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Government Department

Transfer Credit for Study Elsewhere in the U.S.

How do transfer students obtain transfer credit?

General information for students transferring to William and Mary from another university may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog and from the Admissions Office (below). In general the Government Department will grant course equivalency to transfer students for political science, international relations and public policy courses taken elsewhere, but not law courses.

• Undergraduate Catalogs 1994-2003
• Transfer Credit Request Form [PDF]

How do you get credit for courses taken elsewhere in the U.S.?

Once enrolled at the College, you may take courses at other US universities during a regular semester or, more likely, in the summer, and transfer the credit (not the grades)--but only if you obtain pre-approval. Moreover, there are restrictions on transferring such credit, including that it be for general electives, major or minor only; that is, you may not count it toward your GERs or proficiencies (except for levels 101, 102 or 201 of a foreign language), except in special cases requiring pre-approval.

• Request for Permission to Take Courses Elsewhere Summer [PDF]
• Request for Domestic Study Away Fall/Spring Semester [PDF]
  Petition to the Committee on Degrees [PDF]

Can you do a semester in Washington D.C. at another university?

The Department offers (limited) transfer credit for courses taken through programs offered by other universities in the nation's capital. Note that there is a maximum of 1 credit transferred for any internship-related course.

• American University: Washington Semester
  The Department grants transfer credit for courses taken in (and only in) the "programs" in American Politics, Foreign Policy, Public Law, and Peace & Conflict Resolution. It grants 1 transfer credit for the internshipcourse, a maximum of 6 Government credits (Govt. 391, Topics) for the other courses, and no credit for the research course.
  
• George Washington University: Semester in Washington
  The Department grants 1 transfer credit for the Tutorial in American Politics and Elections, 6 total credits for the two required courses (PGMT 101 and 107), and 3 transfer credits for other political science electives.
  
• Georgetown University: Washington Semester at Georgetown University
  The Department grants 1 credit for the Internship Seminar, 3 for the Constitutional Reform course, and 3 for another political science elective, for a total of 7 credits.
  
• Georgetown University: Fund for American Studies' Capital Semester
  The Department grants a maximum of 3 Government credits (Govt. 391) for the Constitution and Policy-Making course.
  

Will credit be granted for internships done as part of a program of study at another university or abroad?

The Government Department only grants post-approval for credit done in conjunction with an internship/internship course done at another university, including on all study abroad programs. To receive credit upon their return to campus, students must submit a) copies of all their original research/written work done in conjunction with the internship, b) evaluation of that work by a faculty member teaching at the other university or program, and c) the Reves Post-Approval form. These materials are required in order for post-approval credit to be awarded.

Where the work described in (a/b) meets the standards set out for students under Govt. 498 taken in residence at the College, credit will be granted. But students are strongly advised to determine in advance of the program whether the internship there is structured in such a way as to provide such an opportunity for original research/written work, and whether that work will in turn be evaluated by a faculty member there. If the first condition can not be met, the student should not expect to receive credit for Govt. 498. If the first condition can be met, but there is no on-site faculty evaluation of written work done for the internship, the student must arrange with a faculty member at the College to evaluate the written work so as to meet the requirements for receiving transfer credit for Govt. 498.