Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Transfer Credits for Current Students

Students who would like to take courses outside of the Whiting School of Engineering or Krieger School of Arts and Sciences may submit a request for pre-approval of the transfer credits. There are specific policies and requirements for transferring courses from other JHU divisions, institutions in the Baltimore Student Exchange Program (BSEP), and any other institutions.

Without following the pre-approval processes, courses completed at other institutions may not transfer.

External Transfer Courses
Writing-Intensive Evaluation
Interdivisional Registration
Cross Registration

External Transfer Courses

Students may take courses at another institution when registered at JHU and have these courses transfer to JHU. It is strongly recommended that students obtain pre-approval of transfer credits before registering at another institution.

Transfer Credit Limits

Students who enter Johns Hopkins University from high school are permitted to transfer a maximum of 12 credits. This includes courses taken pre-matriculation as well as courses taken post-matriculation.

Students who transfer from another institution may transfer a maximum of 60-68 credits (depending on the program). To meet the residency requirement, transfer students must complete at least 60 credits in residence at JHU.

Transfer credit maximums do not include AP/IB/GCE exam credits for any students, regardless of whether they enter directly from high school or transfer from another institution.

Transfer Credit Requirements

  • Transfer courses must be taken for a letter grade. Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades are not transferrable unless the host institution states in writing that the mark represents a grade of C or better.
  • Only courses with a grade of C or better will be transferred. The transfer course grades will not be factored into your JHU grade point average (GPA).
  • Credits will be transferred in the amount offered at the host institution Quarter units are converted to equivalent semester credits. If the credits differ, you need to discuss any implications this may have on your degree completion with your professional academic advisor.
  • Concurrent registration during the fall and spring semesters is permitted, but students must be registered at JHU for a minimum of 12 credits. Additional courses may be taken at another institution, but students may not exceed our maximum credit limit for the term. During the Summer term, the total credits across institutions may not exceed the 14-credit maximum. During the Intersession term, the total credits across institutions may not exceed the 3-credit maximum.

Visit the e-catalogue for the full policies on registering at other institutions after matriculation at JHU.

If you plan to take a course at another division within JHU, follow the instructions for Interdivisional Registration. In addition, check if the institution is part of the Baltimore Cross Registration Program (BSEP), which has different policies.

How to request pre-approval to transfer credits

Deadline

Pre-approval of transfer credit must be completed before you register for the external course. Credit evaluation can take time. Be mindful of your application deadline based on the deadlines of the other institution.

Submission Instructions

  1. Log in to SIS, then select Registration → Online Forms → External Course Request Form from the menu.
  2. Upload a syllabus for the course you are requesting. An acceptable syllabus should include a detailed explanation of the content covered, the title of the textbook, and learning outcomes. Generally, we are looking for a syllabus that has a detailed listing of the topics covered in each lecture or each week.
  3. Once you have received notification that the course will be accepted for transfer, you will register at the host institution as a non-matriculating, non-degree seeking student. Your academic advisor or academic advisor/success coach can help you with this process.

After the Course

After the completion of the course, send an official college transcript to [email protected] to finalize the transfer credit process.

How to request post-approval to transfer credits

Submission Instructions

  1. Log in to SIS, then select Registration → Online Forms → External Course Request Form from the menu.
  2. Complete the form with the following information:
    • Name, JHU Email, and six-character Hopkins ID
    • Host institution’s name
    • Course name at the host institution (i.e., Introduction to Psychology) *
    • Course number at the host institution (i.e., MATH 110)
    • Course credit at the host institution
    • Calendar system at the host institution (i.e., semester, quarter, or unit system)
    • Electronic PDF copy of the course syllabus, which includes topical breakdown, title of the textbook, and learning outcomes. A syllabus that is submitted without the proper information will not be evaluated and delays the transfer credit evaluation process.
  3. Request that an official electronic transcript be sent to [email protected] immediately after the grades have been posted by the host institution. **
* Submitting Multiple Forms

If a student is transferring multiple courses, they are encouraged to submit multiple forms, especially for Math and Chemistry. For example, list:

  • Calculus I, II, III, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations in one form.
  • General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry in another form.

All others, such as engineering, physics, and humanities/social science courses can be in one form.

** Transcripts

The preferred method for the official transcript to be sent to JHU is electronic. The transcript may be sent by mail if required by the host institution.

Preferred mode, electronic, via email: [email protected] (choose 3rd party)

Mailing address, if needed:
Johns Hopkins University
Office of the Registrar
3400 N. Charles Street
Garland Hall, Suite 75
Baltimore, MD 21218

Writing-Intensive Evaluation

To encourage excellence in writing, across disciplines, the university requires all undergraduates to take a number of writing-intensive courses. Candidates for a B.A. degree in the School of Engineering must complete 12 credits (four courses of at least 3 credits each) of writing-intensive courses, while candidates for a B.S. degree in Engineering must complete 6 credits (two courses of at least 3 credits each) of writing-intensive courses. A writing-intensive (W) course is one in which students complete at least 20 pages of finished writing, distributed over multiple assignments, usually 3 or 4 papers, throughout the semester.

Those who transfer to Johns Hopkins from another college or university, and Hopkins students who study abroad, may transfer writing-intensive credit for a maximum of two courses, under these conditions:

  • The course(s) in question must meet all of the criteria for a writing-intensive course.
  • Students must have earned a B or higher in the course(s).

Additional resources regarding policy on Writing Intensive Credits include the Guidelines for Writing Intensive Credits page in the e-catalogue, as well as the Writing Curriculum on the Writing Program website.

How to request a Writing-Intensive course evaluation (Until May 31, 2024)

Submission Instructions

  1. Check that the course meets the University criteria for a writing intensive course.
  2. Confirm that the course from your previous institution will transfer to JHU. Follow the instructions to submit the External Course Request form.
  3. For the Writing Intensive evaluation, make sure to have the syllabus for the course.
  4. Complete the Writing Credit Transfer Request 2023-2024.

How to request a Writing-Intensive course evaluation (Starting June 1, 2024)

Submission Instructions

  1. Check that the course meets the University criteria for a writing intensive course.
  2. Confirm that the course from your previous institution will transfer to JHU. Follow the instructions to submit the External Course Request form.
  3. For the Writing Intensive evaluation, make sure to have the syllabus that contains relevant information about the writing assignments that were included as part of the class (i.e., assignment sheets, learning outcomes, frequency of assignments, page requirements, peer review, etc.). If the syllabus does not include that information, obtain relevant and supporting documents that will assist with the evaluation to upload to the WSE Writing Intensive Evaluation Request form.
  4. Complete the Writing Intensive Evaluation Request form.

Interdivisional Registration

Qualified undergraduates may take courses within other divisions of the university. Courses taken in other JHU divisions that are approved through interdivisional registration do not count towards your transfer credit limit. Courses must be taken for a letter grade unless the course in the host division is offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade only. All students must meet the course requirements as defined by the host division. The Office of the Registrar website contains regulations by host division and full IDR policies.

How to request an interdivisional registration

Deadline

Courses taken at other JHU divisions follow the registration, add, drop, and withdrawal deadlines of the division where the course is taken. These may be different than the deadlines for courses at WSE.

Submission Instructions

  1. Complete the Interdivisional Registration form.
  2. Obtain your professional academic advisor's signature. (Starting Fall 2024, faculty advisor signature is no longer needed.)
  3. If additional signatures are required based on course-specific policies, obtain these signatures.
  4. Log in to SEAM and open a ticket. Upload your completed form to the ticket.

Cross Registration

Beginning their sophomore year, Hopkins undergraduates may take one course per semester (Fall/Spring only) at one of the several area colleges and universities that comprise the Baltimore Student Exchange Program (BSEP). BSEP credits do not count towards your transfer credit limit. Courses equivalent to those offered at the Homewood campus may not be taken through BSEP. Visit the e-catalogue to read JHU's full BSEP policies , and the BSEP website to see courses, deadlines, and other information from participating institutions.

How to request a Baltimore Student Exchange Program (BSEP) cross registration

Participating Institutions

Community College of Baltimore County | Coppin State University | Goucher College | Loyola University Maryland | Maryland Institute College of Art | Morgan State University | Notre Dame of Maryland University | Stevenson University | Towson University | University of Baltimore | University of Maryland Baltimore County

Deadline

Courses taken at other divisions follow the registration, add, drop, and withdrawal deadlines of the division where the course is taken. These may be different than the deadlines for courses at WSE.

 

Submission Instructions

  1. Download and complete the BSEP Request form from Baltimore College Town.
  2. Obtain your professional academic advisor’s signature. (Starting Fall 2024, faculty advisor signature is no longer needed.)
  3. If additional signatures are required based on course-specific policies, obtain these signatures.
  4. Log in to SEAM and open a ticket. Go to Records and Registration and select Add/Drop Inquiry as a topic. Upload the completed form.