LS&A Transfer Student
Handbook 2000-2001
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WELCOME TO LS&A Greetings and welcome to the University of Michigan. Since my own arrival at UM, I continue to be impressed by the breadth of opportunities offered by the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. You will find a varied curriculum accompanied by out-of-class experiences to meet your personal goals. Additionally, there are ample non-academic options to enhance your undergraduate years. To guide you through these exciting, and occasionally stressful times, the LS&A Academic Advising Center provides information and assistance.
Many transfer students at UM face adjustments the first year. There may be new academic expectations here which are greater than you have experienced in the past. I suggest that you evaluate carefully (and early) the level of performance your instructors anticipate. Read over the syllabus in each course and compare notes with fellow students. You may find classes in which a portion of the prerequisite information has been covered in your previous courses but still may require additional study to meet the present demands. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them promptly with your advisor.
Naturally you will be adjusting outside the classroom as well. There are many rules and complex procedures which you will master in making your way through the system at UM. In this first term, for example, you might consider a lighter academic load. Again, please use the expertise of your advisor in assuring a successful transition.
All of us in the Academic Advising Center wish you the best during your undergraduate years and look forward to the privilege of working with you.
Alice G. Reinarz, Ph.D.
Director
LS&A Academic Advising Center
USING THIS BOOKLET As a transfer student, you have already mastered the rules, regulations, and requirements of your current college. Now, as you transfer to the University of Michigan, you will have to learn the variations of those rules: the information that governs you as a student in LS&A. This booklet has been assembled to give you a basic overview of the rules and requirements of your new academic home and to help you make your transition to the University of Michigan.
First, you need to read through this material carefully. Please note especially the information about degree requirements and how credits transfer and are used toward your LS&A degree. In that section we ask you to do some "homework" to consider how your previous credits will apply to your LS&A degree at U M. The more you learn about your new College and what it expects of you, the faster and more complete your transition will be.
Pay special attention to the Frequently Asked Questions section. We've included important information that relates to common mistakes made by transfer students as well as general assumptions and myths that many students make about LS&A.
Finally, add this handbook to your file of information about the University of Michigan and keep it with you while you are a student on this campus. The basic advice and referral information will be items you will use frequently, especially during your first term or two at UM.
ADVISING &
YOUR EDUCATIONThe advisor is your key to learning what is available here for you to use and how to make the most of these opportunities. This is a person you can turn to for help when you need direction, advice in planning your courses, evaluation of your study and time management skills, or help in approaching a college instructor. Your advisor is the logical person with whom to discuss your thoughts about possible concentrations, academic and career goals, or any uncertainty that you might have about where you want to go and what you want to do. Together you can plan how to make your LS&A degree truly a personal design, not just a formula degree.
A general academic advisor will:
A concentration advisor will:
An academic advisor cannot:
DIRECTORY
LS&A Academic Advising Center
1255 Angell Hall
764-0332 (Advisors)
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/
The LS&A Academic Advising Center is here to assist you in planning your undergraduate experience in the College. The Advising Center serves LS&A undergraduates by:
Our general advisors can explain degree requirements and help you select your classes and concentration program. They may help you with any academic problem by sorting out the difficulties and referring you to the appropriate resources on campus. Most importantly, advisors will help you think clearly about what you hope to achieve in your education.
You are assigned a general advisor when
you attend orientation. This advisor will keep in regular contact
with you via electronic mail, reminding you of deadlines and resources.
You may also use e-mail to ask your advisor quick questions; it
is a good practice to make a note of your general advisor's e-mail
address so that you can reach him/her easily when these questions
occur to you. Although seeing your advisor prior to registering
for another term is not mandatory, it is highly
recommended. You can schedule an appointment with your general
advisor (or any other general advisor) by calling the LS&A
Academic Advising Center at the number listed above, or by coming
to the Center in person. You cannot make an appointment with your
advisor via e-mail.
As an additional general advising service, most residence halls have an advisor from the Center assigned to hold office hours in the residence hall itself. You can talk with the residence hall LS&A advisor on a walk-in basis during the times he/she is on site. Each residence hall also has a trained academic peer advisor (APA) living in the hall and available for consultation on a regular basis.
Pre-professional and specialty advising is available in the Advising Center to help add detail and focus to particular areas of interest. The Advising Center offers pre-health professions, pre-law, and pre-business (undergrad and MBA interests) advising services. In addition, advisors from Engineering and the School of Education hold office hours in the Center to talk with LS&A students who are considering a program offered in their School. Advisors who specialize in the BGS degree and the Individualized Concentration Program (ICP) are located in the Advising Center as well. You may schedule an appointment with any of these advisors by contacting the Advising Center.
The LS&A Academic Advising Center is also the central distribution and collection point for most College forms and materials, including the LS&A Bulletin; Progress Toward Degree Self Check; Concentration Declaration Forms; Concentration Release Forms; Diploma Applications; and GRE Forms.
Concentration advisors will answer questions about particular "majors" in their respective departments and help you shape the major appropriately. You should consult a concentration advisor on a regular basis to be sure that you are aware of all the options available to you within the department. To schedule an appointment with a concentration advisor, you must contact the specific departmental office. Departmental phone numbers and locations are available in the LS&A Bulletin. See also the complete list on page 8-9 of this handbook. You are encouraged to officially declare your concentration through a meeting with a concentration advisor as soon as you have made your decision. The information that you included on your UM application does not constitute an official concentration declaration.
Academic Standards Board
1255 Angell Hall
764-0311 or 764-0332
Members of the Academic Standards Board are able to help you deal with specific academic difficulties and may grant exceptions to LS&A academic policies and degree requirements. You may discuss with a Board member and, if necessary, petition in writing for a waiver or modification of College rules. The LS&A Academic Standards Board also administers academic discipline. Each term the Board, after reviewing transcripts of those students who show evidence of academic difficulty, acts in accordance with the policies set forth in Chapter IV of the LS&A Bulletin to determine which students may remain enrolled and which students will be dismissed. The Board has further responsibility for readmitting students dismissed due to unsatisfactory performance and for interpreting academic standards.
Academic Auditors
G255 Angell Hall
763-3101
The auditors check for the completion of all LS&A degree requirements, inform you of your progress toward graduation, and authorize graduation.
LS&A Academic Information and Publications
G415 Mason Hall
764-6810
LS&A Academic Information and Publications offers current information about LS&A academic policies, procedures, LS&A courses, and LS&A closed course/section information. LS&A Academic Information and Publications conveys this information in two ways: (1) the Student Academic Affairs Website (www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/); and (2) a telephone information system (dial POINT10, or 764-6810). The POINT10 information service is open Monday through Friday, except on University holidays, from 8 to 5. LS&A Academic Information and Publications is also responsible for publication of the LS&A Bulletin, Course Guides, and the Transfer Student Handbook.
Assistant Dean for Student
Academic Affairs
G411 Mason Hall
764-7297
Overall administration of LS&A Student Academic Affairs is the responsibility of the Assistant Dean. Policy and procedure matters are handled in this office. Academic judicial policy is administered by the Assistant Dean should a student be charged with cheating or plagiarism in a class.
LS&A Peer Academic Advising Office (PAAO)
G150 Angell Hall
763-1553
The LS&A Peer Academic Advising Office, staffed completely by undergraduates, offers a unique comfortable atmosphere in which to obtain relevant academic information. Providing peer counseling, PAAO presents students with an opportunity to share and receive experiences in an informal fashion. The PAAO office maintains such resources as course evaluations and examinations. It disseminates information concerning the newest and most innovative classes. PAAO also stocks graduate catalogs from professional schools across the country as well as the latest in post graduation materials.
Comprehensive Studies Program
William Collins, Director
G155 Angell Hall
(734) 764-9128
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/csp/
The Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) provides support services to over 2,000 UM undergraduates, 500 of them first-year students. Intensive course sections, smaller than most classes, are enriched classes that meet an additional hour each week. CSP introductory classes are offered in biology, chemistry, English, physics, mathematics, and Spanish. In addition, CSP provides tutorials for several LS&A courses in which students can benefit from personal attention, such as courses in foreign language, natural sciences, economics, accounting, and math. Academic advising and personalized counseling happens frequently if you participate in CSP. An advisor will be assigned to you who will help you explore your interests, aptitudes, needs, academic goals, and career objectives. You'll probably meet with the same counselor from orientation to the time you graduate. CSP advisors have specialized training so they can help on a wide range of practical and personal issues.
Sweetland Writing Center (SWC)
Ejner Jensen, Director
1139 Angell Hall
(734) 764-0429
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/swc/
The Sweetland Writing Center helps students write successfully in their undergraduate courses. One of the most valuable services offered by the SWC is Writing Workshop. Any LS&A student, any student enrolled in an LS&A course, and any graduate student may schedule an appointment with an experienced SWC faculty member to obtain help with writing assignments, from finding a topic and developing an argument to polishing a paper.
Students may also obtain assistance with personal statements for graduate or professional schools or work on a specific writing problem (e.g., writer's block). Students seeking assistance may drop in or make an appointment by calling (734) 764-0429 to meet individually with a faculty member. The Writing Workshop is located in 1139 Angell Hall during the day and in some residence halls on a few evenings.
Because many students often feel most comfortable talking about their writing with peers, many prefer to visit the peer writing tutors rather than faculty in the Writing Workshop. The peer tutors, upper-level undergraduates who have successfully completed the seminar in peer tutoring, are located in a computer classroom adjacent to the Angell Hall Computing Site. Peer tutors are available on a walk-in basis Sunday through Thursday evenings, from 7 to 11 P.M.
LS&A Student Academic Affairs Home Page
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/
The LS&A Student Academic Affairs home page allows you to check online lots of information related to the College. You can read about degree requirements, check descriptions of courses, connect with departmental homepages, learn about the various concentrations, check deadlines and procedures, and much more. See the outline of the website contents on page 100of this booklet.
Wolverine Access
https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu
Wolverine Access is an online service for students maintained by the Registrar's Office. Through Wolverine Access you can access your current class schedule, see your current academic report, look at your grades as they are being posted, check your financial aid status, order a transcript, see your registration appointment time, check your student account and update your address information. Wolverine Access also allows you to check open and closed courses and register for the term online.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTSThe College awards three basic degrees: the Bachelor of Arts (AB), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor in General Studies (BGS).
Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts (AB) and the Bachelor of Sciences (BS) have the following requirements:
Refer to the LS&A Bulletin for
full details on each of the above requirements.
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS), established in 1968, is a degree option for students with interdisciplinary or alternative academic interests. It allows them to pursue their interests in an individually designed degree program independent of departmental requirements. The BGS is not designed for students who lack a specific educational purpose or direction. Such students ultimately flounder in the freedom of the BGS program for lack of clarity of purpose.
The BGS is ideally suited for students who have specific areas of interest, who see in the flexibility of its degree structure a chance to explore new areas of learning, and who welcome the responsibility of planning their own undergraduate programs. Students may, with the BGS, combine skills, knowledge and experience across departments and academic disciplines. It is also possible to fold into the BGS course work the classes needed to earn a Teaching Certificate, to prepare for entry level business positions or an MBA program, or to prepare for medical, law, or other professional/graduate schools.
The Bachelor of General Studies has the following requirements:
Refer to the LS&A Bulletin for full details on each of the above requirements.
Students who are considering a BGS degree or who are actively pursuing one, should consult on a regular basis with their general advisor or one of the advisors who specialize in the BGS degree. Such regular contact will assist in shaping this degree to reflect the desired skills, knowledge and experience which the student intends to combine in this non-traditional degree.
Transfer students who elect the BGS program must be particularly careful in program planning. Very often students will transfer primarily lower-level credit and therefore are compelled to elect only upper-level (courses numbered 300 and above) course work at UM. In some cases, the upper-level work requires prerequisites of lower-level course work not already completed, thus requiring further lower-level work. A transfer student may not feel that he/she has enough "room" in the terms remaining to take much additional lower-level work and still graduate "on time." Therefore, transfer students who consider this option should work very closely with an academic advisor.
SELECTING A
CONCENTRATIONMany transfer students already know their field of concentration. Whenever possible we will arrange for you to meet with a concentration advisor in addition to a general advisor during orientation. The concentration advisor can go over requirements with you and help you interpret any transfer credits you may have in the field of concentration. When we are unable to arrange a concentration appointment, your general advisor will be able to get you started. The LS&A Bulletin specifies the requirements for concentrating in each of the departments and programs in the College.
If you have not yet chosen a concentration, you need to begin thinking about your areas of interest so that you can choose your concentration in a timely manner. Probably the most helpful hint we can give you in selecting your concentration is to choose one which satisfies you. Success in a concentration depends on a combination of interests, skills, and aptitudes. If you choose a concentration only because of its job possibilities while failing to look at your own interests, skills, and aptitudes, you could be heading for trouble. Before you decide, learn all you can about the requirements demanded by your proposed concentration. If the concentration doesn't satisfy your interests and fit with your aptitudes, you may find it necessary to change.
Although you may have listed an anticipated area of study on your application to the University of Michigan, you still must meet with a concentration advisor to officially declare that concentration. The concentration advisor completes a Concentration Declaration form; you then turn in the form to the Advising Center so that this information may be posted on your transcript. Once you have formally declared a concentration, you can change your mind without much difficulty. You simply discuss the new concentration with the appropriate advisor and file a new declaration form. If you change concentrations late in your academic career, you may add a term or two to the length of your degree. This is probably still preferable to continuing in an area that has ceased to interest you.
Our second bit of advice is to ask you not to be misled by today's job market in choosing your concentration. Many of you, understandably, desire economic security and mobility, but it is important to avoid using your College career only as a vehicle for gaining those ends. Using current job opportunities as a basis for choosing a career and determining a concentration may be ill-fated for two reasons. First, you may be dissatisfied with the career once you have entered it if you fail to consider your personal needs, desires, interests, the type of person you want to be, and how that concentration or career suits you. Second, in a rapidly changing society, today's job market may change substantially over the next four years. You are better off choosing a concentration (and a career) that suits and reflects you as a person.
Finally, in selecting your concentration, we urge you to exhaust every informational resource at your disposal. These resources include the offices for the Academic Advising Center described on pages 4-5; the UM faculty who, even if they may not have the information you seek, can usually refer you to someone who does; and the Office of Career Planning and Placement (3200 Student Activities Building, 764-7460). Career Planning and Placement can assist you in making career decisions and conducting effective job searches. Seminars, career conferences, counseling sessions, and an extensive career library are among the resources available to help you in making and implementing career choices. Much information is provided on pre-professional preparation, career fields, experiential opportunities, linking choice of concentration to career decision, and job search strategies.
DIRECTORYConcentration advisors are, most often, faculty or staff members from LS&A departments who help students shape and focus their academic goals. They discuss with students how best to progress in a concentration program and to utilize the skills acquired in the study of a particular discipline both in graduate or professional schools or on the job. Students meet with most concentration advisors in their departmental offices. Students make appointments with concentration advisors by contacting the departmental office directly.
An alphabetical listing of concentrations, with advising contact information, follows. You will also find information on concentration degree program prerequisites and requirements in the LS&A Bulletin.
Afroamerican &
African Studies
200A West Hall
764-3399
www.umich.edu/~iinet/caas/
American Culture
G410 Mason Hall
763-0031
www.lsa.umich.edu/ac/
Ancient Civilizations & Biblical
Studies
3074 Frieze Building
764-0314
Anthropology
1020 LS&A Building
764-7274
www.lsa.umich.edu/anthro/
Anthropology-Zoology
1020 LS&A Building
764-7274
www.lsa.umich.edu/anthro/
Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish
& Islamic Studies
3074 Frieze Building
764-0314
Asian Studies
3076 Frieze Building
936-3915
www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/divisions/asianstudies.html
Astronomy & Astrophysics
833 Dennison
764-3454
www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/
Biochemistry
1500 Chemistry
647-2857
www.umich.edu/~michchem/undergrad/concentrate.html
Biology
1121 Natural Science Building
764-2446
www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/academic/undergrad/conc.html
Biology (General)
1121 Natural Science Building
764-2446
www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/academic/undergrad/conc.html
Biophysics
4204 Chemistry
764-5280
www.umich.edu/~biophys/
Biopsychology & Cognitive Science
1044 East Hall
764-2580
www.umich.edu/~psycdept/UG/undergrad.html
Cellular & Molecular
Biology
1121 Natural Science Building
764-2446
www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/academic/undergrad/conc.html
Chemistry
1500 Chemistry
647-2858
www.umich.edu/~michchem/
Chinese Language & Literature
3076 Frieze Building
936-3915
www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/divisions/u_chinese.html
Classical Archaeology
2160 Angell Hall
764-0362
www.umich.edu/~classics/undergrad/undergrad_web_site/prosclassarch.html
Classical Civilization
2160 Angell Hall
764-0362
www.umich.edu/~classics/undergrad/undergrad_web_site/classyciv.html
Classical Languages & Literatures
2160 Angell Hall
764-0362
www.umich.edu/~classics/undergrad/undergrad_web_site/classlang.html
Communication Studies
2020 Frieze Building
764-0420
www.lsa.umich.edu/comm/
Comparative Literature
2015 Tisch Hall
763-2351
www.lsa.umich.edu/complit/
Computer Science
1255 Angell Hall
764-0332
www.eecs.umich.edu/cse/
Dramatic Writing
2512 Frieze Building
764-0147
Economics
158 Lorch Hall
763-9242
www.econ.lsa.umich.edu/
English Language & Literature
3187 Angell Hall
764-6330
www.lsa.umich.edu/english/
Environmental Geology
2534 C.C. Little Building
764-0597 or 764-1435
Film & Video Studies
2512 Frieze Building
764-0147
www.umich.edu/~umfvpgm/
French & Francophone Studies
4108 Modern Languages Building
764-5344
www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/french.html
Geological Sciences
2534 C.C. Little Building
763-2298 or 764-1435
www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/
German
3110 Modern Languages Building
764-3227
www.lsa.umich.edu/german/
Greek Language & Literature
2160 Angell Hall
764-0362
www.umich.edu/~classics/undergrad/undergrad_web_site/classlang.html
Hebrew & Jewish
Cultural Studies
3074 Frieze Building
764-0314
www.umich.edu/~neareast/pages/programs.html
History
1029 Tisch Hall
764-6305
www.lsa.umich.edu/history/
History of Art
110 Tappan Hall
764-5400
www.umich.edu/~hartspc/histart/
Individual Concentration
Program
1255 Angell Hall
764-0332
Italian
4108 Modern Languages Building
764-5344
www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/italian.html
Japanese Language &
Literature
3076 Frieze Building
936-3915
www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/
Judaic Studies
3032 Frieze Building
763-9047
www.umich.edu/~judstud/
Latin American &
Caribbean Studies
1080 South University, Suite 2607
763-0553
www.umich.edu/~iinet/lacs/
Latin Language & Literature
2160 Angell Hall
764-0362
www.umich.edu/~classics/undergrad/undergrad_web_site/classlang.html
Latina/Latino Studies
G410 Mason Hall
764-9934 or 763-0031
Linguistics
1076 Frieze Building
763-9177 or 764-0353
www.lsa.umich.edu/ling/
Mathematics (Actuarial,
Pure Math, Mathematical Sciences)
2072 East Hall
763-4223
www.math.lsa.umich.edu/
Medieval & Renaissance Collegium
1638 Haven Hall
763-2066
www.umich.edu/~marcons/
Microbiology
1121 Natural Science Building
764-2446
www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/academic/undergrad/conc.html
Middle Eastern & North African
Studies
1080 South University, Suite 4640
764-0350
www.umich.edu/~iinet/cmenas/
Music
1255 Angell Hall, 764-0332
www.music.umich.edu/
Near Eastern Civilizations
3074 Frieze Building
764-0314
www.umich.edu/~neareast/
Oceanography
2534 C.C. Little Building
764-0597 or 764-1435
Philosophy
2215 Angell Hall
764-6285
www.lsa.umich.edu/philosophy/
Physics
2061 Randall Lab
936-0659
http://www.physics.lsa.umich.edu/
Physics (General)
2061 Randall Lab
936-0659
http://www.physics.lsa.umich.edu/
Plant Biology
1121 Natural Science Building
764-2446
http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/academic/undergrad/conc.html
Political Science
7602 Haven Hall
764-6312
http://polisci.lsa.umich.edu/
Psychology
1044 East Hall
764-2580
http://www.umich.edu/~psycdept/
Religion (Studies in)
3076 Frieze Building
936-3915
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/religion/
Russian
3040 Modern Languages Building
764-5355
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/slavic/
Russian & East European Studies
1080 South University, Suite 4668
764-0351
http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/crees/
Social Anthropology
3001 LS&A Building
764-7239
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/anthro/
Sociology
3001 LS&A Building
764-7239
http://www.umich.edu/~socdept/
Spanish (Hispanic Literature, Hispanic
Studies)
4108 Modern Languages Building
764-5344
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/spanish.html
Statistics
1439 Mason Hall
764-4413
http://www.stat.lsa.umich.edu/
Theatre and Drama
2550 Frieze Building
764-5350
Women's Studies
1122 Lane Hall
763-2047
http://www.umich.edu/~womenstd/
SAA ONLINE
Course Guides
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/publications/
Academic Standards
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/standards/
First-Year Students
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/firstyear/
Special Opportunities
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/opportunities/
Prospective Students
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/prospective/
Information for Parents
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/parents/
Academic Calendars
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/calendars/
Academic Advising Center
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/advising/
Transfer Students
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/transfer/
People in SAA
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/staff/
glossary
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/advising/glossary_frame.html
Information for Instructors
www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/instructors/
TRANSFER CREDITTransferring courses taken at another College or University:
The maximum number of credits that can be transferred into LS&A is 60 semester credit hours (62 if you come with an associates degree from a community college that requires 62). If you have more than 60 credits from other schools, the courses may all transfer but the credit hour total on your LS&A transcript will appear as 60+.
Transfer credit is defined as out-of-residence. LS&A students are required to complete 60 credits in residence, at least 30 of which must be among the final 60. You should carefully read the section Residence Policy in Chapter IV of the LS&A Bulletin.
Transfer credit criteria:
The criterion for establishing which courses are transferable is that course content is basically parallel to a UM class and is completed with a "C" or better. Your past school's transcript is evaluated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and is reflected on the Academic Report. Credit earned at other institutions is posted without honor points (i.e., without grades) and will not affect your UM grade point average (GPA). The only exceptions are UMFlint and UMDearborn; in these cases, credit is transferred together with honor points and credit is granted for courses passed with a "D-" or better. Credit from UMFlint and UMDearborn is defined as out-of-residence.
Translating your Academic Report:
You will receive in the mail a transfer credit evaluation from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Whenever possible, credit is assigned using a UMAnn Arbor course number. When the transferred course cannot be matched with an existing UMAnn Arbor course, it is assigned a three-digit departmental or interdepartmental number. In this case, the first digit will indicate level; the middle digit will be an "X" indicating that departmental credit has been granted; and the third digit indicates the number of courses taken at the same level from that department. For example, an Academic Report for Winter 1997 could show:
Psychology 112 3 cr.
English 2X1 3 cr.
English 2X2 4 cr.
Biology 1X1 4 cr.
This means that the student will have been given credit for an
introductory Psychology course similar to one described in the
LS&A Course Guide, two second-year English courses
and one first-year Biology course. 3X1 or 4X1 would indicate upper-level
credit.
If you have questions about your Academic Report, ask your academic advisor. If the question or discrepancy cannot be easily resolved, show relevant transcripts and/or course materials to the Admissions Office and ask for re-evaluation. Credit is usually evaluated on the basis of catalogue descriptions which may not correspond with actual course content. As a last resort, contact the Academic Standards Board (1255 Angell Hall) and explain the problem.
Applying Transfer Credits toward College Requirements:
During Orientation your Academic Advisor reviews your transfer credits with you and indicate how they can be used to meet certain LS&A requirements. At that time the Advisor completes a Transfer Students Check List, giving one copy to you and placing the carbon in your student file for future reference. Below are some issues of note with regard to applying transfer credit.
English Composition: Every student entering LS&A must fulfill the College's writing requirement which consists of an introductory composition component and a Junior/Senior writing course. Transfer students may find that the introductory composition component is satisfied with composition taken at a previous institution; not all transfer composition credit is accepted for this requirement so the student and advisor must check the status of the transfer credit on the SWC website (at www.lsa.umich.edu/ecb/requirements/transfcourses.html ). We do not consider Advanced Placement (AP) credit nor creative writing or journalism courses as equivalent to our introductory composition requirement. If your course has not yet been evaluated, please provide the Sweetland Writing Center with a course description (from the school catalog) and the syllabus. Submit it to: Sweetland Writing Center, Transfer Courses, 1139 Angell Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003.
If transfer credit is not accepted for this requirement, the student must take one of the LS&A composition classes.
The writing requirement has a second part which can be completed only after a student has completed Introductory Composition. This requirement can be met only by taking a course which is on the approved list for the term in which the student fulfills the requirement. When registering for the course, the student must "modify" it for "ECB". Most students look for a course in their concentration to satisfy this requirement.
Language: Students entering with fourth-term language credit from their previous schools have met the language requirement. They do not have to take a language placement exam unless they plan to take advanced-level work in that language. All students with less than the fourth term of a language must take a placement exam if they intend to continue in the same language. Frequently, the placement exam will recommend a placement that repeats or is lower than the transfer course. If this happens, you should have a careful discussion with your advisor about the appropriate level to elect. Repeating a course or starting at a level lower than that transferred will forfeit the transfer credit. On the other hand, electing a course above your predicted performance level can be risky. Note: If you decide to forfeit fourth-term (232) transfer credit for the election of a lower level course, you also forfeit satisfaction of the language requirement by transfer credit.
Race & Ethnicity and Quantitative Reasoning: Transfer credit is never automatically applied to these requirements but is often appropriate. If you think you have met either of these requirements with transfer courses, ask your advisor how to apply for a waiver.
Mathematics and Science courses: The sequence of topics taught in mathematics and science courses varies between colleges, making it difficult to find appropriate course in mid-sequence. The Biology department, for instance, tends to give departmental rather than specific credit for introductory courses. Students planning to take advanced-level Biology courses would then need to speak with a Biology advisor to determine if the transfer courses had prepared them sufficiently for the next level. Similar situations occur in other areas, especially Chemistry and Mathematics. Your advisor can help you track down this information.
After reading the information in this handbook regarding how transfer credits are evaluated and how they apply to corresponding LS&A degree requirements (read through the FAQ section carefully), it is a good idea to look at your transfer credit and make a tentative list of how those courses might apply to your degree here.
Using the "Progress Towards Degree Self Check" form available below, fill in any courses that you think might be used to satisfy LS&A requirements. If you have received your credit evaluation from the Admissions Office, use that to assist you in this exercise. If you have not yet received the evaluation, make a list of all the classes you think will transfer and make your best guess at how they will transfer and apply.
Count up how many transfer credits you think you will have and how many credits you would still have to take in LS&A to reach the minimum 120. Note how many credits, if any, come from courses that might be taught in another portion of the University (e.g., Engineering, Business, Kinesiology) rather than in the liberal arts college (LS&A).
* Note if you think you have a transfer composition course that the UM English Composition Board accepts as Introductory Composition. Check the ECB website for verification.
PROGRESS TOWARD
DEGREEA pdf version of the Progress Towards Degree Self Check is available on the Student Academic Affairs website.
ORIENTATION
& ADVISINGYour advisor will also complete a Progress Towards Degree form using the most up-to-date information the Advising Center has received from Admissions. You and your advisor will compare notes during your sessions so that you will receive an official outline of exactly how your transfer credits will be used in your degree at the University of Michigan.
We encourage you to access the LS&A Student Academic Affairs home page (www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/) to read about College rules and requirements in detail before you come to campus. Once you have finished filling out your Progress Towards Degree Self Check, look at the online Course Guide for the upcoming term to see what courses in your concentration are going to be offered and which ones you would be interested in electing your first term here. Also browse through what courses are available that meet other requirements you still need to meet or courses that would add a particular skill or experience that you would like to add to your transcript. It is a good idea to make a long list of courses and alternates that are available in the coming term that would be of interest to you. Bring that list with you to orientation so that you and your advisor can use it as a starting point in your discussions. If you don't have easy access to the Internet at home or at school, you may find your local public library has Internet connections available for public use. The more research and thinking that you do prior to your orientation, the further ahead you will be when you consult your advisor and get ready to register.
IMPORTANT
TIPS
Course load:
Most transfer students are on a "tight schedule" and feel they need to graduate within a set number of terms. Nonetheless, you might consider taking a slightly reduced load your first term here. Change does take adjustment in both one's personal and academic life and adjustment takes time and energy. It is often wiser to start a little cautiously until you get the "feel" of the College and life in Ann Arbor. Often you can make up the credits in subsequent terms by electing just one or two "extra" credits per term.
Rules and Regs:
Every College has a different way of handling such issues as dropping classes, non-graded courses, incomplete grades, etc. Never assume you know an answer until you have checked an authoritative source. The LS&A Bulletin, which you will receive during Orientation, contains the rules that will apply to you during your tenure here. You will be held responsible for those rules, so keep the Bulletin where you can use if for reference.
Information:
Your general advisor is a good resource and guide as you learn the ropes in this new setting. It is a good idea to keep in regular contact with your general advisor and to begin consulting a concentration advisor as soon as you have decided where you want to focus your studies. Make a note of your general advisor's e-mail address so that you can reach him/her easily with quick questions; advising appointments must be made in person in 1255 Angell or by phone at 764-0332. Another resource for quick questions are the LS&A advisors' walk-in hours in the traditional residence halls. Also, lots of basic information and answers to many frequently asked questions are available 24 hours a day online within the LS&A Student Academic Affairs website:
Finally, if all else fails, there is a"generic" e-mail advisor that you can reach by sending a message to:
Concentration:
It is important for transfer students to carefully research concentration options and declare an area of study as soon as possible. Attention to this aspect of your degree is necessary so that you can make wise decisions; plan your classes so that you can graduate in a timely fashion; and not overlook any important degree requirements.
Just as general graduation requirements may differ from your former school, so too may concentration requirements have some differences.
YOU SHOULD
KNOW1. If I have transfer credit for an English Composition course, do I need to take a composition course in LS&A?
All students must satisfy the introductory composition requirement. Transfer students who have taken composition courses elsewhere will find that those credits will transfer as credit toward graduation; however, not all composition courses from other schools automatically satisfy the College's introductory composition requirement. The Sweetland Writing Center evaluates courses from other schools and decides whether or not those courses can be used toward our requirement. To find out if your composition courses have already been approved to satisfy this requirement, check the SWC website at: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/swc/requirements/transfcourses.html
If your course has not yet been evaluated,
please provide the Sweetland Writing Center with a course description
(from the school catalog) and the syllabus. Submit it to the Sweetland
Writing Center, Transfer Courses, 1139 Angell Hall, Ann Arbor,
MI 48109-1003.
1. How many credits am I required to have before I can elect a course to meet the Upper-Level Writing Requirement?
Students fulfill this requirement at any
term after they have completed the Introductory Composition requirement.
2. Can a transfer course meet the Upper-Level Writing Requirement?
No. The Upper-Level Writing Requirement
must be completed on the Ann Arbor campus.
3. Can an Upper-Level Writing Requirement course also count in my concentration or toward distribution?
Yes, in one or the other, when applicable.
1. If I have taken a course at
my previous institution which I have found listed in the LS&A
Course Guide as a "Quantitative Reasoning" course, have
I satisfied the requirement?
Only if the class is a Statistics course
or the equivalent of Physics 125-7, 126-8 or 140-1 and 240-1 have
you satisfied the requirement. For other courses you must petition
Academic Standards for a substitution. Petition guidelines and
instructions are available in 1255 Angell. Such requests are not
automatically granted.
1. If I have taken a course at my former institution that seems to meet the R&E requirement, then have I satisfied the requirement here?
No. You must petition Academic Standards.
In your petition you must include a syllabus of the course and
the reasons why you believe the course you took meets the criteria
that constitute the requirement. These requests are not automatically
granted, even if a class transfers in as the equivalent of one
of the UM courses that meets the requirement. Petition guidelines
and instructions are available in 1255 Angell.
1. If I started a foreign language at my previous institution, can I go back and finish the LS&A language requirement there?
No. Once you enter the College of LS&A,
you must complete the language requirement here.
2. If I test into one of the terms of a language for which I was granted transfer credit, what should I do?
If you elect a course for which you already
have credit, you will lose transfer credit. If you are confident
in your language skills, you could elect the next course in the
sequence and see how it goes. You have three weeks to change your
mind. Language departments allow you to elect a course that is
a higher level than your placement if you feel confident that
this is a wise decision. However, if you elect a course that is
a lower level than your placement, you will not receive graduation
credit unless the department gives you prior permission to make
this change.
1. How do I interpret departmental or interdivisional credit?
If any of your previous coursework has
been transferred in to Michigan as departmental or interdivisional
credit, you should talk with an academic advisor during Orientation
or soon thereafter to get an explanation of how you may use these
credits toward your LS&A degree.
2. Can I use a concentration (major) course for distribution?
No, not if you are completing only one
concentration. If you are doing two concentrations, however, only
one of the two concentrations must be independent of distribution;
one of the two is allowed to "overlap."
3. Can my Race & Ethnicity (R&E) and/or my Quantitative Reasoning (QR) courses count toward my distribution?
Yes, when applicable.
4. Can I use foreign language courses for distribution?
Some third and fourth year language courses
in each language department are designated for humanities (HU)
distribution, but no course in the four terms required for meeting
the language requirement counts toward distribution.
5. How do I know which LS&A courses are natural science, social science, and humanities courses?
The LS&A Bulletin designates
natural science courses as NS, social science as SS, and humanities
as HU. The LS&A Course Guide also designates distribution
courses this same way.
1. Do any of my transfer credits count toward my concentration (major), and, if so, how many?
This is determined by your concentration
advisor.
2. When should I declare my concentration?
Normally during the second term of the
sophomore year, or as soon thereafter as you can.
3. What is a cognate?
A cognate is a required concentration
course that exists in a department outside your concentration
department but whose subject relates closely to your concentration.
4. Can I use a cognate course for distribution?
No, not if you are completing only one
concentration. If you are doing two concentrations, however, only
one of the two concentrations must be independent of distribution.
5. Can my Race & Ethnicity (R&E) and/or my Quantitative Reasoning (QR) courses count toward my concentration?
Yes, when applicable.
6. What are the requirements for my concentration?
They are spelled out in the LS&A
Bulletin. Look in the section describing your concentration
department
7. Does the College of LS&A have minors?
Beginning with Fall Term 1999, LS&A
began to offer minors as an option to students; students are not
required to complete a minor as a condition of graduation. As
individual departments design minors and have them approved by
the College, they will become available for currently enrolled
students. Not all departments will choose to offer minors. Minors
will be phased in as departments complete the design and approval
process, so it is possible that a minor you might want to have
may not be available by the time you graduate.
8. Is the Bachelor in General Studies (BGS) a concentration?
No, it is a degree program, akin to but
differing from the A.B. and B.S. BGS degree requirements are listed
in the LS&A Bulletin.
9. Can I take any of the courses in my concentration pass/fail?
No.
10.Is there a pre-med major?
In LS&A there is no specific "pre-med"
major as such. Students who are interested in the health professions
study a traditional major or pursue a BGS degree. Within the degree,
however, students take the courses required in order to take the
MCAT and to apply to medical school or other health professions
programs. Although your general advisor can provide you with general
information and advice as you begin working on pre-med requirements,
the Academic Advising Center also has available several advisors
who specialize in talking with students about health profession
options and the application process. Consult our Pre-Health Professions
web-site at: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/prehealth/
11.Is there a pre-law major?
In LS&A there is no specific pre-law
major. Law schools generally do not have a preference as to what
undergraduate major you study. Your general advisor can assist
you in shaping your degree so that you include courses that hone
the skills and general knowledge that will contribute to your
success in law school. In addition to talking with your general
advisor, the Advising Center provides a pre-law advisor to assist
you in exploring options and in the application process.
1. How long do I have to drop or add a class once the term starts?
During the Fall and Winter terms, you
have until the end of the third week of class to drop or add a
class. From the end of the third week to the end of the 9th week
of class, you can drop or add a class with permission of the Academic
Advising Office. Courses dropped after the third week are marked
on the transcript with a "W" simply to indicate that
the drop was made later in the term. After that date, changes
in your course elections are made only for truly unusual situations.
Drop/add deadlines for the Spring and Summer half-terms are shorter;
drops can be processed until the end of the second week of class
and late drop/add changes with permission can be processed until
the end of the fourth week. These deadlines are revised for the
Spring and Summer half-terms.
2. What is an override and how do I get one?
An override is permission from the instructor
for you to register for a class that is already full or for which
prior approval from the instructor is needed. Overrides are obtained
from the course instructor or the department that is offering
the course. Overrides are "electronic," which means
that the permission is entered in the computer so that when you
access registration to add the class, the transaction will actually
go through. Remember, an override is simply permission to register
for the course, not an automatic addition to your schedule.
3. What is the pass/fail grading option and how does it work?
You may "modify" a class through
the registration process to receive a pass "P" or a
fail "F" on your transcript instead of a grade. Any
course you take pass/fail will not alter your gpa in any way.
The instructor turns in an actual grade for you and the Registrar's
Office, seeing the P/F modification will translate the letter
grade into a P or F as appropriate. You must earn at least a C-
in order to receive a pass. You have until the end of the first
three weeks of class (first two weeks in a half-term) to change
a class to pass/fail grading status. After that deadline, you
cannot make any change in the grading status of a class. There
are limitations on what courses you can take pass/fail. You cannot
use the pass/fail option with any courses in your concentration
or for the fourth term of a language used to meet the language
requirement. You may not count more than 30 ungraded credits toward
graduation. If you need to show the actual grade which is under
the "P" or "F" for these classes, you can
have the Registrar's Office attach to your transcript a list of
your pass/fail classes and the actual grade. Note: You should
ALWAYS get a printed copy of your schedule each time you make
a change to your schedule.
4. How do I register for the next term?
You need to check Wolverine Access to learn your registration date. Between that time and the term's first day of class you may register using Wolverine Access. You can also consult the Registrar's staff in person in 1010 LS&A Building should you experience any difficulty. Early registration is spread out over a period of time; students with the most credits toward graduation go first and those with the least register in the last group.
5. How can I get a copy of my schedule or see my grades easily?
You can see your grades as they are posted,
see your current schedule, or look at an unofficial transcript
through the undergraduate student business portion of Wolverine
Access. The URL address is: https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu/
6. How do I find out when a specific final exam will be given?
You can check the final exam schedule for a particular course online through the Registrar's homepage: http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/
The exam schedule is also published in
the frontsection of each term's printed Time Schedule.
7. How do I find out when classes begin for a future term?
You can check the academic calendar for present and future terms online through the Registrar's homepage: http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/
Academic calendars are also published
in the LS&A Bulletin and on the LS&A Student Academic
Affairs homepage: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/
1. How do I transfer to the School of Business?
The undergraduate business program at
UM is a two year program junior and senior year. Students
apply to the School of Business in their sophomore year and, if
accepted, leave LS&A to complete their BBA in the Business
School. Admissions are highly competitive. Your general advisor
and pre-Business advisors are available for consultation as you
consider application to this unit or are weighing other options.
2. How do I transfer to the School or Engineering or any other undergraduate school on campus?
Students who want to do a cross-campus
transfer from LS&A to another undergraduate unit must apply
and be accepted to that school. Admissions are often highly competitive
and you are urged to consult you advisor in LS&A as well as
an advisor from the unit to which you wish to transfer.
3. Can I get a teaching certificate?
Yes, you can earn a teaching certificate while you complete your LS&A degree. Consult the LS&A Bulletin for information on requirements. You should also talk with a School of Education Advisor in the Advising Center.
WHERE TO GO
FOR WHAT
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