Transferring Course Credits to BU

• Check the BU transfer credit database to find the course equivalency for your local university’s course.
• If your proposed course is listed with the exact course number you need, you will receive the equivalent course credit after you take these steps:
  • Email your college (CAS students: casadv@bu.edu) that you plan to take this pre-approved transfer course.
  • Successfully pass the course per college guidelines.
  • Have the institution mail your official transcript to your college. CAS students mail to: CAS Advising at 100 Bay State Road, Room 401 Boston, MA 02215.
• If your course is not listed in the BU equivalency database (or is listed with a different course number than you need), go to the Next Steps section below.

• Fill out the Transfer Course Equivalency Form.
• Obtain a full course syllabus* including the weekly lecture topics and textbook information. If the course has a lab, you must also submit a full lab syllabus including the weekly lab topics and lab manual information.
• Submit your transfer form and syllabus to the appropriate department (for Biology courses: drop off or email to Missy Berry in the main Biology office, 5 Cummington Mall, Room 101).
• Once the transfer course has been reviewed, you will receive an email with the evaluation decision. Please allow up to three weeks for this process.
• After successfully passing the course per the BU college guidelines, have the institution mail your official transcript to your college. CAS students mail to: CAS Advising at 100 Bay State Road, Room 401 Boston, MA 02215.

* Submitting only a course description will NOT be sufficient for evaluation; a complete syllabus is needed. You may need to contact the external instructor or department directly to obtain a copy of the full syllabus.

• To request BU study abroad biology courses be counted toward your major, use the Department Petition on the Biology Forms webpage. You must submit a full syllabus for each course (lecture and lab topics/schedule, textbook info., etc.).
• For study abroad programs outside BU, review the Transfer Credit Approval Process webpage for detailed instructions on how to transfer credits from your study abroad program.

Note: You will want to receive approval for study abroad courses before going abroad to confirm that your courses will count toward your major.

If you feel there has been a mistake in the evaluation of your transfer course, fill out the Transfer Credit Appeal Form. Submit the form and the course syllabus to the appropriate department (for Biology courses: drop off or email to Missy Berry in the main Biology office located at 5 Cummington Mall, Room 101).

Please note: Transfer course evaluations are carefully considered. Your appeal may be denied if the original evaluation is found to be accurate in regards to the course’s topics and level.