Transfer Credit in Math & Stats

Where to start

Start by reading through the Office of the Registrar’s page on transferring credit. In addition to information about how credits are transferred, and what the process is for new versus matriculated students, they link to the “Request for Transfer Credit Form”. Then send the following information to Math & Stats for approval; it is best to request pre-approval if possible (before taking the class) to help ensure that the class fulfills its intended purpose.

What to send us

If you are applying to transfer credit for a class in Mathematics or Statistics, to the best of your ability, please gather the following information about the class you are applying to transfer:

Course information (course number and title, institution/school, instructor, number of units, and whether the institution is on a semester or quarter system; talk to the registrar for how many units you can expect to transfer)
Course syllabus and/or website (print to pdf it it’s behind a password wall, e.g. on Moodle or Blackboard)
Textbook information (if possible, which sections they covered/intend to cover)
Also helpful if possible: Sample assignments, exams, notes, or other materials. If you’re applying before taking the class (as is typical), check to see if the same instructor has posted any material from previous iterations of this course. (These are particularly helpful for classes other than Math 111.)

In addition to searching for these materials online, it is reasonable to write to the instructor and ask (politely and succinctly) what additional materials they can help you acquire.

Finally, please indicate what type of credit you are seeking for this course (e.g. credit for the major, for Group III, or just toward your 30 units for graduation).

Submit the above information to the relevant person:

Mathematics: Zajj Daugherty, zdaugherty@reed.edu
Statistics: Lenny Wainstein, lwainstein@reed.edu

Guidance for specific classes

When choosing an outside class in anticipation of applying for transfer credit, be sure to read our relevant course description(s). Many classes may also transfer for X99 credit even if they do not directly replace a specific Reed course.

Mathematics

The mathematics curriculum at Reed is proof-based after Math 111—this is key in assessing how courses transfer. Sample assignments or exams can be especially helpful in determining the balance between computational and theoretical emphasis in a class. Note that courses prior to calculus (e.g. precalculus, college algebra) do not transfer.

In addition to the course descriptions themselves, here are some notes to help you look for classes that will successfully transfer for specific credit.

111: Must cover both differential and integral calculus. Sometimes this means taking more than one class. For example, at PSU, both Math 251 and 252 are required. Quick check: does the class cover the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus?
112: In addition to the topics listed in the course description, this class serves as our primary introduction to proofs and mathematical writing.
113: There are four major topics we look for, each at the “elementary” level: sets and functions, combinatorics, number theory, and discrete probability. If a class is missing one of these, there may be room for discussion; two of these will likely call for a second course to qualify for placement out of Math 113.
201: Look for whether the course is proof-based or not (many programs offer a computational-based linear algebra course, which does not qualify for Math 201 credit). Must also cover determinants and eigenvalues/eigenvectors (most proof-based semester courses will cover these).
202: Standard Calculus III/IV courses do not typically transfer. This is a proof-based course, heavily dependent on the linear algebra prerequisite—look for whether linear algebra is a prereq for the analogous class, and for whether they rigorously prove the major multivariable calculus theorems (e.g. prove Stokes’s theorem, rather than state it alone for computational purposes).
Upper level/topics courses: A course need not have a direct analogue to transfer. Taking topics courses that aren’t available here at Reed is a great idea, especially if you’re attending a study abroad program! Depending on the maturity/difficulty of the class, it may transfer as Math 199, 299, 399, or 499. For upper-level courses that do have direct analogues, in addition to topics covered, we look for similar levels of prereqs for signals of how the topics are covered. For example, Math 332 requires several writing and problem solving intensive classes (Math 112, 113, and 201). Keep an eye out for whether the outside program offers two versions (e.g. “elements of algebra” versus “algebra”; or “algebra” versus “honors algebra”) and compare both to our course, focussing on prereqs in addition to topics; Math 332 is more likely to be analogous to a more advanced offering. Similar criteria apply for Math 321.

Statistics

Again, start with the course descriptions for guidance. In addition:

141: The main challenge with transferring this course is finding a class that covers both statistical theory and statistical computing in R. Most introductory statistics courses transfer for Math 199 credit due to missing the computational emphasis. If you are seeking credit for Math 141 specifically, confirm with the instructor that you would be using R throughout the course.