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Guide for Virginia Community College System/Richard Bland College Students

The College of William & Mary welcomes applications from students from the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland College. This website is designed to assist prospective transfer students in planning their programs of study at the community colleges and to provide information about the application process. It contains information regarding admission procedures, degree requirements, academic regulations, evaluation of credits, application of the State Policy on Transfer, and a list of Virginia Community College System (VCCS) courses and their William and Mary counterparts. There is also a separate list of Richard Bland College (RBC) courses and their William and Mary counterparts. If a VCCS or RBC course is not listed, it is unlikely that it will transfer to William and Mary.

William & Mary has a guaranteed admission agreement with the Virginia Community Colleges. This statewide articulation agreement between William & Mary and all schools in the VCCS guarantees admission to those students who sign a letter of intent, complete particular courses, fulfill all necessary conditions for a transfer associate degree and who earn a certain GPA.

Please note that your statewide agreement Letter of Intent must be returned to the College well in advance of your desired date of entry. All students wishing to enroll at the College during the fall semester must complete and return their letter of intent by September 1 of the preceding year. All students wishing to enroll during the spring semester must complete and return their letter of intent by January 1 of the preceding year. For example, if you wish to enroll at William & Mary in the Fall of 2010, your letter of intent would be due by September 1, 2009.

William & Mary has established co-enrollment agreements with particular schools: J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, Richard Bland College, Rappahannock Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College and Tidewater Community College. These agreements allow currently enrolled students at these campuses to take courses at William & Mary while pursuing their associate degree and while working towards completion of the guaranteed admission agreement.

William & Mary also has a guaranteed admission agreement with Richard Bland College.

Any Virginia Community College or Richard Bland College student is welcome to apply to the College as a transfer student. We recognize that certain circumstances will prohibit particular students from falling under the articulation agreement requirements. You need not complete the articulation agreement in order to be considered for admission. Students transferring from a two-year school with an associate degree and a cumulative GPA above a 3.5 are generally competitive applicants.

Students are reminded that this website is not a substitute for the Undergraduate Course Catalog, but rather a supplement to it. References are made within this site that will guide the prospective transfer student to the appropriate section of the Undergraduate Course Catalog for more specific answers. View a current catalog or purchase one from the college bookstore for $3.00.

Appendix 1: Virginia Community College System (VCCS) courses and their William & Mary counterparts

Appendix 2: Richard Bland College (RBC) courses and their William & Mary counterparts

Admission Process

Students wishing to attend the College of William & Mary should apply using the Common Application and submit the appropriate application forms. Transfer applications are due by March 1 (postmarked) for the fall semester and November 1 (postmarked) for the spring semester.

All application materials, including the application fee, common application, application supplement, official transcripts of all post-secondary course work completed and the official high school transcript must be submitted no later than the appropriate application deadline.

Please note that transfer students cannot defer their admission to the College; any student who declines an offer of admission can re-apply by submitting a reopen application by the appropriate application deadline. Previous admission to William & Mary does not guarantee admission at any time in the future. The reopen application will be reviewed along with any additional course work completed and will be included with the student's present file for consideration.

Admission of Undergraduate Transfer Students

William & Mary enrolls approximately 160-180 transfer students for the fall and another 40-60 in the spring. Admission is competitive and is based on a complete review of the candidate's record. In order to be considered for transfer admission, candidates must be in good standing and eligible to return to their last institution of full-time attendance. Transfer students who have completed less than a full year of full-time college coursework must submit SAT or ACT scores unless the student has been out of high school for more than five years. Test scores listed on the high school transcript will be accepted.

Notification of Decision

All applicants are considered in relation to each other. For this reason, all notification letters are sent at the same time. Transfer students applying for fall semester admission will learn of the decision by late April. Students applying for the spring semester will hear from the College by December 10.

Financial Aid

To finance a college education is to invest in the future. An education at the College of William & Mary is an excellent investment at a moderate price. Applicants for admission who wish to apply for financial aid administered by the College should file the free Federal Application for Student Assistance (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible for the following academic year. Spring semester candidates should file the FAFSA as early as possible once they decide to apply to the College. The Office of Financial Aid considers transfer students in the same category as returning students who are first time aid recipients at William and Mary.

General Education Requirements

Under the State Policy on Transfer, William & Mary grants junior status (defined as at least 54 hours) to all students who enter from the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Sciences or Associate of Arts & Sciences degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program. The College encourages students to pursue the Associate of Arts degree. These students will be expected to fulfill the College's Lower Division Writing requirement, the Foreign Language proficiency requirement, all major requirements, and the following General Education requirements (GERs): GER4B, GER6 and GER7 at William & Mary. GER requirements are described in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.

View the lists of courses which fulfill each GER. The College strongly encourages prospective transfer students to complete the Lower Division Writing requirement and as much of the Foreign Language requirement as possible before applying to transfer. Foreign language placement regulations and ways to meet the Lower Division Writing requirement can be found in The Amateur Advisor. Students who have not completed the Associate's degree in the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College receive transfer credit on a course by course basis and are subject to all the requirements described in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.

Campus/Student Life

Students say that William & Mary is a comfortable campus and a place where you make wonderful friends; a place with plenty to do, such as movies on Duke of Gloucester (DOG) Street, quiet walks on one of the most beautiful campuses you can imagine, sorority and fraternity parties, and a host of student organizations and activities in which to be involved. Students keep the President up-to-date on campus issues, run their own FM radio station, and publish two weekly newspapers, a yearbook, and literary, political and general interest magazines. They perform in the theater, belong to every kind of club (there are about 400 at William & Mary), lobby for their favorite cause, play intramural sports and support 23 NCAA-Division I teams. They attend multicultural programs, such as The Taste of Asia and openings at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, drop in on dance recitals and the annual writers' workshop, attend seminars on global change and hear lectures on John Stuart Mill, asymmetric analysis of alkaloids and biotechnology.

Seventy percent of all students are involved in some form of community service during their years at William & Mary - they tutor local school children, help build homes through Housing Partnerships and run food and clothing drives to benefit those in need. They turn out for nationally prominent speakers and rock concerts at William & Mary Hall. They might end a busy evening relaxing at the student-run Daily Grind coffee house or laughing with friends at a local deli. About 33% of students belong to national social fraternities and sororities which sponsor dances and activities throughout the year. In short, campus life at William & Mary has many choices.

Certainly, a key element of student life at the College is the living experience provided by a largely residential living-learning community. Approximately 75% of William and Mary's undergraduates choose to live in campus housing each year, taking advantage of a wide variety of residence hall options - singles, doubles, triples, apartments, small houses, and special interest facilities, such as the French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Italian houses. The residence halls are managed by a carefully trained and highly competent staff of full-time professionals and student Resident Assistants. Various meal plans are also available and students may select among four different dining facilities.

William & Mary students are given many opportunities for self-governance. Life in the residence halls, for example, is directed by a philosophy called Self-Determination which allows students in each building to help determine the rules and regulations under which they will live together for the year. Among the most significant traditions of the College is the student-administered code of conduct known as the Honor System, which emerged at William & Mary in 1779, making it the oldest honor system in the nation. Under the system, it is assumed that every student has an expressed interest in preserving the integrity of the College community. The effectiveness of the Honor System is dependent upon the students' acceptance of their responsibility to uphold the system.

Student government at William & Mary is officially vested in the Student Assembly, which provides a voice for student opinion and a means through which students participate in the growth of a strong community. Students also serve on most of the university's committees and task forces. These and other opportunities for student participation in governance contribute to the realization of a shared purpose and common vision for the institution, while simultaneously enhancing students' learning and personal development.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is recognized at the College as important to the educational development of its students and as both a natural extension of teaching and an important professional obligation on the part of its faculty. Sound academic advice can make the crucial difference between a coherent and exciting education that satisfies personal and professional goals from one that is fragmented and frustrating. It helps the student address not simply course selection and scheduling, but also what a liberally educated person should be and know. Because students are responsible themselves for meeting academic goals and requirements, they are urged to take the initiative in making appointments with their faculty advisor and professional advisors in the Office of Academic Advising. They should take the initiative in making appointments with the advisor for academic and other counsel. Transfer students are assigned an academic advisor before they arrive on campus. Before finalizing their registration, students are required to meet with their advisors to discuss academic, personal and professional goals, to review the academic regulations of the College and to receive help in planning a specific program of studies. Most students retain the same advisor until they declare a major, at which time they select an advisor in the department of their major.

Full-time degree candidates must register for at least 12 and not more than 17 credits each semester. The normal load for a student planning to graduate with a degree in four years is 15 academic credits per semester or 30 credits each academic year. An academic year is comprised of the fall and spring semesters, but does not include the summer session though work completed during a summer session is counted toward the 120 credits required for a degree. For more information, visit Academic Advising.

Graduation Requirements

One hundred twenty semester credits are required for graduation. Students must make a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all courses at William & Mary for which they receive grades of A, B, C, D or F. Students also must make a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all courses in their major(s) and minor.

No degree will be granted by the College until the applicant has passed a minimum of sixty (60) semester credits in residence at the College in Williamsburg. This period must include the last two full-time semesters in which credits toward the degree are earned. In addition, a minimum of fifteen semester credits in the major must be taken in residence at the College. Students must fulfill the general degree requirements set forth in the Undergraduate Course Catalog at the date of entrance to the College. They also must fulfill the major requirements in effect when the major is declared.

The credits for a degree must be completed in accordance with the following specific requirements:

Proficiencies, Freshman Seminar, GER and Major Requirements

A. PROFICIENCIES

1. Foreign Language: To complete the foreign language requirement, students must: 1) have completed the fourth year level in high school of a single classical or modern language, or 2) have transferred the 202-level of a foreign language to W&M, or 3) have earned scores of 600 on the SAT II exam in French, German, Russian, or Spanish, or a score of 650 in Latin, or 4) have been granted Advanced Placement credit for the 202-level or higher of a foreign language by W&M or 5) have been granted International Baccalaureate credit for the 202-level or higher of a foreign language by W&M, or 6) be a native speaker of a language other than English and successfully petition the Modern Languages Dept. to substitute it for the foreign language requirement. If none of these apply, students must complete a fourth semester course (or above) and all necessary prerequisites in a language at W&M.

Students with documented learning disabilities, aural/oral impairments, or other disabilities which make the study of a foreign language impossible or unreasonably difficult should meet with the Assistant Dean of Students for Disability Services in the Office of the Dean of Students upon matriculation and petition the Committee on Degrees to modify the foreign language requirement. Guided by test results and the recommendations of professionals, the Committee may allow the substitution of other appropriate courses. Except under extraordinary circumstances, substitution of courses will not be approved after pre-registration for the senior year. Selection of the courses is made in consultation with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

2. Lower-Division Writing Requirement: Students must satisfactorily complete by the end of their fourth semester (normally during their first year at the College) a one-semester course in writing--either Writing 101 or a lower-division course designated W--unless they 1) are granted at entrance transfer credit for WRIT 101 or ENGL 367, or 2) are granted Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exemption from WRIT 101 by W&M, or 3) present a portfolio of previous examples of writing with the grades and instructor comments to the Director of the Writing Center for possible exemption from WRIT 101 (transfer students only). A student who is exempt from this requirement may take a course in writing, but is not required to do so.

3. Physical Activity: W&M’s physical activity requirement has been retroactively discontinued. Nevertheless, Kinesiology activity courses continue to be taught, and students may still major in Kinesiology. Up to 4 Kinesiology activity credits count toward the 120 credits needed for a degree (6 for Kinesiology majors).

4. Digital Information Literacy Proficiency: The purpose of the Digital Information Literacy (DIL) proficiency is to ensure that all students, upon matriculation at the College, have a basic understanding of digital information, how it is processed and how it is used judiciously. To assess that basic understanding, all incoming freshmen, as well as newly admitted transfer students with fewer than 39 credits, must take and pass with a grade of C- or better the DIL exam. The exam consists of questions dealing with how computers process digital information, communicating using computers, security and privacy issues, analyzing research needs, finding information electronically, evaluating the information found and information ethics. Those students failing to take and/or pass the exam by the end of the sixth week of classes after matriculation must enroll in and pass with a C- or better INTR 160, Digital Information Literacy.

B. FRESHMAN SEMINAR REQUIREMENT

Transfer students who enter the College with at least 24 semester credits earned after graduation from high school which have been accepted for credit at William & Mary are exempt from this requirement. College credits earned through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other placement tests will not be counted toward the 24 semester credits required for exemption. All other entering undergraduates including transfer students who are not exempt from this requirement are required to pass one Freshman Seminar within their first two semesters at the College.

C. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (GERs)

GERs consist of coursework across seven different knowledge areas of the arts and sciences curriculum. Only courses approved for GER credit may be used to fulfill these requirements as indicated in the Undergraduate Course Catalog. View a list of approved General Education Requirement courses.

These requirements (except GER6) must be met with three or four credit courses. A single course may fulfill, at most, two GERs (if so designated) and may also be used to fulfill major, minor and proficiency requirements. These courses may not be taken pass/fail. VCCS and RBC transfers with appropriate degrees only need to fulfill GERS 4B, 6 and 7.

GER1: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning: one course

GER2: Natural Sciences: two courses:

A. One course in the Physical Sciences
B. One course in the Biological Sciences
One laboratory associated with the GER2A or GER2B course above.

GER3: Social Sciences: two courses

GER4: World Cultures and History: three courses:

A. History and Culture in the European Tradition
B. History and Culture outside the European Tradition
C. Cross-Cultural Issues

The requirement is to be completed as follows:
one course in Category A
one course in Category B
one course in Category A or B or C

GER5: Literature and History of the Arts: one course

GER6: Creative and Performing Arts: two credits in the same instrument or creative/performing art or exemption by proficiency. See the Office of the Registrar for details regarding GER6 exemption.

GER7: Philosophical, Religious, and Social Thought: one course

D. MAJORS

After earning 39 credits and before earning 54 credits, students must declare either a disciplinary or an interdisciplinary or an international major. Applications to declare a major go to the individual academic school or department for all disciplinary majors and to the program office for all interdisciplinary majors. Students must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA in all majors. Students may declare a maximum of two majors. Either major may be selected as the primary major with the exceptions of Environmental Science/Studies and Elementary Education, both of which must be the secondary of two majors. The degree must match the primary major. A maximum of two courses may be counted toward both majors or a major and a minor. There is no limit on the number of courses which may be counted toward both the major and GER requirements.

1. Disciplinary Majors for the Bachelor of Arts degree are offered in Anthropology, Art, Art History, Chinese, Classical Studies, Computer Science, Economics, English, French, German, Government, History, Hispanic Studies, Kinesiology, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, Sociology and Theatre.

2. Disciplinary Majors for the Bachelor of Science degree are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics and Physics. A candidate for the BS degree with a major in Kinesiology or Psychology, in addition to meeting GER1, 2A and 2B requirements, must complete three additional courses in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.

3. Disciplinary Majors for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree are offered in Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Process Management & Consulting.

4. Interdisciplinary Majors under the jurisdiction of the Charles Center (degrees in parentheses): Africana Studies (BA), Linguistics (BA), Literary and Cultural Studies (BA), Medieval and Renaissance Studies (BA), Neuroscience (BS).

5. Interdisciplinary Majors not under the jurisdiction of the Charles Center (degrees in parentheses): American Studies (BA), Environmental Science/Studies (degree matches the primary major), Public Policy (BA), Women's Studies (BA).

6. International Majors are all under the jurisdiction of the Reves Center and all receive the BA degree: International Relations as well as Global Studies majors in East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies and Russian Studies.

E. MAJOR WRITING REQUIREMENT

In addition, all students must satisfy the Major Writing Requirement (MWR) described by each department, program or school. Students must satisfy the lower-division writing proficiency requirement before attempting the Major Writing Requirement. If the department, program or school specifies a graded course or courses to satisfy the requirement, the student's grade(s) in the course or courses must be C- or better. The purpose of the Major Writing Requirement is to ensure that students continue to develop their ability to write in clear, effective prose which contains sustained, well-developed thought. A Major Writing Requirement must provide students with a series of opportunities to practice their writing, especially as commented upon by an instructor. Each student is expected to complete the writing requirement before the beginning of the graduating semester, normally during the junior or senior years. In cases where the requirement may be met through an Honors paper, a Senior paper, or the like, it may be completed as late as the end of the graduating semester. When a student has a double major, the requirement must be fulfilled in each major.

F. MAJOR COMPUTING REQUIREMENT

Requirements for completion of the Major Computing Requirement (MCR) are stated in the Undergraduate Course Catalog in the section for each department.

G. MINORS

In addition to the required major, a student may elect to pursue a program of studies designated as a minor. A minor consists of 18-22 credits of courses approved by a department or by the Committee on Honors and Interdisciplinary Studies in the case of an interdisciplinary minor and by the International Studies Curriculum & Academic Programs Committee for an International Relations or Global Studies minor. Courses completed for a minor may also satisfy GER requirements and may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. A student must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average in the minor.

Information about specific minors can be obtained from the appropriate school, department or program. A maximum of 2 courses may be counted toward both a major and a minor. A student who intends to complete a minor must declare this intention to the school, department or program before registration for the final semester of the senior year. Upon completing a minor, a student must present the list of appropriate courses to the school, department or program for certification and to the Registrar for verification and for posting on the transcript. A student who declares two majors may not also declare a minor.

Degree Requirements

Specific courses that should be taken at the 2-year college to meet pre-requisites & lower level requirements at W&M:

1. PROFICIENCIES: Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill the following proficiency requirements before they leave their 2-year college:
LOWER DIVISION WRITING REQUIREMENT: Take the W&M equivalent of Writ 101
VCCS: Eng 111 or 137 or 210
RBC: Engl 101
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 4 high school years (through the 4th year) or 4 college semesters (through the 202 level) of a single foreign language

2. GERs: Students who have not earned an Associates degree from the VCCS or RBC must fulfill all GERs. Students who have earned an Associates degree from the VCCS or RBC need only fulfill GERs 4B, 6 & 7. For the lists of courses which meet each of these GERs, see the Amateur Advisor link called General Education Requirements. Then find the VCCS or RBC equivalent course (if any) on the appropriate appendix of this Transfer Guide.

Students should fulfill as many Proficiency & GER requirements as possible before entering W&M because it will prevent scheduling difficulties and because these are lower level requirements.

3. MAJORS: Below, in the list of majors, the courses indicated should be taken at the 2-year college if at all possible. Note that all courses taken to count toward a major MUST transfer as equivalent (vs. elective) credit. Elective credit counts only toward the 120 hours but not toward any requirement.

Africana STUDIES: Take any African Studies you can find & expect to do most/all of your major at W&M.

AMERICAN STUDIES: Take courses with completely American content – e.g.,
VCCS: Eng 242; His 121, 122, 261, 262, 265, 268, 269, 270, 276, 277; Pls 135 or 211.
RBC: Govt 201, 202; Hist 201, 202, 221, 222, 276; Rel 254
Don't take more than 2 courses in the same department.

ANTHROPOLOGY: Take any courses in cultural or biological Anthropology or archaeology and expect to do most of your major at W&M.
VCCS: Soc 211 + 212
RBC: None

ART or ART HISTORY: Take the equivalents of W&M Art 211, 212 & Arth 251, 252.

VCCS: Art 131; Art 132 or 134 & Art 101 or 201; Art 102 or 202
RBC: Art 101, 102 & 201, 202

BIOLOGY: Take the equivalents of W&M Biol 203, 204, 205, 206 & Chem 103/151L, 206/252L, 307/353L, 308/354 (Note that Chemistry courses are taken in a different order at W&M so try to begin chemistry in the freshman year.)
VCCS: Bio 101, 102, 110, 120 & Chm 111, 241/242L, 242/244L, 112
RBC: Bio 101/101L, 102/102L, [no equivalents for W&M Biol 205 & 206] & Chem 101/101L, 230, 231, 102/102L

BUSINESS: Take no more and no fewer than the equivalents to W&M Econ 101, 102; Buad 203 & 231; Math 108 or 111.
VCCS: Take Eco 202 & 201; Acc 211 & 212; Bus 221 + 222 or Mth 146 or Mth 157 or Mth 240 or Mth 241 + 242
RBC: Take Econ 202 & 201; Bus 201 & 202; Math 217

CHEMISTRY: Take the equivalents of W&M Chem 103/151L, 206/252L, 307/353L, 308/354L & Phys 101, 102 & Math 111, 112.

VCCS: Chm 111, 241/243L, 242/244L, 112 & Phy 231 or 241, 232 or 242 & Mth 173 or 273, 174 or 274
RBC: Chem 101/101L, 230, 231, 102/102L & Phys 201, 202 & Math 201, 202

CLASSICAL STUDIES (Classical Civilization, Greek, Latin): Take Greek 101, 102, 201 202 &/or Latin 101, 102, 201, 202 at VCCS. (VCCS Greek & Latin course numbers are the same as at W&M.) At RBC, take all your other requirements so you'll have time to schedule your entire Classical Studies major in the final 2 years at W&M.

COMPUTER SCIENCE: Ideally, take the equivalents of W&M CSci 141, 241, 243, 301, 303, 304 & Math 111, 112, 211, but as these aren't offered, take:

VCCS: W&M CSci 141 = VCCS Ist 156 or 172 + 173 or 249 or 278 + 279; or CSC 201; or ITP 120 or 130 or 132 or 136
W&M Csci 241 = CSC 202 or ITP 200
W&M CSci 304 = CSC 205 or 206
W&M Math 111, 112, 211 = Mth 173 or 273; 174 or 274
RBC: W&M CSci 141, 241 = RBC CSci 211, 212
W&M Math 111, 112, 211 = RBC Math 201, 202, 203

Since it isn't possible to take very many Computer Science courses at VCCS or RBC, Computer Science will be difficult to prepare for. You'd have to take 3 courses in Computer Science some semesters. That's a lot considering the time it takes to run programs. You might consider taking an extra semester or two.

ECONOMICS: Take the equivalents of W&M Econ 101, 102 at the 2-year college
VCCS: Eco 202, 201
RBC: Econ 202, 201
This will leave 30 credits or 10 courses still to be taken at W&M.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: Don't take any Education courses. They won't transfer as courses needed at W&M and there is a limit to the number of Education credits you can count toward a W&M degree. Instead, take for certification: one literature course, one American History or American Government & one geography course:
VCCS: Take preferably Eng 112; His 121 or His 122 or Pls 135 or Pls 211; Geo 220
RBC: Take preferably Engl 102; Hist 121 or Hist 122 or Govt 201; Geo 101 or Geo 103

ENGLISH: Take W&M Engl 203 & 204 equivalents & up to one other English course that transfers at the 200-level and any English courses that transfer at the 300-level:
VCCS: Eng 243 & 244
RBC: Eng 203 & 204

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: This major must be paired with a disciplinary major in the sciences or Math or Computer Science. Take as many as possible among:
VCCS: W&M Biol 100 or 204 = VCCS Bio 106 or 102
W&M Chem 103 & 206 or 308 = Chm 111 & 241 or 112
W&M Geol 101 or 110 = Gol 105 or Gol 110 or Geo 200
W&M Math 106 = Mth 240
RBC: W&M Biol 204 = Bio 102
W&M Chem 103 & 206 or 308 = Chem 101 & 230 or 102
W&M Math 106 = Math 217

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: This major must be paired with a disciplinary major in the humanities or social sciences. Take as many as possible among:
VCCS: W&M Biol 100 or 204 = VCCS Bio 106 or 102
W&M Chem 103 = VCCS Chm 111
W&M Geol 101 or 110 = VCCS Gol 105 or Gol 110 or Geo 200
W&M Math 106 = VCCS Mth 240
RBC: W&M Biol 204 = RBC Bio 102
W&M Chem 103 & 206 or 308 = RBC Chem 101& 230 or 102
W&M Math 106 = RBC Math 217

GEOLOGY: Take as many as possible among:
VCCS: W&M Geol 101/160L or 110/160L = VCCS Gol 105 or 110
W&M: Geol 200, 201 = VCCS Gol 106, 207
Any 8 credits among W&M Chem 103/151L, 206/252, 308/354, Phys 101, 102 = VCCS Chm 111, 241/243L, 112, Phy 231, 232
If Environmental Option, also take W&M Biol 204 = VCCS Bio 102
RBC: No Geology available.
Any 8 credits among W&M Chem 103/151L, 206/252L, 308/354L, Phys 101, 102 = RBC Chem 101/101L, 230, 102/102L, Phys 201, 202
If Environmental Option, also take W&M Biol 204 = RBC Bio 102

GLOBAL STUDIES: Continue one or 2 appropriate foreign languages to the highest level possible.

GOVERNMENT: Take the recommended W&M Econ 101, 102 & as many as possible among:
VCCS: W&M Govt 201, 203, 204 = VCCS Pls 135 or 211; 241
Recommended: VCCS Eco 202, 201
RBC: W&M Govt 201, 203, 204 = RBC Govt 201, 299
Recommended: RBC Econ 202, 201

HISTORY: Take the equivalents of W&M Hist 111 or 112 & 121, 122 and any other History courses of interest:
VCCS: His101 or 102 & 121, 122
RBC: Hist 101 or 102 & 201, 202

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Take the equivalents of W&M Econ 101, 102; Govt 204; Hist 192 and continue one or 2 foreign languages to the highest level possible:
VCCS: Eco 202, 201; Pls 241; His 112
RBC: Econ 202, 201; not available; Hist 102

KINESIOLOGY: Take equivalents of W&M Kine 303, 304, 394:
VCCS: Bio 107 or 141, and 142; Math 240
RBC: Bio 205, 206; Math 217

LINGUISTICS: Take foreign languages and begin Linguistics courses at W&M.

LITERARY & CULTURAL STUDIES: Begin at W&M.

MATHEMATICS: Take the W&M equivalents of Math 111, 112, 211, 212; CSci 141
VCCS: Mth 173 or 175+176 or 213 + 214 or 273; 174 or 274; 275 or 277; CSC 201 or CIS 237 or IST 156 or 172 + 173 or 249 or 278 + 279
RBC: Math 201, 202, 203, 204; CSci 211

MEDIEVAL & RENAISSANCE STUDIES: Take Arth 251 & Musc 213 as pre-requisites and continue foreign languages to the highest level possible.
VCCS: Art 101 or 201, Mus 121 + 122 or 211 + 222
RBC: Art 201, Mus 103

MODERN LANGUAGES: Continue modern languages to the highest level possible.

MUSIC: Take the equivalents of W&M Musc 201, 202, 213; Progress as far in Music lessons as possible
VCCS: Musc 111, 211, 212; 121 + 122 or 221 + 222
RBC: Mus 103; nothing else available.
No more than 18 hours of Music may be transferred toward the Music major at W&M.

PHILOSOPHY: Take the equivalent of W&M Phil 201 and any other courses which transfer as equivalent (not elective) credit.
VCCS: Phil 101 + 102
RBC: Phil 101

PHYSICS: Take as many of the equivalents of W&M Phys 101, 102, 201; Math 111, 112, 211, 212 as possible:
VCCS: Phy 231 & 232 or 241 & 242, 243; Math 173 or 175 + 176 or 213 + 214 or 273, 174 or 274, 275 or 277
RBC: Phys 201, 202, not available; Math 201, 202, 203, 204

PSYCHOLOGY: Take the equivalents of W&M Psyc 201& 202 and any other courses which transfer as 300 level equivalent (not elective) credit.
VCCS: Psy 201, 202
RBC: Psy 201, 202

PUBLIC POLICY: Take as many of the following W&M equivalents as possible: Econ 101, 102, 321; Phil 303 & pre-requisites for Public Policy electives:
VCCS: Eco 202, 201; Phi 220
RBC: Econ 202, 201; Phi 203

RELIGIOUS STUDIES: Take as many of the following as possible: Two courses among W&M Relg 203 or 204; and any other courses which transfer as W&M equivalent (not elective) credit.
VCCS: Take any religion courses and save your syllabi. Probably all will transfer as elective credit and not count toward your major, but you can try for major credit if you save the syllabi.
RBC: Take as many of the following as possible: Rel 219, 212 or 220

SOCIOLOGY: Take any Sociology Courses that transfer to W&M as equivalent (vs. elective) credit. The W&M Sociology Dept. prefers that students take the required courses in the major at W&M. The equivalent of W&M Socl 203 would be a good beginning.
VCCS: Soc 201 OR 202 – not both, 268
RBC: Soc 201, 202, 204

THEATRE, SPEECH & DANCE: No speech courses are required for the theatre major. One Dance course, either technique or Danc 303 (no VCCS or RBC equivalent) is required. Take any classes equivalent to W&M Thea 200, 301, 305, 328, 329, or 407.
VCCS: Take courses among Spd 130, 131, 145, 231, 232, 241, 242
RBC: Take Thea 115 & Thea 132 or 133

WOMEN'S STUDIES: Take any courses you can find that transfer as WmSt equivalent (vs. Elective) credit and plan to do most of your major at W&M.
VCCS: Take any courses among Eng 273 or 274; Hlt 204; Ssc 205
RBC: No equivalent courses

QUESTIONS: Contact [[jywill,Associate Dean of Academic Advising Jobila Williams]] or (757) 221-2483

Academic Regulations

A. LIMITED CREDITS: Students may not apply toward a degree more than forty-eight semester credits in an Arts & Sciences subject field. The subject fields include: American Studies, Anthropology, Art/Art History, Biology, Black Studies, Chemistry, Chinese, Classical Civilization, Computer Science, Economics, English , Environmental Science/Studies, French, Geology, German, Global Studies, Government, Greek, Hispanic Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Relations, Kinesiology, Latin, Linguistics, Literary and Cultural Studies, Mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Music, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Public Policy, Religion, Sociology, Theatre/Speech/Dance and Women's Studies.

A maximum of 33 credits in Elementary Education, 27 credits in Secondary Education or 60 hours in Business count toward a degree. Students not majoring in Music may apply a maximum of 14 credits of applied Music (lessons and ensemble classes) toward the 120 credits required for a degree, though they may take as many credits of applied Music as they wish. A student not minoring in Dance may apply a maximum of 14 credits in Dance technique and performance towards a degree. A Dance minor may apply a maximum of 16 credits in technique and performance toward a degree.

1. 10 Semester Rule: Students have 10 semesters to be graduated, although it will take most students about 8 semesters to complete graduation requirements. Work transferred from other institutions is factored into the 10 semesters.

2. 6-Year Rule: Students who are not graduated within 6 calendar years of entering W&M relinquish the right to be graduated under the requirements in the catalogues under which they entered and declared their majors and, instead, must complete all requirements in the catalogue under which they return to the College as a degree candidate for the final time prior to their graduation. This rule will affect only students who drop out of school after entering W&M.

C. UNDERLOADS/OVERLOADS

Petitions for underloads or overloads, when warranted by special circumstances, may be approved by the Committee on Academic Status through the Office of the Dean of Students preferably within a period of 5 days before the first day of registration for the semester in question, but not later than 2 days before the close of the period allowed for course changes without penalty. The Committee on Academic Status will grant permission to carry more than 18 academic credits only to exceptionally able students. Petitioning forms are available on the website of the Dean of Students Office.

Arts and Sciences and Education courses may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. This option is limited to one course in each full semester of the junior and senior years. This option, which is irrevocable after it is exercised, may be arranged with the Office of the Registrar during the period for course changes. Forms are on the Registrar's website. Courses taken on the Pass/Fail option may not be used to satisfy proficiency, GER, minor or major requirements.

An undergraduate course may be auditedby students after obtaining permission of the instructor on a form on the website of the Office of the University Registrar. If a student meets the requirements for auditors prescribed by the instructor, the course will be included on their transcript with the symbol 'O'. No credit is granted for audited courses.

Prospective Business Students

The policy of the Mason School of Business Administration is to grant transfer credit for business administration courses which are equivalent to courses offered in the School of Business Administration. Elective credit may be granted for select upper-division courses, on a case-by-case basis. No credit is granted for Business courses taken before the sophomore year or for courses other than beginning accounting and statistics courses taken during the sophomore year. Students interested in William and Mary's B.B.A. (Bachelor's of Business Administration) Program must make a separate application to the School of Business Administration once admitted to the College. Additional information on the B.B.A.Program can be obtained by contacting: The Undergraduate Program Director, Mason School of Business Administration, Tyler 235, P.O.Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, or by calling 757-221-2910.

Students with Associate's degrees from the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College who wish to transfer into the School of Business Administration at the College of William and Mary should review closely the transfer equivalencies of business courses. Because courses taught at the School of Business at William and Mary are upper-division courses, most business courses from 2 year colleges do not transfer. Therefore, the most attractive candidates for transfer admission into the School of Business at William and Mary are those who have not taken a business curriculum at the community colleges or Richard Bland. Students interested in business should take the courses listed below in their associate's degree curriculum and should otherwise focus their attention on receiving a broad general education. General education requirements at William and Mary are the same for business and arts and sciences programs.

VCCS Transfers to William and Mary
ACC 211 + 212 = BUAD 203
BUS 221 + 222 = BUAD 231
ECO 202 = ECON 101
ECO 201 = ECON 102
MTH 173 or 175+176 or 273 = MATH 111
or
MTH 270 or 271 (Applied Calc)=Math Elective*

*Note: Either of these classes will satisfy the School of Business' calculus requirement

Richard Bland College Transfers to William and Mary
BUS 201+ 202 = BUAD 203
MATH 217 = BUAD 231
ECON 201 = ECON 102
ECON 202 = ECON 101
MATH 201 or 207 = MATH 111 or 108
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AP and IB Credit Awardance

Credit received through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam may be applied toward degree requirements, including proficiencies, GERs, major and minor requirements. (Exemptions and 0 credit placement do not fulfill the GERs because they do not award credit.) In most departments, advanced placement credits are routinely awarded based on the AP exam test score. In some cases, the AP examinations are reviewed by the faculty in the appropriate department at William & Mary to determine whether advanced placement and/or academic credit is warranted, using the content of the College's introductory course as a guide. Students may not take a course at William & Mary for which they have received AP credit. Courses for which AP exemption has been granted may be taken for credit. Ordinarily, if you are pre-registering before receipt of your AP scores, assume that you will receive at least an exemption, if not credit. On the other hand, if you are fairly certain that you will not receive an exemption or credit, plan accordingly. For general information on AP examination exemptions and credit, please contact the Office of the University Registrar at 757-221-2823. Otherwise, please contact the appropriate department directly.

View AP scores needed for William & Mary credit or exemption in the college catalog.

Entering students who have taken the examinations for the International Baccalaureate (IB) may receive academic credit and/or exemption for college level work undertaken before enrolling at William and Mary. The examinations are graded on a 7 point scale. The policies in each department governing credit and/or exemption for scores on IB examinations vary according to how the curriculum covered by an examination fits the curriculum of the department. In most departments, academic credit and/or exemption is routinely awarded based on the test score. In some cases, the IB examination is reviewed by the faculty in the appropriate department to determine whether advanced placement and/or academic credit is warranted. Members of the William and Mary faculty are actively engaged with the International Baccalaureate North America office. Information on current policies is available from the Office of the University Registrar. Credit received through the IB program may be applied toward degree requirements, including proficiency, General Education Requirements, minor and major requirements.

View IB scores needed for William & Mary credit or exemption in the college catalog.

Other Academic Credit Exams

Students may request academic credit for courses by examination. Interested students should petition the Committee on Degrees to receive permission to take an examination for credit. If the petition is approved, the department at the College in which the course is normally offered sets an appropriate examination and certifies the results to the Registrar. Students may not receive credit by examination after registration for their final semester, when they are enrolled in the course at the time of the request, when upper level course work in the same subject has already begun, or when the same course has previously been failed.

William & Mary does not participate in the College Board CLEP program or in the Subject Standardized Test of the United States Armed Forces Institute.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for evaluating domestic transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising evaluates international transfer credit, and the Reves Center evaluates credit taken in study abroad programs after enrollment at the College. Transfer credit is granted for any course taken at a college or university in which the student, prior to coming to the College, has earned a grade of 'C' or better (grades of a C- are not transferable) or, in the case of a course taken on a Pass/Fail basis, a grade of 'P,' provided that the course is comparable to a course offered for academic credit at the College. A course is deemed comparable to a course offered for academic credit at the College if either (a) the course is similar to a course presently offered for academic credit at the College, or (b) it is not similar to an existing course, but is recommended for credit by the Chair or designated faculty member of an existing academic program or department at the College. Thus, it is not necessary that a course exactly match or be similar to a course offered at the College in order to be granted transfer credit.

Equivalent credit is granted for courses satisfying condition (a) Elective transfer credit is granted for courses satisfying condition (b) Courses given equivalent status may be used to satisfy proficiency, GER, minor, and major requirements. Courses granted elective transfer credit will count toward the total number of academic credits required for the baccalaureate degree, but they may not be used to meet proficiency, GER, minor, or major requirements unless approval has been granted by the College's Committee on Degrees. Elective credit can be applied to GER 2B and 3 only if elective transfer creditand exemption from Psyc 201 and 202 are granted for an introductory Psychology course.

Transfer credit will not be granted for courses which belong in one or more of the following categories: (a) courses in professional, vocational, or sectarian religious study, (b) courses below the level of introductory courses at the College, (c) freshman English courses of more than one semester which are devoted primarily to composition, (d) college orientation courses, (e) modern language courses which repeat the level of courses previously taken in high school or at other colleges, (f) attendance in service schools or training programs in the Armed Forces or general military training, or (g) work done while the student is not in good standing. Academic courses taken while on military service at accredited colleges, universities, or language institutes may be transferred in the normal manner. Credits taken under the quarter or unit systems will be converted to semester credits upon approval for transfer.

Notification of Transfer Credit

An official listing of each student's transfer credit will be on-line at an address specified by the Registrar by the time students enters William & Mary. At any time before then, students can tell exactly which VCCS or RBC courses will transfer and what credit they will receive by looking up each course they have taken to find the W&M counterpart (see Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 on this website). International transfer credit evaluations will be mailed to students after the receipt of an official course-by-course evaluation from AACRAO. An application to have university-level work from another country evaluated can be accessed at the AACRAO (American Association for Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) website. Questions should be addressed to the Office of Academic Advising at 757-221-2817. Evaluations of credit earned from other institutions are made after a student has been selected for admission and has indicated intent to matriculate.

Students should not assume that credit will be given for work at other institutions until they have a written statement as to what credit will be accepted. Transfer grades do not affect grade point average or class rank at William and Mary. While there is no limit to the number of courses which may be transferred, William and Mary requires that at least sixty (60) semester credits be earned in residence at the College in Williamsburg.

Appeals

An appeals process is available for students who wish to have a particular course reevaluated. For reevaluation of domestic credit, students must make an appointment with the chairperson of the department where they believe their course is most likely to be granted credit. Students should provide the chairperson with their transfer credit evaluation form from the Office of the Registrar, syllabus, list of textbooks, papers, exams, and any other information that will help the chairperson make a decision as to whether transfer credit should be granted. Should the chairperson decide to grant credit, s/he will make a signed note on the transfer credit evaluation form. The form is then returned to the Office of the Registrar and the transfer credit is updated on the student's record.

For international credit, all the information above is taken to the Office of Academic Advising rather than the faculty. The Chief Transfer Officer in the Office of Undergraduate Studies should be notified if there is a problem after the appeals process has been pursued.

Summer School Elsewhere

Any student of the College who proposes to attend a summer session elsewhere after matriculation at the College, must have written permission in advance from the Office of the Registrar in order to ensure that credit will be transferred. No retroactive transfer of such credit will be permitted. Forms are available on the website of the Office of the University Registrar. After a student enrolls at the College, courses taken in a summer session elsewhere may not be used to satisfy proficiency, GER, minor, or major requirements unless special approval has been granted by the Committee on Degrees. The one exception is William and Mary summer study-abroad programs. If the student will receive William and Mary (vs transfer) credit for the study abroad program, courses, even if they are graded P/F, may be used to satisfy foreign language, GER, minor or major requirements.

Courses taken in summer school or intersession elsewhere must be at least four (4) weeks long and must meet at least 12.5 hours per semester credit transferred to William and Mary. Courses lasting six (6) weeks or longer must meet for at least 32.5 hours for a three semester credit course. Other courses will not receive permission of the Committee on Degrees unless the nature of the course allows for full coverage of the material in a truncated formant and the special educational value of the course to the student's program is demonstrated. A maximum of 16 credits may be transferred for work taken during one summer.

Notification of Grades

In order to comply with a requirement of the State Council of Higher Education, the College of William and Mary reports first year grades of transfer students to the State Council of Higher Education and to the community college from which they transferred or to Richard Bland College. That information is made available to the community colleges and Richard Bland with a requirement that it be kept strictly confidential and used only to assist the community colleges in their assessment of the effectiveness of their programs.

General Questions/Contact Information

General questions regarding admission should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admission (757-221-4223). Once a transfer student has been admitted to William & Mary, specific questions regarding the transfer of credit should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar (757-221-2823). Questions regarding placement, course scheduling and academic requirements should be directed to the Office of Academic Advising (757-221-2476).

Other Contacts

Co-Enrollment Agreement Contacts
Virginia Community College System Articulation Agreement

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