Transfer Credit


Before transferring to Michigan, Ángela Rondon-Begazo took classes at Washtenaw Community College that transferred as equivalent credit at U-M.

Transfer Course Equivalencies

How Transfer Credits Work

If you are following the MACRAO agreement, your coursework should satisfy most of the distribution requirements of the college. The University of Michigan will accept coursework that was completed for a grade of C or better in areas of study available at the Ann Arbor campus. You will receive the number of semester hours of credit (with quarter hours converted to semester hours) that you earned at your college, regardless of the number of credit hours for similar courses at Michigan.

Individual academic units may have limits on the number of transferable credits, so always check with the school or college you’re interested in for specifics.

LSA Course Equivalencies

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) does not require specific courses for transfer admission, but taking classes that fulfill LSA’s general education requirements will make you more competitive in the admissions process.

General education requirements for LSA:

  • First year writing Requirement - 4 credits
  • Quantitative Reasoning - 3 credits
  • Foreign Language Requirement (2 year proficiency) - up to 16 credits
  • Area Distribution Requirement - 30 credits
  • 7 credits in the following three areas:
    Natural Science (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy)
    Social Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, History)
    Humanities (e.g., Art History, Literature, Philosophy)
  • An additional 3 credits in one of the areas above, or in:
    Mathematical & Symbolic Analysis (e.g., Calculus, Statistics, C++ Programming)
    Creative Expression (e.g., Dance, Acting, Creative Writing)

Other School and College Course Equivalencies

If you’re interested in applying for admission to other schools/colleges on campus, please review the Admissions Requirements section of this site to determine what prerequisites are required for admission.

How Courses Transfer

Courses can transfer in one of three ways:

Equivalent Credit

Courses at other colleges and universities that closely match courses taught on our campus will usually transfer as "equivalent credit." Courses completed at other colleges and universities will appear on the University of Michigan transcript with a U-M course number assigned.

Departmental Credit

Courses taken at colleges and universities that do not closely match the courses in the same departments on our campus may transfer as "departmental credit." Note that departmental credit, while transferable and usually applicable as elective credit, may only be used toward meeting distribution and/or concentration requirements with the permission of an academic or concentration advisor.

Interdepartmental Credit

Courses that cover a broad range of topics within a general area of study are considered "interdepartmental credit." These are courses that, because of the scope of their subject material, cannot be assigned to any individual academic department. Like departmental credit, interdepartmental credit is usually applicable as elective credit. It must, however, be approved by an academic or concentration advisor if it is to be used toward distribution and/or concentration requirements.