Acceptance of Transfer Credit
Transfer credit may only be accepted and applied to the student’s UAMS record when each of the conditions in this section is met. If clarification or additional information is required in order to evaluate transfer credit, UAMS may request additional documentation related to the transcript, including but not limited to, academic catalogs, syllabi, or course offerings from the originating transfer institution. Knowledge Credit is not considered to be transfer credit as defined by this policy.
- The credit was earned at a regionally accredited college or university or similarly accredited international institution.
- The nature, content, and level of credit is comparable to that offered by UAMS, where applicable.
- The course was completed and credit earned no more than seven years prior, or within the timeframe allowed by the college or academic program. To accept courses that were completed more than seven years prior, exceptions approval is required from the college or academic program.
- The credit earned is appropriate and applicable to the academic programs offered by UAMS, fulfills a general education requirement for the program, and/or is appropriate in light of the student’s educational goals.
- A minimum letter grade of “C” or above has been earned. Colleges and/or programs may establish more stringent qualifications to evaluate and approve transfer credit in accordance with their individual policies, as outlined in the individual college/program sections of the UAMS Catalog.
- The credit does not exceed the maximum number of transfer credit hours allowed for transfer by the specific academic program or college.
- The credit is not applied to fulfill multiple requirements within the same degree plan.
- The credit was not completed in an online laboratory, if prohibited by a specific academic program or college.
- If clarification or additional information is required in order to evaluate transfer credit, UAMS reserves the right to request additional information related to the transcript, including but not limited to academic catalogs, syllabi, or course offerings from the originating transfer institution.
Transfer Credit Exceptions
When course credit has not met all requirements in preceding section, the college curriculum committee may still approve the acceptance of transfer credit on a case-by-case basis where state and federal statute and/or programmatic and institutional accreditation are not impacted. In addition to the completed Transfer Credit Approval Form (see “Transfer Credit Evaluation Process” below), transfer credit exceptions must be accompanied by an official statement of justification for the exception by the college or academic department.
The Arkansas Course Transfer System
Students who have attended other public colleges in Arkansas are guaranteed the transfer of applicable undergraduate credits and equitable treatment in the application of credits for admissions and degree requirements. Students may complete specified General Education courses anywhere in the Arkansas public system within the timeframes outline in the UAMS Catalog. UAMS abides by the state initiative of the Arkansas Course Transfer System. The transfer credit equivalency guide for Arkansas schools is available on the ADHE website at https://adhe.edu/students-parents/transfer-info-for-students.
Transfer Credit Evaluation Process
New/Prospective Students
Transfer credit evaluations for new and prospective students who have not yet enrolled in coursework at UAMS are completed by the admissions officer(s) for the academic college to which the student has applied. If transcripts are required for admission to an academic program, the applicant must submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended directly to the Office of Admissions. See individual college admission requirements and the UAMS Catalog for details about where to send transcripts and related documents. Transfer credit may be tentatively evaluated based upon unofficial transcripts, but official transcripts are required before transfer credit will be posted to the student record and applied to the student’s UAMS degree plan. Concerns regarding transfer credit evaluation decisions should be directed to the admissions director for the student’s college. The college or academic program makes the final decision regarding evaluation of credit.
Continuing Students
Enrolled and continuing students must request transfer credit evaluation through the Office of the University Registrar (OUR). To request evaluation of transfer credit, the student must submit both the official transcript and the UAMS Transfer Credit Approval Form, available at http://registrar.uams.edu. Students are strongly encouraged to submit a Transfer Credit Approval Form prior to enrolling in a course at another institution intended for transfer to the UAMS degree program. Completion of this form verifies the transferability of the coursework and documents that the academic department will apply the course to the student degree plan as long as the completed course meets the requirements outlined in the “Acceptance of Transfer Credit” section above. The Transfer Credit Approval Form is the official documentation of approval of transfer credit; verbal and/or email agreements do not constitute a guarantee of approval or articulation. Courses are reviewed by program academic standards and/or admissions committees for credit decisions. These committees may require a student to repeat specific course(s) if prior completion was unsatisfactory. Concerns regarding transfer credit evaluation decisions should be directed to the admissions director for the student’s college. The college or academic program makes the final decision regarding evaluation of credit.
State Minimum General Education Core Curriculum
The following table is based on Appendix C, Section 1, of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s Criteria and Procedures for Establishing Programs. Although the Arkansas Course Transfer System now determines the specific courses in the categories outlined below, the basic structure of the “35-hour minimum core” has been deemed useful and remains part of the policy and guidelines promulgated by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
English/Communication (6-9 semester credit hours)
English Composition 6 credit hours
Speech Communication 0-3 credit hours
Mathematics (3 semester credit hours)
A comprehensive mathematics course such as College Algebra, Statistics, Quantitative Literacy/Mathematical Reasoning or any higher-level mathematics course. Institutions may require students majoring in mathematics, engineering, science, and business to take a higher-level mathematics course as part of the state minimum core.
Science (8 semester credit hours)
Science courses must include laboratories. Institutions may require students majoring in mathematics, engineering, science, education, and health professions to take higher-level or specific science courses.
Fine Arts/Humanities (6-9 semester credit hours)
Must be broad survey courses. Institutions may require students majoring in engineering to take either 6 hours of humanities and social sciences at the junior/senior level or substitute an additional 6 hours of higher-level mathematics and/or additional science courses.
Social Sciences (9-12 semester credit hours)
U.S. History or Government 3 hours
Other Social Sciences 6-9 hours
Institutions may require students majoring in engineering to take either 6 hours or humanities and social sciences at the junior/senior level or substitute an additional 6 hours of higher-level mathematics and/or additional science courses.
It is strongly recommended that prospective students contact their program of interest to determine the transferability of prerequisite and core curriculum courses prior to enrollment.