Articulation Agreements
Program to Program Articulation Agreement General Information
Lake Area Technical College has various program-to-program articulation agreements with the South Dakota public universities and private and out-of-state universities for Lake Area Tech graduates earning an Associate of Applied Science degree. In many programs, technical credits earned in that area will transfer if the student chooses to enroll at a university and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Articulation agreements vary from program to program. Please visit our program pages to learn more. Programs with articulation agreements have links to the agreement(s) on that respective page.
Select general education credits may also transfer for credit. Details are outlined in each of the articulation agreements.
The Frequently Asked Questions include many common questions and answers regarding articulation. Subjects covered in the FAQ information include procedures, policies, and reverse articulation information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you’ll find answers to common questions and answers regarding the Articulation Agreements between Lake Area Technical College and bachelor’s degree programs.
What does the term program-to-program articulation mean?
A graduate from a specific program at Lake Area Tech may utilize a program-to-program articulation agreement, which applies Lake Area Tech technical credits to a program in that area at a select college or university. In addition to technical credits, certain general education classes may be transferred.
How does a program-to-program articulation agreement benefit me?
Every credit a student is able to apply to a bachelor’s degree saves both time and money. With the cost of your college education including not only tuition and fees but books and living expenses as well, you could save more than $100 for every credit transferred!
Does the program-to-program agreement apply if I leave Lake Area Tech before I graduate?
No. Students must have completed the Lake Area Tech program before a program-to-program agreement can be used.
What if I completed a program at Lake Area Tech, like Agri-Business, then decide to pursue an unrelated major at a college or university, such as Elementary Education? Could I use the program-to-program articulation agreement?
The technical credits will only transfer when the student is pursuing the programs detailed on the agreement listing. However, any transferable general education credits may still apply.
How does the articulation work?
An articulation agreement between Lake Area Tech and a four-year institution specifies which and how many credits Lake Area Tech will be accepted into a bachelor’s program at a particular school. Depending on the specific agreement, your technical education credits may transfer as a block. For example, if a student has graduated from the Lake Area Tech Electronic Systems Technology program and attends SDSU majoring in Electronics Engineering Technology, 34 technical course credits automatically transfer. In addition, specific general education courses taken at Lake Area Tech will transfer, increasing this number. In this case, well over three semesters of credits will transfer. Each specific agreement provides a list of the courses that will need to be taken at the university level.
Will the program-to-program agreement allow me to start at the university level at junior status?
Some of the agreements do. Each agreement is different as the content of the Lake Area Tech curriculum has specific elements needed for entry into the work force that may not be included in the university degree. Please refer to the program-specific articulation agreement.
Why would a student come to Lake Area Tech first? Why not just start at the university level, if a bachelor’s degree is the goal?
Everyone’s circumstances are different so each person has to make the decision that’s the best fit for them. Many students want to explore their subject area in depth in the first two years of their post-secondary education, to make sure that is the right field of study for them. These students get that opportunity at Lake Area Tech. Many students realize they will need to work to pay for school. If you graduate from Lake Area Tech first, you can be employed at a much higher salary in your field of study while also working on your bachelor’s degree. In some cases, your employer will help pay for your college credits. That’s hard to beat!
I think I want to attend a university first. What happens if I transfer to Lake Area Tech after one year of college? Can I still take advantage of the program-to-program agreements?
Sure! Many of the general education credits you take at the university level will transfer and enable you to take fewer courses at Lake Area Tech. Once you complete your associate degree, if you decide at that point that you wish to resume working on your bachelor’s degree, you can utilize the articulation agreement. It works both ways!
What if I have completed a program at Lake Area Tech but don’t see an articulation agreement listed for the university I would like to attend to pursue a bachelor’s degree?
Contact the university to discuss the program in which you are interested. The university representative can look at your Lake Area Tech transcript to determine which credits they will accept towards the Bachelor’s degree.
