Undergraduate Transfer of Credits

Transfer of Credits from other Schools

Two-Year Schools

Given that any two-year college is limited by design to introductory type course offerings, it is important that transfer credit from these institutions be considered as being lower level in nature. However, these schools do provide a mechanism whereby non-traditional engineering students might prove themselves, and hence gain admission into the University. In this spirit, the following are a set of proposed School of Engineering policies for the granting of advanced standing credit from these types of institutions.

Once a student has been accepted into the School of Engineering, no further cross registered or advanced standing courses will be accepted from a community or two-year college as a part of the degree requirements.
For applications of students coming from these schools, advanced standing may only be given for Math 0220, 0230, 0240, 0250, Physics 0104, 0105, 0106, Chemistry 0010. On occasion, additional courses may be accepted as specified in an articulation agreement with individual two-year college. In each of these cases, of course, advance standing would only be given if it can be shown that any such course is sufficiently similar to the corresponding Pitt course. In concert with the above, those students who are admitted into the School before completing this set of courses, would not be subsequently able to receive advanced standing for these courses if taken at the community college.
By implication then, there can be no advance standing credit given for Technical Electives, Open Electives, Humanities/SS Electives, Engineering Required or Elective Courses, or other Basic Science Courses.
No more than 60 credits may be transferred to the School of Engineering from two-year colleges. This total of 60 includes any AP credit granted by the School of Engineering.
A combined total of 3 Humanities/Social Sciences may be transferred to the School of Engineering from two-year colleges. This total includes AP transfers.

3/2 Transfers and Articulation Agreements

The School of Engineering has 3/2 agreements with several liberal arts institutions. The students under these 3/2 programs attend their home institutions for three years, then the University of Pittsburgh of two years. Providing the student meets the requirements stated in the specific agreement, he/she will receive a liberal arts degree from the home institution and an engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Interested students should be referred to the Director of Freshman Programs, B80, Thackeray Level of Benedum Hall for specific information and requirements.

Branch Campus Courses

Students can take any valid course at a Pitt branch campus at any time. You may register for the course at the main campus or the branch campus. Obtain the appropriate CRN number and times from the branch campus time schedule.

Summer Courses

Many students prefer to take classes at a college located near their homes during the summer months. Students should provide their advisor with a course description for each course they wish to transfer. The advisor will evaluate the course and complete a "Transfer of Credit" form to be placed in the student's file. Only the credits will transfer for the equivalent class, not the grades or quality point average. Credit will only be given for course work of C or better. It is the student's responsibility to have the transcript sent to the Engineering Office of Administration, at the completion of the class. Typically such courses are used to fulfill the Humanities/Social Sciences component. Advisors must assure that the proposed course is equivalent to a course on the School's approved Humanities/Social Science list. Engineering courses should only be approved if the offering program is ABET accredited.

*Students may occasionally take courses at other colleges and universities at times other than summer and should follow above procedures for transfer of credit.

Cross-Registered Courses

Students may cross-register for classes at many local universities (Carlow College, Carnegie-Mellon University, Chatham College, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, LaRoche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park College, Robert Morris College) when they register at Pitt's Registrar's Office (PCHE registration can only be done through the Registrar's Office). You will put the CRN number on your Pitt registration form and pay Pitt tuition for the course. Only passing grades are required for the transfer of these classes. See the "Cross Registration through PChE" section in the Schedule of Classes.

Students are discouraged from cross-registering during their term of graduation. The calendar term at many PCHE institutions often ends later than the corresponding term at Pitt. Students cross-registered at those institutions may not be eligible for graduation as a result of grades arriving too late to comply with official University of Pittsburgh graduation requirements.

Therefore, if you do indeed cross-register during your last term you may not receive a diploma because your grades can be received late. The Undergraduate Coordinator can provide you with a letter after all your grades are in, however, verifying that you have completed all of the degree requirements for a B.S. in Chemical Engineering but will not receive a diploma until the end of the next term. This letter is usually sufficient for prospective employers to demonstrate that you can start working for them (but it is your responsibility to verify that). You must also check with the Office of Administration, 253 Benedum Hall, to see if you have to reapply for graduation if you miss the graduation requirements deadline in the term that you applied for graduation.