Academic Information

Degrees Granted

Associate of Arts (AA) - recognizes mastery in the liberal arts and in the fine arts and is intended for transfer to equivalent programs at four-year institutions.

Associate of Science (AS) - recognizes mastery in science or technology with a heavy emphasis on undergraduate mathematics or science and is intended for transfer to programs at four-year institutions.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - recognizes the mastery of vocational-technical occupation skills and is intended for those seeking immediate employment opportunities. Graduates with an AAS degree may transfer to a technical program such as a Bachelor’s Technology degree or to non-technical courses at a four-year institution.

Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) - recognizes mastery in programs in electrical engineering.

Associate of Art in Teaching (A.A.T.) - recognizes mastery in teacher education.

Certificates Granted

Certificates requiring up to 45 credits may be earned. A certificate, while less than a degree, is an accomplishment in itself; many certificate programs meet professional and government certification standards and/or requirements. Some certificate requirements are established by outside professional or government agencies.

Full-Time Study

Full-time students are those who register for a minimum of 12 credits per Fall and/or Spring semester and/or Summer session. To complete the requirements for the Associate degree in two years, however, students will need to take 15 or sometimes as many as 18 credits per semester, depending upon the program of study. Students who want to take more than 18 credits must have a cumulative average of at least 3.0 and the permission of the Director of Student Success. This policy applies to all academic sessions including Summer.

Declaration of Program (“Major”)

Students are encouraged to declare a “major” before completing 15 credits. Students who desire to change their major are to consult with an Academic Advisor in the Student Success Center. Upon declaration of a major, students are reassigned to an advisor in their field of study.

Graduation Requirements

Degrees and certificates are awarded in August, December and May of each academic year. Commencement is held once a year following the Spring semester.

Associate degrees are awarded to students who meet all the following requirements:

• A minimum of 60 academic credits effective. Certain special programs may require more credits.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 (equivalent to a C average)
• Completion of the General Education Requirements (30-36 credits for AA and AS degrees; 21-22 credits for AAS degree) in addition to Instructional Program requirements
• Demonstration of computer literacy by successful completion of approved computer literacy course or passing the computer literacy test administered by the Test Center
• Completion of PRE 100 by students who enter as first-semester degree-seeking candidates. Students who transfer 15 or more credits from another institution or are a returning student who attended BCCC prior to 1994 and earned 15 or more credits are exempt from taking PRE 100
• Meeting all requirements within 10 years of initial enrollment; re-entering students who have been away for two or more semesters (excluding summers) must meet any new program requirements.

Simultaneous certificates and degrees are awarded in the same specialization. A second Associate degree can be awarded if the student completes a minimum of 15 credits beyond the requirements for the first degree and completes all requirements in the second specialization. 

Certificates are awarded to students who meet all the following requirements:

• 2.0 or better cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Completion of all College, program, and course requirements
• Completion of PRE 100   by students who enter as first-semester certificate-seeking students. Students who transfer 15 or more credits from another institution or are a returning student who attended BCCC prior to 1994 and earned 15 or more credits are exempt from taking PRE 100
• Demonstration of computer literacy by successful completion of approved computer literacy courses or passing the computer literacy test administered by the Test Center.

Students re-entering who have been away for two or more semesters (excluding summers) must meet any new program requirements. Simultaneous certificates and degrees are awarded in the same specialization. A second Associate degree can be awarded if the student completes a minimum of 15 credits beyond the requirements for the first degree and completes all requirements in the second specialization. All BCCC students must meet the College’s Computer Literacy requirement in order to receive a degree or a certificate.

All first-time full- and part-time degree and certificate-seeking students are required to complete the PRE 100 course within the first six credits.

Computer Literacy Requirement

All BCCC students must meet the College’s Computer Literacy requirement in order to receive a degree or a certificate. Students can meet this requirement in three ways:

1. By enrolling in one of the majors listed below.
2. By taking one of the computer courses listed below and passing the course with a “C” or better.
3. Pass the College’s Computer Literacy Test with a minimum grade of 70%.

Majors that Satisfy the Computer Literacy Requirement

• Accounting
• Administrative Assistant
• Business Administration
• Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
• Computer Information Systems
• Fashion Design
• Health Information Technology

Courses that Satisfy the Computer Literacy Requirement

• BUAD 112: Computers for Business Management
    
• BCAP 104: Introduction to Operating Systems: DOS/Windows
    
• BCAP 155: Word Processing for Business Applications  
• CADD 101: Introduction to CADD
    
• CISS 109: Principles of Computer Information Systems
    
• CLT 100: Computer Literacy
    
• CSC 108: Programming in C
    
• FASH 202: Computer-Aided Pattern Design
    
• HIT 232: Computer Applications in Healthcare
    
• HIT 251: Healthcare Management and Supervision  
• OFAD 119: Word Processing Applications I  

Pre-100 Orientation Course

The purpose of PRE 100   (College Orientation) is to provide all first semester full and part-time degree and/or certificate-seeking students with an introduction to student and academic services offered at Baltimore City Community College. This course was designed to ensure that students have an opportunity to focus on strategies for personal and academic success. In addition, all new students can utilize various support and academic services offered at BCCC to achieve continuous success while paving a pathway for matriculation and College completion.

Online Learning and the Center for Excellence in E-Learning and Teaching Innovation

E-Learning Office
Liberty Campus
Harper Hall, Room 110
online@bccc.edu
410-462-7625

MMany BCCC courses offered on campus are also offered online. Thus, busy students have the convenience of learning anytime, anywhere, and can reach their educational goals while meeting job and family responsibilities. Students register for online courses the same way they do traditional classes, provided they meet specific requirements for each delivery format, listed below. Online courses are suitable for motivated and disciplined learners who appreciate the convenience and flexibility of this educational format. More information is available online at www.bccc.edu by clicking on Programs and Courses and then Online Education.

Online and Hybrid Courses

Online courses are taught via the Internet and comprise at least 80 percent of online semester contact hours. Students communicate with their instructors and with one another asynchronously (not in real-time) through Canvas, the Learning Management System (LMS) used at the College. Course documents, assignments, and projects are exchanged through the LMS.

Hybrid courses are taught partly online, partly in the classroom. Students enrolled in hybrid courses must attend specific on-campus sessions and complete the rest of the coursework online. Students who wish to enroll in online or hybrid courses must have access to a computer that meets the requirements of the LMS.

BCCC open lab computers, located in LSB 260-263, can be used for online courses. Call the Open Computer Labs at 410-462-7411 for more information.

Canvas System Requirements:

Canvas supports the current and previous major release of the following  browsers:

Chrome 81 and 83, Firefox 76 and 77, Edge 81 and 83, Respondus Lockdown Browser (supporting the latest system requirements), and Safari 12 and 13 (Macintosh only). For details, please  click the  following link:

https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10720-what-are-the-browser-and-computer-requirements-for-canvas.

Students must have adequate computer skills in order to be able to successfully complete these courses. For a self-test of computer skills, access the BCCC website at www.bccc.edu and click on Current Students and then E-Learning.

Orientation for Students Enrolled in Online and Hybrid Courses

All students taking online or hybrid courses for the first time are strongly encouraged to complete the Student Orientation online. In the orientation, students learn about student and faculty expectations in online courses and are familiarized with the Learning Management System (LMS). The orientation is self-paced, and every student is automatically enrolled. It can be found in Courses on the course menu after logging in.  

Log in to Canvas at this URL: https://www.bccc.edu/mybccc.

Verification of Students’ Identity in the Learning Management System

BCCC’s Learning Management System is fully integrated with student and College data. All credit courses offered at the College, and all individuals who are provided with a College email address, are automatically created in Canvas through an integration of the two systems. Accordingly, students registered for online courses receive a unique login based on their personal information that includes a combination of their name and a four-digit randomly generated number, unique to each student. The password used by students is a combination of numbers based on each student’s date of birth.   

In many online courses, students are required to come on campus for testing where their photo IDs are checked, and complete exams under proctored conditions. At orientation, students are instructed to keep login private and to comply with BCCC’s Code of Conduct, which addresses issues of academic honesty.

BCCC Grading System

The grading system is based on the “grade point” of each letter grade; the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is then calculated:

Letter             Grade Points              Value

A                     4                                  Excellent

B                     3                                  Above Average

C                     2                                  Average

D                     1                                  Below Average but Passing

F                     0                                  Failing

P                     0                                  Passing

To calculate G.P.A. for one term:

1. Multiply the point value of the letter grade (see scale above) by the number of credit hours. The result is the grade points (quality points) earned.
2. Total the credit hours for the term; total the quality points for the term.
3. Divide the total quality points by the total credit hours. The result is the G.P.A. for the term.

To calculate cumulative G.P.A.:

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above for each term.
2. Total the credit hours from all terms; total the quality points from all terms.
3. Divide the total quality points for all terms by the total credit hours for all terms. The result is the cumulative G.P.A.

General G.P.A. Information

• Only courses graded on an A-F basis are used in calculating G.P.A. Courses taken as Pass/No Pass (P/NP), credit-by-exam, correspondence, and audit are not included.
• The G.P.A. calculation never includes transfer work from other colleges.

The following grades indicate non-completion of courses with a grade value of 0.

Change of Grade

No grade change will be permitted after the lapse of one calendar year calculated from the last day of the semester in which the course was given except under exceptional circumstances. Grades will not be changed without a detailed explanation and documentation. The grade change will not be final until approved.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded to students who qualify for the associate degree as follows:

• High Honors - Overall GPA of 3.75 and above
• Honors - Overall GPA of 3.25 to 3.749

Scholastic Honors

Scholastic honors are awarded to students who qualify with a GPA of 3.0 and above with a minimum of 12 credits that semester, no grade lower than D, and all credits earned at BCCC. These honors are designated on the student’s official college transcript.

• Distinguished Scholar - Semester GPA of 3.5 and above
• Meritorious Scholar - Semester GPA of 3.0 to 3.499.

Course Substitutions and Exemptions

Students are required to fulfill all program requirements. In exceptional cases, such as when a student is in his/her final term and the course he/she requires has not been scheduled, the student may be permitted to substitute another appropriate course that produces similar competencies and involves similar areas of knowledge. A completed Course Substitution Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office after it is approved by the Coordinator, Associate Dean, Dean, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The code SB appears on the student’s record.

A  student may be granted an exemption from a required course or from a program requirement only when the Department offering the course or program has identified another course, credential, or other experience as meeting the stated requirement. Official documentation from the Associate Deans and the course or Program Coordinator is required. The code EX or XM appears on the student’s record.

Independent Study

Students are expected to complete their programs through the normal schedule of courses. However, students in their last term are permitted to apply for required courses as Independent Study, provided that all the following conditions have been met:

1. The student is in his/her last term.
2. The course is required by the student to complete a degree or certificate program.
3. The course is not being offered on the term schedule, or the time of the course conflicts with another course the student needs to take.
4. No appropriate course substitution can be found.
5. The Independent Study is approved on the Independent Study Form by the respective Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Each application of Independent Study will be carefully reviewed and approved by the Academic Associate Dean, Dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students are advised, however, that the College is under no obligation to provide this option. When the Independent Study is approved, the student will meet with the faculty assigned on a weekly basis. A course taken as Independent Study will cover the same content as the regularly scheduled course and have the same requirements and evaluation as outlined in the course syllabus.

A student in his/her last semester may earn credit independent of a classroom setting for a specific course described in this Catalog when the course is not offered in the semester schedule but is required in order to complete a degree or certificate program.

Note: The College is under no obligation to provide this option.

Individual Study

Talented students may earn credit in certain disciplines through special projects, research, creative work, internships, or other means of independent academic pursuit without conforming to the restrictions of a traditional classroom setting. Individual Study credit may be earned only for a course that deals with content not included in an existing BCCC course. Individual Study is different from and should not be confused with Independent Study. For more information, see Individual Study .

Auditing

A student with the necessary prerequisites and the written approval of the Dean or Associate Dean may audit a course on a space-available basis. Students who audit a course are not evaluated for a course grade and do not receive credit. The tuition and fees for an audited course are the same as those charged for a credit course. Financial Aid does not cover audited courses. 

Students must indicate at registration that they are auditing a course. Students may change their status from audit to credit or from credit to audit only during the Add/Drop period. Since no credits are earned, audited courses are not computed in the student’s grade point average. The grades report will show an audit in the grade column.

Class Attendance

All students are expected to attend all class sessions. Regular attendance at all classes is a minimum academic obligation and is considered by the College to be an integral and vital aspect of the learning process. Students who attend class regularly are more likely to earn satisfactory grades. Lateness or failure to attend class may seriously jeopardize a student’s performance and academic standing. The student is responsible for the content presented and/or assigned even if class is missed because of late registration, illness, or any other factor. Class attendance is required for federal financial aid recipients.

Children in Classrooms/Laboratories

It is the policy of Baltimore City Community College to encourage safe, supervised campus visitations by children who are taking part in organized scheduled activities, enrolled in specific classes, or attending educational, cultural, and sporting events on campus. Other than these activities, children are not permitted in the classroom, libraries, computer labs, science labs, physical education facilities, or in any other areas of the College unless properly enrolled in a program. Under no circumstances may unsupervised children be allowed to play on campus grounds, roam campus buildings, and sit in campus buildings or outside benches on the grounds. Employees are prohibited from bringing children to work during working hours. 

Repeating Courses

Students are expected to make academic progress in their courses. Students who do not successfully complete a course are permitted to repeat the course one time. The College believes that both students and the institution must act responsibly to ensure the effective use of resources, time, and finances; therefore, students may not register to take a course for a third time (including class withdrawals) without visiting the Student Success Center. The grade received each time a student enrolls in a course is posted on the student’s official transcript; however, only the highest grade received in the course is computed in the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). For financial aid purposes, a student may repeat a course once and receive financial aid only if the student has not received a grade of “C” or better.

It shall be the policy of Baltimore City Community College to restrict students from continuously repeating courses for which they have received financial aid for payment of tuition and fees and for which they have received a grade of “C” or better. Therefore, students who receive a grade less than a “C” are permitted to repeat that course one time only. Withdrawals are not included in this policy.

However, if the student chooses to repeat a class that was twice paid for by financial aid, he or she must assume the cost of tuition and fees for the third attempt. This policy is consistent with the intent of the federal Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations.

Effect of Withdrawal on Academic Standing

Each semester the College establishes and publishes a course withdrawal deadline date. If for any reason a student needs to withdraw from a course, he/she should complete and submit to the Registrar’s Office the Withdrawal Form before the deadline date. Students who withdraw from a course before the deadline date will receive a grade of W. Failure to take this action could result in a grade of F and a bill for the course(s). Grades of F, like grades of A, B, C, and D, are value-weighted and are used to determine a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). A grade of W does not affect a GPA.

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from any class that may not be completed successfully. See Add/Drop/Withdrawal Procedure.

Academic Standing

A student’s academic standing is determined at the end of each semester (Fall and Spring) and session (Summer). 

Academic Standing:

• Good Standing: A student is considered in Good Academic Standing if their cumulative GPA is at 2.00 or better.
   
• Academic Warning or Probation: A student who is no longer in good standing is placed on academic warning or probation. Their academic status is determined by the term-based cumulative credit and GPA ranges on the chart below.
   
• Dismissal: A student is academically dismissed from the College when he/she attempts six or more credits while on Academic Warning and (1) fails for a second consecutive semester to complete 50% of the credit load in that semester (receives grades of W, W3, F, or I) or (2) fails for a second consecutive semester to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) consistent with the minimum academic standards of the College.

1. Academic Warning - Students are notified by the Registrar that they are no longer in good standing; no registration hold is placed on their record. Students will work with advisors and the Student Success Center to stay on track and get off warning.
    
2. Academic Probation - Students are notified by the Registrar that they have moved from Warning to Probation or placed directly on Probation; a registration hold is placed on their record. Students are required to meet with an advisor prior to registration and are required to participate in retention activities.
    
3. Academic Dismissal - Students are notified by the Registrar that they have been dismissed from the College and will receive information on appealing the dismissal. A hold is placed on the student’s record and their registration cancelled (if applicable)

Appealing Academic Dismissal

Every student is given the opportunity to appeal their status.  Students who have been academically dismissed from the College and want to immediately appeal their dismissal may submit an appeal to the Academic Standing Review Committee. 

1. Appeals are submitted to the Academic Standing Review Committee.
2. Appeals must be received in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at least two weeks prior to the start of the expected semester of return.
3. Decisions on appeals will be made by the committee and students will be notified of the decision within 3 business days.

​Petition for Reinstatement

If a student decides to sit out one semester after dismissal from the College they may petition for reinstatement.

1. Petitions are submitted to the Academic Standing Review Committee.
2. Petitions must be received in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at least two weeks prior to the start of the expected semester of return.
3. Decisions on reinstatement will be made by the committee and students will be notified of the decision within 3 business days.

Reinstatement following Dismissal 

Once a student is reinstated, there may be academic and student success requirements for the student to meet.

1. A reinstated student must meet with an academic advisor in the Student Success Center to determine their semester schedule and retention activities.
2. Students reinstated following academic dismissal will be placed on academic probation and will need to earn a 2.0 Term GPA or higher in their next semester or risk being academically dismissed again.

Students who are denied reinstatement may reapply to the College prior to the start of the following semester.

Withdrawal

Effect of Withdrawal on Academic Standing

Each semester the College establishes and publishes a course withdrawal deadline date. If for any reason a student needs to withdraw from a course, he/she should complete and submit to the Registrar’s Office the Withdrawal Form before the deadline date. Students who withdraw from a course before the deadline date will receive a grade of W. Failure to take this action could result in a grade of F and a bill for the course(s). Grades of F, like grades of A, B, C, and D, are value-weighted and are used to determine a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). A grade of W does not affect GPA.

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw officially from any class that may not be completed successfully. See Add/Drop/Withdrawal Procedure.

Academic Renewal

Academic Renewal offers a student the opportunity to continue College studies without the disadvantages of an earlier weak GPA. A maximum of 15 credits of D and/or F grades earned at least 5 years before the semester in which Academic Renewal is being requested may be excluded from the cumulative GPA. At least 12 credits with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA must have been earned since the last semester for which Academic Renewal is being requested. Academic Renewal is considered twice each year, in January and August.

Specific grades are removed from the computation of GPA, but courses and the grades earned remain on the student’s transcript. Grades of C or better earned during the period for which exclusion of grades is being requested are included in GPA computation. Academic renewal does not automatically satisfy academic progress standards for financial aid purposes. Courses approved for Academic Renewal do not count toward graduation or degree completion. 
Academic Renewal Request Forms are available in the Student Success Center and the Registration Office.

Academic Grade Grievance Process

A student who has sufficient evidence that his/her grades have not been determined in accordance with the terms set out in the instructor’s syllabus/course outline/course policy may seek resolution through the grievance process. In filing an academic grievance, a student must take the following steps:

1. Attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor in a face-to-face meeting.
2. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the instructor, he or she will obtain a Student Grade Grievance Form (Form A) from the respective department administrative assistant, complete, and submit it to the Office of Academic Operations and Services. This form should spell out the exact nature of the complaint and the remedy sought. The Office of Academic Operations and Service will contact the faculty and allow the faculty member an opportunity to respond to the grade grievance (Form A).
3. Cases filed after faculty contracts end in May are processed as soon as the instructor can be contacted which usually occurs during the next full (fall/spring) semester. A grade grievance must be filed no later than 30 days after the end of the semester in which the class was taken. The entire grade grievance process must be completed typically within one year of the original filing. Students will be required to submit the following information to complete their grade grievance file:

• Course Syllabus/Course outline/Course policy
• All work in question
• A written explanation as to the nature of the grade grievance
• Form A
• A log or account of Canvas grades
• Student Inquiry

4. The Chair of the Grievance Committee (Dean of Academic Operations and Services or designee) will review both the student’s documentation and the explanation from the instructor. If there is sufficient evidence to warrant a grievance, the paperwork will be forwarded to the Department Associate Dean, typically within five (5) business days. The Department Associate Dean will attempt to mediate a resolution between the instructor and the student. If a resolution is reached that warrants a grade change, the instructor will submit a grade change form to the Registrar’s Office within five (5) business days after the decision to change the grade has been made.

5. If no resolution is reached from the meeting with the Department Associate Dean, the student may request the matter be taken to the appropriate Academic Program Dean, typically within five (5) business days. The Academic Dean will attempt to mediate a resolution between the instructor and the student. If a resolution is reached that warrants a grade change, the instructor will submit a grade change form to the Registrar’s Office within five (5) business days after the decision to change the grade has been made.

6. If no resolution is accomplished with the Academic Dean, the Student Grade Grievance Form (Form A) and all supporting documentation will be reviewed by the Dean of Academic Operations and Services (or designee) to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a grade grievance hearing. At this point, the Chair of the Grade Grievance Review Committee (GGRC) will assist the student with submitting a Student Grade Grievance Form (Form B), requesting a review by the GGRC. The GGRC will be made up of the Chair of the GGRC, two (2) faculty, and two (2) students. The Senate Executive Committee President will select the two (2) faculty members. The President of the Student Governance Board Association (SGA) will recommend the two (2) students.

7. If the GGRC accepts the grievance, the student will appear for a hearing before the Committee, which will conduct a grade grievance hearing (see Article 6.6.5). The Committee must make a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will make the final disposition of the grievance.

8. If the Grade Grievance Review Committee rejects a student’s grievance, the student will receive written justification for the decision from the Committee Chair within five (5) business days. The decision rendered by the Committee represents the final disposition of this process.

9. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will be the College official designated to resolve and decide student grievances concerning academic and curriculum issues.

Guidelines for the Formal Grievance Proceedings

The Committee will be the highest officially designated recommending agent for resolving and deciding student grievances concerning academic and curricular issues.

The Committee will be a year-long standing committee with the following members:

a. One administrator (and one alternate), designated by the College President, who will be the Chairperson of the Committee.

b. Two students (and two alternates), designated by the Student Government Association (SGA).

c. Two faculty (and two alternates), designated by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

Each party may have an advocate and two witnesses at the hearing. The committee may call its own witnesses. The Committee will decide whether witnesses shall be present for the entire proceedings.

The Chairperson will identify, for the record, all persons who are present and their roles, and present the case, giving the point of view of both sides. Each party will be allowed to elaborate specifically and concisely. Committee members may ask specific questions to gain concise answers from either party until the committee feels it has enough relevant information to make a decision.

The Committee will call an executive session (unrecorded) to discuss the information and render a decision.

The Chairperson will, on the next working day, put the Committee’s decision in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Copies will go to all parties involved. The Chairperson of the Committee will maintain the hearing tapes and be responsible for housing all case-related materials.

Operating Rules

The grievance procedure is designed to offer due process and bring substantial justice within the context of the College community. It is not a court of law and professional lawyers shall not be involved in the process. A resolution and/or decision agent may seek legal advice from the General Counsel’s office, through the Executive Assistant to the President.

Transferring BCCC Credits to Four-Year Colleges and Universities

Transfer Center
Liberty Campus
Main Building, Room 233

Transfer Specialist
410-462-7497

SStudents planning to transfer BCCC credits to another college or university are responsible for taking the courses required for admission to that institution. Students interested in identifying courses and programs that transfer to a particular college or university should contact the Transfer Coordinator early in their academic career. Services include advice about relating goals to an academic program, selecting courses that are transferable, assisting in registering for courses, applying for financial aid, and transferring to a four-year college.
The Office of Academic Operations and Services maintains articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities in Maryland. The Maryland Higher Education Commission has developed Statewide Transfer Regulations for community colleges and public four-year colleges and universities. These regulations are designed to assure that students can progress from a community college to a four-year institution without loss of time or unnecessary duplication of effort.  Students should read the complete text of the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) General Education and Transfer Regulations in the General Policies  section of this Catalog. Students may review the full transfer policy in General Policies  or at www.bccc.edu/Admissions

Transfer Credit to BCCC

General Transfer Policy

It is the policy of Baltimore City Community College that students who have successfully completed college-level courses at a regionally accredited college or university may receive credit toward an associate degree or certificate. In addition, exemption from relevant placement tests may be granted. The total number of credits that may be allocated toward an associate degree is 45. The credits awarded for a certificate is half of the total required hours. Students can earn up to 30 of these transfer hours through transfer of nontraditional credit. BCCC may award transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions and from institutions that are candidates for regional accreditation. Course work completed at degree-granting and non-degree-granting higher education institutions that are not regionally accredited but hold national or specialized accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation may be considered for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis.

PDF transcripts may be sent via email to registrar@bccc.edu or submitted to Baltimore City Community College, Office of the Registrar, Room MNB 08, 2901 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215.

Transfer credit is reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and (if necessary) the appropriate Dean or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to determine the institution where the course was taken, the completion date, catalog course description including the course number, title, and grade.

A student’s transcript with a cumulative grade point average from a previous institution that is less than a 2.0 on a 4.0-point scale will be reviewed by BCCC. Any course with a grade of C or better will be accepted. Exception: BCCC will accept credits in which a grade of D is earned for general education courses from a student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0-point scale from a regionally accredited Maryland public institution.

BCCC will convert transferable courses taken at institutions that operate on a quarter system to semester credit hours. Quarter hours are multiplied by 2/3 to equal semester credit hours. Transfer credit cannot be awarded for a course if credit has already been earned at BCCC.

In some cases, BCCC will need to review the official course description or course syllabus to determine equivalency. Upon request, the student must submit the required information.

Transfer Criteria

Credit may transfer if one of the following is met:

1. The institution is regionally accredited by the commission on higher education. BCCC recognizes the following regional accreditations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Higher Learning Commission
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

BCCC may award transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions and from institutions that are candidates for regional accreditation. Course work completed at degree-granting and non-degree-granting higher education institutions that are not regionally accredited but hold national or specialized accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation may be considered for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis.

2. BCCC has an articulation agreement with a high school, business, or industry. Articulation agreements specify the award of credit for meeting certain criteria and presenting certain documents.

3. Military Training: The American Council on Education (ACE) must evaluate military training and experience before college credits is awarded.

4. The institution is legally authorized to grant standard college degrees and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The college may award transfer credit based upon course equivalencies, expected learning outcomes, and applicability to BCCC’s curricula, standards, and course offerings. BCCC’s transfer credit policy complies with COMAR 13B.02.02.16

5. Foreign institutions: Transcripts must be evaluated by a professional transcript evaluation service before transfer credit will be reviewed. BCCC requires the course-by-course evaluation from this service to review transfer credit. BCCC accepts only the following transcript evaluation services:

• World Education Services (WES)
• American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
• Education Credential Evaluators (ECE)
• Prior Learning/Work Experience Assessment
• College credit through evaluation of non-credit prior learning or work experience is evaluated by the relevant Department.

Reverse Transfer

Reverse Transfer Students registered at a four-year college or university may take applicable course work and transfer that work back to the College in accordance with BCCC’s transfer policy.

Apply Credits Toward Graduation

Only transfer credits that apply to the chosen program may be used toward graduation. Students must meet with an academic advisor to discuss options and track their academic progress.

Official transcripts from other institutions must be current and received by BCCC within one year of the issue date to be considered for transfer credit. Unofficial transcripts may be used to determine if a non-matriculating student has met the prerequisite requirement for a specific course(s) and may not be used to meet a graduation requirement.

Appeals Process

The College has an appeal process for evaluation and transferability of a course or prior work or learning experience. The appeal begins with a written statement from the student within 60 days of the evaluation and is then presented to the appropriate Dean or Associate Dean. The Dean or Associate Dean will evaluate the written appeal. Official transfer credits will have a TR grade designation in the student data system and unofficial transfer credits will have a XA grade designation in the student data system. PDF transcripts may be sent via email to registrar@bccc.edu or submitted to:

Baltimore City Community College,
Admissions Office, Room MNB 02,
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue, 
Baltimore, MD 21215.

Articulation Agreements

Baltimore City Community College has signed joint enrollment and articulation agreements with the colleges and universities listed in the following chart. These agreements ensure that students who complete their Associate’s degree can transfer with full junior standing in their programs at the transfer institution.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)

Baltimore City Community College has signed documents that express mutual agreement between two or more entities:

1. Baltimore City Public School System: This MOU establishes a plan whereby eligible students from any Baltimore City Public High School can take authorized Dual Enrollment courses through Baltimore City Community College.
2. Bais Yaakov & Eva Winer High School: This MOU desires to obtain the services of BCCC to provide certain College-level credit classes for its students. 
3. Bellevue University: This MOU allows BCCC students who receive an Associate’s degree, or 60 credit hours prior to transfer, a seamless transition to enroll in Bellevue University. Students transferring with an Associate’s degree will receive credit for all coursework in their degree program and will enter Bellevue University with junior status. BU will establish a transfer grant fund for BCCC transfer students to use toward their undergraduate degrees. In addition, full-time BCCC employees who qualify can receive Fellowship grants to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree. 
4. Financial Aid Consortium: This MOU allows each party to provide their students with the opportunity to take courses at the other respective party’s institution while retaining eligibility for federal financial aid.
5. Family and Children’s Services: This MOU will allow the Family and Children’s Services to provide the Clarence Blount Center with two foster grandparents for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. They will provide the children with one-on-one interaction to enhance literacy and numeracy instruction and nurturing within the Center.
6. Goucher Transfer Honors: This agreement between BCCC and Goucher College recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of BCCC Honors students and seeks to provide a seamless transfer for students who meet the requirements. 
7. Hood College Transfer Policy: This enrollment agreement between Hood College and BCCC will assist in facilitating the transfer of students as they pursue their educational goals. Also, the agreement encourages and enables students to complete their Associate’s degree prior to transfer to Hood College. 
8. Maryland National Guard: This MOU is intended to reflect the cooperative efforts between BCCC and MDNG to expand, enhance, and improve educational opportunities for its employees. MDNG agrees to work with BCCC to actively promote awareness of and enrollment in both degree and non-degree programs to its employees and to identify BCCC as a university partner.
9. Maryland State Department of Education, Juvenile Services: This MOU outlines the post-secondary online educational opportunities of BCCC youth detained or committed to the custody Department of Juvenile Services (DJS). 
10. Morgan State University: This MOU will provide field education experiences for students enrolled in the Bachelor and Master of Social Work program at Morgan State University. BCCC students are able to conduct fieldwork placement through this MOU at Morgan State University.
11. National University: The purpose of this MOU is to allow students from BCCC the opportunity to pursue a baccalaureate degree, upon completion of a certificate or Associate’s degree program. 
12. Notre Dame of Maryland University: BCCC and Notre Dame of Maryland University’s goal is to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the community. Students will pursue an Associate of Science degree in Nursing at BCCC and then continue to complete a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree in Nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University. 
13. Reach Partnership School: This MOU is a program involving high school students that will lead them to a Career Pathway either through Workforce noncredit or Degree/Certificate Programs.
14. Reverse -Transfer Program: This program enables non-associate degree-seeking students who transfer to a college or university to have that college or university transfer their credits back to BCCC in order to complete the requirements of their BCCC Associate’s degree.
15. St. Frances Academy: The purpose of this MOU is to enroll individuals designated by St. Frances Academy in BCCC, so these students can have the opportunity to take college-level credit classes. 
16. Stevenson University: This MOU is to provide educational opportunities for graduates of BCCC through the availability of various courses and programs offered by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies leading to a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree.
17. Talmudical Academy: This MOU is designed to honor the client’s desires to obtain the services of BCCC to provide certain College-level credit classes for its students.
18. Towson University-Reverse Transfer: This agreement between TU and BCCC is for the sole purpose of establishing a program that enables non-associate degree-seeking BCCC students who transfer to TU to have TU transfer their credits back to BCCC in order to complete the requirements of their BCCC Associates Degree.
19. University of Baltimore B-Power: The purpose of this MOU is to enable BCCC and UB to work in partnership under the B-Power initiative to offer dual enrollment opportunities to Baltimore City high school students. 
20. University of Baltimore’s Robert L. Bogomolny Library: The key component of this MOU is to allow students, faculty, and staff the ability to check out books at either BCCC Bard Library or University of Baltimore Langsdale Library.
21. University of Maryland School of Nursing: This agreement is for dual admission in the University of Maryland School of Nursing and BCCC Department of Nursing. This offers students the ability to transfer credits from one institution to the other on the terms and conditions of the agreement. 
22. University of Maryland Social Work Field Affiliation Agreement: University of MD School of Social Work and BCCC agree to cooperate in a program to provide field education experiences for students enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at UMD-SOWK. BCCC expects to benefit by being able to provide its students with first-hand field education experiences. 
23. University of Phoenix: This MOU provides for students enrolled in BCCC and the University of Phoenix Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) the opportunity to take specific classes online in the designated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pathway program (CEP). Students that are eligible will receive a 20% reduction in tuition only. (This does not apply to any fees).