Many students take college courses with the assumption that higher course grades will mean a guaranteed transfer later on. This may be true, or it may mean a lot of extra work for nothing. Can you determine which classes are likely to transfer based on the course number so you don't waste a lot of time and money on classes you don't need? The answer to this question is complex and may depend on how your current school assigns course numbers, how your transfer school views these designations, and your final grades in these classes.
What do course numbers mean?
If you view a college catalog, you will notice that courses have designations such as MATH 093, CHEM 110, HIST 215, etc. Have. While the reason for these designations may vary from school to school, they should give applicants an idea of the complexity of the material on offer. In an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dr. Kelly S. Meier explained grade level simply: In general, lower numbers mean lower learning levels and fewer prerequisites. They may also mean more competition for class space, especially if you're just starting out.
At colleges such as the City University of New York (CUNY), courses with counts of fewer than 100 are considered eligible. These courses are designed to help students improve their skills so they can handle higher-level coursework well. Classes with designations under 100 may or may not count toward a degree program and almost never transfer.
In some cases, z. B. if a class has been dropped, new classes will be designated higher for purely administrative reasons. Matt Lutze, a student at Michigan Tech, explains in his Quora response to this question.
Who the courses are open to?
Availability of classes varies between institutions. In many schools, such as the University of Washington (University of Washington), lower level classes are generally open to all students. Classes designated in the 100s are typically freshman courses, while 200-level classes are appropriate for college students and well-qualified freshmen.
Classes at the 300 and 400 levels should meet the educational needs of college juniors, seniors and some graduates. High school courses mean extensive student preparation and a significant understanding of the subject matter. There is also an expectation that students can work cooperatively.
Courses at the 500-level and above can follow a school's graduate program and require a deep understanding of the course material. Students in these classes are expected to work independently and have greater drive.
What credits are transferable?
The credits you can carry vary between institutions. Lower-level classes can transfer as college-level credit in some cases. If a course is considered too broad or without sufficient structure, the receiving university may reject it. If accepted, it may be elective credit only, allowing the student to make up the course at the transfer school.
Higher level courses like those in the 200 and 300 ranges may be easier to transfer in. Many universities see these as more focused and more in line with their own quality of educational offerings. To determine if courses will transfer, many schools, such as Union College, offer handy online guides. Students can use this to look for equivalencies between programs before they begin the transfer process so they can gauge acceptance and prepare for a potential credit challenge if needed.
Courses in the 400-500 range may be available to undergraduate or graduate students only. These courses may transfer to another university program if they meet certain criteria established by a school.
Graduate-level courses are often designed specifically for a university's program and cannot be transferred at all. For students thinking of transferring between graduate programs, many schools offer online resources to help them understand the necessary requirements. When you check a school's website for information, z. B. the University of North Carolina, students can determine if they can take their credits with them or if they need to start again.
Seek advice
Because confusion about course levels can lead to a gap in perceived quality, some universities refuse to recognize lower-level coursework at all without comprehensive evidence of its value. In some cases, transferring higher-level credits can be a challenge.
Every source we spoke with gave the same advice when asked how to tell which classes would transfer: Call ahead. Because there can be such a wide range in the way schools number courses, there is no way to know which courses will transfer just by looking at a school's catalog.
If you are considering transferring from a community college to a university or even from one university to another, get help. Use online tools, such as those from My College Guide, and meet with a counselor to see if you can expect credit for the classes you've taken. Assuming a mid- to upper-level class is considered simply because it's more complex, you could be left out in the cold.