Your advisor is the expert on campus to help you graduate with your desired degree. They ask the right questions and help make sure you’re on track to graduate with the correct coursework and assist in transfer and career planning. While they might not have all the answers you need, they’re a valuable resource you can count on to point you in the right direction.
Your advisor is based on your major, giving you direct access to someone who has in-depth knowledge of your program of study. If you aren’t sure who your advisor is, you can find their name and contact information on ROC.
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If your major on file is not correct you need to submit a Change of Major Form. Once complete, you will be assigned to a new advisor.
Transfer schools respect the quality of education provided at Iowa Western Community College and, with good planning, you can transfer anywhere. Although it is your responsibility to explore the transfer possibilities available to you, your advisor, and the Transfer Information Site in ROC are good resources to utilize when transfer planning.
The key is to begin your planning early. Use the transfer resources at Iowa Western and at the transfer schools to which you are considering. Ask questions and take the time to research. A few hours of transfer research now can save you years of time later. As you plan, keep in contact with your advisor. For general transfer questions email advising@iwcc.edu .
Attending Iowa Western is an affordable way to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. In addition, IWCC offers small class sizes, so students interact one-on-one with the instructors. In addition, our faculty member’s primary jobs are to teach. This may seem obvious, but at many large universities, faculty member’s primary jobs are to complete research or publish articles. The personal attention you receive here is invaluable. Furthermore, Iowa Western has activities and student life that is unique to community colleges
The bottom line is that most college level classes you take at Iowa Western will transfer. But there is so much more to this question, beginning with how the credits will transfer. As a student who wants to transfer, it is important that you work with your four-year institution from the beginning and to know how your credits will transfer; you do not want to take classes that you will have to repeat later, even though credit will be awarded.
The Associate of Arts (AA) and the Associate of Science (AS) degrees are specifically designed to transfer. In fact, Iowa Western has agreements with many regional colleges and universities that guarantee the acceptance of Iowa Western degrees and credits. Historically, the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree has not always transferred seamlessly; however, the number of institutions that accept AAS degrees and credits toward a bachelor’s degree is steadily increasing. Some of these degrees are referred to as Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Bachelor of General Studies, or Bachelor of Technology. The Associate of General Studies (AGS) is another degree that Iowa Western offers that is not designed to transfer.
Your goals, your major, and your transfer institution dictate which degree is the best option for you. Typically, you will want an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree because they are specifically designed to transfer.
There are many resources available to students who need assistance with the transfer process, including this website, your academic advisor, the transfer fair, and campus visits by representatives from various four-year institutions. In addition, four-year institutions also have resources that assist students with the transfer process, including admissions advisors, program advisors, and their website. Most institution’s websites are very helpful to students who wish to transfer, so don’t underestimate the value of spending time on their site.
Iowa Western students transfer to a variety of schools but they have one thing in common – they all transfer to an institution that suits them. The school you choose will depend on such factors as your major, personal preferences, GPA, and distance from home. The schools to which most of our students transfer are: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Bellevue University, Iowa State University, Northwest Missouri State University, and Buena Vista University.
Attending Iowa Western is an affordable way to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. In addition, Iowa Western offers small class sizes, so students interact one-on-one with the instructors. In addition, our faculty member’s primary jobs are to teach. This may seem obvious, but at many large universities, faculty member’s primary jobs are to complete research or publish articles. The personal attention you receive here is invaluable. Furthermore, Iowa Western has activities and student life that is unique to community colleges
Articulation Agreements
We have an excellent reputation in regard to transferring credits to four-year institutions. Because Iowa Western believes that cooperative agreements benefit students by allowing a smooth transition for students transferring on to four-year institutions and by maximizing transfer credits, many articulation agreements have been developed.
The agreements take two forms: Degree Articulation Agreements and course-by-course articulation. Students who have earned an Associate of Arts degree at Iowa Western and are transferring to State Universities (Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa) in either the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Arts & Sciences have met general education requirements and start as juniors.
Please note: if the institution you wish to transfer to doesn’t have an agreement with Iowa Western that does not mean you can’t transfer there. It means we don’t have a written agreement with that school. If you wish to verify if they will accept Iowa Western credits, please contact the school directly.
Special Partnerships & Agreements
Several four-year institutions have partnered with Iowa Western to help students complete their bachelor’s degree. Some programs are intended to ease the transfer process; others allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree online or on-campus at Iowa Western. Please visit with an advisor for more information.