Transfer Credits

Students can bring in transfer credits toward their UConn degree for a variety of reasons. Check out the information below regarding the various types of transfer credit, or learn more on the CLAS Academic Services Center website. Students can also talk to an advisor regarding their transfer credit and how it can be applied toward their degree.

Types of Transfer Credit

When an eligible course is initially transferred to UConn, transfer admissions will evaluate the course and give it a UConn equivalent:

  • Direct equivalency: transfer course comes in as an exact UConn course (example: BIOL 1108. Principles of Biology II).
  • Generic credit: transfer course does not come in as an exact UConn course (example: BIOL 91500. BIOL 1000-level).

Students can use both types of transfer credit toward their degree at UConn. General education courses can transfer as generic credits. Direct equivalents and generic credits may be counted toward Biology major requirements and related courses must be direct equivalents. However, no more than eight 2000-level or higher transfer credits count toward the biological sciences major. This rule does vary by department, so if you have a minor or another major, you will want to check with their advisors on transfer credit policies.

Evaluating Transfer Credits

Transferring Credits as a Current UConn Student

Taking a Course at a Different Institution in Connecticut

Use the Transfer Course Equivalencies list on the Transfer Admissions website. If the list does not have the course you are looking for, use the Prior Course Approval Form (see below). Please note if you are looking to take either a Direct Equivalent or Generic Credit course (see differences between types of credit under Transfer Credit Information).

Taking a Course at an Institution Out of State

Use the Prior Course Approval Form on Student Admin. Please note if you are looking to take either a Direct Equivalent or Generic Credit course.

Transfer Credit Restrictions

Introduction Courses: BIOL 1107/1108

Transfer students often transfer in credit one or more semesters of direct equivalent or generic introductory biology coursework. Please keep in mind that no more than 12 credits of 1000-level BIOL coursework can be counted toward an undergraduate degree.

The order in which certain content is offered across the introductory biology courses is unique to UConn, as BIOL 1107 covers cell biology, genetics, and physiology, while BIOL 1108 covers animal/plant diversity and ecology and evolution. Because the semesters in which UConn delivers this content often differs from other institutions, it is very common that transfer students receive generic credit 1000-level BIOL credit for these courses and will require further review of the full content of both courses to determine potential equivalency to BIOL 1107 and/or BIOL 1108.

Transfer Credit Restrictions for the Biology Majors

For all catalog years: No more than 8 credits of 2000-level or higher transfer credits can be used towards the biological sciences major. This rule does not apply to the intro level courses. So, a transfer student majoring in biological sciences could transfer in both BIOL 1107 and 1108, and up to eight credits of 2000+ level direct equivalent or generic EEB, MCB, or PNB coursework to count toward their major.

Restrictions for BIOL and PNB majors: PNB 2264/2265 and transfer credit for PNB 92501 cannot count toward the Biological Sciences or Physiology and Neurobiology majors. However, these credits can satisfy related requirements for EEB and MCB majors.

The PNB major does not permit any transfer credit to count toward the 2000-level or higher PNB credit requirement.

Information for Re-evaluation: To have a course reevaluated as a direct equivalent or other course, students can submit a syllabus to our online form under the respective "Transfer Credit Reevaluation" button below.

Transfer Credit Policies for Minors in Biology and Neuroscience

No transfer credits, direct equivalent or generic, may be used toward the Physiology and Neurobiology or Neuroscience minors.

Direct equivalent courses may be used to satisfy group requirements within the Bioinformatics minor, but may not count toward the 15-credit requirement if it also satisfies a requirement within the student’s major.

In consultation with their assigned advisor, students may count 2000-level or higher direct equivalent or generic transfer credit in EEB, MCB, and PNB coursework toward the Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary, and Molecular and Cellular minors.

To have a course reevaluated as a direct equivalent to satisfy a specific requirement, students should submit a syllabus for review using the appropriate "Transfer Credit Reevaluation" button below.

AP Credit

Students that earned a 4 or 5 on their AP Biology exam will receive 8 credits total for BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108. These direct equivalent courses satisfy degree and major requirements for introductory level biology. All students, whether new First-Year or Transfer, must send these scores directly to UConn Admissions from College Board to apply these credits toward their UConn degree.

For more information about transferring AP credits, refer to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Study Abroad Courses

For questions about earning academic credit while studying abroad, please visit the UConn Experiential Global Learning website.

Biology Transfer Credit Re-Evaluation Information and Forms

Students must submit requests by the submission deadlines listed below and will receive a decision by the corresponding notification deadline. Due to the volume of requests, the department reserves the right to modify the decision notification date. If so, a new decision notification date will be communicated via email to any student with a pending request. Please read the information below carefully to ensure a speedy evaluation of your course/s.

Note: Please expect a delay of a few weeks between processing your approved transfer credits and when the credits appear on your transcript.

Re-Evaluation Requirements

  • Fill out the Transfer Credit Re-evaluation Form completely and accurately.
  • Attach the course syllabus, ideally including a weekly topic listing and/or course calendar. Submissions that do not include a syllabus will not be reviewed.
  • Submit the Form by the deadline. Forms submitted after the submission deadline listed below will receive a decision by the next posting decision notification date.
  • This form is only for Biology courses taken at other institutions. This form is not for general education courses, courses from other departments, or courses taken abroad. Please refer to the following links for more information in those areas:

    Submission Deadlines

     

    Semester Submission Deadline Notifications Sent By
    Summer 2025 Friday, July 26 Friday, Aug. 16
    Fall 2025 Friday, Oct. 4 Friday, Oct. 18
    Winter 2026 Friday, Jan. 17 Friday, Jan. 31
    Spring 2026 Friday, Mar. 7 Friday, Mar. 21
    Summer 2026 Friday, July 25 Friday, Aug. 15