Transfer Credit for Computer Science Courses
Current BU students who wish to take external computer science courses for credit should be aware that BU university wide policies and departmental policies apply. This page outlines the steps for finding pre-approved courses, submitting new courses for review, and understanding how external CS credit can apply to your degree requirements.
Note: Incoming transfer or first-year students seeking credit for computer science courses completed prior to enrolling at BU should consult the BU Admissions Office for more information.
Before pursuing external courses, students are strongly encouraged to consult with a CS advisor to ensure the course aligns with departmental guidelines and degree requirements. In most cases, the most straightforward and reliable option is to take an existing BU course that fulfills the requirement. External course approvals are not guaranteed and require additional review, so early planning and advising are essential. Requests are handled on an individual basis.
Important CS Policies
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Course transfer requests for current BU students are decided on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Department. The evaluation is based on content as well as the individual circumstances of the student.
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BU students may only receive credit for external computer science courses taken during the summer. Courses taken during the winter inter-session are not accepted by the department. Additionally, approved summer courses must not overlap with BU’s fall or spring semester dates.
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Per the University Residency Requirement, students who enter as first-years can apply up to 60 external credits toward their degree requirements. Students who enter as transfer students can apply up to 68 external credits. This includes AP, international college-level exams, dual enrollment credits, and credit from other institutions.
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Online courses will only be accepted from US institutions. Courses will only be considered if a substantial portion of the final grade comes from midterm and final exams. Exams have to be real-time and proctored. Un-proctored exams will never be approved. Rare exceptions may be given for heavily project-based courses.
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Transfer courses will not be accepted towards Group C. Courses with related content may be considered towards the electives on a case-by-case basis.
How To Find Pre-Approved External Courses?
If you’re looking to take a computer science course outside of BU, there are two tools you can use to find courses that have been pre-approved to fulfill BU requirements: Transferology and TES (Transfer Evaluation System).
- Transferology (requires a free account):
On this site, you can enter the BU course you’re trying to fulfill, and it will generate a list of institutions that offer equivalent courses.
- TES (Transfer Evaluation System):
TES works in reverse—you start by entering the name of the institution you’re interested in. It will show a list of courses from that school that have already been approved for BU credit.
Please note: While these tools help identify what has been approved, you’ll still need to visit the other institution’s website to find details like whether the course is offered in the summer, if it’s available online, and tuition information. Pay attention to any listed expiration dates listed on either site.
For any course you find on Transferology or TES, you must submit the Transfer Course Pre-Screen Request Form. This notifies CAS that you’re planning to take a previously approved course outside of BU. Once you receive confirmation from CAS that your external course has been approved, you may enroll in the course.
After completing the course, you must request that an official transcript be sent directly to BU. This is typically done electronically through a service like Parchment (unofficial transcripts will not be accepted).
Official transcripts should be sent to BU’s Credit Evaluation Office at: cetscrpt@bu.edu
How to Request Department Approval for a New External Course?
If you’re a CAS student and would like an external course to count toward your CS major or minor, you must complete the Transfer Course Equivalency Form and provide the most current syllabus for the external course. The syllabus should include a weekly lecture schedule or topic list that will be covered, grade breakdown, and a description for homework assignments or course materials.
Email your completed form and supporting documentation to csadvise@bu.edu so we can process your request.
Important: Please wait for the department’s evaluation and approval before registering for or paying for an external course. Course transfer requests for current BU students are decided on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Department. The evaluation is based on content as well as the individual circumstances of the student.
Students in other BU schools or colleges should request the appropriate form from their school-specific advising office. Before submitting your request, we recommend reviewing BU CS course descriptions and syllabi to assess whether your proposed course is comparable in depth and content.
If you have additional questions about course equivalencies or you have considerable prior CS coursework and are interested in majoring in Computer Science, please reach out to Undergraduate Program Director for more information.