Transfer Admission Requirements

The World Language requirement is satisfied when a student has completed two years of the same World Language through level 102 (or in high school). The study must be devoted to a single World Language and must be in sequence, with no repetition of any prior term of study. Any World Language other than English that has been formally studied may be used to satisfy this requirement, including languages no longer spoken, such as Latin and ancient Greek. American Sign Language (AMESLAN) will also meet this requirement. The World Language requirement will be considered satisfied if you had instruction outside of the United States through the seventh grade in school(s) where English was not the language of instruction or in countries other than, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K.

It is possible for transfer students with a World Language deficiency to be admitted to the University with the special permission of the University Admissions Committee. According to University policy, these "provisionally admitted" students are responsible for removing the World Language deficiency as soon as possible after enrolling. A student will not be allowed to graduate without having satisfied this requirement.

UW World Language/Language of Admission Credit Restrictions:

• High school world language
  • UW students who completed two or more years of world language are not allowed to earn UW credit for the first quarter college language course. For example, a student who has earned two years of Russian in high school is not eligible to apply credit earned in RUSS 101 towards their degree.
• Native language
  • UW students who meet the classification for native language speaker (i.e. attends school in non-English speaking country grades 1-7) are not eligible for college level course work through the 200 level.

All applicants must complete either three years of high school mathematics including Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 through Intermediate (second-year) Algebra or complete Intermediate Algebra or higher in college with a 2.0 grade or better. Higher-level mathematics, specifically Pre-Calculus, Calculus or Business Calculus will also fulfill this requirement; courses in Philosophy, Statistics, or Computer Science do not meet this requirement. Review details on the Admissions website.

If permitted by the degree program, up to 90 credits earned in correspondence courses offered by the Distance Learning division of UW Extension may be applied toward a UW degree. However, 45 of the student’s final 60 credits must be taken in residence at UW Tacoma to meet the final-year residency requirement.

No more than 45 credits earned as extension credit from other schools may be applied toward a UW degree. Military credit and CLEP, discussed below, is included in the 45-extension credit limit.

Credits earned in Armed Forces Training Schools (AFTS) and through USAFI and DANTES may not exceed 30 and are included in the 45-extension credit limit. Official transcripts or DD-214 or DD-295 forms must be submitted. Scores received in such course work are not included in the transfer GPA.

Students who have completed two or more years of high school foreign language receive no college credit for an entry-level course (e.g., French 101) in the same language when that course is completed after matriculation at the University. Transfer students who complete such a course before matriculation at UW Tacoma are eligible to receive transfer credit.

First-year (elementary) or second-year (intermediate) foreign language credit is not granted either by examination or by course completion in a student‘s native language. “Native Language” is defined as education completed through the seventh grade in school(s) where English was not the language of instruction or in countries other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.

Credit is not awarded for prerequisite courses completed after a more advanced-level course has been completed. For example, students will not be awarded credit for Spanish 102 if it was taken after Spanish 103. 

If an academic department considers two of its courses to have overlapping content, credit will be awarded for only one. Restrictions of this kind are noted in the catalog or department web pages.

No more than 3-quarter credits will be allowed for physical education activity courses.

A maximum of 15 transfer credits will be awarded for a wide range of college-level courses that are vocational-technical, rather than academic, in content (e.g., bookkeeping, electronics, physical therapy technician). These credits may apply only to the elective component of a baccalaureate degree and are not included in the transfer GPA.

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a nationwide program that allows students to earn college credit by examination.

The academic programs have authorized the use of these examinations and determined the scores necessary to receive college credit. CLEP examination equivalencies are determined by UW Tacoma faculty and course credit is available in a wide range of lower-division courses. 

CLEP examinations cover material taught in courses that most students take as requirements in the first two years of college. The amount of credit usually equals the amount of credit earned by someone successfully completing the course.

You can receive credit for CLEP tests after we receive your official CLEP transcript and credit is awarded based on the type of test and score earned. No more than 45 total quarter credits (including all other extension and military credits) is allowed. CLEP credits count toward graduation but do not count as finalyear residence.

NOTE: Under UW policy, no more than 45 total credits can be earned through CLEP or other extension credit. Extension credits include distance learning, Advance Placement and International Baccalaureate credit, credit by exam, College in the High School, Armed Forces Training School credit, and UW courses taken by students on drop status. The University allows a maximum of 90 credits of lower division transfer coursework to be applied toward a UW degree.

Courses receiving no transfer credit include (but are not limited to):

• Courses below college level (usually numbered below 100)
• Repeated or duplicate courses
• Course work taken at an institution that is not accredited by the regional association
• Courses that provide instruction in a particular religious doctrine
• Mathematics courses considered below college level, including basic math, business math, beginning and intermediate algebra
• Courses offered for non-credit continuing education units
• Remedial English (e.g., reading, vocabulary development, grammar, speed reading, or any courses that are preparatory to an institution’s first English composition course)
• Courses providing instruction in English as a Second Language (100-level or above)
• Remedial courses in any academic discipline