Q: What does program-to-program articulation mean?
A: When a student finishes a specific degree at one of South Dakota's four technical institutes, that individual may be able to utilize a program-to-program articulation agreement to apply their technical credits to a specific major at a public university in South Dakota. For example, a student with an AAS degree in Marketing/Management/Sales from Lake Area Technical Institute could apply some or all (depending on the agreement) of their technical credits to the Finance major at Northern State University. Some general credits may be applied as well, depending on the agreement.

Q: How does an articulation agreement benefit me?
A: Every credit a student is able to apply toward a bachelor's degree saves both time and money. When you consider the cost of not only tuition and fees but books and living expenses, you could save more than $100 for every credit transferred.

Q: Do these agreements apply if I leave technical school before I graduate?
A: No. Students must complete their technical degree before a program-to-program articulation agreement may be used.

Q: What if I completed a program at a technical school and decide to pursue an unrelated major at a public university. Could I still use the articulation agreements?
A: Technical credits will only be transferred between programs with specified agreements. However, general education credits may still be applied, depending on the agreement.

Q: How do the articulation agreements work?
A: Your technical education credits transfer as a block. For example, if a student has a degree from the Western Dakota Technical Institute's Electronics and Computer Technician program and decides to attend South Dakota State University and major in Electronics Engineering Technology, 30 credits automatically transfer. In addition, specific general education courses may be taken at WDTI that also will transfer. Each specific agreement provides the number of credits that automatically transfer and a list of courses that will need to be taken at the university level.

Q: Will the program-to-program agreement allow me to start at the university level at junior status?
A: Each agreement is different, as each technical institute's curriculum has specific requirements that may or may not be included in the university's curriculum. To figure out how many of your credits will transfer to which university, click on the "flex your factor" option above.

Q: What if I transferred several high school credits to a technical school under the Tech Prep agreements? Will the program-to-program agreements include those?
A: If the Tech Prep credits were technical credits, they are included in the agreements. If the credits would be considered general education, they are not included.

Q: I think I want to start out at a university. What happens if I transfer to a technical school after one year of college? Do these agreements work in reverse?
A: Sometimes. Depending on where you started and where you're transferring, you may be able to apply some of your university general education credits at the technical school to which you wish to transfer.

Q: Are there any other programs where I can use my technical degree credits at a public university?
A: Yes, the Bachelor of Applied Technical Science (BATS) degree is another option. It permits students to build upon the technical skills and applied knowledge base of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree earned at a technical institute. Two universities, Black Hills State University and South Dakota State University, offer the BATS degree and work with AAS-degree students who wish to transfer their credits into a bachelor-degree program. Each student transcript is approved on an individual basis, with up to 64 credits accepted. More information about the BATS degree is available from:
Black Hills State University
South Dakota State University