Is Transferring Engineering Majors from 2-Year Colleges More Time-Consuming?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether transferring from a 2-year college to a 4-year college takes longer for engineering majors compared to other fields. Participants explore the implications of prerequisite courses, transfer credit acceptance, and individual readiness for advanced coursework.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that engineering majors generally require more time due to additional prerequisites needed before transferring.
  • One participant notes their 2-year college requires around 73 credit hours for a transfer degree, typically taking four semesters, but questions whether it could take longer if unnecessary classes are taken.
  • Another participant mentions that the time to transfer can depend on the acceptance of transfer credits by the 4-year institution, implying that differing policies can affect duration.
  • It is noted that students who are not prepared to take engineering classes may need to complete supplementary courses, potentially extending their time at the 2-year college.
  • One participant emphasizes that while some students may take longer due to prerequisites, others may not experience significant delays if their credits are accepted and they are ready for advanced courses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the time required to transfer, with some agreeing that engineering majors may take longer due to prerequisites, while others highlight that individual circumstances and school policies can lead to different outcomes. No consensus is reached on whether transferring is definitively longer for engineering majors.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention factors such as the acceptance of transfer credits and individual preparedness, which may influence the time required to transfer but are not universally applicable to all students or institutions.

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Does it take longer to be able to transfer from a 2 year college to a 4 year one if you have an engineering major
It seems that engineering majors require more time at 2 year colleges than other majors do , is this true or not ?
 
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My two year school requires around 73 hours to get the transfer degree. According the recommened schedule it's about 17-18 hours a semester for four semesters.

I can't comment on it taking longer, however I don't see how it would...unless you take classes you don't need. I'm not really sure it could take longer since you should only be completing required classes at the two year that are also needed at the 4 year.

In my case I won't be getting an actual transfer degree from my two year school as there are three classes the school I am transfering to aren't needed. If I took those extra two classes I guess it would take longer since I'd have to add another semester to finish those two classes.
 


In general, I'd say engineering majors do take longer as there are more prereqs needed before you can take the needed courses for transfer in your intended major. This can probably be said of most science related majors though. I think the only big prereqs for humanities are for English if one can't start out at the college level. Depending on the school that you are transferring to though, you may or may not need to take a lot of the courses at the community college level. Most people tend to take them at community colleges though as it tends to be cheaper.
 


CKwik240 said:
In general, I'd say engineering majors do take longer as there are more prereqs needed before you can take the needed courses for transfer in your intended major. This can probably be said of most science related majors though. I think the only big prereqs for humanities are for English if one can't start out at the college level. Depending on the school that you are transferring to though, you may or may not need to take a lot of the courses at the community college level. Most people tend to take them at community colleges though as it tends to be cheaper.

I agree, the main factors that can determine how long it would take you to transfer are:

1. Pre-reqs - Some students may need to take more supplemental classes than others.
2. Cost - The idea that some students follow in my school is if they can take the class at the CC, then take it; it'll save them money.

Obviously, time can be another factor if you work full time.
 


it comepletely depends on the school. Some schools might not be willing to accept some of your transfer credits while others will. Obviously if one school won't accept all of your transfer credit then you will have to stay longer to make up these classes. I would try to find a school that you know is going to accept all of your credits.
 


I agree with what is being said here. If the student isn't 'ready' to take only the engineering related classes, then it will take longer since they need to start with the supplementary stuff. However, if the student is ready to dive right in, then it should not take 'much' longer than if you just started out at the 4 year school so long as they accept all of the credits.

I say 'much' longer because usually the 4 year school has 1 or 2 classes that you have to take there. For example, my community college offered 'Intro to Engineering' but even if I had taken it at the CC (which I did not) I would have had to take it at my 4 year University because they area little 'snobby' about some things like that.

But I can't complain since they took all 2 years of my general ed requirements/engineering transfer credits.
 

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