What is IAI?

The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) is a statewide transfer agreement, which is transferable among more than 100 participating colleges and universities in Illinois. IAI works best for students who know they are going to transfer but are undecided on the college or university that will grant their baccalaureate degree.  

General Education and IAI Majors

General Education Package

All colleges and universities participating in IAI agree to accept a "package" of IAI general education courses in lieu of their own comparable lower-division general education requirements. Keep in mind, the IAI general education transfers as a package. Any course-to-course transfer credit is not guaranteed. You should work with your institutions to see exactly how your courses will transfer beyond the IAI package. 

View a description of the disciplines in the IAI general education package , also known as the GECC.

Want to see how your courses map to the general education package (GECC)? View the Course Worksheet 

IAI Majors

IAI also includes major recommendations for the first two years of college in several popular majors. Faculty panels, which have expertise in the major field of study, created these recommendations. IAI major recommendations work best for students who have chosen their majors, are going to eventually transfer, but are undecided on the college or university that will grant their baccalaureate degree. If you know where you want to attend, you should work directly with advisors at your intended institution of choice.  This will ensure you receive the most accurate information.

Want to see the IAI Majors? View the Majors 

The Illinois Associates Degrees – A.A. and A.S.

Institutions in Illinois grant two types of transferable Associates degrees. The Illinois Articulation Initiative general education package is part of both. The Associates of Arts degree, or A.A., has a full general education package (GECC) fully incorporated. When you complete an A.A. degree and transfer, your general education requirements should be waived at the next 4-year IAI participating institution you choose to attend. The Associates of Science degree, or A.S., is specifically designed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, areas of study. This degree has a modified general education package which allows students in these demanding fields the opportunity to remain on track with their cohorts at the 4-year institutions and complete a couple of general education courses after they transfer to their institution of choice. Under the A.S. degree model, students will take one additional math course and one science course, which will delay two GECC courses in the Humanities & Fine Arts and Social & Behavioral Sciences categories. The GECC package remains intact; However, a student will complete the package upon transfer to a university.​​