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Washington 45

Adopted May 2012  
Implemented Fall 2012

The Washington 45 is a list of those courses that are offered by Washington state community and technical colleges and satisfy general education core requirements at all Washington state public universities. Students may take any course from the list and be assured that it will satisfy a core requirement at all Washington state public and most private universities.

The list of courses in Washington 45 does not replace the Direct Transfer Agreement, Associate of Science Tracks I and II or any Major Related Program agreement, nor will it guarantee admission to a four-year institution.

The 2010 Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1795 which required “Community and technical colleges, jointly with the four-year institutions of higher education, [to] develop a list of academic courses that are equivalent to one-years’ worth of general education credit and that would transfer for that purpose to any other two or four-year institution of higher education.”

A student who completes courses selected from within the general education categories listed below at a public community, technical, four-year college or university in Washington state will be able to transfer and apply a maximum of 45 quarter credits toward general education requirement(s) at any other public and most private education institutions in the state.*

For transfer purposes, a student must have a minimum grade of "C" or better (2.0 or above) in each course completed from this list.

Students who transfer Washington 45 courses must still meet a receiving institution's admission requirements and eventually satisfy all their general education requirements and their degree requirements in major, minor and professional programs.

 

 First Year Transfer List of general education courses
 Communications (5 credits): ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102***
 Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (5 credits): MATH& 107, MATH& 148 or MATH& 151
Humanities (10 credits in two different subject areas or disciplines**): PHIL& 101, MUSC& 105, DRMA& 101, ENGL& 111, or HUM& 101
For colleges that use History as Humanities: HIST& 116, HIST& 117, HIST& 118, HIST& 146, HIST& 147, HIST& 148
Social Science (10 credits in two different subject areas or disciplines): PSYC& 100, SOC& 101, POLS& 101, POLS& 202
For colleges that use History as Social Science: HIST& 116, HIST& 117, HIST& 118, HIST& 146, HIST& 147, HIST& 148
Natural Sciences (10 credits in two different subject areas or disciplines): BIOL& 100, BIOL& 160 with lab***, ASTR& 100***, ASTR& 101 with lab, CHEM& 105***, CHEM& 110 with lab, CHEM& 121 with lab, CHEM& 161, CHEM& 162, ENVS& 100***, ENVS& 101***, PHYS& 114, GEOL& 101 with lab
 Additional 5 credits in a different discipline can be taken from any category listed above.
 

Note: Although these courses are listed under categories, the actual course may satisfy a different general education category at a receiving institution.

*Many private non-profit colleges and universities have distinct general education requirements. Students should check with institution(s) they plan to attend regarding application of transfer credits that will meet general education requirements.

**Disciplines are sometimes called subject or subject matter areas and designated by a prefix (i.e. PHIL for Philosophy and POLS for Political Science).

***These courses are not offered at WVC; however, if a student transfers from another Washington state college or university to WVC, credits for these courses are accepted when appropriate.

For more information about the Washington 45, contact an educational planner in Wenatchi Hall, first floor, or call 509.682.6830.