“Will my credits transfer to CU Boulder?” This is a question that we, as CU Boulder transfer credit evaluators, hear several times a day. And yes, it is indeed one of the most important aspects of a prospective student’s transfer process, but there is more complexity to this question than you might think.
What is the difference between a course’s “transferability” and its “applicability?” Transferability simply means, “Does the course meet the established criteria to transfer to CU Boulder.” When we are trying to determine transferability of a course, we look at several factors.
- Is the institution recognized by CU Boulder? In other words, what type of accreditation does the institution have and how does it compare to that of CU Boulder?
- Is the course academic in nature (not technical, remedial or a physical education activity course)?
- Finally, we look at the grade that was awarded. Is it a C- or better?
If the course meets this basic criteria, it will generally be accepted for transfer credit.
Next, each course that is deemed transferable to CU must then be reviewed for applicability towards degree requirements. This process is a little more complex and is done by the college/school that owns the discipline. Course descriptions are accessed and reviewed online, and from this information, the following decisions are made:
- Does the course description include enough information to evaluate its academic content and rigor? If not, you will be asked to submit a course syllabus to us.
- The course information is reviewed to determine if the course matches what is taught at CU with respect to content, academic level, scope and relevance. If it is determined that it does match, the course is updated to reflect the CU Boulder equivalent.
- If it is determined that the course is not equivalent to a CU Boulder course, then it is reviewed to determine if its content is enough to fulfill a degree requirement, a general education requirement, a major requirement or an elective. If the course can be used to fulfill a degree requirement, it is encoded to reflect that specific requirement.
Ultimately, our goal for the process is to recognize your previously completed work, apply the credits as effectively as possible and set you up for success at CU Boulder!
Need more information? We offer individual transfer admission appointments to prospective transfer students who have not yet applied, which will allow you to discuss a plan for your transfer to CU. Schedule a transfer admissions appointment.
Alternatively, if you are interested in transferring credit to CU Boulder we encourage you to create a Transferology account to view your transferable credit, create a transfer plan, and/or see any remaining coursework for your desired degree program.
Find out more information about the transfer credit process. Or, if you have specific questions related to transfer credit, please feel free to email us at TCHelp@colorado.edu.