Transfer Students

You can select one of these...

Transfer Communities

A year-long, enriched academic experience open to incoming transfer students each Fall Semester

Why join a transfer community?

Be a part of a small community with other transfer students who share your interests and major
Living on campus is optional; transfer communities are open to commuter students and transfer students who choose to live anywhere on campus
Connect with key faculty members
Meet future study partners
Engage in professional development and social events catered to your interests

What types of transfer communities are available?

The School of Business Transfer Community

For transfer students who are planning to major in either business or accounting. This community is open to students who have been conditionally accepted into the School of Business or are intended. The only requirement is a 3.0 incoming GPA from your prior institution.

You will take a one-credit transfer seminar on business and accounting with your community and are introduced to the academic and social expectations of a career in business through co-curricular activities.

Faculty Mentor: Jason Cotugno and Susan Maloney

The World of Data and Disasters Transfer Community

For transfer students who share a passion or interest for emergency preparedness, homeland security, cybersecurity and informatics.

Faculty Mentor: Jen Goodall and Robert Griffin

Fall 2022 Course: CEHC 340: Contemporary Issues in Security and Preparedness

The Transfer Professional Community of Justice, Politics & Policies

For transfer students who are interested in political science, public policy and criminal justice.

Participate in classroom and co-curricular activities designed to prepare you for law school, graduate school and careers in related fields.

Faculty Mentor: Stacey Zyskowski and Zakhar Berkovich

Fall 2022 Course: CRJ 202: Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice

The World of Transfer Excellence

For transfer students who excelled academically at their prior school (open to anyone with an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher and an interest in gaining leadership experience their first year).

Participate in a one-credit seminar and attend a variety of events with your community, engage in fun activities, and get exposed to campus resources that will help you make your first year at UAlbany a successful one.

Faculty Mentor: Darlene Poirier

Fall 2022 Course: RSSW 291: Community Service Course

How to Apply

The application for transfer communities is available when you apply for Orientation Day on your portal beginning on May 1st. If you have already filled out the Orientation form and have changed your mind about joining a community, please contact the Assistant Director for Transfer Engagement at [email protected].

Please see the following steps below:

Step 1: Select the transfer community you want to join from the dropdown list
Step 2: Tell us why you want to be a member of the community you have chosen and how you could contribute to the community.
Step 3: Students selected to join a transfer community will be notified through their UAlbany email address within two weeks

Challenges for the 21st Century Course

Take a three-credit course your first semester with other transfer students to provide you with an enriched academic experience and fulfill a general education requirement.

Note: There are dozens of courses that fulfill this requirement. Transfer students may have to take a course for their major that may count for this general education requirement. Please speak with your advisor to see which course would be best for you.

Learning Outcomes

The course is taught by faculty members who understand your needs as a transfer student. After class, the first eight weeks Transfer Transition Leaders will meet you in our Transfer Lounge where we will have guest speakers, events and fun.

You will learn about professional development opportunities, connect with faculty and staff on campus and meet new friends to develop study groups together.

Select Your Course

A list of available offerings for the semester will be sent to you via email. If you have questions about registering for this course, please contact Darlene Poirier.

Spring 2023 General Education Sections

Professor Brian Greenhill
Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations
R POS 102X (3 Credits)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 - 11:50 a.m. & Friday 10:35 - 11:30 a.m.

Register for RPOS 102X #7057 then the following transfer-only discussion section: #5384

POS 102: The course is an introduction to the actors, structure, issues, processes, and major theories of international relations and comparative politics. Throughout the course, we will examine several broad questions that scholars of international relations and comparative politics endeavor to address – questions such as 1) Why do wars occur; 2) How do wars come to an end; 3) What determines outcome of wars; 4) What is the relationship between international economics and world politics; 5) Why are some states able to become wealthy but some states continue to remain poor; 6) How do democratic states develop; 7) what are the causes of political violence; and 8) what role does civil society play in international politics? The course will stress analytical thinking and empirical examination of international relations and comparative politics theories.

Professor Michitake Aso
The World in the 20th Century
A HIS 158 (3 credits)
Fridays 8:25 - 9:20 a.m. (In-person, rest is asynchronous)

Register for AHIS 158 #5129 then the following transfer-only discussion section: #4893

HIS 158: The course explores the tremendous social, political, cultural and economic changes that shaped the world in the 20th century. Course content will emphasize the increasing interdependence between societies and regions and the forces which shaped the lives of people around the globe. The course also examines how the challenges of the 21st century are products of the 20th. Only one version of A HIS 158 may be taken for credit.

Professor Eugene Pae
American Experiences
A ENG 240 (3 Credits)

Register for A ENG 240 class number: #6249

ENG 240: An exploration of life in 21st century America, this small seminar examines issues of diversity and pluralism including race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and citizenship through the study of American literature, media, and culture and through students' own writing projects.

Professor Ryan Thurman
Forensic Science Investigation
A BIO 175 (3 Credits)

Register for A BIO 175 class number: #6378

BIO 175: An introduction to forensic science and the various methodologies and applications used in today's multi-discipline crime laboratories. Topics will include a brief history of forensic science, introduction to crime laboratory disciplines and quality assurance, crime scene processing, analysis of physical evidence by the crime lab [firearms and tool marks, chemistry (toxicology, controlled substances), trace evidence, biology, patterned evidence, questioned documents, etc.] and presentation of test results in legal procedures. Does not yield credit toward the BS/BA in biology or the interdisciplinary BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This course is designed primarily for undergraduate students with little-to-no science background.

UUNI 99 Engagement Course

The zero-credit engagement course is designed to help you engage with faculty and staff, campus resources and support offices, opportunities to apply what you are learning and new ways to think about your field of study.

Learning Outcomes

You can set yourself up to succeed in your first semester at UAlbany by taking this transitional support course to meet a group of new students just like you, engage in an interactive classroom and be eligible to win fun raffles and prizes.

Select Your Course

To register for a UUNI 99 with Transfer Engagement, you will need to have spoken to your advisor, so you have access to register for a course.

Spring 2023 UUNI 99 Sections

# 6997 (Wednesdays: 8 week 1, 1:40 - 2:35 p.m.)
# 6996 (Fridays: 8 week 1, 1:10 - 2:55 p.m.)

Some majors require you to take a UUNI 99. Please contact your academic advisor about which UUNI 99 engagement course is right for you.

Transfer Clubs

Our transfer clubs provide ways for you to get involved and stay engaged throughout your entire time at UAlbany.

The Non-Traditional Student Club is for students who are 24 years of age or older, who are balancing school, work and family life.

The Transfer Club is for any transfer student interested in getting involved and learning about leadership opportunities.

The Driving Force is for any commuter student who wants to be involved on campus and make UAlbany more commuter friendly.

A student holds a notebook to study with classmate outside on campus

Once you're here...

Transfer Connections

Transfer Connections is a mentoring program that pairs transfer students with peer mentors on campus. You can sign up to work with a mentor during your first semester at UAlbany to make your transition an easier one.

Our mentors consist of faculty, staff and transfer students who have been trained to offer the best possible help and guidance to other transfer students on campus. They work with their mentees on a variety of issues, both academic and non-academic.

New and returning transfer students who wish to work with a mentor can fill out our mentor request form.
Transfer students who are interested in becoming mentors can fill out our become a mentor form.

Transfer Student Events

Please check MyInvolvement for upcoming transfer student events. Also, make a habit of checking your UAlbany email. That is the number one-way UAlbany faculty, staff and students will communicate with you.

Your Transfer Transition Leader (TTL) and Assistant Director for Transfer Engagement will send regular emails about what events are occurring on campus.

Transfer Transition Leaders (TTLs)

TTLs are current transfer students who want to help you adjust to life at UAlbany. They plan and implement programs for all transfer and commuter students across campus throughout the semester.

What is a Transfer Transition Leader?

TTLs are students that focus on making your life a little bit easier. Every leader was a transfer to UAlbany at one point and has chosen this role to try and make your transfer experience as smooth and straightforward as possible. We come from different backgrounds and prior institutions and represent a mix of majors across campus.

We’re here to answer any questions you might have about involvement on campus, how to get situated or handle any issue you might have. We can also point you in the right direction for just about any service or club you are looking for and tell you about our personal experiences as transfers to UAlbany.

Some leaders work with specific Living-Learning Communities while others focus on the transfer population at large. There are several transfer student events on MyInvolvement throughout the year that are organized with transfers in mind.

How do I contact my Transfer Transition Leader?

Your TTL will email you. If you haven't heard from a TTL, or you would like one as current student please reach out to Darlene Poirier at [email protected].

Tau Sigma

Tau Sigma is the national honor society specifically for transfer students. This is a great leadership opportunity and academic goal to help transition into your first semester at UAlbany.

UAlbany was approved to open a chapter of Tau Sigma National Honors Society in the Fall of 2007 and the first induction took place in March 2008. Since then, the community has grown to include over 1000 members in our UAlbany chapter and over 200,000 nation-wide. Learn more about Tau Sigma National Honor Society.