Reverse Transfer

Students who have earned 15 or more credits at CSM and have transferred to a four-year institution without an associate degree may “reverse transfer” the earned credits from the four-year institution to complete an associate degree.

This process makes it possible for students to earn an associate degree as they continue to work toward completing their bachelor’s degree.
 

Why is an associate degree important?

An associate degree is an important marketable academic achievement that is valued by employers, internship coordinators, transfer institutions, and graduate and professional schools.  The associate degree can make a difference in your long-term success:

• Students can take advantage of one of the 280+ transfer agreements CSM has with institutions across the world.
• Four-year institutions set aside scholarships and tuition discounts specifically for students who graduate from a community college.
• Some institutions will waive your general education package if you graduate from a community college with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Arts in Teaching, or Associate of Science in Engineering.
• It can provide better job opportunities while completing your bachelor’s degree.
• It is the nation’s fastest growing work credential; employers recognize its value when recruiting and hiring.
• Students who earn an associate degree are more likely to complete their bachelor’s degree.
• There is no risk to you – even though you are applying the hours you have earned at your four-year institution toward an associate degree at CSM, your hours earned at your four-year institution will still apply appropriately toward your undergraduate degree.
• Some students can get discouraged after they transfer to a four-year institution and see more years ahead of them.  If they are awarded their associate degree while completing their bachelor’s degree, the accomplishment of this helps them stay motivated and on track to a four-year degree
• Statistics from recent work in this area show retention rates improve by 10% for those students who receive an associate degree through reverse transfer once they are at a four-year institution.
  
  

Steps to Receive Reverse Transfer

In order to determine if you are eligible for an associate degree from the College of Southern Maryland, please complete the following two steps:

1. 1. Complete and submit the Reverse Transfer Agreement Release Form
   2. Request your Official Transcript:

All physical transcripts must be in the original, sealed envelope issued by the institution. Electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to CSM’s Registrar’s Office via a secure electronic delivery system. CSM is unable to accept unofficial, unsealed, or scanned/photocopied transcripts for evaluation. 

Have your previous institution(s) send your official transcripts to CSM using one of the methods below. 

1. 1. • Email: transcripts@csmd.edu 
   2. • Parchment Exchange: www.parchment.com/order/my-credentials/ 
   3. • Mail: College of Southern Maryland
          Attn: Registrar’s Office
          8730 Mitchell Rd.
          P.O. Box 910
          La Plata, MD 20646 

If sending multiple transcripts, you only need to submit one Transcript Evaluation Request. Be sure to include all relevant institutions under the question "List the names of the college institutions you will be requesting official transcripts from." Transcripts will be reviewed in the order they’re received. 

Once these steps are completed, the CSM Registrar’s Office will contact you within four weeks regarding your eligibility to graduate. 

Contact reversetransfer@csmd.edu with any questions.