Tips for Special Populations of Students
Honors College Students
Honors College Requirements
This mission of the Honors College is to produce citizen scholars, who emerge from their honors education equipped not only with a lifelong love of learning, but also a lifelong commitment to use their talents, interests, and ambitions to advance the common good. For our community of learners, the Honors College offers unique courses, Honors-exclusive study abroad programs, opportunities for faculty mentorship, and a supportive residential experience in which students thrive. Honors College students complete rigorous, scholarly curricular requirements and produce an Honors Senior Project that meets the quality of publishable or professional work by the time that they graduate.
The Honors College requires you to complete six (6) Honors Experiences and an Honors Senior Project over the course of your undergraduate studies. This averages out to two (2) experiences per year in your first three years, followed by the Honors Senior Project during your final year. The intended path is:
- Two (2) First-Year Honors courses
- Four (4) Honors Experiences in any combination of the following:
- Honors courses or course extensions
- Independent research, mentored by faculty
- Internships, student-teaching, co-ops, or other pre-professional opportunities
- Study abroad
- Significant philanthropic, service-oriented, creative, or leadership projects
- Honors Senior Project, completed during your senior year, during which you completes a scholarly, creative, or pre-professional project under the mentorship of a faculty member in your field.
Regional Campus Honors Program
Beginning in Fall 2021, Regional campus students are not eligible to participate in the Honors College in Oxford while registered as Miami Regional (Middletown/Hamilton) students.
The Miami University Regional Campuses has an Divisional Honors Program for College of Liberal Arts & Applied Science (CLAAS) students. For more information about the program and an application, please contact: Dr. John Cinnamon, cinnamjm@MiamiOH.edu.
Honors College Registration
Honors College content is included in the orientation Canvas modules, and honors advisors are available to work with students individually to discuss Honors requirements. Consult the honors orientation Canvas modules to contact your honors advisor directly, or email honorsadvising@MiamiOH.edu. Please note that your divisional advisor is your primary resource for advising questions not related to Honors.International Students
Welcome to Miami University! We are happy that you are part of our community. Here are some tips for you:- You will be registered for a course focused on your educational transition to Miami University (UNV 101 I Am Miami or ELP 216 American Academic Culture & Communication).
- Become familiar with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) which is located in MacMillan Hall, room 214 (advising) and room 017 (International Student Center).
- International students who are in F-1 or J-1 status should follow the rules below to ensure maintenance of legal status. Please note these regulations are subject to change. More information can be found on the ISSS website at www.MiamiOH.edu/international.
- Maintain full-time enrollment (12 credits) each Fall and Spring semester.
- Ensure that at least 9 credits of coursework are taken in person (face-to-face) each semester. Hybrid courses that are taught at least 50% face-to-face count as in-person coursework.
- Make sure your I-20 or DS-2019 is valid, accurate, and issued by Miami University – notify ISSS of any changes in your major, degree level, or source of funding.
- Make sure you have a valid travel signature from ISSS on your I-20 or DS-2019 before traveling outside the US.
- F-1 students are authorized to work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the school year. J-1 students must obtain authorization from ISSS for on-campus employment. Do NOT seek or accept off-campus employment prior to discussing it with ISSS.
- Update your local address through Banner Self Service within 10 days of moving each time you move.
- Do not stay in the United States beyond the grace period associated with your visa status – 60 days beyond degree completion for F-1 students, 30 days beyond program completion for J-1 students.
- Make sure your passport remains valid – you can renew your passport through your country’s embassy in the US.
International Student and Scholar Services
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), located in MacMillan Hall, room 214 (advising) and 017 (International Student Center), has staff members ready to help you with the following:
- Visa regulations and procedures for maintaining legal status
- Assistance with obtaining off-campus work authorization (CPT, OPT and Academic Training)
- General advising, resources and referrals to other campus offices
- Acculturation to campus and the local area
- >Programs, events and excursions to support students’ practical, social, cultural and academic interests
Many requests (for example, travel signatures >and program extensions) can be made online through InterLink at https://ioffice.MiamiOH.edu.
ISSS sends a weekly newsletter to all enrolled international students via your Miami email account announcing relevant programs and events as well as visa-related reminders and other resources. Information is also posted online at www.MiamiOH.edu/international.
For questions or to schedule an appointment with an international student advisor, email international@MiamiOH.edu, call 513-529-8600, or visit ISSS in MacMillan 214 or 017.
English Placement
At Miami University, all students, including international students, must satisfy the first-year English requirement. Students are placed in the appropriate English courses based on test scores or other proof of English proficiency received at the time of admission, as well as electronically and locally administered placement tests in writing and speaking.
- ELP 216 is a transition course designed to support academic English speaking and listening skills
- ENG 107 is designed to provide foundational skills for international students in written English
- ENG 108 is a course designed to provide international students with competence in written academic English and a basic understanding of American cultures
- ENG 109 is similar to ENG 111 except ENG 109 concentrates on special needs of non-native speakers.
The University expects students to take English courses until the Miami Plan requirement is completed (ENG 109 or ENG 111), which may take one to three semesters, depending on where students are placed in their first semester.
English Language Program (ELP)
The English Language Program (ELP) is a four-level Intensive English Program designed to prepare students for success in diverse communities and professional settings. The program provides high-quality instruction that fosters fluency and confidence in both academic and real-world communication. Upon arrival on campus, students will take a placement test to determine their appropriate level within the program.. Through challenging academics, engaging co-curricular activities, and hands-on cultural experiences, the ELP develops skills essential for effective cross-cultural communication and global citizenship. Additionally, it offers the cultural and co-curricular support needed for success in future degree programs and campus engagement at Miami. To change a student’s status from conditional admission to regular enrollment, they must successfully complete all program criteria. Please note that additional course fees may apply for ELP courses.
Transfer Students
While you are not new to college, you are new to Miami and will need to learn how Miami University differs from your previous institution. Academic advisors are here to assist you with this transition.
Orientation & Advising
Oxford Campus
For the Oxford campus, transfer students are required to attend an orientation session. Small, virtual, transfer-specific orientation programs run from May through August (for those entering in fall semester) and in December and January (for those entering in spring semester). These orientation sessions are coordinated by Orientation and Transition Programs.
Regional Campuses
For the Regional campus, transfer students complete an online orientation, and then are connected with an appropriate advisor for registration. For more academic advising information, contact the Office of Academic Advising at 513-727-3440 or RegAdvising@MiamiOH.edu.
Transferring Courses to Miami
One of the most important tasks you need to complete is to determine which courses or credits from your previous institution have been transferred to Miami. See the section “Transferring College Courses to Miami” earlier in this guidebook for more information.
Other Types of Credit
Miami will accept up to 32 hours of nontraditional credit, such as credit by examination and armed forces credit.- Armed Forces Credit: Credit for courses taken at U.S. military services schools will be given on the basis of the Military Transfer Assurance Guides (MTAG) and the American Council on Education publication, Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services. To receive transfer credit, you must submit a Joint Services transcript. Students entering the university fall 2012 or after will also be awarded for military training and experience.
- Credit by Examination: Credit earned by taking CLEP tests, Advanced Placement tests, International Baccalaureate (IB), or proficiency examinations administered by one of Miami’s academic departments is traditional credit and does not count in the 32 semester-hour limit. Credit earned through proficiency exams at other institutions must be validated or accepted by the appropriate department at Miami.
*Note: Advanced placement credit does not transfer from one institution to another. Each time you transfer, your test scores must be sent from the College Board. To have your credit transferred to Miami, visit the College Board Website, and request to have your test scores sent to Miami University (Ohio) - Code #1463.
- Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning is a process that allows students to earn academic credits for knowledge and skills gained outside of traditional classroom settings. This recognition can come from work experience, military training, volunteer work, or self-directed study. By assessing and validating prior learning, you can potentially shorten the time needed to complete your degree or certification programs, saving both time and money. Reach out to your academic advisor for details on the process for evaluating credit for prior learning.
Key Terms You Should Know
Course Equivalent: The courses that you transferred to Miami that are determined to be the equivalent of an existing Miami course; these courses appear on your transcript with a Miami course number. If you have earned only Advanced Placement credit or college credit while attending high school or during the summer after your admission to Miami has been processed, you are not considered a transfer student.
"T" number courses: Courses evaluated by Miami University that do not have a Miami equivalent* are assigned a "T" number. The "T" denotes transfer (e.g., ENG T01). These courses can be re-evaluated by the appropriate academic department by following these steps:
- Make a course syllabus or textbook available
- Make an appointment with a divisional advisor for the proper referral
- Make an appointment to see the appropriate Lead Departmental Advisor.
*Just because courses are assigned T numbers does not mean that they cannot be applied to requirement categories.
Quarter-Semester Conversion: A quarter hour is two-thirds (0.6667) of a semester hour. To figure semester hours, multiply the quarter hours by 0.6667.
Special Notes for Each Division
College of Arts and Science (CAS)
Working with a College of Arts and Science advisor during your transitional semester will be key to your academic success. Your CAS advisor will help you navigate our system and advise you on how courses taken at your previous institution might work in the Miami Plan and/or the CAS requirements.
The Journalism major in the College of Arts and Science requires that you have a second major (or co-major) or a minor outside of the Department of Media, Journalism & Film.
College of Creative Arts (CCA)
Most CCA programs begin in the fall semester. All majors except art and architecture history require a departmental application, portfolio review, or audition/interview at the time of application. Admission is on a space-available basis.
To transfer into architecture or interior design, you should have a 3.00 grade point average and a competitive portfolio. Offers of admission are based on scholastic achievement, creative potential, and space availability. Contact the department in the fall for complete information. Portfolios are due to the Department of Architecture + Interior Design by February 1. These programs can only be started in the fall semester.
To transfer into art or art education, you must have successfully completed a minimum of six credit hours of art studio courses and be enrolled in at least six additional hours of art studio when you submit a portfolio for review. For art education, you must also have completed ART 195 Introduction to Art Education and be enrolled in ART 295 Early Childhood Art Education or ART 296 Middle to Adult Art Education. Admission portfolio reviews for art and art education are conducted both fall and spring semesters.
To transfer into communication design, you must have completed (or be enrolled in) ART 102, ART 103, ART 111, ART121, and ART 151. A portfolio review by the department admissions committee is conducted each spring. Offers of admission are based on scholastic achievement, creative potential, and space availability.
To transfer into emerging technology in business and design, you must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 and complete an online application. Please visit www.MiamiOH.edu/etbd for information about the application process and requirements.
To transfer into music composition, music education, music performance, or the Bachelor of Arts in Music (performance track), you must pass an audition for a department admission committee. To transfer into the Bachelor of Arts in Music (music in culture track), you must submit a brief writing sample. To transfer into the Bachelor of Arts in Music (music technology track), you must submit a portfolio and complete an audition on any instrument. Please contact the Department of Music for additional information and specific requirements. Offers of admission are based on scholastic achievement, performance achievement, and space availability.
To transfer into theatre, you must meet with the chief departmental advisor or department chair and successfully complete an audition/interview. Offers of admission are based on scholastic achievement, creative ability, and space availability.
Transfer credits in all creative arts disciplines must be reviewed by a departmental advisor to determine how they fit into the Miami program. Transfer admission into any CCA major often means additional semesters in an undergraduate degree program. Most studio classes are sequential and cannot be taken in the same semester.
College of Education, Health and Society (EHS)
The College has several transfer pathways. Transfer students are expected to meet all admission requirements for the chosen major.
All early childhood (Prek-5) and middle childhood students may declare themselves as pre-majors and then apply to the program for consideration as full majors. Please contact the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, 401 McGuffey Hall, for more information.
Inclusive special education students may declare themselves as pre-majors and then apply to the program for consideration as full majors. Please contact the Department of Educational Psychology, 201 McGuffey Hall, for more information.
For all other programs, please consult the department in which your desired major is located.
College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)
If you are transferring from an accredited program at a two- or four-year college, most general education courses (college level chemistry, physics, calculus) will be transferable as Miami credit. Engineering and computing courses must be evaluated by each department to determine applicability to a specific bachelor's degree major. Please consult the department in which your desired major is located for more information.
College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science
If you are transferring from an accredited program at a two- or four-year college, most general education courses are transferable as Miami credit. Admission to the Miami University Nursing program - Miami Regionals only - is selective and competitive and requires an additional program application. Please consult the department in which your desired major is located for more information.
Farmer School of Business (FSB)
To be admitted to the Farmer School of Business as a transfer student from another university, you must have earned 30 graded hours. You must also have an overall GPA of 3.50 or higher in graded credit hours earned, which must include MTH 141 or MTH 151 and ECO 201 equivalents. Questions can be directed to the Dauch Academic Advising Center at (513) 529-1712.
Exploratory Studies Students
If you enter the university either not having selected a major or not being admitted to a competitive major (e.g. business, nursing, etc.), you will be a part of the Exploratory Studies program in the Office of Exploratory Studies. The aim of this program is to introduce you to the broadest range of academic areas available at the university. In Oxford, a student success navigator will help you determine what path is right for you and, ultimately, facilitate your declaration of a major. The program includes one-on-one advising meetings with a student success navigator, an assigned career advisor, and special programs that will facilitate your development of a strong academic plan as you explore majors and potential careers. Regional Campus students will work with a professional advisor in the Regional Office of Academic Advising and collaborate with a professional in the Regional Office of Career Services.
Things to Keep in Mind
Keep these things in mind when considering different majors:
- Consult your student success navigator each semester; begin visiting the Center for Career Exploration and Success early in your academic career; and talk to individuals in your fields of interest.
- Don't force the decision; if you are not sure, speak with your student success navigator about your options and how to gauge your strengths and interests.
- You can, of course, choose a major based on your career goals; remember, many fields welcome broadly educated people.
- Be open to changing your mind; keep your options open early in your college career so you can choose as freely as possible.
- It’s okay to be unsure of your major; however, we encourage you to take an early and active role in exploring your options.
