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.) Transfer students are expected to have completed a balance of college general education courses that show progress towards distribution areas and towards prerequisites for their concentration.
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.
Examples of Distribution Areas
Humanities: literature, philosophy, fine arts
Social Science: history, political science, psychology, sociology
Natural Science: biology, chemistry, physics
Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis: computer science, mathematics, statistics, linguistics
Creative Expression: film, music, theater and drama
