Transitioning to a new college or university can be a positive experience with the right information and support. Use these resources and meet with an advisor to find a school that will accept your transfer credits. We’re here to help you succeed in your educational journey. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Our advisors are here to assist you with everything from choosing the right major to planning your long-term academic goals. They can help you find the best transfer options and make sure you’re on track for continuing your education.
Transfer Programs
credit
Liberal Arts and Sciences – Agriculture Concentration Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Pre-Veterinary Technology Certificate
Face-to-Face
credit
Secondary Education – Chemistry A.A.T. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Secondary Education – English A.A.T. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Secondary Education – Mathematics A.A.T. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Secondary Education – Physics A.A.T. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Spanish A.A.T. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Technical/Professional Studies A.A.S. Degree
Face-to-Face
credit
Theatre and Performance Studies Certificate
Face-to-Face
Explore Transfer Agreements
Transfer, or articulation, agreements are special agreements with other colleges that provide a smooth transition to a bachelor’s degree. These agreements tell you exactly what classes to take at Chesapeake College to seamlessly transfer into the bachelors program of your choice.
We understand that you might be worried about whether your hard-earned credits will transfer successfully to the four-year college of your choice. ARTSYS is a special online system made to help Maryland community college students transfer smoothly.
Transfer FAQs
Four-Year Schools: Four-year colleges and universities are places where you can earn a bachelor’s degree, like a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS). A university usually has several colleges within it, such as the College of Engineering or the College of Business. Generally, it takes about four years to earn a bachelor’s degree if you complete around 30 credits each year.
Community Colleges: Community colleges are often called “two-year” schools because you can earn an associate’s degree in about two years if you complete around 30 credits each year. However, the time it takes can vary based on your personal situation, like work or family responsibilities. If you’re taking fewer than 15 credits per semester, consider taking summer classes to speed up your progress.
At Chesapeake College, our Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), and Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) programs are designed to cover the first two years of study at many four-year colleges. With careful planning, your associate’s degree will fulfill most of the requirements at your future transfer school.
You can’t really begin too soon. Visit the Dorchester Building at Wye Mills, or the Cambridge office, and ask to meet with an Advisor. If you know what college you want to transfer to and what you hope to major in when you get there, so much the better. The Advisor will help you understand how to visit the college’s web site and search for transfer and admission information.
No. You can switch colleges at any time. To do this, you need to apply to your new college, get accepted, and start there. But there’s a difference between a “Transfer Student” and a “First-Time Freshman.”
Transfer Students: If you have already earned enough college credits (usually between 24 to 36 credits, depending on the college), you are considered a Transfer Student. You’ll need to provide your new college with a transcript from your previous college, like Chesapeake College.
First-Time Freshmen: If you don’t have enough college credits to be a Transfer Student, you are a First-Time Freshman. You will need to submit whatever documents are required for first-time students, which often include your high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores.
Students with average high school records often choose to stay at community college until they have enough credits to transfer, as this can improve their chances of being accepted to their new college.
Every college degree, whether an associate or bachelor’s, has three components: general education (also called core), program requirements, and electives. Each college and major requires courses in different proportions (some may require more program courses and less electives). Every four-year institution has different requirements, so the sooner you choose a major and a transfer institution, the more accurate your course selection for transfer will be.
Students should always verify information with their intended transfer school. It is recommended that you choose your transfer institution before completing 15 credits. That way you can choose Chesapeake College courses that will fulfill requirements at your transfer college.
- Programs of Study: Does the school offer your major? Some schools specialize in certain fields.
- Location: Are you comfortable with the school’s location and distance from home?
- Size: Do you prefer a large or small school? Check the student-to-teacher ratio.
- Cost: What are the tuition and other expenses?
- Scholarships and Financial Aid: Are there funding options available?
- Housing: Does the school provide on-campus housing for transfer students?
- Campus Life: Are there clubs, sports, or internships that interest you?
- Accreditation: Is the school accredited and up to quality standards?
- College Websites: Visit the official websites of the colleges and universities you’re interested in. They offer detailed information about programs, admissions, and campus life.
- College Search Engines: Use online tools like College Board’s BigFuture or The Princeton Review to search for schools based on your preferences.
- Campus Visits: Schedule a tour of the campuses you’re interested in to explore the environment and meet with admissions staff.
- Academic Advisors: Talk to your academic advisor at Chesapeake College for advice and resources about transferring.
- Transfer Guides: Use ARTSYS, a Maryland tool that helps you understand how your courses transfer and find compatible programs.
- College Fairs: Attend college fairs and expos to interact with school representatives and collect information. Check your Skipjack email for weekly announcement about transfer events.
These resources will help you find the right four-year school for your needs and goals.
Tips for Applying to a Four-Year College
- Apply to Multiple Schools: To increase your chances, apply to more than one college. This way, you have options if you change your mind or if your first choice doesn’t work out.
- Check College Websites: Visit the websites of the colleges you’re interested in. They will provide details on how to apply and the requirements for transfer students (usually with 12 to 60 credits).
- Understand Admission Requirements: For Maryland community college students transferring to a public four-year college, you generally need an Associate’s Degree or 56 credits with a 2.5 GPA. Some programs may have higher requirements or additional steps, such as a higher GPA or extra application materials. Admission to the college doesn’t guarantee entry into specific programs.
- Meet Application Deadlines: Submit your application and all required documents before the deadline. Apply in the summer for Spring enrollment or during winter break for Fall. Be ready to provide transcripts and references. If you need help with essays or resumes, the Academic Support Center at the LRC can assist you.
- Request Transcripts: Get your official transcripts from the Registration Office and any other colleges or programs where you’ve earned credits (e.g., AP, IB, CLEP). Remember to request your final transcript after your grades are posted.
These steps will help you navigate the transfer process and ensure a smooth transition to your new college.
Make a written request to the Records/Registrar’s office on your campus. There may be a fee required. All USM institutions, most community colleges and many other Maryland institutions have the ability to send and receive electronic transcripts from one another.
- Visit your community college advisor or transfer coordinator in order to discuss your intentions to transfer and to obtain advisement.
- Request information from 4 year institutions that interest you by visiting their web pages. Another great way to discover educational opportunities is to attend the Transfer Advising Days held at your community college.
- Find out about transfer requirements and deadlines for the institutions to which you intend to apply.
- Visit the campus(es). While you are there, arrange to meet with either an admissions representative or a department advisor to discuss your chosen major of study.
- Obtain an application form, or apply on-line.
- Complete and send the application(s) for admission.
- Arrange to send transcripts from your current college and all previously attended institutions to the institution(s) to which you are applying.
- Complete and send all required financial aid/scholarship information by the prescribed deadlines to the institutions to which you are applying.
ARTSYS indicates the transferability of courses from each community college to each participating four-year college. If ARTSYS is available at your institution, consult your transfer coordinator about its use. If ARTSYS is not available at your institution, consult your academic advisor, transfer counselor or the transfer counselor at the four-year institution regarding the transferability of courses, or access ARTSYS online.
Before registering for courses, you should consult your academic advisor or transfer counselor and/or ARTSYS to determine the transferability of courses you wish to take. The advisor may be able to provide a recommended transfer program for your major.
This will depend on your personal circumstances. For example, will you be a part-time or full-time student? If you change majors, it could well take longer than if you do not change.
Your class standing will be based on the credits accepted in transfer. Consult the receiving college’s catalog for specific definitions of class standing.
Many institutions provide an unofficial evaluation of transfer credits prior to enrollment. Your advisor, using ARTSYS, should be able to provide a clear indication of the transfer credits you will receive.
MD Transfer Policies
We are fortunate that there are transfer policies which govern the transferability of courses from Maryland community colleges to publicly funded four-year schools in the state. Several of the policies are listed below:
Maryland community college students who have completed the associate degree or students who have completed 56 semester hours of credit with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 shall not be denied direct transfer to a MD public four-year institution.
- Courses taken at a MD community college as part of a recommended transfer program will ordinarily be applicable to related programs at a MD public institution granting the bachelor’s degree.
- Courses designated as meeting the general education requirements at any MD public college shall be applicable to the general education requirements at any other MD public college or university.
Credit earned in, or transferred from, an associate degree-granting institution shall be limited to approximately one half the baccalaureate degree program requirement, not to exceed 70 credits, and to the first two years of the undergraduate educational experience.