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 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. UMBC will accept a maximum of 70 credits from two-year colleges and military courses, and a maximum of 90 total transfer credits, which includes prior learning examinations.

Maryland Community College Program Transfer Guides

The Program Transfer Guides (PTGs) provide 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 Program Transfer Guide are assured of transfer with no loss of credit. These program guides are available via the web at ARTSYS.

Credit for Competency-Based Education (Prior Learning Examinations)

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, Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST) Examinations, Advanced Level (A-Level) Examinations, or a UMBC Administered Departmental Exam.

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

Credits earned through prior learning examinations may be used to fulfill General Education Program (GEP) requirements when equivalent to a UMBC general education course. Test credits have no effect on the calculation of the UMBC grade point average, nor do they apply to the minimum number of credits needed to qualify for honors at graduation or meet the 30-credit minimum resident requirement. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

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.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations

UMBC awards 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

Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST) Examinations

UMBC will award credit and/or placement based on the scores indicated below in the approved Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST) examinations listed. To receive credit for DSST 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 DSST score report at the DSST website.

Advanced Level (A-Level) Examinations

UMBC will award credit and/or placement based on the scores indicated below in the approved Advanced Level (AL) and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) examinations listed. The minimum accepted grade is the US equivalent of a “C.” Students are not permitted to earn credit for both A-Level and AS-Level exams within the same subject area. To receive credit for AS and A-Level exams, students must have official certificate and examination results sent to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

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

Students may request score reports from the GCE or Pearson website.

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.