The Registrar determines the number and value of non-Brown course credits (from transfer courses, study abroad courses, non-Brown summer courses) that can be applied toward fulfilling requirements for a Brown degree. Review the Registrar’s guidelines here: https://college.brown.edu/design-your-education/review-academic-policies/transfer-credit-guidelines. Please note that the CPSY department cannot override the Registrar’s determination.
CPSY concentration and course equivalency credits for non-Brown courses are decided by the department’s Transfer Credit Advisor (listed below) in consultation with the relevant concentration advisors (Behavioral Decision Sciences, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology). Students wishing to obtain concentration or equivalency credit for any courses taken outside Brown should consult with the Transfer Credit Advisor and with their concentration advisor before submitting a formal request. Students planning to study abroad should discuss their plans with the Transfer Credit Advisor and with their concentration advisor before leaving campus. Preliminary credit approval may be considered, but final approval is contingent on successful completion of the course, credit determination by the Registrar, and evaluation of the course syllabus and coursework.
Students requesting course equivalency and/or concentration credit for non-Brown courses must submit their request via ASK. Requests must include a transcript, the complete course syllabus, and relevant coursework (e.g., papers, projects, laboratory reports, portfolio). A catalog description is not sufficient.
To receive credit, a course completed outside Brown must be equivalent to a CPSY course in content, depth, rigor, and credit hours. Note that all Brown courses are equivalent to 4-credit hours. Non-Brown courses carrying fewer credit hours will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and may be combined to equal a full Brown credit.
Upon review of the required material, the Transfer Credit Advisor, in consultation with the relevant concentration advisor, will accept up to three (3) outside courses for the AB degree and up to four (4) for the ScB degree.
Students requesting CPSY concentration credit for a non-CPSY outside course must first submit to their concentration advisor written course equivalency approval from the department offering that course.