Transfer Credit Policies, AP, CLEP, IB, and UMBC Administered Departmental Examinations

Transfer Credit Policies

A student may be able to progress from one segment of the Maryland public higher education system to another without loss of time or duplication of courses. To help accomplish this, Maryland’s public colleges and universities follow certain statewide policies. Detailed information is available from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Transfer Policies website and the Student Guide to Transfer among Maryland Colleges and Universities.

Specific to UMBC, the Policy on the Awarding of Undergraduate Transfer Credit articulates the standards for the assessment and awarding of undergraduate transfer credit including academic credit for coursework earned at other institutions, competency-based education, and military training, experience, education, and coursework. Several exceptions may apply such as: students accepted into the Engineering program may transfer up to 65 credits, students with an Associates of Arts in Teaching (AAT) from Maryland community colleges may transfer up to 64 credits, and if eligibility is met, the Shady Grove Transfer Credit Limit Exception will permit the transfer of up to 66 credits, instead of the standard 60-credit transfer limit, from a Maryland two-year school to UMBC on the condition that six (6) of the 66 credits are language courses directly applicable toward the 201-level language sequence required as part of the UMBC General Education Program.

Maryland Community College Recommended Transfer Programs

The Recommended Transfer Programs (RTP) provides a list of community college courses that will best prepare students for UMBC’s course of study. Transfer students with acceptable grades in courses specified in the UMBC Recommended Transfer Program Guide are assured transfer with no loss of credit. These program guides are available in the transfer advisors’ offices at all Maryland community colleges or via the web at ARTSYS.

Credit for Competency-Based Education 

Students may pursue as many as 60 credits of competency-based education toward a baccalaureate degree through the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, or through a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam.

AP, CLEP, and IB 

Required test scores, credits and UMBC course equivalency is determined by the respective academic department. Please refer to the charts below for more information.

Credits earned through AP, CLEP, or IB may be used to fulfill General Education Requirements, when equivalent to a UMBC general education course. 

Credits earned through AP, CLEP, and IB tests have no effect on the calculation of the UMBC grade point average, nor are they applied to the minimum number of credits needed to qualify for honors at graduation or to meet the 30 credit minimum resident requirement. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

AP-CLEP Articulation Updates 2023  

UMBC will award credit and/or placement based on the scores indicated below in the approved Advanced Placement (AP) examinations listed. To receive credit for AP exams, students must have an official Advanced Placement score report sent to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
UMBC
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

Students may request an official AP score report by writing to:

Advanced Placement Service
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671

Please remember to include UMBC’s College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) code number (5835) in the request.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations

UMBC will award credit and/or placement based on the scores indicated below in the approved College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations listed. To receive credit for CLEP exams, students must have an official score report sent to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
UMBC
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

Students may request an official CLEP score report by writing to:

CEEB
CLEP Transcripts
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541

Or call: 609-771-7865

Please include UMBC’s CODE (5835) in the request.

Acceptability of CLEP examinations and scores required are subject to change based on modifications to exam content by the College Board. For more information about CLEP, visit the College Board website.

General Examinations*

Subject Matter Examinations

*The required score and equivalents for the Spanish Language exam are the same as the Spanish with Writing.

The Biology exam is not transferable.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations

UMBC will award credit and/or placement based on the scores indicated below in the approved International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations listed. To receive credit for IB exams, students must have official examination results sent to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
UMBC
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

Students may request an official IB score report at the International Baccalaureate website.

SL = Standard Level

UMBC Administered Departmental Exam 

Students who have completed 12 or more credits and are in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher) at UMBC may request consideration for competency-based education credit through a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam. UMBC Administered Departmental Exams are subject to availability as determined by the appropriate academic department. Credit earned through a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam is applicable toward the 120 academic credits required for graduation, the General Education Requirements as well as the 30 credit minimum resident requirement. Credit(s) awarded through a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam shall not be used for purposes of a course repeat. The P/F grading option is permissible within regulations applying to P/F courses at UMBC and grades will be calculated accordingly.

To request consideration for a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam, students must submit a Request Form to the Registrar’s Office.