<p>Hello there. So I am duel enrolled at Oakland University and this is my senior year in high school. I plan to go to UofM's LSA and go into mathematics. I have noticed on their transfer webpage that a lot of the classes that I am taking right now only transfer over as departmental credit. My current understanding is that those credits can be used as general elective classes. I guess my main question is is it worth taking college classes this winter semester at Oakland University if they transfer only as departmental credits? If I had let's say like 20 departmental credits heading into UofM is it likely that all of those credits actually be able to be used towards a mathematics degree? Also if on the credit transfer webpage it says a class transfers as departmental credit does that mean it is automatically departmental credit? Or do you still have to get approval from the department? In addition if the class is a departmental credit for Poly Sci or a different department from mathematics can those credits still be used towards a math degree? Lastly a particular question regarding linear algebra. I had planned to take it next semester and then transfer it to UofM (it is listed as departmental credit). However the mathematics department webpage says the following "Transfer credit for Math 217 (Linear Algebra) is rarely, if ever, approved. Students planning to concentrate in mathematics should plan to take Math 217 in-residence at U-M." Can someone else interpret this? I am unsure if this means transferring a Linear Algebra class is useless or if it means that you could transfer it and get departmental credit, just not specifically credit for linear algebra. Anyone's general knowledge and personal experiences with departmental credits would be highly appreciated. Sorry for the length and the amount of questions, I am just worried now that these college classes are not going to be of benefit anymore. Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Departmental credit is about as worthless as it gets. It can be used to fulfill distribution credits, but if you’ve got 20 departmental credits in math, 3 more won’t do you any good. In general, departmental credits in your major are always worthless. Departmental credits in something other than your major might be able to be put to use, but usually only the first few in any department.</p>
<p>The math major will have specific course requirements, which you can see on the website.</p>
<p>In regards to the linear algebra, even if you get departmental credit for linear algebra, you will still have to take linear algebra at Michigan. Departmental credits are just like “non-descript math.” It indicates that you took a math class, but doesn’t indicate what math class it was.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, I know that in general in the LSA you have take between 24 to 48 credits of “elective courses”. These are basically courses inside or outside of your concentration, anything basically right? So could departmental credits including those within my major fulfill some of the elective course credits? Thanks again.</p>
<p>The departmental credits can be used towards the 120 needed to graduate. I have yet to meet someone for whom this is the limiting factor.</p>