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Frequently Asked Questions About Transfers

New Transfer Students

Q: How many credit hours am I allowed to transfer into VCU from another institution?

A. According to the Undergraduate Bulletin, you may transfer a maximum of 64 semester hours of credit from two-year institutions and up to 90 credit hours from 4-year colleges and universities. University policy requires Degree candidates to complete at least 25 percent of the credit semester hours required for their bachelor’s degree program at VCU, including at least 30 of the last 45 credits. During a student’s last 45 credits at VCU, transfer credits attempted elsewhere must be approved in advance by the appropriate school dean, department chair, or program head via the “Request to Take Courses at Another Institution” form, available online at www.enrollment.vcu.edu/rar. Bring this completed form to your HPEX advisor.

Q: I took a heath, physical education, exercise science, or nutrition course at another institution. It transferred in as HPEX 1XX or HPEX 2XX. Can I have this changed to reflect an equivalent VCU HPEX course?

A: As a general rule, HPEX courses taken at another institution are brought in as VCU elective credits. Although courses may have similar titles or subject matter, the level of instruction or depth of topic may vary widely from program to program, school to school. If you are bringing in a lot of HPEX 1XX, 2XX, or 3XX courses, or if believe one or more courses taken at a previous institution are equivalent to HPEX courses here at VCU, the courses may be evaluated by the department on a case-by-case basis. Please talk with your academic adviser who can help you get started with the process.

Q: What are the course equivalents for the Virginia Community College system?

A: Please see the Transfer Guide, Course Equivalency website.

Q: I was just admitted to VCU as a transfer student. How do I register for classes, and what do I register for?

A: Congratulations and welcome to VCU! Please be on the lookout for information from VCU Admissions and New Student Programs. All transfer students should attend a New Student Orientation, where you will meet your academic adviser, learn about the department and program, and register for classes. More information can be found here: https://nsfp.vcu.edu/orientation/.

Current Students

Q: I want to take a course at another institution and transfer it in for credit here at VCU, what do I do?

A: Many current VCU students choose to take courses at a community college or other institutions during the summer or even during a semester. First, please look the Transfer Guide, Course Equivalency website to research which course will transfer to VCU. You will also need to complete the “Request to Take Courses at Another Institution Form” (http://www.enrollment.vcu.edu/rar/docs/RRcaai.pdf ). Your advisor will need to approve your request, so make an appointment to discuss your plans and bring the completed form with you. Once you have completed the courses, send an official transcript to: VCU Transfer Center, 900 Park Avenue, Box 842532, Richmond, VA 23284. Remember you must earn a C or better in a course for the credits to transfer to VCU.

Q: I would like to take BIOL 205 (Anatomy) at community college, how does that work?

A: In the Virginia Community College System, anatomy and physiology are combined as one subject. This is different than VCU, where anatomy is its own separate subject/course (BIOL 205) and physiology is its own separate subject/course (PHIS 206 and PHIZ 206). In order to earn VCU credit for anatomy (BIOL 205) at a community college in Virginia, you must take both Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II. This means you will also transfer in credit for VCU physiology (PHIS 206/PHIZ 206). If you were to only complete Part I with a C or better, the course would transfer to VCU as biology elective credit BIOL 1XX and BIOZ 1XX, not anatomy. Please be aware that some psychology courses are also two parts at a community college. Please see the Transfer Guide, Course Equivalency website for more information or make an appointment with your advisor.

Q: Do transfer courses help my overall GPA at VCU?

A: No. Your GPA at VCU is only affected by the courses you take at VCU. You cannot use transfer courses as part of a Historical Repeat Course Option.

Q: I was just admitted to VCU and my major is Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science. How do I register for classes and what to register for?

A: Congratulations and welcome to VCU! Please be on the lookout for information from VCU Admissions and New Student Programs. All new students should attend a New Student Orientation, where you will meet your academic adviser, learn about the department and program, and register for classes. More information can be found here: https://nsfp.vcu.edu/orientation/.