DePaul participates in a state-wide agreement with more than 100 colleges in Illinois that aims at making transferring a smooth process — called the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI).
DePaul participates in Phase I of the General Education Core Curriculum of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI-GECC), which enables students to apply Illinois community college core courses toward a DePaul bachelor's degree. Completion of the IAI-GECC at any participating college or university ensures that most of the lower-division General Education requirements at DePaul have been satisfied.
Participation Requirements
Students who complete the IAI-GECC also have to meet the following mission-specific requirements at DePaul to fulfill Liberal Studies Requirements:
- Experiential Learning course
- Senior Year Capstone course
- Two Philosophical Inquiry requirements
- Two Religious Dimension courses
Students who do not successfully complete the IAI-GECC will have their transfer courses reviewed on a course-by-course basis.
The School for New Learning
The School for New Learning (SNL) is a unique college at DePaul with degree programs designed for adult students. There are policies in place that help adult transfer students from Illinois community colleges who have completed the IAI-GECC package make a smooth transition into any of the SNL degree programs. Read more.
General Education Core Curriculum FAQ
How do students get detailed information about transferring the IAI-GECC to DePaul?
1. Read about the IAI/GECC categories.
2. See the list of participating institutions in Illinois.
3. Check your community college catalog for detailed IAI information.
4. Get completion of the IAI-GECC confirmed by your community college.
5. Transferology™ (formerly u.select) will give you quick answers on how
your college credits will transfer to DePaul. Set up an account, add
your coursework and get your results immediately.
See which classes at Illinois colleges have been approved for the
IAI-GECC. Courses approved for all schools (including DePaul) can be
found here on the IAI-GECC Transfer Planning Worksheet.
If a student transfers a completed IAI-GECC package, will they have junior status at DePaul?
Class standing in the traditional programs at DePaul is determined by
how many credits a student transfers in, while in the School For New
Learning it is determined by how many competencies have been fulfilled
prior to transfer. Completion of the IAI-GECC means that 12-13 courses
are completed, earning anywhere from 36-42 semester credits or 54-63
quarter credits. Junior standing at DePaul is granted when students have
earned 88 quarter/59 semester credits. So if a student transfers after
only completing the IAI-GECC, they will typically need to take 25-31
more credits before reaching junior standing.
How do students get confirmation that the IAI-GECC has been completed?
Some colleges automatically confirm that the IAI-GECC has been completed
with a letter or a stamp on the transcript. Other colleges require that
students request the confirmation when they want to transfer or when
they are applying for graduation with an associate of arts/science
degree. Students may also be required to check the catalog and use web
tools to confirm that the IAI-GECC is completed. Please contact your
community college academic advisor for more information.
Liberal Studies Program FAQ
What is DePaul's Liberal Studies Program?
Liberal Studies Requirements = General Education Requirements. DePaul
divides its Liberal Studies into the First Year Requirements, Learning
Domains, Seminar on Muticulturalism in the United States, Junior
Experiential Learning and Senior Capstone.
- First Year Program
- Discover Chicago
- Focal Point
- Composition and Rhetoric I
- Composition and Rhetoric II
- Quantitative Reasoning & Technological Literacy I
- Quantitative Reasoning & Technological Literacy II
- Learning Domains – Categories within the Liberal Studies
Program. Typically are many courses at the community college to choose
from to fulfill these categories. The Learning Domains are:
-
A&L: Arts and Literature
- PI: Philosophical Inquiry
- RD: Religious Dimensions (Ethical Questions and Religious Traditions)
- SI: Scientific Inquiry (Quantitative, Lab and Elective)
- SSMW: Self, Society and the Modern World
- UP: Understanding the Past (including several geographical subcategories)
Note how many courses are required in a Learning Domain (category). This
may vary depending on the major at DePaul. Pay attention as to whether
there are special Learning Domain requirements. For example, many majors
require a special ethics course in the Religious Dimensions Learning
Domain, like "The Computer and Social Responsibility." Learn more.
How do students get confirmation that the IAI-GECC has been completed?
Some colleges automatically confirm that the IAI-GECC has been completed
with a letter or a stamp on the transcript. Other colleges require that
students request the confirmation when they want to transfer or when
they are applying for graduation with an associate of arts/science
degree. Students may also be required to check the catalog and use web
tools to confirm that the IAI-GECC is completed. Please contact your
community college academic advisor for more information.
After a student transfers to DePaul, why do they need to take more Liberal Studies courses?
DePaul is a private Catholic university that requires all
undergraduate students to take courses in religion and philosophy. The
IAI-GECC doesn't require these types of courses, though there might be
some available at community colleges.
Also, DePaul is taught on a quarter system, which means that students
complete more courses each academic year than in the semester model. The
extra courses are needed in order for students to have enough credits
to graduate from DePaul.
Transferring Associate Degrees FAQ