Female student working in lab

Policies

Admission and transfer policies

Applying for admission

To be considered for admission, students applying to lower-division programs offered on the Monroe Park Campus must present a cumulative GPA of a “C” or better (2.25 on a 4.0 scale recommended) in all nondevelopmental hours attempted at all accredited colleges attended. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 semester/45 quarter hours also are evaluated on their high school academic performance and, if under 22 years of age at the time of enrollment, SAT or ACT scores. Some Monroe Park Campus programs, such as art, business, education, engineering and mass communications, may have additional or upper-level requirements for admission. Prospective students should consult the current Undergraduate Bulletin for specific requirements.

Transfer applicants ineligible to return to a former institution because of an academic suspension may not enroll at VCU for a period of one year for the first suspension and five years for the second suspension. Transfer applicants who have been suspended from another institution for nonacademic or disciplinary reasons are referred to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs for pre-admission clearance. Students attending a community college during the suspension and subsequently applying to VCU will have a cumulative GPA computed with consideration given to the community college work. Students who attended VCU prior to their enrollment in a Virginia community college are required to maintain a 2.25 GPA at the community college in order to be eligible to transfer to VCU as a degree-seeking student.

Students applying for admission to undergraduate programs offered on the Monroe Park Campus are encouraged to apply online. Application materials may also be requested from:
VCU Office of Undergraduate Admissions
P.O. Box 842526
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2526
Phone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Students pursuing undergraduate health sciences programs offered on the MCV Campus may apply online or request information from:
VCU Office of Undergraduate Admissions/MCV Campus
P.O. Box 980632
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0632
Phone: (804) 827-0152 or (800) 841-3638

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Applying to MCV Campus programs

Applicants to the professional-level health sciences programs on the MCV Campus must consult with the individual programs for the minimum number of transferable credit hours from an accredited college or university and must satisfy the prerequisites of the program to which they are applying. The selection process is based on several different factors, including academic records, communication skills, experience, personal characteristics and test results. Each program uses a faculty committee to evaluate criteria appropriate to the profession, and pre-professional courses are evaluated as part of the selection procedure. Refer to the appropriate section of the current Undergraduate Bulletin for specific admission requirements.

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GPA calculation

In computing a GPA for admission, all hours attempted at all accredited colleges attended are included using the following guidelines:

  1. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours, as applicable.
  2. For applications to Monroe Park Campus programs, an “I” grade is converted to an “F” after a quarter or semester has passed.
  3. A “WP” or “W” is not included in the GPA calculation.
  4. For applications to Monroe Park Campus programs, a “WF” grade is calculated as an “F.”
  5. For applications to Monroe Park Campus programs, an “R” grade is converted to an “F” after a quarter or semester has passed. If the student re-enrolls for the course, the final grade is computed instead of the initial “R.” For applications to the MCV Campus, an “R” grade is not calculated in the GPA; however, an “R” that appears as an “F” is calculated with the second grade received for the course.
  6. If a student repeats a course in which he/she initially received a failing grade, and passes the course, the “F” is deleted from the GPA calculation.
  7. Courses designated 01-09 in the Virginia Community College System are not included in the GPA computation for admission.

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State policy on transfer agreement

VCU welcomes applications from Virginia community college students and RBC students who have earned the associate in arts, associate in science or associate in arts and science degrees, or approved A.A.&S. or A.S. programs in general studies. Students holding these degrees will have junior standing and will be considered to have met all lower-division general education requirements with the exception of certain lower-level and upper-level program requirements, which apply to all students. Students should follow closely the detailed course suggestions offered in this Transfer Guide. By selecting certain courses to fulfill requirements within the associate degree programs, additional lower-division courses needed after transfer to VCU can be held to a minimum. Generally, 63 semester credits can be accepted from the associate degrees.

Additionally:

  • Students must make proper application for admission.
  • Only credits applied toward the receipt of the associate degree will be accepted, generally not to exceed 63 hours.
  • Credits needed to meet major prerequisites will be based on the Course Equivalency Guide or agreements resulting from program-to-program transfer agreements
  • Students will not be required to repeat courses that have been satisfactorily completed at a Virginia community college except in cases where special restrictions apply to all students.
  • Applicants to degree programs that are competitive are not guaranteed admission but will be evaluated on the same basis as native students.

For students with the A.A., A.S., and A.A.&S. degrees from a VCCS institution or RBC, VCU degree requirements in effect at the date of the student’s admission to the VCCS or RBC associate degree program will be used in certifying the student for graduation if the student has not interrupted his/her associate degree more than two consecutive semesters (excluding summer semesters).

Requirements of all students that apply with associate degrees are:

  1. English: The core education program writing requirement at VCU includes UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I, UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II and ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II. Virginia community college students who have taken ENG 111 and earned at least a “C” grade receive credit for UNIV 112 and are required to take ENGL 200; these students are exempted from UNIV 111. Students who have taken ENG 112* in summer 2005 or after and earned at least a “C” grade receive credit for ENGL 200; these students are required to take UNIV 111 and UNIV 112 only if they have not successfully completed ENG 111. Students who successfully complete ENG 111 and 112 at the community college have fulfilled all core education program writing requirements (UNIV 111, 112 and ENGL 200) at VCU.

    For associate degree holders, completion of ENGL 101 and 102 at RBC will fulfill the UNIV 111, 112 and ENGL 200 requirement. For RBC students who transfer without an associate degree, ENGL 101 at RBC=UNIV 111 at VCU; ENGL 102 at RBC=UNIV 112 at VCU; ENGL 200 at RBC=ENGL 200 at VCU.

    *If ENG 112 was taken prior to summer 2005, it applies as a general elective unless the student completed ENG 111 (with a “C” grade or better), ENGL 112 (with a “B” grade or better) and a 200-level literature course (with a “C” grade or better). If all three courses were taken, credit is granted for UNIV 112, ENGL 200 and a literature course, and the student is exempt from UNIV 111.
  1. Foreign language: All baccalaureate programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences and VCU Life Sciences require competency through the elementary level of a foreign language; English, history and political science majors require competency through the intermediate level.
  1. Computer literacy: All undergraduate students in the College of Humanities and Sciences, the School of Social Work and VCU Life Sciences must complete or pass the VCU Computer Proficiency Assessment prior to graduation. Equivalent VCCS courses are CSC 110 or 155, or IST 100 or 117. The equivalent RBC course is CSCI 202.
  1. Mathematics/statistics: All bachelor’s degree programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences and VCU Life Sciences have mathematics/statistics requirements that must be met. See the specific program for required courses and their equivalents.
  1. Urban environment: All baccalaureate programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences require the completion of a three-credit course dealing with aspects of modern-day urban life. Typically, with few exceptions, the course is completed in the last 60 credits of the undergraduate program.
  1. The School of Social Work requires a 2.5 GPA for admission to upper-level courses. The School of Business requires a 2.25 GPA for admission to upper-level course work. (A cumulative 2.75 GPA is required for admission to the information systems major in the School of Business.) The School of Mass Communications requires a 2.35 GPA for admission to upper-level work. For students pursuing a career in early and elementary or secondary education through the Extended Teacher Preparation Program of the College of Humanities and Sciences and the School of Education, a 2.5 GPA and successful passage of the Praxis I examination are required for entry into Teacher Preparation, a stage in the program after the student has completed 60 credits. For students applying to majors in the School of the Arts, a portfolio evaluation for visual arts applicants and an audition for performance applicants are required.
  1. The professional baccalaureate programs in allied health professions, nursing, social work, the dental hygiene program in the School of Dentistry and the doctoral programs in pharmacy and physical therapy have specific program-related lower-level requirements that must be completed to apply and enter health profession programs.

    The Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science programs have specific lower-level requirements related to state-approved program status, professional certification and entry into the practicum sequence. Specified science courses are a prerequisite for entry into upper-level kinesiology and exercise courses. While some flexibility is available in the transfer of some other courses into the lower-level part of the programs, the first two years of these programs are not traditional general education.
  1. Transfer work from some occupational-technical programs is reviewed under specific conditions for the interdisciplinary program and the special program in nursing for community college R.N.- degree holders who wish to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
  1. Students wishing to transfer to the School of Engineering must have a 3.0 GPA with no grades below a “C.” Transfer students from VCCS will follow existing articulation agreements.
  1. Transfer students wishing to apply to the bioinformatics program in VCU Life Sciences should show a GPA of 2.5 in all hours attempted at all accredited colleges attended, with a GPA of at least 3.0 overall in their math, science and/or computer science courses. The B.S. in Bioinformatics program has a competitive admissions process, and all applications received by VCU for the bioinformatics program are considered by both the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (for admission to VCU) and by the Bioinformatics Admissions Committee of VCU Life Sciences for specific admission into the bioinformatics program. Students with fewer than 30 semester/45 quarter hours also are evaluated on their high school academic performance and, if under 22 years of age at the time of enrollment, SAT or ACT scores. High school work should present a minimum GPA of 3.3, rank in the top quarter of the graduating class, and standardized test scores should predict academic achievement (e.g., combined SAT score of 1100).
  1. The approved A.A.&S. or A.S. programs in general studies are: Dabney Lancaster, Germanna, Lord Fairfax, Mountain Empire, New River, Patrick Henry, Piedmont Virginia, Southside Virginia, Virginia Western and Wytheville community colleges.
  1. Writing intensive courses: The College of Humanities and Sciences and selected other departments at VCU require “writing intensive” courses. Generally, this requirement is fulfilled by completing upper-level VCU courses that have no equivalency in VCCS or RBC courses.

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VCU/VCCS Guaranteed Admission Agreement with Teacher Education Provision Admission

The VCU GAA-TEPA in the area of an arts and sciences core leads to a transferable associate degree (A.A.&S., A.A. or A.S.) that will facilitate entry to a teacher education program, PK-6, at VCU. In addition, a student must earn at least a 2.5 GPA at VCU and have passed Praxis I before formal admission to the teacher preparation program.

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VCU/VCCS Guaranteed Admission Agreements

In an effort to ease the transfer process and to promote closer coordination of academic courses, programs and degrees offered by our institutions, VCU has entered into a Guaranteed Admission Agreement [PDF] with all VCCS institutions.

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Evaluation of transfer credit: four- and two-year institution applicants

The exact use of the transferable courses in fulfilling a major requirement, general education requirement or general elective is determined by the VCU school or college in which the transfer student enrolls. Because of the varying curriculum structures of each school, it is possible that some generally acceptable courses from two-year or four-year degree programs may not be accepted because of the number and kind of courses the student has taken. For example, if the student has taken seven or eight biology courses, but wishes to transfer to the School of Business, it is possible that the business curriculum at VCU will not accept all of the biology courses for credit. Generally, transfer credit is granted only for course work from regionally accredited institutions.

Students from VCCS institutions and RBC who have not completed the college-parallel A.A., A.S., or A.A.&S. degree will have the exact designation of their status determined after an evaluation of acceptable credits as determined by the equivalencies shown in the VCU Transfer Guide. Not more than 50 percent of credits may be accepted in the major field of study. Also, the applicant should realize that more than two additional years may be necessary to complete the degree requirements in certain curricula.

Credits earned in community college occupational or technical programs will be judged on their own merits to determine their applicability toward VCU degree requirements. In addition, many accredited institutions offer correspondence courses, which may be considered for transfer credit.

After an accepted student’s final grades have been received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, a transfer credit evaluation form, which is prepared by the student’s intended VCU college or school and lists the transferable courses, is sent to the student. Students accepted to programs on the MCV Campus will receive the transfer credit evaluation form with the letter of acceptance.

Accepted transfer credits contribute to hours earned and toward fulfillment of degree requirements at VCU. Although the grades of accepted transfer courses are recorded on the student’s VCU transcript, hours attempted and quality points earned are not recorded. Accepted transfer credits are not included in the transfer student’s overall GPA at VCU. However, calculation of the GPA requirement for admittance into the School of Business advanced program considers grades earned at all institutions attended. The GPA for fulfillment of VCU degree requirements is computed only from courses taken at VCU. The grades and quality points of transfer courses are evaluated in the computation determining graduation honors. Accepted quarter-hour credits recorded on the VCU transcript are converted to semester-hour credits.

A student who changes his or her major after beginning classes at VCU must have another evaluation of credits completed by the school offering the new major. In this case, the department chair of the new major is not obligated to accept all the courses accepted for transfer credit in the initial evaluation. This rule does not change the completion of general education requirements per the State Policy on Transfer if the student has completed the associate degree. Conversely, a second evaluation following a change of major may result in transfer of a greater number of credits.

Attainment of the college/school or department minimum GPA, and any other standard requirements, is required of all students including, in the case of the School of the Arts, a portfolio evaluation for visual arts applicants and an audition for performing arts applicants. Applicants to degree programs that are competitive are not guaranteed admission but will be evaluated on the same basis as native students.

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Credit for service in armed forces

The university may grant credit for formal military service school courses offered by the various branches of the U.S. armed services. The guidelines for granting credit for these courses include:

  1. The positive recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences of the American Council on Education as stated in the most recent edition of “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.”
  2. The applicability of such credit to the student’s degree program as interpreted by the department or the school in which the student seeks a degree.

Accepted credits are counted as hours earned toward the degree, but are not used in the computation of the student’s VCU GPA. The student should consult with the assistant dean of the school or college for further details about the procedures for awarding credit for military service school courses.

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Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

The IB and AP tests of the College Entrance Examination Board determine advanced placement of students. AP test scores of 3, 4 or 5 will be awarded from three to 10 semester credits per test, depending on the subject area. For IB examination scores, each Higher Level subject passed with a score of 4 to 7 and Standard Level with a score of 5 to 7 will be considered for advanced standing and equivalent to the corresponding sequence of that subject. To ensure consistency, the College of Humanities and Sciences dean’s office is the official credit notification point for IB and AP courses. Notification will be sent to the registrar, student and major department. Final determination of credit will be made after test results have been received and evaluated by the university. Accepted credits are counted as credits earned toward the degree, but are not used in the computation of the student’s VCU GPA. The School of the Arts will evaluate courses taken in music, theatre or visual arts before credit is awarded, if any. An IB diploma will entitle the student to automatic admission to the Honors College. Three elective credits will be awarded for the “Theory of Knowledge” course. For more information, contact the College of Humanities and Sciences dean’s office at (804) 827-8211.

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Curriculum suggestions

To assist students in planning their transfer from VCCS or RBC to VCU, this Web site lists the recommended courses for the first two years in each school and the college and identifies transferable courses that will satisfy these requirements. This resource, however, is not a detailed analysis and may exclude some specific major requirements. Students planning to transfer to VCU should refer to the current Undergraduate Bulletin for the specific degree requirements of their intended major. Students also are encouraged to consult with their college counselor, and to e-mail or call the VCU contact person for their intended area of study.

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College Level Examination Program

CLEP examinations are used to recognize college-level achievement acquired through independent study, advanced high school or honors classes and other experiences outside the classroom. Depending on their major, students may earn up to 54 semester hours of credit through successful scores on a variety of exams.

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Effective bulletin

A transfer student without an associate degree will complete the degree program listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin effective at the time of entering the program. After enrollment at VCU, students maintaining continuous enrollment may choose to stay with their original bulletin or change to a later one, at their option, but must satisfy all requirements of the one they choose.

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Application deadlines

For information on applications and deadlines, as well as links to supplemental application materials, visit the Undergraduate Admissions Web site.

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Questions about transfer

If students have questions about transfer or course equivalencies not answered through this Transfer Guide, they should contact the associate or assistant dean of the school or college to which an application is being made. If further questions remain, please contact the chief transfer officer in the University College.

For questions concerning financial aid, housing, registration, orientation and other support services, contact the individual offices.

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VCU Transfer Guide Virginia Commonwealth University