The Process

If students have earned academic credit at another institution(s), they will eventually receive written evaluation of the transfer credits. Transfer credits can be earned before and during enrollment at the University of Maryland. To receive transfer credit, students must follow the appropriate procedures.

For courses taken before enrollment at the University of Maryland (newly admitted students and applicants):

1. The student must request that the former institution forward an official copy of his/her transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in the Mitchell Building at the following address: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Mitchell Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-5235
2. The Records Office then lists the transfer courses on the student's University of Maryland transcript before any evaluation is made.
3. Once the courses are posted on the student's transcript, the Transfer Credit
Center evaluates the courses. Questions about transfer courses should be directed to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences' Advising Center, 2148 Tydings Hall, or to the Transfer Credit Center at 4-8256.
4. Even though more than 60 community college or more than 90 four-year college credits may appear on the student's transcript, no more than 60 community college or 90 four-year college credits can be applied to a University of Maryland degree. No more than 90 non-University of Maryland credits can be applied to a University of Maryland degree.

For transfer courses taken during enrollment at the University of Maryland (current students):

Receiving prior approval of these transfer courses is always required. This process can take several weeks; therefore, waiting until the last minute will endanger the transfer eligibility of the courses. Students should not wait until the last minute. The following procedure MUST be completed prior to enrolling in the other institution. Failure to receive prior approval will prevent you from transferring the credits to the University of Maryland.

1. Students must visit the college's Advising Center to pick up a Permission to Enroll Form ("PTE Form"). They must complete and sign the form, making certain that there is a University of Maryland course equivalency. The college's Advising Center staff will assist the student in completing the form to verify a University of Maryland course equivalency can be obtained.
2. If students are using the course to fulfill a major requirement, they must meet with a department advisor for approval of the course. Courses used to fulfill department requirements or as a department supporting course cannot be taken away from the University of Maryland without the written department approval on the Permission to Enroll Form.
3. In most cases, students are not permitted to take CORE courses away from the University of Maryland. Under extenuating circumstances, the assistant dean can approve up to seven credits of CORE to be taken at another institution.
4. Return the completed form to room 2148 Tydings Hall for further review and processing.
5. When students have completed the course(s), the transfer institution must send an official transcript to the University of Maryland Records Office at the following address: Records Office, 1113 Mitchell Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
6. Subsequently, the courses are posted on the student's transcript.

General Transfer Policies

When students enroll at the University of Maryland, many bring transfer courses with them. Other students earn transfer credit after matriculating to the University of Maryland. Regardless of when the transfer credit is earned, there are several important policies that govern the applicability of transfer courses to a degree. Some students assume that a transfer course, which violates campus policy and has not been corrected initially, will not be detected and corrected. This assumption is incorrect. There are a number of candidates each semester who must delay their graduation by a semester because the Graduation Clearance Office found a problem with the students' transfer courses. Please read the following policy points very carefully:

Maximum Number of Credits

Students can apply a maximum of 60 community college credits to their University of Maryland degree. No more than 90 credits from an accredited four-year institution can be applied to a University of Maryland degree. The maximum number of transfer credits that can be applied to a University of Maryland degree is 90. Transfer credit that exceeds these limits will not be applied to the degree. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at the University of Maryland. At least 12 of these credits must be major credits. For more information, students should contact a BSOS advisor.

Same Course—Duplicate Content

A student may not receive credit for the same course twice, even though he/she took the courses at different schools. For example, if a student took "Introduction to Beekeeping" at one institution and "Beekeeping Basics" at another, one of the courses will be deleted from your transcript and the student will lose the credits. It is the student's responsibility to check with an advisor about possible duplications. Students should be careful not to repeat a transfer course at the University of Maryland. If students do, the transfer credit will be deleted from their transcript. In the past, the duplication was discovered during graduation clearance and the student had to return to complete additional credits at the University of Maryland.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

Students may earn college credit for earning requisite scores on advanced placement exams. Acceptable advanced placement and international baccalaureate credits are recorded as transfer credit on the student's University of Maryland transcript. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog under "Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Credit" for detailed information regarding AP/IB test scores and credits. Students need to make certain that they do not take courses which duplicate their AP/IB credit. If they do, they will lose the AP/IB credit. Please note that the total credits earned through advanced placement exams, CLEP, internships, the international baccalaureate exams and credit by exam may not exceed 60.

Final 30 Credits

The last 30 credits that students take prior to graduation must be taken at the College Park campus. If students wish to take courses elsewhere, including any study abroad courses, they should plan to take them no later than junior year.

Required Grades

Acceptable transfer course work must be completed with a grade of "C" or better from most colleges and universities. The University of Maryland accepts courses with grades of "D" or better from Maryland state public community colleges and universities; however, transfer courses that carry a grade of "D" cannot be used to fulfill major requirements that required a grade of "C" or higher. In some instances, the course can be used as elective credit.

Institutions Using the Quarter System

Credits earned at institutions using the quarter semester system are not equivalent to University of Maryland credits. When the credits earned at quarter system institutions are transferred to the University of Maryland, they are converted to University of Maryland credits according to the following chart:

Internship, Professional and Technical Courses

In most cases, internship, professional and technical courses (e.g., nursing and paralegal courses) taken at other institutions cannot be applied to a University of Maryland degree.

Credits Taken While in High School

College-level courses offered at local colleges but taught at high school are accepted by the university as degree credit, provided these courses are posted on an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university and meet other transfer policy criteria. Students need to make certain that they do not take courses that duplicate this work. If they do, these credits will be deleted from their transcripts.

Fundamental Studies Courses

Once a student enrolls at the University of Maryland, fundamental studies and professional writing courses cannot be taken at another institution.

Change of Major

If students change their major from another University of Maryland college to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, their transfer courses will be reevaluated and they may gain or lose credit.

Grades and Grading

The grades earned from courses taken at other institutions are not usually used in the computation of students' University of Maryland grade point average; however, there are exceptions to this rule. The grades earned in courses taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; courses taken through the University System of Maryland Concurrent Inter-Institutional Registration Program; and study abroad programs taught by University of Maryland, College Park faculty will be included in University of Maryland grade point averages.

Please Note:

While the grades of most transfer course work are not included in the computation of a University of Maryland grade point average, graduate programs, professional schools (e.g., law schools) and many others will review a student's entire academic record, including transfer work and study abroad grades. Their decisions are typically based upon the sum of this work rather than solely on a student's academic performance at the University of Maryland.