Florida has a strong, state-wide articulation agreement and state course numbering
system that allows students to move easily between publicly-funded colleges and universities
in our state. Florida's statewide articulation system is often called a 2+2 system
because it allows students to complete a two-year, Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree
at a public Florida college, transfer to a public university in Florida, complete
two additional years of upper-division coursework there, and thus earn a baccalaureate
degree.
Since 1972, Florida law has guaranteed that all students who earn an Associate in
Arts (A.A.) degree at a public Florida college will be granted admission into a public
university in our state. Specifically, Florida Statute 1007.23 (2)(a) states, "every associate in arts graduate of a Florida College System institution
shall have met all general education requirements and be granted admission to the
upper division of a state university, except for a limited access or teacher certification
program." In other words, Florida law guarantees that any student who earns an A.A.
degree at any of the 28 public colleges in Florida will be granted admission into
one of Florida's 12 public universities.
However, Florida law does not guarantee that students who earn an A.A. degree will
be granted admission into a specific, upper division program or a specific university.
Students must meet all prerequisite courses and requirements in order to be admitted
into specific university baccalaureate programs.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to learn more
about how they can meet all transfer program requirements for their university of
choice.
The success of Florida's state-wide articulation agreement depends, in large part,
on the strength of our statewide course numbering system which facilitates the transfer
of credits among public higher education institutions. Florida Statute 1007.24 (7)
states, "Any student who transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully
accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States
Department of Education and that participate in the statewide course numbering system
shall be awarded credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily completed
by the student at the previous institutions. Credit shall be awarded if the courses
are judged... to be academically equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution.
In 2019, the Florida legislature modified Florida Statute 1007.23 to mandate that
every Florida College System (FCS) institution develop a direct 2+2 articulation agreement
with at least one State University System (SUS) institution. These direct articulation
agreements are intended to strengthen the statewide articulation agreement that has
been in place for almost half a century.