Transfer Tips

• The two most important decisions transfer students must make are which four-year institution to attend and which bachelor’s degree to work toward.
• Potential transfer students should work with both an academic advisor from MCC and from the four-year institution they plan to attend to ensure a smooth transfer.
• Successful transfer of credit(s) depends upon the major declared at the four-year institution. For example, courses that may successfully transfer into a psychology major may not transfer into an accounting major.
• The college or university receiving transfer courses makes the decision regarding award of transfer credit. Acceptance of credit is always up to the receiving institution.
• MCC courses that transfer as electives may or may not actually count toward a bachelor’s degree. Elective credits may be used toward completion of four-year degree requirements only to the extent that the four-year degree requires elective hours.
• Developmental courses (courses below the 1000-level) are generally not transferable. In general, only courses in which students earn a C or higher can transfer for credit. Courses where D's or F's are earned are not usually transferable.
• Pass/fail credits may or may not transfer.
• Virtually all four-year colleges have minimum residency requirements. For instance, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln requires that students’ last 30.0 semester hours be completed at the university.
• Credit earned through proficiency exams, clinical courses, cooperative education, work experience, or practicums may not qualify for transfer.
• Transfer credits are sometimes accepted on a contingency basis. For example, transfer students might be required to successfully complete a follow-up course before the transfer of credit is posted.
• Four-year institutions often establish limits on the number of credits that can be accepted in transfer. This may be fewer than the number of credits acquired in an associate degree program.
• General education courses (e.g., English and math) usually are transferable. Vocational, career education, or technical courses may or may not transfer. Many special agreements have been signed with four-year colleges that allow for the transfer of selected courses and associate degrees in certain vocational/technical/career areas toward completion of specified bachelor’s degrees.
• Only course credit transfers to an institution, not grades. (However, for courses to be accepted, a C or higher must be earned in the course.); therefore, the grades earned at MCC are not calculated into the GPA at the four-year institution. Some institutions do look at the MCC GPA to determine graduating with honors. Grades earned at MCC do not replace a poor (D, F) grade already earned at the four-year institution.
• Quarter hours earned at MCC convert to semester hours at a ratio of 3.0 quarter hours to 2.0 semester hours. For example, a 4.5 quarter hour class transfers as 3.0 semester hours.

Quarter to Semester Hour Conversion Table