Policies & Procedures for Students

Transfer Approval: Fields of Study and Web of Inquiry

Continuing students who intend to take courses at other institutions that they would like to count for Fields of Study or Web of Inquiry credit, including summer school or study abroad classes, should seek transfer credit pre-approval by completing the appropriate form—Transfer (U.S. domestic) or Study Abroad—found on the registrar’s website. Students should read and follow the directions carefully and be sure attach any required documentation. Once complete, the form will automatically route to the appropriate department for approval. 

Continuing students who have already taken courses at other institutions that they would like to count for Fields of Study or Web of Inquiry credit, including summer school or study abroad classes, should also complete the appropriate approval form—Transfer (U.S. domestic) or Study Abroad—on the registrar’s website.

Courses that are analogous to, but not an exact match for, a UR course may be considered for general education attribution. Courses have the potential to be deemed analogous to UR courses by demonstrating two key characteristics: 1) the similarity of the course to an existing UR Field of Study or Area of Inquiry course; 2) the conformity of the course to the requisite Area of Inquiry or Field of Study definition (both in theory and practice). Department chairs should approve requests only when the above-listed conditions are met. Analogous courses may not be approved for Integrated Focus Areas by a department but may be petitioned following the process outlined in the Web of Inquiry petitions process section below.

Note: Students who entered the university prior to fall 2024 should follow steps for the Fields of Study curriculum. Students who entered during and after fall 2024 should follow steps for the Web of Inquiry curriculum.

General Education Course Petitions Process

Students who have already completed the appropriate transfer process detailed above and were not approved for general education credit may elect to follow the petitions process (where applicable). 

Fields of Study

Students may submit formal petitions for Fields of Study course credit here. Students may also submit formal petitions for exemptions to the general education requirements. Petitions for Fields of Study course credit typically concern completed coursework taken at UR or transferred to the university from other U.S. or foreign institutions. The petition process evaluates this coursework according to its adherence the Fields of Study descriptions.

 Typically, student petitions fall into these categories:

  1. In cases where non-UR coursework appears to satisfy Fields of Study definitions, but is not analogous to any existing UR Field of Study course (as determined during the transfer process outlined above), student petitions should be submitted using the “Petition for Exception to Field of Study Requirement” form on the Registrar’s website. Such petitions ought to demonstrate the conformity of the course in question to the requisite Field of Study definition (both in theory and practice).  
  1. In rare cases when UR coursework appears to satisfy one of the Fields of Study definitions but is not included within the General Education Curriculum, petitions are to be submitted using the “Petition for Exception to Field of Study Requirement” form on the Registrar’s website. Such petitions ought to demonstrate the conformity of the course in question to the requisite Field of Study definition (both in theory and practice). The petition also ought to explain why the student petitioner has been unable to satisfy graduation requirements by taking existing Field of Study courses within UR’s General Education Curriculum.   

Web of Inquiry

A student may initiate a petition for a study abroad or domestic transfer credit course to carry general education attribution by following the process below and using the form linked here. The petition process evaluates this coursework according to its adherence to the Web of Inquiry Learning Outcomes. Students may not submit petitions for courses that have not been reviewed by a department and/or that do not have a UR subject code.

The student must complete the form explaining how the course fulfills the learning outcomes and is consistent with the description of the relevant general education area. The submission should include supporting documentation and will be sent to the Registrar’s Office.

  1. The Registrar’s Office reviews the petition and, if applicable, forwards it in full to the General Education Director to review and send to the appropriate Advisory Group.
  2. The Advisory Group reviews the petition in full and sends the petition, along with their recommendation, to the General Education Committee for final review.
  3. The General Education Committee reviews the petition and the recommendation from the Advisory Group and makes a final, non-appealable determination. The College Deans will notify the student of the outcome.

Notes:

  • Students may not submit petitions for any University of Richmond course to meet any Web of Inquiry requirement. Petitions can only be submitted by departments or programs to the registrar.
  • Students must have submitted the course to a department for review before petitioning the General Education Committee.
  • Courses that transfer as TRNS 999 (general transfer credit) may not meet general education requirements.

Exemption (Medical/Disability) from General Education Requirement

Students petitioning for exemption from elements of the Fields of Study or the Web of Inquiry curricula due to documented medical conditions and/or learning disabilities should inquire about appropriate accommodations with the University’s Disability Services Office.

All petitions for Fields of Study or Web of Inquiry credit are to be submitted in writing and ought to consist of a detailed cover letter, argumentation and supporting documentation (typically a syllabus detailing teaching methodology and required readings plus completed assignments, student correspondence with the instructor, etc.). All petitions must be submitted by the start of the semester before the student's final semester at UR.