Current Cornell Students
Cornell students often wish to complete coursework at another institution and have that work transferred to Cornell for credit. Current Cornell students should meet with their advisor before enrolling in a course at another institution for pre-approval of transfer of credit. The College of Engineering decides whether credit should be awarded for particular courses, and in all cases this decision is final.
Current Cornell students may also wish to transfer to another college within Cornell. Please visit Cornell’s for more information.
Transfer Students
Many students begin their careers at Cornell having already taken courses at an accredited college that are similar to courses offered here. Transfer credit is awarded for courses that have been satisfactorily completed at another college and have not been used to meet high school graduation requirements.
General Information
The only courses for which students may obtain transfer credit are those that fit degree requirements in the undergraduate engineering program. The College of Engineering decides whether credit should be awarded for particular courses, and in all cases this decision is final.
You may also petition for transfer credit after completing a course elsewhere if you believe that a course you have completed at another accredited four-year institution is equivalent in scope and rigor to a specific course taught at Cornell. You can obtain a Transfer Credit Petition Form from Engineering Advising, 167 Olin Hall. The completed form must be accompanied by a detailed description of the course in order for the department to decide whether it is indeed equivalent. You are advised to bring a list of books required for the course and sample papers or tests to facilitate the review process.
For math, science, or engineering courses, the appropriate department reviews the documentation you provide, and then Engineering Advising makes a credit assessment. Credit is contingent on the suitability of the course as part of your engineering degree program. Credit in excess of that awarded by Cornell for the equivalent course is never granted, nor will Cornell award more than the number of credits completed at another institution. For Math Transfer credit, please note the process described at http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/FSM/transcred.html
Transfer credit is awarded only when the course was taught at an accredited college or university, by its own faculty members, and in classes with regular college students. Students who want credit for cooperative courses taken in high school must seek AP credit, not transfer credit, in the manner specified earlier.
Academic credit is never awarded for technical skills and general knowledge acquired through personal experience, employment, or vocational or military training.
