Class Registration Process for Transfer Students
During Orientation, your academic advisor will help you choose the courses you want to take, along with some alternatives in case any of your selections are unavailable.

Academic advising process
Transfer students are assigned an academic advisor based on their intended major, their previous course work, and the number of credit hours they are transferring to the University. Some transfer students are advised by professional advisors in the Academic Advising Center. Others are advised by faculty or professional advisors in their major department.

During the morning portion of the One-Day Program, you will spend time in small groups led by Orientation Student Advisors learning about the makeup of a degree and the University's General Education Program, and how to use your schedule-building materials. In addition, the staff will assist you with course selection and prepare you to meet with your academic advisor and register for classes later in the day.

How Academic Advising Works

Iowa's General Education Program requirements
Before attending Orientation, consider reviewing the General Education Program requirements affiliated with your major. These requirements vary slightly depending on the college offering your degree. Some of your previous course work may satisfy General Education Program requirements.

Students with an AA from a community college that honors the articulation agreement have met all requirements of the General Education Program except foreign language.

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Engineering
Tippie College of Business
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy

Explore course options online
Go online to investigate Iowa's course options before attending Orientation. The General Catalog itemizes course work required for specific majors. In the Online Guide to Courses, students can search for specific course descriptions and schedules, which vary by semester. Note that some courses may not be available at the time you register.

How Many Classes to Take
Course Numbering System

Questions about transferring credit
Concerns about how your course work from other schools will transfer to Iowa will be addressed at Orientation. If you have questions in the meantime, call the Office of Admissions at 800-553-4692 and ask for undergraduate reviewing. Or, you can review our Transfer Credit Policies and check our online Course Equivalency Guide.

If you have two majors
During the Orientation program, there is time for students to meet with just one academic advisor. After Orientation, students pursuing a second major should set up an appointment with an advisor in the department of their second major.

Your Iowa GPA
Your grade-point average (GPA) at Iowa will build on your cumulative transfer GPA. All grades, including Ds and Fs, on all transfer courser work attempted are calculated into your transfer GPA. The only grades that will not be figured into it are those for career-technical and most developmental courses.