Articulation Agreements
University Partnerships
TSTC has several articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer process and ensure that students seamlessly advance to institutions of higher learning. Several of these agreements are currently being reviewed and renewed to address the consolidation of TSTC campuses under one single accreditation.
Relevant Agreements to the CNST Program are listed below:
- Our Lady of Lake University (OLLU). CNST graduates may be able to transfer credit hours towards a Bachelors of Science in Computer Information Security Degree. The undergraduate degrees in Computer Information Systems and Security (CISS) at OLLU are certified by the National Security Agency (NSA). In addition, NSA and the Department of Homeland Security have recognized the University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The programs prepare graduates for the wide ranging field of information technology through hands-on experience with emerging technologies in the areas of: Computer and Network Security Foundations; Database Management; Information Assurance and Security; Network Administration; Operating Systems; Programming; Systems Analysis and Design. TSTC at Harlingen signed an articulation agreement with OLLU in 2010. It is currently being reviewed for renewal. See: (OLLU) Our Lady of the Lake University Interview 1/3 (Uploaded on Jul 5, 2010); ; (OLLU) Our Lady of the Lake University Interview 2/3 (Uploaded on Jul 6, 2010)
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA currently offers 13 articulation agreements with two-year institutions that include Texas State Technical College – Harlingen. UTSA has been designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education and a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. Students can enroll in the College of Business Department of Information Systems and Cyber Security, under several specialty areas: Intrusion Detection; Risk Assessment; Digital Forensics; Information Security Management; Applied Network and Information Systems Security; Economics of Information Security; Secure Software Engineering; Biometrics; Data Mining for Security.
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). UTRGV offers a Computer Information Systems Technology Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) which allows for the transfer of 30 SCH of computer-related courses (minimum GPA of 2.5 required). In addition, UTRGV offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCE), a discipline that embodies the science and technology of design, construction and implementation of software and hardware components of modern computing systems and computer-controlled equipment.
High School Articulation
TSTC in Harlingen participates in the Advanced Technical Credit Program (ATC), a statewide articulation program.
The Director of Collaborative Projects is responsible for securing approvals for and maintaining 
Tech Prep and Articulation Agreements between TSTC Harlingen instructional programs and other cooperating schools. For credit, Applicants must check with the Office of Collaborative Projects and obtain the appropriate forms for submission to the Office of Admissions and Records (with copies to his major’s program chairperson). [Students require a grade of 80+ on the articulated course and request the articulation within 15 months of HS graduation for credit at TSTC.]
Credit for TSTC in Harlingen college courses is awarded to applicants who have: (1) graduated from a high school for which a current, official Articulation Agreement exists on file in the Office of Admissions and Records; (2) has successfully completed one or more of the courses specified in the Articulation Agreement; and (3) has been recommended for articulation credit by his/her high school instructor and/or other high school official as required under the Articulation Agreement.
The following courses are articulated to the CNST AAS Degree:
- Telecommunications and Networking (1 credit) (TELECOMN) 13027400
Fundamentals of Networking Technologies ITNW 1325 or ITNW 1425 (ITNW 1025 CEU)
Course Outcomes: Identify and use network transmission media; explain the OSI model; Identify the characteristics of network topologies and protocols; identify the functions of a network operating system and distinguish between centralized, client/server, and peer-to-peer systems; and distinguish between Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) and identify the components used to expand a LAN into a WAN.
- Computer Maintenance (1 credit) (COMPMTN) 13027300
Introduction to Computer Maintenance CPMT 1311 or CPMT 1411 (CPMT 1011 CEU)
Course Outcomes: Identify modules that make up a computer system and its operation; identify each type of computer bus structure; assemble/setup microcomputer systems and adapter/interface boards; and install/connect associated peripherals.
OR
Personal Computer Hardware ITSC 1325 or ITSC 1425 (ITSC 1025 CEU)
Course Outcomes: Assemble/setup and upgrade personal computer systems; diagnose and isolate faulty components; optimize system performance; and install/connect peripherals.
For a list of related courses articulated, See Information Technology Crosswalk.
[Effective School Year 2015 – 2016]