Transfer Student Academic Planning Guide
Step 4) Understand Transfer credit and AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, and Cambridge Credit
Before you can decide what courses to take during your first semester at the University, you need to identify how your academic record prior to matriculation affects your degree requirements. It is a good idea to perform a "What-If Analysis" in Banner to see how your pre-matriculation credit fits into your degree at UMW. Banner will only show this data once UMW receives and has processed the official scores or transcripts from the granting institution. Please be sure that you have had these official records sent to UMW's Office of the Registrar.
Items that fall into this category include previously completed transfer (including dual enrollment) credit, Advanced Placement credit, International Baccalaureate credit, and certain standardized test scores that have been received at the University and incorporated into your UMW record.
You were provided with a transfer evaluation upon acceptance. Use that evaluation as you work through this Section of the Academic Planning Guide identifying your pre-matriculation credits and exemptions. Please fill in the General Education Tracking Sheet or General Education Check Sheet to determine what General Education Requirements you have already met. You may want to refer back to the General Education Requirements page as you fill this in.
As previously stated, students who have received an appropriate Associates degree from a VCCS (Virginia Community College System) school will have satisfied all the General Education requirements except Foreign Language and Experiential Learning. Other guidelines for transfer credit at UMW can be found in the online Transfer Credit Guide. Official transcripts and examination scores for all pre-matriculation transfer work must be received by UMW no later than the last day of your first semester at UMW.
Your previous academic record affects you in two ways. First, it may entitle you to an exemption from a degree requirement; second, it may entitle you to transfer credit toward a degree requirement, based upon comparable academic work already completed.
TRANSFER CREDIT
The University does award transfer credit (but the GPA is not calculated into the UMW GPA), which may be applied toward the 120 credits required for a degree. Transfer credit may be awarded for Advanced Placement examination scores, International Baccalaureate examination scores, and comparable course work completed at other colleges and universities.
- Advanced Placement Credit: UMW academic credit is awarded for scores of 3 or higher on selected Advanced Placement examinations. Such credit is always applied toward the degree and, as specified, may also apply to General Education and/or major requirements. Refer to the University's current AP Transfer Credit Table to determine the particular course(s), General Education requirements, and the total number of degree credits to which you are entitled through your AP scores.
- International Baccalaureate Credit: UMW academic credit is awarded for specific scores on higher level IB examinations. All IB credit awards will be provided to the student as part of the final credit evaluation, available during New Student Orientation Week. Refer to the University's current IB Transfer Credit Table to determine the particular course(s), General Education requirements, and the total number of degree credits to which you are entitled through your AP scores.
- Transfer Credit from other Colleges & Universities (including dual enrollment): Transfer credit from accredited institutions is awarded for graded courses of the same type (liberal arts courses), on the same level, and under the same guidelines as University of Mary Washington courses. A grade of "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better must be earned for a course to be eligible for transfer credit. The Office of the Registrar will provide each student who has submitted transfer coursework with a Transfer Credit Evaluation, outlining the particular courses and number of credits approved for transfer.
EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions excuse students from particular degree requirements but do NOT accrue academic credit toward the 120 credits required for graduation. The University offers the following exemption from the Foreign Language Requirement:
Foreign Language Competence: Each student must demonstrate foreign language (ancient or modern) competence by successfully completing college course work through the 202 intermediate level of the foreign language (or by successfully completing an advanced-level foreign language course taught in the language). To qualify for an exemption, you must have one of the following:
- present an official score of at least 620 on an SAT subject test in a foreign language
- submit pertinent documents which verify the student has been educated through high school in a language other than English or the student has lived extensively in and become fluent in the language of a non-English speaking country; demonstrating intermediate college-level (202) competency and successfully completing Writing Workshop (ENGL 101) or obtaining an exemption there from
- achieve the required exemption score on the University's foreign language competency test
CAMBRIDGE A-LEVEL EXAMINATIONS
Students may earn course credit for satisfactory scores, as determined by the University on the Cambridge A Level examinations. Credits awarded may count toward the major program or general education requirements. Students who have taken these exams should forward their scores to the University. Contact the Office of the Registrar for additional information.
NOTES:
- AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and transfer credits will be forfeited and removed from the record if the equivalent course or courses are completed at UMW or another institution.
- AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and transfer credits are counted as completed credits toward graduation, and thus affect all decisions regarding probation, suspension, and dismissal. A student may request the permanent deletion of AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and/or transfer credits from his or her record at any time except when he or she is on academic suspension or after academic dismissal.