Transferring Core Curriculum Credit - FAQ
Information on Transferring Core Curriculum Credit Between University System of Georgia Institutions, Memo to Chief Academic Officers, December 1, 1998.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each institution has developed a core curriculum with 60 semester hours of courses in Areas A through F. While institutions have some flexibility in defining learning outcomes in each area, the core curriculum completed at one System institution is fully transferrable to another System institution for the same major.
The following information is applicable to most students who transfer from one University System of Georgia institution to another. However, specific situations that may result in minor exceptions to these general transfer rights are described in the section following the questions and answers.
How can I make sure that I can transfer my credit in the core areas?
You will receive full credit in transfer if you complete the 60 credit hours of the Core Curriculum at any System institution and do not change your major.
If you cannot complete the entire Core Curriculum at one college, try to complete the entire areas (A through F) of the Core Curriculum. You will receive full credit for any area that you have completed at a System institution if you transfer without changing your major.
Will individual courses transfer to any system institution?
Only certain individual courses are guaranteed to transfer if you do not complete the core areas. You will definitely receive credit for completion of English Composition 1101, English Composition 1102, your Essential Skills math course (if you do not change majors), and any other course with a common course number included in the Core Curriculum of both colleges.
What will happen to my transfer credits if I change my major?
If you change your major, you may be required to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Generally, completion of Areas B, C and E will be accepted regardless of major, but your core math and science requirements may change.
Will I receive credit for courses that I take at another institution as a transient student?
You must have one home institution where you are currently enrolled whose Core Curriculum you will be expected to follow. Students who transfer from one System college to another automatically change their home institution. If you want to take courses at another institution and have them count toward your degree, you must receive permission from the home institution to take the specific courses as a transient student. (If you take courses at more than one institution and do not transfer or have transient permission, your credit may not count toward your degree requirements at your home institution.)
What information do I need to provide to my transfer institution?
To receive full transfer credit, you have the responsibility to provide a transcript and any other information requested by the institution awarding the transfer credit.
What if I have problems transferring credits?
Each institution has an ombudsperson assigned to facilitate transfer of students between System institutions. If you have problems with acceptance of your credit, contact the transfer ombudsperson at the transfer college for help. If the problems cannot be resolved, contact the ombudsperson of the college from which you have transferred.
Exceptions to General System Transfer Policy
Provided that native and transfer students are treated equally, institutions may impose additional reasonable expectations (e.g., a minimum grade of “C” in English Composition or no credit for an introductory course in a foreign language, especially if the student took that language in high school).
For students who transfer after completing the Core Curriculum at a System institution, receiving institutions may require that these students complete any additional requirements as specified for native students. However, the total number of hours required of the transfer student for the baccalaureate degree shall not exceed the number of hours required of native students for the same major field.
If credit from an institution outside of the System is accepted in transfer by a System institution, that credit will not necessarily be accepted by another System institution. The transfer of outside credit is more likely if a student completes the entire Core Curriculum before transferring within the System.
Students transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology will have to complete a calculus course in area A regardless of their major.