Prior to selecting courses for your first semester, all transfer courses relevant to your degree requirements must be evaluated for UM equivalency. The first step will be to send official transcripts along with exam results to UM Admissions by following the steps here. Ensure you completed any pre-registration steps required as soon as possible. Enrollment will be impacted if transfer credits are not provided and reviewed in a timely manner.
It is important that you have any documents (official transcript(s), test scores, syllabi, etc.) pertaining to incoming credits ready to discuss and provide for further review.
Registration Overview
All incoming Rosenstiel students are paired with a Transitional Guide. Transitional Guides serve as your primary point of contact. They offer you transitional support and guidance, and they play a crucial role in connecting you to university life and preparing you for foundational coursework success. Use their guidance, this page, and your New Student Checklist to prepare for registration.
Transfer Credits
Submission of official transcript(s) to UM Admission is required for any transfer credit to be included in a students’ UM record. Most academic coursework taken at accredited colleges and universities will transfer, provided a grade of “C” or higher is achieved in the courses. Exceptions include credits earned in physical education, technical as well as vocational courses, remedial or college preparatory work. See Transfer of Credits.
Transfer coursework that does not reflect a known UM equivalency (100T) will remain undesignated in Canelink. Individual courses may then be evaluated by the respective UM departments to determine UM equivalency. This requires the student to submit a Miami Academic Transfer Evaluation System (MATES) form along with the detailed course syllabi for each course. These detailed syllabi can be obtained from the previous instructor or department.
Most importantly, equivalency must be provided prior to your registration for use as a prerequisite for courses at UM. Typically, this includes coursework in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. It is important though to include any courses which might be used towards the UM General Education requirement Areas of Knowledge.
Advanced Test Credits (AP, IB, Cambridge…)
Note that minimum scores at UM may differ from those at your previous institution. See credit information (and related links) to determine UM minimum scores. Advanced test scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admission no later than the end of your first semester. Exam scores submitted to or on other university or college transcripts will not be accepted. No credits will be awarded after your first semester. Official test scores and/or transcripts for credits earned from any college/university should be sent to the Office of Admission. Identify any test credits which do not appear on your UM record and can be used in conjunction with transfer courses to your Transitional Guide.
*Once your official transcript(s) and/or test scores have been processed by the Office of Admission, make sure to check that the correct transfer courses and test scores are reflected correctly on your CaneLink account.*
Math Placement
ALEKS Math Placement Assessment is a web-based adaptive placement tool that helps determine the appropriate math course for your first semester. Students should take the assessment once it opens and as early as possible. If you do not complete ALEKS in time, you may be blocked from registering for math and science courses.
- Students who have not earned college credit in a mathematics course, MUST take ALEKS to determine their math placement.
- If you place into MTHO99 or MTH101 after your first proctored ALEKS attempt, you will need to retake the ALEK. You will be required to spend a minimum of 5 hours in the recommended ALEKS Prep and Learning Module before repeating the ALEKS assessment.
- Students who have completed a math course for college credit must submit the course for evaluation. Please visit the Math Transfer Equivalencies page for more information.
- Until an equivalency is given enrollment into higher level math courses and those which require it as a requisite will be blocked. It is imperative that courses are submitted via MATES as soon as possible to avoid registration issues.
For more details about ALEKS and to understand how you will be placed, learn more About ALEKS. Here are instructions explaining how to Take ALEKS.
Still unsure? Contact transitionaladvising@miami.edu before your registration window opens.
Written Communication
All students must satisfy the Written Communication requirement through WRS 105 and WRS 106 or WRS 107. If you are not transferring any English Composition courses from your previous institution or from advanced test credit, you will have to complete the Written Communication Skills requirements at UM. Similarly, if you are transferring in with only one English Composition course (which has been given a UM equivalent), you will have to fulfill the other WRS requirement once you transfer.
Standard Placement
- Most students begin with WRS 105, followed by ENG 106, WRS 106 or WRS 107 in the second semester.
- WRS 107 is a specialized version of WRS 106 focusing on the sciences. This is the preferred version for our students. There are selective sections open to all majors, with the remainder reserved blocking enrollment.
Accelerated placement (WRS 107):
Exemptions:
- (WRS 105) AND (ENG 106, WRS 106, or WRS 107) equivalent given
- AP English Language score of 5
- IB English A HL score of 6
- A-Level English Language with grade C
Students with transfer credit or questions should contact transitionaladvising@miami.edu for review.
Areas of Knowledge
The University of Miami general education program requires students to complete three areas of the university curriculum: Arts and Humanities, People and Society, and STEM. Students can satisfy this requirement through the majors, minors, or cognates. A cognate requires nine credits of coursework and can be either a thematic or an individualized cognate. Thematic cognates consist of courses grouped by theme, while individualized cognates consist of courses that have the same area of knowledge designation.
Individualized Cognates – Only courses (UM as well as transfer courses) with an Area of Knowledge course attribute in CaneLink can be used in an individualized cognate. To read more about the specifics for individualized cognates, click here. A searchable list of courses eligible to be used in individualized cognates is available here. Please make sure that you look at any AP, Dual Enrollment, or Transfer Course equivalents that you receive as they can potentially create and complete your cognate requirements. It is imperative that you discuss this with your Transitional Guide to avoid redundant course enrollment
All undergraduate students in the Rosenstiel School will be required to complete the Arts and Humanities and People and Society Area of Knowledge but will fulfill their STEM portion through their major requirements. Students in Marine Affairs will fulfill their People and Society requirement through their minor. Learn more and explore approved options at cognates.miami.edu.
Recommended Courses
Click on your major below to view recommended first semester courses.
