Intra-University Transfer (IUT)
Effective June 1, 2016
The policy applies to undergraduate students enrolled full time in any of the University’s schools and colleges except the College of General Studies and Metropolitan College.
Intra-University Transfer (IUT) is the process by which full-time undergraduates change their primary academic affiliation from one school or college to another within BU. If students who are enrolled full time in one of the University’s undergraduate schools or colleges have engaged fully in the program of their school/college and have determined that that program is not suitable for them, they may seek an IUT if they meet the following criteria:
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or greater on at least 12 credits per semester for at least one semester at Boston University.
- Satisfactory completion of Gateway Criteria as certified by an advisor in the Receiving School (the BU school or college to which a student desires to transfer). Students considering intra-University transfer must discuss their transfer in person with an advisor in the Receiving School.
Gateway Criteria: Gateway Criteria consist of courses, portfolio, audition, and/or level of academic performance required by the Receiving School. Gateway Criteria are consistent with expectations of students already enrolled in the Receiving School who are in the same cohort as the prospective IUT student. Once students transfer, they must meet the academic standards of the Receiving School in order to continue their enrollment.
Gateway Criteria and the process for transfer are published in Appendix A to this policy. The Undergraduate Council periodically reviews and updates the Gateway Criteria.
Students seeking to transfer to a degree program in Metropolitan College must apply through the Metropolitan College Admissions office. Students seeking to transfer from Metropolitan College to a degree program in another Boston University school or college must apply as a transfer student through Boston University Undergraduate Admissions.
Students in the College of General Studies who meet the CGS program requirements and the continuation requirements continue their studies in another undergraduate school or college (except MET), usually at the end of the sophomore year. For the criteria and procedures for continuation to the junior year, see CGS Academic Progress and Graduation in this Bulletin. Students in CGS cannot apply for an IUT.
Right of Appeal: It is expected that if students satisfy the IUT criteria and meet published deadlines, they will be allowed to change their college of enrollment beginning the next academic term. If, however, a student’s application for IUT is denied, the student may appeal the decision in writing to the dean of the Receiving School. If a student’s application is denied by the dean and the student has met all the Gateway Criteria, the student may appeal to the associate provost for undergraduate affairs, who will make the final determination.
Appendix A: Gateway Criteria and IUT Procedures
Gateway Criteria for students applying for IUT after May 31, 2021
| CAS | None |
| Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) | Students who are considering Intra-University Transfer (IUT) to CDS must discuss their IUT application with the Manager for Academic Programs in CDS by November 15 for Spring IUT and by August 1 for Fall IUT. Students must meet these criteria:
|
| CFA | Students must audition, submit a portfolio, or both. |
| COM | COM CO 101 The World of Communication: The Human Storyteller (4 credits) must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0). |
| ENG | It is strongly recommended that, prior to IUTing, students complete at least three of the following with at least a 2.00 average: CAS MA 123, CAS MA 124, CAS PY 211, and (CAS CH 101, or CAS CH 131). |
| Questrom | For students entering Boston University in fall 2019 and after, the following gateway criteria pertain:
Students pursuing Intra-University Transfer to Questrom must earn a minimum grade of “C” in five of the following courses, and no less than “C–” in the sixth course, prior to transferring:
Current students enrolled in the BSBA program must have earned a minimum grade of “C” in the five courses listed above, and no less than “C–” in the sixth course, in order to apply these courses toward their BSBA major and advance into 300-level Questrom courses. Students whose catalog year at Boston University is spring 2019 or earlier should meet with a member of the Undergraduate Academic & Career Center. |
| SAR | None for most programs. To enter the Dietetics track of the Nutrition program, a minimum grade of C+ (2.3) in each of the following four courses is required:
To enter the BS/DPT Program, only students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher will be considered, on a space-available basis. |
| SHA | HF 100 Introduction to the Hospitality Industry (4 credits) must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0). |
| Wheelock | To enter the BS in Education & Human Development, SED CE 342 Anti-Oppressive Practice: Education and Applied Psychology (4 credits) must be completed with a minimum grade of B– (2.7). |
Students applying for IUT should be aware of the University Policy on Repeated Courses.
Deadlines
Applications for IUT are accepted beginning after the first semester of enrollment at BU and generally no later than the end of the first semester of junior year.
Applications for IUT are reviewed on a rolling basis, but students are strongly encouraged to apply well before registration for the following semester.
Contacts
| School/Faculty | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| CAS | CAS Advising | casadv@bu.edu |
| CDS | CDS Advising | cds-advising@bu.edu |
| CFA | CFA Enrollment Services | cfastu@bu.edu |
| COM | COM Undergraduate Affairs | comugrad@bu.edu |
| ENG | Undergraduate Programs | engineering@bu.edu |
| Questrom | Questrom UDC | questromudc@bu.edu |
| SAR | Academic Service Center | sarugrad@bu.edu |
| SHA | Molly-Kate Carven | mkcarven@bu.edu |
| Wheelock | Liz Vassallo | vassallo@bu.edu |
School/College Change Procedures
Part A. IUT Process
- Well before registration for the following semester, the student completes a request form at the school/college to which they wish to transfer (Receiving School).
- The student makes an appointment and meets with an advisor at the Receiving School, who reviews the transcript on the MyBU Student Portal and completes an advising sheet.
- The Receiving School reviews AP scores and transcripts.
- The Receiving School admitted student record is updated online.
- The Receiving School communicates with the student via email and includes a link to Degree Advice on the MyBU Student Portal, if applicable.
Part B. Reporting
- Requests for IUTs should be documented in Student Notes using the IUT category.
- Schools will communicate with each other as students apply for IUT out of one school and into another. The Receiving School will email the Sending School (the current BU school or college of registration for a prospective IUT).
Advising: Prospective Intra-University Transfer students must discuss their transfer in person with an advisor in the Receiving School. The advisor must certify that the student meets the Gateway Criteria. Advisors are encouraged to discuss, to the best of their abilities, students’ likely success in the desired program given their current academic records, as well as the influence of transferring on students’ ability to obtain a degree in the desired program within the traditional four-year undergraduate time frame.
