Transferring Coursework

In order for previous coursework to be evaluated and transferred, students must be degree-seeking. In addition, the coursework must be on an official, sealed transcript, and come from regionally accredited institutions or directly from CollegeBoard/IB. Transfer Services will not evaluate a transcript that is not official.

If your transfer coursework is coming from a Maryland community college, you may use the Articulation System (ARTSYS) as a guide to see how it may be applied to your degree at UMBC. ARTSYS provides transferability and general education requirements for students at the initial point of transfer (first degree seeking enrollment at UMBC). For out-of-state and Maryland four-year colleges and universities, you may use the Transfer Evaluation Systems (TES).

UMBC will accept a maximum of 70 credits from two-year colleges and military courses, and a maximum of 90 total transfer credits, which includes AP, IB, CLEP, DANTES, and A-Levels credit. Students accepted into the Engineering Program (with a completed gateway) will be allowed to transfer a maximum of 65 credits from community colleges. Lastly, UMBC will accept a maximum of 64 credits for students entering with an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) from Maryland community colleges.

As your transcripts and score reports are received, a course-by-course evaluation of your previous coursework is conducted by Transfer Services and posted to your record. Your transfer credit report (TCR) will identify your previous college level coursework as well as test scores and show how it is transferable to UMBC.

Transfer courses are applied as academic credit, but the grade is not included in your UMBC grade point average (GPA). Remember, credits transfer–not grades. When appropriate, courses are applied to your general education and university requirements. Some courses may also be applied toward major or minor requirements. Applicable courses can satisfy both general and major/minor requirements simultaneously. The degree audit and myUMBC profile will display coursework and how it is used toward your degree progress.

Based on a review of your initial transfer credit report and degree audit, you may need to provide additional information to complete the transfer process.

Here are the most common situations which will require follow-up:

1. There were in-progress courses on the last transcript you submitted:

Submit final official transcripts from other colleges attended and any score reports from AP, IB, CLEP, DANTES, and A-Levels to the Registrar’s Office. In-progress courses are not posted to the TCR, and therefore, cannot be used for prerequisites or degree requirements.

2. A course has been posted on your TCR incorrectly (e.g. Statistics was entered as Statics) or completed coursework is not posted:

Contact the Registrar’s Office so it can be corrected. Create a Help (RT) ticket in myUMBC or call the office.

3. There is a notation on the TCR of “Info Needed:”

This means the course title/description did not provide enough information. Please complete the electronic Course Review form and attach a detailed syllabus (with a list of topics) or outline (PDF only). Syllabi are often available on the website of your prior institution.

4. You have completed coursework that may be applicable to major or minor requirements and your TCR does not show your transfer course as directly equivalent to a specific UMBC course. For example, General Chemistry I from the University of Tampa is equivalent to CHEM SL_1L on your TCR instead of CHEM 101.

Please complete the electronic Course Review form.

5. You have exceeded the transfer credit maximums:

Additional credits cannot be added to your record once you have reached the transfer credit maximum; however, the degree audit will reorganize classes and use those that fulfill academic requirements. Credit totals will not increase, but a course above the credit maximum could be used to fulfill a specific degree requirement.

6. You believe you have lost credits:

Loss of credit is often mistaken for a lack of direct equivalencies. Instead, loss of credit is actually having a substantial amount of nontransferable courses on your transfer credit report, low grades notwithstanding. If your transfer credit report has general education (e.g., ENGL AH 1L), general electives (e.g., ENGL 3U), or transfer electives (e.g., TRAN 4U), these courses are serving a purpose toward degree completion, even if the purpose is simply increasing your credits towards the graduation requirement. Your degree audit will illustrate how each is used.

The following course types are deemed nontransferable:

• nonacademic (e.g. developmental, study skills, or cuisine)

• vocational/professional (e.g. dentistry or HVAC)

7. You have questions about your degree audit:

If you find your degree audit report is not categorizing your transfer courses in the most beneficial way under the rules, contact your academic advisor to discuss details. If after meeting with your academic advisor, you both identify courses that were not used advantageously you can work with Transfer Services to have your audit adjusted.

If there is anything about the processing of your transfer credits you do not fully understand, discuss your questions with your academic advisor. If they are unable to answer all of your questions, please ask the Transfer Services team for an explanation.

UMBC does award credit for certain AP, IB, CLEP, DANTES, and A-Levels examinations. A list of examinations and necessary scores for which you may earn credit is available in the UMBC Undergraduate Catalog. In order to award credit, UMBC must receive official copies of your scores directly from the testing authority. Scores recorded on transcripts from prior colleges are not accepted. Have your official scores sent to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

For more information about the transfer of credits to UMBC, please visit Undergraduate Admissions.

High school articulation refers to college credits awarded for high school course work. To be evaluated for transfer, they must be posted on a college transcript as credit earned toward a degree program. Please review UMBC’s transfer credit policy for colleges and universities for more guidance.

Current UMBC students who are considering taking courses elsewhere in the United States or CLEP exams must complete a Verification of Transferability (VOT) form prior to their enrollment in the course. Failure to complete the VOT form prior to enrolling in courses off-campus may result in the course not being accepted for transfer and/or applied to degree requirements.

The form must be submitted at least 3 weeks before the course begins. Note: Montgomery College and University of Maryland Global Campus require an approved VOT prior to registration.

Students seeking direct equivalencies for courses other than Maryland Community College coursework or coursework listed in the Transfer Evaluation System should submit a course syllabus with their VOT, and allow an additional four to six weeks for review.

Once students have finished their coursework at another institution, it is their responsibility to submit an official transcript to the Registrar’s Office.

Current students who are considering taking courses outside of the United States must go through the Study Abroad program. They will be provided with the appropriate transfer review forms when they obtain a pre-departure packet from the Study Abroad Coordinator in the Education Abroad Office.

Students taking coursework at Maryland Community Colleges can do a transferability review of how courses will transfer to UMBC using ARTSYS: The online Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities. The Verification of Transferability form should still be submitted.

Current and re-admitted students will not receive general education credit for Maryland Community College courses equated to UMBC courses that are not designated as satisfying the general education requirement. Please consult the university catalog for further information.

For information regarding the transfer of graduate courses, please refer to the Graduate Catalog.

For information regarding continuing university study for international transfer students, please refer to Undergraduate Admissions.

Translated, official transcripts for international coursework must be accompanied by a course-by-course evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), Educational Perspectives, Foreign Credential Services of America, or World Education Services (WES).