Rutgers logo
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Rutgers logo
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

First-Year Transfer Credit

Incoming first-year students who completed course work at a 2 or 4 year college while still enrolled in high school, may submit official College transcripts to be reviewed for transfer credit. All college coursework at the 100 level or higher, that is completed with a grade of "C" or better, will transfer for unspecified elective credit. Equivalency for college courses completed while in high school will only be granted upon approval by the Rutgers Academic Department responsible for evaluating the course. Students may transfer a maximum of 60 credits for college coursework completed while in high school. Regardless of college level courses completed, all incoming first year students who do not earn an Associate's Degree at the time of high school graduation, must still sit for the Rutgers Placement Test in English and Mathematics (unless they meet one of the exemptions below). If their placement on the Rutgers exam is equivalent to or higher than the course they are transferring, the courses will be reviewed for both credit and equivalency. (See chart below for examples).

Rutgers academic departments have already/will review all coursework taken at the college level to determine if the courses completed are equivalent to a Rutgers offered class. A syllabus will be required for the transfer credit review for all courses completed at other New Jersey colleges/universities and those courses completed at 2 or 4 year schools outside of New Jersey. Students may only receive credit for a specific course through one of the following means: Advanced Placement (scores of 4 or 5), International Baccalaureate (Higher Level exam scores of 7, 6, 5), A-Level Cambridge International Exams (scores of A, B, C), college transfer credit ("C" or better grade, 100 level or higher), or Rutgers University credit.

Official Transcripts/Exam Results should be sent directly to transcripts@admissions.rutgers.edu or mailed to:

Rutgers–New Brunswick
Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Room 202
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
65 Davidson Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8097

No Degree Credit is granted for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), including those offered through Coursera, even when those courses are offered by units of Rutgers University.

Approval of transfer credits only apply while enrolled in SEBS. SEBS students who transfer to other schools or colleges (like MGSA, Engineering, RBS, or SAS), will have their previously transferred credits re-evaluated by their new academic services office. Some courses approved at SEBS may not count at other units within the university. Each school sets its own policies.

What Is an Unspecified Elective Credit?

Those are credits that count toward your total 120 credits needed to graduate, but do not fulfill any specific major, minor, or core curriculum requirement. Every SEBS Program of study includes a minimum of 3 credits of unspecified elective credit.

Does College Transfer Credit Exempt a First-Year Student from Placement Testing?

Incoming first years who are completing an Associate's Degree concurrent with the high school graduation should contact the SEBS First-year Dean, first_year@sebs.rutgers.edu, to discuss testing exemptions, course evaluation and transfer, and first-semester course recommendations.

Examples of How Rutgers Placement Is Used in Review of Transer Credit

Credits from: No Rutgers Testing Exemption
English credit transfers only as elective only unless an Associate Degree is completed
No Rutgers Testing Exemption
Math credit considered for transfer following completion of Rutgers Placement Test
Senior Year AP Exam AP English Lit Score of 4 or 5 (in Senior Year) AP English Lang Score of 4 or 5 (in Senior Year)
Overrides student performance on the Rutgers Placement Test in English
AP Calc AB Score of 4 or 5 (in Senior Year)
AP Calc BC Score of 4 or 5 (in SeniorYear)
Overrides student performance on the Rutgers Placement Test in Mathematics
New Jersey Community College Regardless of Rutgers Placement = If completed an approved English Composition 1 and/or 2 course at NJ Community College—will receive unspecified elective credit from County College unless an Associate Degree was earned concurrent with High School Diploma.

Associate Degree earned Concurrent with HS Diploma = English Composition I and/or 2 at NJ Community College transfers per the New Jersey Wide Transfer Agreement and as outlined in njtransfer.org. Student exempted from placement test.
IF Rutgers Placement = Precalculus 01:640:115 or Calculus 01:640:135/151, AND completed an approved Pre-calculus course at New Jersey Community College—will receive both credit from County College and completion of Pre-calculus.

IF Rutgers Placement = Calculus 01:640:135 or 151, AND completed an approved Calculus course at New Jersey Community College—will receive both credit from County College and completion of Calculus.

IF Rutgers Placement is lower than the level of the county college course completed, unspecified elective credit will be granted and student will need to begin studying at the Rutgers Math Placement level.
Other New Jersey College/University Requires review. Submit your course syllabus to the SEBS Office of Academic Programs. Requires review. Submit your course syllabus to the SEBS Office of Academic Programs.
Out of State 2 and 4 year Colleges/Universities Requires review. Submit your course syllabus to the SEBS Office of Academic Programs. Requires review. Submit your course syllabus to the SEBS Office of Academic Programs.