classes needed for your final term.
    • If you have coursework from other colleges besides De Anza or Foothill College, be sure that ALL your transcripts are on file and have been evaluated by De Anza's Evaluations Unit before you apply for the ADT.
     

    CSU transfer students should continue to Step 3 below. If you are not planning to transfer to CSU, you can skip to Step 4.

    Step 3 – For CSU Transfer Students Only

    (If you're not planning to transfer to CSU, you can skip ahead to Step 4 below)

    ADT Graduation Application Deadline and CSU ADT-Verification 

    The ADT verification process is a means by which California community colleges can verify their students' progress toward completing ADT requirements, which helps CSU campuses appropriately apply ADT benefits when reviewing admission applications.  

    • See the ADT Verification FAQs for additional helpful information.
    • To receive ADT admission benefits, your ADT Graduation Application must be submitted by the following deadlines:
      • For spring 2026 transfer:
        • CSU campuses require completion of the ADT by the end of summer 2025 to receive admission benefits so you should plan accordingly and submit your ADT Graduation Application early summer (July 2025).  
        • The ADT awarded will be posted to your transcript which will verify degree completion.
        • The ADT Graduation Application must be submitted by October 24, 2025 to meet CSU's verification deadline.
      • For fall 2026 transfer:
        • CSU campuses require completion of the ADT by the end of spring 2026 to receive admission benefits.  
        • You must submit your ADT Graduation Application by March 6, 2026 to meet CSU's verification deadline.

    All students including those planning to transfer to CSU should also complete Step 4 below.

    Step 4 – For All Students

    Follow all instructions provided by CSU and De Anza and request to have your official transcript(s) sent to CSU by the deadline posted for your CSU campus.  You may be required to submit your transcripts more than once.


    • The ADT awarded will be noted on your De Anza College transcript. 
    • CSU will reference your official De Anza College transcript to verify degree completion.
     

  • After Applying

    Check your email and MyPortal on a regular basis: CSU and De Anza College may send you important and time-sensitive messages regarding your ADT and application.

Other Colleges and Universities Accepting the ADT

Some colleges and universities outside the CSU also accept the ADT. Click each tab below for the included majors, any additional requirements and the benefits at each school. Not every school offers guaranteed admission.

  • Arizona State

    Arizona State University (ASU) accepts the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) the same way that CSU does. All ADTs will be accepted. Visit ASU's ADT website to see which majors at ASU are aligned to your ADT.

    Students with any AA-T or AS-T will receive the following benefits:

    • Guaranteed admission to any of the ASU campuses to an aligned major
    • Junior standing in an aligned degree program
    • Lower-division general education (GE) fulfilled

  • UC Merced

    UC Merced accepts the ADT in a limited capacity. Not all pathways are approved, and there are additional stipulations.

    The approved ADT pathways are currently as follows:

    • Anthropology AA-T to Anthropology, B.A.
    • Biology AS-T to Biological Sciences, B.A. (includes the Education emphasis)
    • Biology AS-T to Biological Sciences, B.S. (includes the Developmental Biology, Education, General Biology, Human Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Molecular and Cell Biology emphases)
    • Elementary Teacher Education AA-T to Liberal Studies, B.A.
    • History AA-T to History, B.A. (includes the Teaching Social Science emphasis)
    • Social Justice Studies AA-T to Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A. (includes the Teaching Social Science emphasis)
    • Political Science AA-T to Political Science, B.A. (includes the American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Law and Policy emphases)

    To participate, students must:

    • Complete one of the ADT pathways listed above
    • Receive Cal-GETC certification
    • Earn a minimum 2.4 GPA in UC-transferable coursework
    • Indicate that they plan to complete the ADT on the UC application
    • Complete the ADT before enrolling and fulfill verification requirements

    Benefits of completing the ADT at UC Merced include:

    • Guaranteed admission to UC Merced toward an affiliated major
    • Junior standing upon transfer, with no more than 60 semester units to complete the bachelor's degree
    • A $4,000 scholarship awarded up to two consecutive years (assuming good academic standing and eligibility requirements)
    • Access to UC Merced's Promise Housing
    • The seven-course pattern required for admission will be seen as fulfilled

  • UC Santa Cruz

    UC Santa Cruz will accept the following ADT majors for priority admission (not guaranteed admission) for students transferring in fall 2028.

    • Anthropology AA-T to Anthropology, B.A.
    • Art History AA-T to History of Art and Visual Culture, B.A.
    • Biology 2.0 AS-T to Biology, B.A.; Ecology and Evolution, B.S.; Marine Biology, B.S.; and Plant Sciences, B.S.
    • Geology AS-T to Earth Sciences, B.S.
    • History AA-T to History, B.A.
    • Mathematics AS-T to Mathematics, B.A.; Mathematics, B.S.; Mathematics Education, B.A.; Mathematics Theory and Computation, B.S.; and Applied Mathematics, B.S.
    • Music AA-T to Music, B.A., and Music, B.M.
    • Philosophy AA-T to Philosophy, B.A.
    • Physics AS-T to Applied Physics, B.S.; Physics, B.S.; and Physics (Astrophysics), B.S.
    • Political Science AA-T to Politics, B.A.
    • Sociology AA-T to Sociology, B.A.
    • Studio Art AA-T to Art, B.A., and Creative Technologies, B.A.

    This is a pilot program for only 10 colleges. More information to come.

Note: The final responsibility for successful transfer rests with you, the student.  The information posted on this website is designed to assist students in obtaining accurate transfer-related information. However, this information is subject to change without notice, which may subsequently impact admission to a transfer college or university.

Students are encouraged to meet as early as possible in their academic careers with a De Anza counselor or advising professional and, when possible, an admissions representative of your intended transfer college or university to confirm your choice of classes.

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