Transferring Coursework

With your acceptance letter, you should have received a letter detailing how to view how your coursework has come in to Richmond. If you have specific questions regarding your transcript, course transfer equivalencies, or the conversion of your previous work to units, please contact the Registrar's Office. Final transcripts should be received in our Registrar's Office as soon as possible.

Credit Basics

The University's curriculum is based on a 35-unit bachelor's degree. One Richmond unit is considered to be equivalent to 3.5 semester hours. Therefore, transfer credit from universities under the semester-hour system may not transfer as exactly one Richmond unit. Students may transfer a maximum of five courses valued at 3-semester hours as 1 unit. After this five-course maximum has been met, 3-semester hour courses will transfer as 0.86 units. 4-semester hours courses will transfer as 1.14 units.

Also, transfer students must complete a specific number of units at Richmond in order to receive their degree. This depends on how much coursework has been completed prior to transferring and is as follows:

  • If you have completed up to one year at another institution, you must complete at least 23 units at Richmond or on an approved off-campus program such as study abroad or visiting away. At least 17.5 units in residence at Richmond must be completed.
  • If you have completed up to one and one half years of study at another institution, you must complete at least 20.5 units at Richmond or on an approved off-campus program such as study abroad or visiting away. At least 17.5 units in residence at Richmond must be completed with one exception: you may apply up to 1 unit earned on an approved off-campus program to the 17.5 unit in residence requirement.
  • If you have completed two or more years of study at another institution, you must complete at least 17.5 units at Richmond with one exception: you may apply up to 4 units earned on an approved off-campus program to the 17.5 unit in residence requirement.