Cross-Registration

University Policy

College of General Studies Policy

Core Courses Taken Outside of Boston University

• If a student drops or fails a core course, it must be made up.
• Students can take an equivalent course at Boston University during summer term, but it is also possible to study at another four-year college or university or community college if the class is approved.
• All external work must be outside the route 128 beltway. A list of schools within the 128 beltway is available in CGS Room 211.
• In the Spring, division chairs distribute a list of acceptable substitute courses being offered by Boston University’s Summer Term.
• If students plan to make up a core course outside of Boston University, they must, as soon as possible, complete the Inter-Collegiate Course Transfer Request form (available in CGS Room 211) and submit a Summer Term course description to the department chair and get prior approval.

Elective Courses Taken Outside of Boston University

Students planning to take electives must have them approved by the relevant department in CAS, COM, SAR, or SMG using a course approval form available from the appropriate school/department.

If the student has taken college courses while in high school, an official transcript must be sent. Students can check the Student Link to see how many credits they have received and which specific Boston University courses have been credited.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits

Students who have taken AP courses while in high school must send an official record of all test results to Boston University. Students may check the Student Link to see how many credits they have received and which specific Boston University courses have been credited. In most cases, AP scores of 4 or 5 are necessary for BU credit.

Getting Credit

• CGS credit will be given for approved courses taken outside Boston University only if the grade earned is “C” or higher. Some concentrations in departments of other schools in BU require a C+ or higher.
• Credit will be given but grades earned outside of Boston University are not computed in the student’s Boston University grade point average.
• Pass/Fail courses are not acceptable.
• If a student takes a course outside of Boston University, the student is responsible for having an official transcript sent to CGS, not to the University Registrar. Official transcripts should be sent to the address below by the second week in August to avoid delay in continuation to another school or college:
  Stacy Godnick, Senior Assistant Dean
  Boston University, College of General Studies
  871 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215