The Biophysics Program allows students to take courses at other institutions and transfer them to the University of Michigan for prerequisite or major credit, when approved.
Courses transferred from another institution toward Biophysics major requirements must be reviewed through the Biophysics transfer credit approval process.
Residency Requirements
Students must complete a minimum number of upper-level credits in residence at the University of Michigan.
- Biophysics majors must complete at least 15 credits at the 300 level or above in residence
- Biophysics minors must complete at least 9 credits at the 300 level or above in residence
Prerequisite Courses
Students who want to transfer a course from another institution for Biophysics Core credit should first check the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search.
Courses listed in the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search are pre-approved.
After a student completes a pre-approved course and submits an official transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the course will appear on the student’s University of Michigan transcript. No additional Biophysics approval steps are needed.
Review pre-approved courses using the:
If a Course is Not Listed in the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search
If the course you want to take, or have already taken, is not listed in the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search, you must request a Biophysics faculty review.
Step 1: Gather Course Materials
Obtain a detailed syllabus from the instructor or institution.
You may also include other supporting documents that would help with the review process, such as:
- Course schedule
- Reading list
- Assignment descriptions
- Lab descriptions
- Exams or major project descriptions, if available
Step 2: Email the Materials
Send the syllabus and supporting documents to:
biophys-sso@umich.edu
Use a clear subject line, such as:
Transfer Credit Review Request for Biophysics Core Credit
Step 3: Include Required Information
In your email, include the following information:
- Your full name
- Your UMID number
- The name of the institution where the course was taken or will be taken
- The term or dates when the course was taken or will be taken
- The course name and course number
- The type of Biophysics requirement you hope the course will fulfill
Step 4: Faculty Review
Your email and course materials will be forwarded to Biophysics faculty evaluators.
Evaluations may take up to 10 business days.
Step 5: Decision and Next Steps
If the course is approved, the Biophysics Program will submit a request to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to award credit for the completed coursework. You will be copied on this email as confirmation of approval.
If the course is not approved, you will receive an explanation from the faculty evaluators.
Transfer Credit Rules by School or College
LSA Students:
- Online courses are not accepted for transfer credit.
- All Biophysics transfer credits must follow the College of LSA Transfer Credit Guidelines.
Review the full policy:
- College of LSA Transfer Credit Guidelines
Non-LSA Students:
- Online courses are not accepted for transfer credit.
- Students should contact their school or college for transfer credit policies and procedures.
Upper-Level Biophysics Courses
Upper-level courses, especially 400-level courses, often reflect the research specialties of the Biophysics field and University of Michigan Biophysics faculty.
Because of this, upper-level Biophysics courses are an important part of the University of Michigan Biophysics major.
In some cases, an external upper-level course may be considered for a major requirement. These courses must be reviewed and approved through the Biophysics transfer credit approval process.
Prospective Transfer Students
Prospective transfer students should first check whether a course has already been approved for transfer.
Review pre-approved courses using the:
If the course is not listed, follow the review process described in the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search section.
Advising and Questions
Students can schedule an academic advising appointment through the:
For transfer credit questions, please email:
biophys-sso@umich.edu
