Policies Regarding the Transfer of Courses

Students may transfer courses from other colleges, including other colleges at the University of Massachusetts Boston, into CPCS competencies. A 3-credit course is the equivalent of one competency. In order to transfer a course, you must receive either a C- or better, or a “pass” when a pass is the equivalent of at least a C-. Transferable courses must also relate to the CPCS curriculum in order to transfer. Generally, liberal arts, social sciences, humanities, and courses that relate to CPCS majors will be considered for transfer credit.

 

The Transfer Evaluation Process:

Entering students are responsible for having their official transcripts sent from all institutions of higher education where they have previously earned credits. Such transcripts are “official” only if they are sent from an institution of higher education directly to the Admissions Office at UMass Boston . This should happen prior to the beginning of the semester the student begins at CPCS. As part of the admissions process, college courses completed prior to CPCS are evaluated for transfer.

 

Administrative personnel will evaluate the transcripts of all entering students. After the first evaluation, students will receive a copy of their Transfer Evaluation Worksheet. These are distributed at Orientation or in your Critical Learning Seminar. If a student has submitted transcripts for evaluation and has not received a transfer evaluation by the third week of the semester, the student should notify the Office of Student Services at CPCS.

 

Students may also transfer in courses in that they take during their careers at CPCS. CPCS students are entitled to take courses in the rest of UMass Boston during the academic year without additional cost. They may also opt to take courses from UMass Boston or other accredited colleges or universities during the summer and transfer them after completion. It is strongly recommended that a student get prior approval for transfer before registering for any course outside of CPCS.

 

Appealing the Transfer Process:

An appeal process provides a way for a student to question either the number of transfers received or the way in which transfers have been applied to the student's program. A student who wishes to appeal a transfer credit evaluation should meet with the Administrative Dean. Students may contact the Office of Student Services to set up an appointment. Any changes made to a student's transfer evaluation must be submitted to the Administrative Dean for final authorization and processing.

 

Transfer of Associate Degrees:

Students who have received Associate degrees from accredited institutions will have their transcripts evaluated for the appropriateness of their fit to the CPCS program. If the Associates degree is in Liberal Arts or one of the CPCS career areas (for example, Human Services or Criminal Justice), entering students will be awarded 18 competencies:

Level I:   

Reading Life Histories

Media Literacy

Community Action

Two Level I Electives

 

Level II:   

Participation in Government

Quantitative Reasoning OR Historical Change

Two Level II Electives

Value Conflicts

 

Level III:   

Four Level III Electives

Critical Practice OR Social Difference

Major:   

Three Major competencies to be determined by faculty at CPCS

Students Entering CPCS with a Bachelor's Degree:

A student who has a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution will receive the equivalent of the Associate's degree transfer upon admission. The Administrative Dean may award additional transfer credits upon review of the student's transcripts. Additional competencies awarded will require a close match. The maximum number of competencies allowed via transfer is 24. All students are required to demonstrate the following competencies at CPCS: Dimensions of Learning, Critical Inquiry, Understanding Arguments, Community Portraits, Capstone Project, Portfolio competency, and 4 competencies in the major. Additional requirements will depend on an evaluation of the student's previous Bachelor's degree.   

 

Students entering CPCS with a Master's Degree without a Bachelor's Degree:

A student entering CPCS with a Masters degree from an accredited institution without a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution, will have his/her transcript reviewed for possible transfer credit on a course-by-course basis. Each course will be evaluated separately for possible transfer credit in relation to relevant CPCS competencies. Final approval will rest with the Administrative Dean.

 

Students Entering CPCS with Both the Bachelor's Degree and the Master's Degree:

A student entering CPCS with both the Bachelors degree from an accredited institution and a Masters degree from an accredited institution must follow the procedures outlined for the student entering with only a Bachelors degree. Final approval will rest with the Administrative Dean.

 

Three Year Nursing Degree Transfer:

All procedures are identical with those followed for the Associate degrees.

 

Transfer from the UMB Alcoholism Treatment Dependency Certification Program:

Students who have completed the full program (27 CEUs) may be awarded up to 5 CPCS competencies: 2 competencies in the major and three competencies in the Core, to be determined by the Administrative Dean. Note, however, that these transfers will be granted only if the student selects a Human Service major or concentration and if these competencies are NOT already covered by other transfer credits.

 

Transfer of Credits from the UMB Vocational Education Program:

Students who graduate from the UMass Boston Continuing Education Vocational Education Teacher Certification Program may receive up to 8 competencies for their certificate:

- 6 in Core Skills and Knowledge

- 2 Major-specific (to be determined by the major program faculty).