Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)
The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) was designed to facilitate the transfer of general education requirements from one institution to another. WMU is a participating institution in this agreement. The MTA is effective for students who started at a community college in fall 2014 or later. If you fulfill the requirements of the MTA and the endorsement is noted on your official transcript, your lower-level General Education requirements at WMU will be satisfied. Each course will also be individually evaluated as transfer credit that could fulfill major/minor or other graduation requirements.
The MTA requires a minimum of 30 hours of course work completed in certain categories. The classes you select in each category are specified by your community college. WMU encourages students to maximize their time and effort by working with their community college and WMU advisors to select courses within the MTA that can be utilized for major/minor requirements when possible.
Categories for MTA completion
- One course in English Composition.
- One course in Communications or a second course in English Composition.
- One course in Mathematics.
- Two courses in Natural Sciences (from two disciplines) including one with laboratory experience.
- Two courses in Social Sciences (from two disciplines).
- Two courses in Humanities and Fine Arts (from two disciplines and excluding studio and performance classes).
If the total hours for these courses do not equal at least 30 semester credit hours, you must take an additional course from one of the areas.
MTA applied to WMU requirements
Western Essential Studies satisfied
Transfer students should note on their application for admission that they plan to complete the MTA. Those who have fulfilled the requirements will have satisfied WMU’s WES levels 1 and 2. WMU Essential Studies (WES) is the required curriculum for all undergraduate students at Western Michigan University. Courses are designed to help students become fluent in change and driven to contribute; develop perseverance; and be ready for their future. Students develop the skills employers seek most in graduates—demonstrated complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, judgment, and decision making. The WES guide is for catalog years beginning in 2020. The MTA fulfills levels 1 and 2 of WES so transfer students are encouraged to complete the MTA before transferring to Western.
Additional requirements
In addition to MTA, students must complete:
- Local and National Perspectives course work from WES Level 3: Connections
- Global Perspectives course work from WES Level 3: Connections
Transfer guides and equivalencies
All Michigan community college transfer students, regardless of whether they plan to follow MTA requirements, are encouraged to utilize the WMU transfer guide information available for their intended major.
Last revised February 13, 2023