Admissions

Admissions Philosophy

CCBC offers the community accessible educational opportunities that are designed to help students:

• Prepare to enter the workforce
• Transfer to four-year educational institutions
• Improve professional or occupational skills
• Enrich themselves culturally and academically

CCBC maintains an open door policy for admission and welcomes anyone who can benefit from the learning experience in accordance with the admissions procedures outlined in this catalog.

General Admissions Procedure

An applicant to CCBC will need to complete the following steps for admission to enroll as a full or part-time student in credit courses or to audit courses:

• Submit a CCBC Application for Admission either online at www.ccbcmd.edu/admissions/application.html, in person, or by mail. Address mailed applications to:

CCBC
Registrar’s Office
Building A, Room 150
7201 Rossville Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21237

• Send official transcripts from high school, or GED scores, or transcripts from previously attended colleges to the CCBC Registrar’s Office on the campus you plan to attend:

Although SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission to CCBC, scores may be used for placement if the test was taken within two years from the date of application to CCBC. Some applicants may be exempt from placement testing with the following scores:

SAT -   550 or higher in either critical reading, writing, and math or
ACT -   21 or higher in either reading, writing, and math

Placement testing may be required for new first-time students.

Readmission

• A student is required to submit a new Application for Admission if it has been two years since his or her last semester of enrollment.
• A student who withdraws from CCBC in good standing is eligible for readmission at any time.
• A student who is suspended from CCBC because of unsatisfactory academic performance will be eligible for readmission after two 14-week semesters from the date of the suspension or may be reinstated through appeal. (See Academic Suspension .)
• A student who is suspended for Code of Conduct issues must contact the Dean of College Life for readmission procedures.

Admission to General Credit Programs

The Community College of Baltimore County maintains an open-door admission policy. An applicant who demonstrates the maturity and ability to benefit from college instruction will be admitted to credit courses and programs.

Enrollment Credentials

• Academic credentials (high school or college transcript), college entrance exam scores (ACT or SAT), or the CCBC placement test will be used to determine readiness for enrollment in courses and programs.
• CCBC requires students to provide proof of high school completion. An official high school transcript or GED certificate needs to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by July 15.

Admission to Selective Health Professions Programs

In some Health Professions programs that are competitive, admission is restricted to students who meet specific admission criteria. A student must first be admitted to CCBC and then apply for consideration into these selective admission programs. Admission to CCBC does not guarantee acceptance into selective programs. For more information, refer to the identified program:

• Dental Hygiene
• Electroneurodiagnostic Technician *
• Emergency Medical Technology
• Massage Therapy
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Mental Health
• Mortuary Science
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physician Assistant **
• Practical Nursing
• Radiation Therapy
• Radiography (X-Ray Technology)
• Respiratory Care
• Veterinary Technology

* This program articulates with Harford Community College.
** For this program only, application is made to CASPA before application to CCBC. Please log on to http://grad.towson.edu/program/master/past-ms/prospective/ap.asp for complete information.

Admission Procedures for Students Still in High School

An applicant who is under the age of 16 is required to have a pre-admission interview with an Assistant Director of Admissions before proceeding with the enrollment process and needs to meet with an academic advisor before taking the placement test. The student will need to meet with an advisor each semester prior to registering for classes. For more information contact the CCBC Admissions office:

• CCBC Catonsville 443-840-4779
• CCBC Dundalk 443-840-3055
• CCBC Essex 443-840-1830

The Community College of Baltimore County reserves the right to admit secondary school students on a case-by-case basis.

Parallel Enrollment Program (PEP)

By enrolling in PEP, high school juniors and seniors who turn 16 before the end of their first semester of their enrollment, have an opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school. The tuition rate for Baltimore County PEP students is one-half the in-county tuition rate  and is limited to two academic years beginning the summer session preceding the junior year, the fall and spring semesters of the junior year, the summer preceding the senior year, and the fall and spring semesters of the senior year. Baltimore County PEP students can take advantage of the tuition discount during the winter sessions in the junior and senior year.

How to Enroll in PEP:

• Complete the general admissions procedures.
• Submit the signed Early Admission Consent Form to the campus Admissions office. Complete any placement test required by an academic advisor.
• A signed Early Admissions Consent Form needs to be submitted to the Admissions office for each semester that the student is enrolled in the Parallel Enrollment Program.

Additional information about PEP, the CCBC Application for Admission and PEP Early Admission Consent Form may be obtained online, from the professional school counselor in your high school or a CCBC PEP Coordinator.

Gifted and Talented students

A student under the age of 16 may be considered for admission to CCBC if he or she:

• Has completed the seventh grade in a public or private secondary school
• Is enrolled in a recognized gifted or talented program or
• Possesses documented academic ability or documented ability in the creative, performing or visual arts or
• Has scored 550 or better in critical reading, writing and math on the SAT or scored 21 or better in reading, writing, and math on the ACT

To apply, a student is encouraged to submit the following to the Admissions office 30 days prior to the start of classes:

• Application for Admission
• Official secondary school transcript and SAT scores
• SAT or ACT scores (if available)
• Early Admission Consent Form
• Letter of recommendation documenting academic, creative, visual or performing arts abilities, and maturity level

Home-Schooled Students

A student receiving home school instruction may apply to CCBC if he or she:

• Has completed the seventh grade
• Is enrolled in a supervised and approved Maryland State Department of Education home instruction program

To apply, a student is encouraged to submit the following documents to the Admissions office 30 days prior to the start of classes:

• Application for Admission
• Official secondary school transcript
• SAT or ACT scores (if available)
• Early Admission Consent Form

International Student Services

CCBC welcomes international and immigrant students and offers programs and services that assist students throughout their college career. These include:

• Welcome and Orientation programs
• Advising about visa, immigration, financial, health insurance and employment matters from pre-arrival to departure
• Updates to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding F-1 students’ registration, address changes, and other events through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
• Interpretation of college regulations, policies and procedures
• Transitional support for students seeking housing, health insurance, transportation, banking, legal, and other services in the community
• Advising and registration sessions
• Cross-cultural orientation, adjustment and referral to other services as needed
• Intercultural programs and activities that foster interaction and increased appreciation among international and U.S. students
• Social activities through the International Clubs, College Life, and Multicultural Affairs

Contact an International Student Counselor for more information:

Admission of Prospective International Students Applying for an F-1 Visa

A new international student applicant must complete and submit the following documents to International Student Services to obtain an I-20 Form (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant F-1 Student Status):

• CCBC Application for Admission
• Certified copy of high school transcripts in English, verifying completion of secondary school
• Proof of English Language Proficiency with one of the following:
  
  • Official TOEFL score report with a minimum of 450 paper-based/133 computerized/45 iBT (TOEFL codes: Catonsville 5137, Dundalk & Essex 5192)
  • IELTS score report with a 5.0 or higher
• Declaration of Financial Support form
• Financial statements to verify sufficient funds; these statements must
  
  • Be written in English on bank letterhead
  • Show the sponsor as the owner of the account
  • Be less than 6 months old
  • Show a minimum of $18,533 in U.S. dollars
• Personal Data Sheet

Application Deadline Dates for Prospective International Applicants

The Application for Admission and all supporting documents are due to International Student Services by the following dates:

After all documents are received, International Student Services staff will determine admission and eligibility for the I-20. Applicants who meet all the requirements for admission will receive an acceptance letter and I-20 form.

Admission of International Transfer Students with F-1 Visas

An F-1 student who plans to transfer from another institution to CCBC must submit the following documents before the deadline dates below:

• Application for admission
• Certified copy of high school transcripts in English, verifying completion of secondary school
• Copies of all I-20’s, passport ID and visa pages and I-94 in your passport
• Official transcripts from all previously attended U.S. institutions
• Certificate of Transfer Eligibility form from the most recently attended U.S. institution
• Declaration of Financial Support form
• Original Financial statements to verify sufficient funds; these statements must:
  • Be written in English on bank letterhead
  • Show the sponsor as the owner of the account
  • Be less than 6 months old
  • Show a minimum of $18,533 in U.S. dollars
• Personal Data Sheet

An applicant transferring from another college or university within the U.S. who meets all admission requirements to CCBC will receive an acceptance letter and I-20 form. To complete the transfer process, applicants will need to meet with International Student Services staff.

Application Deadline Dates for F-1 Transfer Students

All required documents are due to International Student Services by the following dates: 

Admission of F-1 and J-1 Visiting Students

Students with an I-20 from another institution who enroll concurrently at CCBC are charged international student rates. To be admitted, they need to provide the following:

• CCBC Application for Admission
• Valid passport
• All college and university transcripts
• Approval statement from an international counselor indicating how many credits the student is permitted to take at CCBC

Admission of Individuals Seeking to Change their Immigration Status and Become an F-1 Student

A non-immigrant who wants to become a full-time student must apply to change status. There are two steps in that process. The first step is to complete the CCBC admission process. To be admitted to CCBC, you need to provide the following items:

• CCBC Application for Admission
• Certified copy of high school transcripts in English, verifying completion of secondary school
• Declaration of Financial Support form and financial statements to verify sufficient funds; these statements must: 
  • Be written in English on bank letterhead
  • Show the sponsor as the owner of the account
  • Be less than 6 months old
  • Show a minimum of $18,533 in U.S. dollars
    
    OR
     
  • Affidavit of Support (I-134) and 3 years of U.S. federal tax returns from the financial sponsor
• Passport with original visa page and your original I-94 card
• Proof of English proficiency, based on TOEFL, IELTS or CCBC English placement tests
• Personal Data Sheet

After you have submitted the items above to International Student Services, the next step is to complete a change of status application for USCIS. An International Student Counselor at CCBC can help you determine what is needed for the packet. Minimally, it will require the following:

• A letter from you detailing your reasons for the change of status
• A check or money order payable to “Department of Homeland Security.” Visit the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, click on “Forms” at the top and then choose “Checking Filing Fees” from the menu on the left to locate the fee amount.
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment Receipt

An individual with a current B1/B2 visa cannot enroll in CCBC credit classes until the change of status has been approved.

Admission of Individuals with Other Non-immigrant Visas

Many non-immigrants can take courses without changing their status. Some examples include, H4, H1A, H1B, J2, R2, TN, and TPS. In addition to the standard application procedures, all international applicants are required to submit proof of their immigration status at the time of application. Tuition rates are based on immigration and residency status, and enrollment in credit courses may be limited according to federal, state and college regulations. For additional information, contact an International Student Services staff member.

Students without appropriate documentation of immigration status and those whose documentation has expired may be admitted and allowed to take credit courses at international tuition rates.

• CCBC Application for Admission
• A birth certificate or passport

Visitors for Business or Tourism with B-1, B-2, WB, or WT visas can only enroll in non-credit courses offered through Continuing Education and Economic Development. For credit classes, refer to the section related to “Changes in Immigration Status.”

Official USCIS documentation should be submitted to International Student Services if a student’s visa status changes for any reason during any period of enrollment. In some cases, a change in visa status may affect the tuition rate.

Contact International Student Services staff for additional information:

Admission of Permanent Residents, Asylees and Refugees (Immigrant Students)

An applicant is considered an immigrant if s/he holds an Alien Registration Card (“green card”), refugee, or asylum  documents from the U.S. Government. A permanent resident or an immigrant applicant will pay tuition based on their residence in the U.S.

To apply for admission, submit the following documents to the Admissions office:

• CCBC Application for Admission.
• Valid permanent residency document (green card, form I-551 or I-151), refugee or asylum documents (I- 94, passport, or official letter from the U.S. Government)
• Official transcripts from high school or GED scores and transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities.

Pending Permanent Residents have submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and are waiting for approval for permanent residency. Tuition is determined by residency status. They must provide:

• CCBC Application for Admission
• Notice of Action statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or an Employment Authorization Document
• Official transcripts from high school or GED scores and transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities.

Pending Asylees have submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Justice and are waiting for approval for asylum. They are charged international tuition rates. They must provide:

• CCBC Application for Admission
• Correspondence from the U.S. Department of Justice
• Official transcripts from high school or GED scores and transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities.

Although SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission to CCBC, scores may be used for placement if the test was taken within two years from the date of application to CCBC. Some applicants may be exempt from placement testing with the following scores.

SAT -   550 or higher in either critical reading, writing, and math or
ACT -   21 or higher in either reading, writing, and math

Placement testing may be required for new first-time students.

Transferring to CCBC

Admission with transfer credit
It is preferred that the sending institution be an accredited college or university for a student to be admitted to CCBC with transfer credit. CCBC recognizes the following regional accrediting associations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Credit may not be accepted from schools that are candidates for regional accreditation and not fully accredited. This includes institutions regionally accredited by a commission on occupational education. A student who transfers from an institution that is not regionally accredited has the opportunity to receive credit by petitioning the department from which they would like to receive credit.

As part of CCBC’s general admissions procedures, a student will need to submit official transcripts of all previous college course work. Transcripts from other institutions should be current and submitted to CCBC within one year of the date they are issued. CCBC reserves the right to verify any questionable grades or credits.

Grade Level Requirements

To earn transfer credit, courses will need to fit the applicant’s proposed curriculum. After the award of general education credit, courses in which the applicant earned a “D” will be accepted for transfer if the overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of the remaining transferred courses is 2.0 or above. Science courses completed with online labs may not transfer to CCBC.

General Education courses taken at a Maryland public college or university will be accepted with an earned grade of “D or better.” Grades for courses taken at colleges or universities other than CCBC will not be computed in the GPA but may be used for selective admission requirements.

Number of Transfer Credits Accepted

CCBC has direct transfer agreements with other Maryland community colleges and four-year institutions. CCBC will accept a maximum of 45 transfer credits, including no more than 30 credits by assessment of prior learning. In order to receive an associate degree from CCBC, the transfer applicant must fulfill the credit and curriculum requirements of the major. The minimum number of credits for an associate degree is 60. However, students must complete either a total of 31 credits taken in any order or in any time sequence or the last 15 credits (a minimum of 25 percent) at CCBC.

NOTE: A student enrolled under a joint college/military agreement may complete his or her final 15 credits in any order or time sequence.

Transfer of General Education Requirements

A student who successfully completed a degree at another regionally accredited institution of higher education meets the General Education requirements for a degree at CCBC. Transfer credits will not be granted if the credits were earned at a time when the sending institution was not accredited by an appropriate agency.

A student who earned a degree from an accredited institution outside of the U.S. will be evaluated on an individual basis. CCBC will make any decision regarding General Education requirements based on the results of the transcript evaluation, particularly relating to English requirements.

Transfer Credits for Certificate Programs

A student who applies to CCBC as a transfer student with the intention of earning a certificate in a designated occupational area must complete the admission criteria and also complete at least 25 percent of the courses required for the certificate at CCBC. No more than 75 percent of the courses may be accepted in transfer from another institution.

Permission to Enroll in Courses at Another Institution

To enroll in a course at another institution to earn credits toward completion of CCBC graduation requirements, a student will need to obtain permission from CCBC to confirm that the course credits earned will be accepted for transfer by CCBC.

• Obtain the Permission to Enroll Form in the Registrar’s office.
• Complete the form and submit it to the transcript evaluator in the Registrar’s office for approval.

Credit from Other Sources

Admission with articulated credit

CCBC has associations with secondary and proprietary schools and other organizations offering instruction. The college matches the instructional program of these institutions with its own curricula and, when appropriate, enters into a formal articulation agreement. Click here for more information.

Military Training and Education

Many military training and educational programs have been evaluated and recommended for college-level credit by the American Council on Education, the National Program on Non-Sponsored Instruction and CCBC faculty. These recommendations may be acceptable for credit, when the courses are applicable to the student’s program of study.

Assessment of Prior Learning

CCBC recognizes that many adults obtain valuable learning experiences outside the college classroom in situations such as:

• On-the-job experience
• Training for job advancement
• Military training Involvement in community activities
• Self-designed learning activities in areas of personal interest

A student may be able to benefit from these experiences and receive college credit for the college-level learning he or she has already completed through the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) program. APL evaluates a student’s prior learning (equivalent to the objectives and scope of college courses) for college credit. Credit may be applied toward a certificate or degree requirement. Fees may apply.

The number of credits awarded for prior learning may be no more than half of the specialized courses in a program, with a maximum of 30 credits. No more than 15 of the 30 credits may be granted based on examinations developed by CCBC or portfolio assessment.

The APL program offers a variety of options to the serious adult interested in getting credit for his or her college- level learning experience. College credits may be earned through the following options:

• Credit by examinations:
  Scores from programs such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Testing Program (AP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and International Baccalaureate (IB) are reviewed for possible award of credit. Click here for more information.
• Departmental examinations:
  Academic departments of the college have developed competency examinations for selected courses. Students are assessed a fee at one-half the Baltimore County tuition rate. Click here for more information.
• Portfolio assessment:
  Since many educational experiences cannot be evaluated satisfactorily by examination, a qualified student may choose to develop portfolio summaries of his or her college-level learning. Portfolios are then presented to appropriate faculty for evaluation and possible award of credit. Students are assessed a fee at one-half the Baltimore County tuition rate. Click here for more information.
• Non-collegiate training and education:
  Many training and educational programs offered through businesses, industries and government agencies have been evaluated and recommended for college-level credit by the American Council on Education and N.Y. Regents/PONSI and may be acceptable for credit.
• Apprenticeship Training
  A student may qualify for up to 30 college credits for the satisfactory completion of an apprentice training program registered with and recognized by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council.