Transfer Course Equivalencies

*This listing is often outdated. Please use it as a guide rather than a guarantee that the course will be accepted by Computer Science or UMass. Also note that the lists on this page are not definitive. We have only attempted to list comparable core courses - no electives are included in these lists. If you can find additional courses (either core courses or electives) at these schools or any other schools, you will need to submit the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE). Courses will be vetted by faculty who have taught the UMass COMPSCI equivalent (within the past two semesters) as part of the TCE process. We will consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis.

Use the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) form to validate courses taken outside of UMass Amherst (instructions on the form). This is a pre-cursor to the following University paperwork for students who are already here at UMass and want to take courses elsewhere. University forms are submitted after department approval is given using the TCE form:

• Prior Approval for Transfer Course Work form (PAF) - to take courses elsewhere and transfer coursework back to UMass.
• Senior Year in Absentia (SYIA) - to finish degree requirements elsewhere and transfer coursework back to earn degree.
• International Course Approval form (ICAF) - to take courses on international exchange and transfer coursework back to UMass.
• Domestic Exchange - to take courses on domestic exchange and transfer coursework back to UMass.

The TCE form is also used to review transfer course equivalency (TR EQ) of a posted course that is granted generic CS credit upon admission, i.e., COMPSCI 1TRA, COMPSCI 1TRB, etc., or for review of Five College courses (5C EQ).  Only the TCE form is needed for these.

Registration and equivalent prerequisites: If you believe that any of your generic transfer credit should be accepted as a particular COMPSCI course, you are expected to begin the evaluation process immediately after admission so that the TCE process is completed prior to your advising/registration session, if possible. If your course(s) do not get approved prior to your advising session, you should only consider taking courses that are not contingent upon your TCE, i.e., if you think you have a transfer course equivalent for COMPSCI 250 that has not yet been approved, do not attempt to enroll in COMPSCI 311 which has 250 as a prerequisite.  Select another course.

Transfer Equivalency posting to transcript: Students must meet the prerequisite before approved transfer equivalencies are posted.  This may be accomplished by taking the prerequisite course(s) at UMass Amherst.  Students must email tce@cs.umass.edu upon completion of the prerequisites.

The College of Information and Computer Sciences has a Residency Requirement with a limit on the number of transfer courses that will be accepted to fulfill upper level CS courses (300+) toward major requirements, as follows:

BS: no more than three transfer courses are allowed (5 of the 8 CS 300+ must be taken here @UMass Amherst)
BA: no more than two transfer courses are allowed (3 of the 5 CS 300+ must be taken here @UMass Amherst)

There is also a limit of one Five College course to fulfill upper level CS courses for either the BS/BA and this course is counted toward courses taken outside of UMass.

The DATE REVIEWED indicates when the course was last reviewed for approval.  At present, the posted equivalency will expire 1 year from the posted date.  TCEs must be submitted regardless of the approval date.

Amherst College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Berkshire Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Bristol Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Bunker Hill Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Fitchburg State University

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Framingham State University

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Greenfield Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Holyoke Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

North Shore Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Springfield Technical Community College

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

UMass Boston

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

UMass Dartmouth

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Worcester State University

(Prior Approval required via TCE)

Worcester Polytechnic University

(Prior Approval required via TCE)