Texas Transfer Framework
Field of Study courses to make transferring to a public 4-year college in Texas as seamless as possible.
What is the Texas Transfer Framework?
The Texas Transfer Framework (TTF) is intended to make transferring credits between public colleges in Texas more seamless and transparent. It’s especially helpful if you plan to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year university, are returning to college after time away, or earned dual credit in high school and are now enrolling in a Texas public college.
Created around the most common degree pathways, the framework clearly outlines the courses you need to complete an associate degree that is built for transfer. This can be especially valuable if you’re balancing work, family, or other responsibilities.
If you complete the Texas Core Curriculum (TCC) and Field of Study at any Texas public community college, you automatically qualify for the Texas Direct Transfer Degree. This means your completed coursework transfers as a block and applies directly to your selected major at a participating university. You’ll enter the university as a junior and as many courses as possible will apply toward your major. TTF helps reduce wasted time and credit hours. Whether you’re starting college for the first time, returning after a break, or changing direction, the framework helps you re-enter with a clear plan.
Courses that make up the Texas Transfer Framework
The package of courses defined in the TTF is called the Field of Study Curriculum. It consists of Discipline- specific TCC courses, Discipline Foundation Courses (DFC), and Directed Electives (DE).
Texas Core Curriculum
The TCC is a set of undergraduate courses that help transfer lower-division course credit among Texas public schools. The exact number of credit hours will change based on each Field of Study Curriculum.
Discipline Foundation Courses
These are up to 12 credit hours of major-specific courses outlined by the college for your major.
Directed Electives
These are at least 6 credit hours of major-specific electives you can take based on your interests and needs.
Understanding Field of Study courses
Using criminal justice as an example, you can see the TCC, DFC and DE courses specific to that major below.
Designated Texas Core Curriculum course in the Field of Study
CRIJ 1301 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
Discipline Foundation Courses
CRIJ 1306 – Court Systems & Practices
CRIJ 1310 – Fundamentals of Criminal Law
CRIJ 2313 – Correctional Systems & Practices
CRIJ 2328 – Police Systems & Practices
Directed Electives
These may be different at each college, a few examples are:
Angelo State University
CRIJ 2314 - Criminal Investigation, 3 SCH
CRIJ 2323 - Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement, 3 SCH
Lamar University
CRIJ 2301 - Community Resources in Corrections, 3 SCH
CRIJ 2314 - Criminal Investigation, 3 SCH
Sam Houston State University
CRIJ 1307 - Crime in America, 3 SCH
CRIJ 2314 - Criminal Investigation, 3 SCH
Which degree plans apply?
Check below to see if your major has a corresponding updated Field of Study. Then see if any required courses differ based on the college you want to transfer to. Even if you are deciding between two majors and one has a framework and one does not, knowing the required courses could be helpful.
Unsure of a major? It’s still a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Field of Study courses in case they become relevant later in your academic journey.
Degree plans with Field of Study Curricula
What can you do next?
If you’ve attended college before and are thinking about returning, taking a few intentional steps can help you make the most of TTF.
- Gather all prior college transcripts. Include transcripts from every college you’ve attended, even if it was years ago or you only completed a few courses.
- Identify your intended major. Your major matters because transfer pathways and course applicability are tied to specific programs.
- Meet with an academic advisor at your intended institution. An advisor can help you understand how your past coursework fits into the TTF.
- Compare completed courses to your transfer pathway. Review the Texas Core Curriculum and Field of Study requirements to see how your credits align.
- Confirm transfer applicability before enrolling. Make sure your credits will apply toward your degree plan so you don’t repeat courses or waste time and money.
If you’re transferring between Texas public colleges, TTF can help you pick up where you left off. However, credits earned at private colleges or universities, whether transferring to a public or another private institution, may not fall under TTF. If this applies to you, it’s strongly recommended that you meet with an academic advisor at your intended college to discuss how your credits may transfer.