Graduation Requirements

The following information is intended for transfer students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences.

• Up to a maximum of 16 full courses (maximum of 64 credits) from your prior college toward the requirement for 32 full courses for graduation.
• One full course in each division of the college (if completed at your prior institution). For example, you may receive credit for one full course in natural science & math (NSMA), one full course in social science (SSCI), and one full course in arts & humanities (ARHU). Each would count toward the requirement of two full courses in each division for curriculum exploration.

The following information is intended for transfer students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences.

• You may petition one writing course (WINT/WADV) toward the requirement of two writing courses for graduation. To petition, send an e-mail with the course description and explaining your status as a transfer student to the Director of the Writing Program.
• You may petition one quantitative & formal reasoning (QFR) course toward the requirement of two QFR courses for graduation. To petition, send an e-mail with the course description and explaining your status as a transfer student to the Chair of the QFR Committee.
• Depending on your declared major, one to five courses toward your major requirements.  Please see the catalog requirements for your major and the limits for transfer of credit listed in the major requirements.  To petition, send an e-mail with the course description and explaining your status as a transfer student to the Chair of the department.

The following information is intended for transfer students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences.

• 16 full courses (or the remaining balance of the requirement for 32 full courses in total required for graduation). For example, if you completed 8 full courses at your prior institution that were approved for transfer to Oberlin, you would need to complete 24 full courses at Oberlin. All Arts and Sciences students need to reach a total of 32 full courses in order to meet the minimum course requirement for graduation.
• Transfer students must earn one credit in each Winter Term during their enrollment at Oberlin, unless this would result in more than three full Winter Term projects. For example, if a transfer student is here for two academic years, two full Winter Term projects are required; if a transfer student is here for three academic years, three full Winter Term projects are required.
• Assuming the student receives one transfer course in each division of NSMA, SSCI, and ARHU the remaining would be needed toward curriculum exploration:
  • One course in NSMA in a different department than the one transfer course.
  • One course in SSCI in a different department than the one transfer course.
  • One course in ARHU in a different department than the one transfer course.
  • Two courses for the outside max division requirement.  For example, if your major is in ARHU, you need two additional courses in either NSMA or SSCI.
• Assuming you receive approval for one transfer course in writing (WINT/WADV) one approved writing course at Oberlin.  If you do not have any approved writing courses at your prior institution, you will need two approved writing courses at Oberlin.
• Assuming you receive approval for one quantitative and formal reasoning (QFR) transfer course, one approved QFR course at Oberlin. If you do not have any approved QFR courses at your prior institution, you will need two approved QFR courses at Oberlin.
• For the cultural diversity (CD) requirement, three full CD courses from at least two different departments.  No transfer courses can be approved for CD.
• Residency requirement. For more information please see Guide to Transfer of Credit Policies and Procedures.
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses taken for a letter grade at Oberlin.
• Complete a major.