How Transfer Credits Work
Generally, course work completed for a grade of C or better at accredited colleges and universities in areas of study available on our campus are transferable. When transferring courses, students usually receive the number of semester hours of credit (i.e., quarter hours converted to semester hours) earned on the campus(es) in which the courses were completed, regardless of the number of credit hours same or similar courses are worth on the Ann Arbor campus. (Individual academic units may have limits on the number of transferable credits. Please check with the applicable school or college.)
The College of Literature, Science and the Arts does not require specific courses for transfer admission but transfer students who have completed courses that fulfill LSA’s general education requirements are more competitive in the admission’s process. Students who are following the MACRAO agreement should satisfy most of the distribution requirements of LSA, which are listed below.
The following are the general education requirements for the LSA:
- First year writing Requirement - 4 credits
- Quantitative Reasoning - 3 credits
- Foreign Language Requirement (2 year proficiency) - up to 16 credits
- Area Distribution Requirement - 30 credits
7 credits in the following three areas:
Natural Science (Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, etc.)
Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, History, etc.)
Humanities (Art History, Literature, Philosophy, etc.)
An additional 3 credits in one of the areas above, or in:
Mathematical & Symbolic Analysis (Calculus, Statistics, C++ Programming, etc.)
Creative Expression (Dance, Acting, Creative Writing, etc.)
Transfer students interested in applying for admission to other schools/colleges on campus should reference the Admissions Requirements section of this site to determine what pre-requisite courses are required for admission.
Courses can transfer in one of three ways:
Equivalent Credit
Courses at other colleges and universities that have descriptions that closely match the descriptions of courses taught on our campus usually will transfer as "equivalent credit." Courses completed at other colleges and/or universities will appear on the University of Michigan transcript with a U-M course number assigned.
Departmental Credit
Courses taken at colleges and/or universities whose descriptions do not match the courses in the same departments on our campus may transfer as "departmental credit." Note that departmental credit, while transferable and usually applicable as elective credit, may only be used towards meeting distribution and/or concentration requirements with the permission of an academic or concentration advisor.
Interdepartmental Credit
Courses that cover a broad range of topics within a general area of study are considered "interdepartmental credit." These are courses that, because of the scope of their subject material, cannot be assigned to any individual academic department. Like departmental credit, interdepartmental credit is usually applicable as elective credit. It must, however, be approved by an academic or concentration advisor if it is to be used towards distribution and/or concentration requirements.
