Transfer Credit and Course Equivalency

Policies 
Course Substitution     College-Level Examination Program     College-Level Coursework     Credit by Advanced Placement     Credit by Audition or Portfolio     Credit by Examination     Credit for International Baccalaureate     Credit for Continuing Studies Coursework     Credit for ESL Institute Coursework     Credit from Non-Accredited Institutions     Residency Requirements      Transfer Credit
 

Course Substitution

Course substitution permits the substitution of an equivalent course for a required course in a student’s curriculum. A program director may consider course substitution in cases where a student is unable to enroll in a required course, or where an alternate course is identified to better suit a specific academic goal.

To submit a course substitution:

1. Download the course substitution form from the Office of the Registrar’s website.
2. The form should be completed by the student’s program director in discussion with the student.  The form will document the required course as well as the approved course being substituted.
3. The completed course substitution form should be returned to the Office of the Registrar by the program director. Forms are not accepted from students directly.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The University of the Arts cooperates with the College Examination Board in its College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Credits may be awarded for Subject Examinations in composition and literature, foreign language, history and social studies, or science and math depending on the score earned in the examination and other factors as follows:

• The credit must be directly applicable to the student’s degree requirements.
• The credits cannot be used to fulfill upper-level course requirements.
• The total number of credits awarded through CLEP is limited to 12.
• A score equivalent to the minimum acceptable score or higher as recommended by the American Council on Education is necessary.

College-Level Coursework

The University may also award credit for college work completed while the student was still in high school. Applicants who have taken college courses should arrange to have their college transcripts sent to the Office of Admission for transfer-credit evaluation. Students should also send official descriptions of the college courses so that the University can make accurate evaluations. Transfer credit cannot be granted for courses that were taken to fulfill high school graduation requirements nor for credits earned in a dual enrollment program that granted secondary school and college credit for the same course. Credit may be granted for pre-college programs.

Credit by Audition or Portfolio

A maximum of 18 credits may be granted to applicants by portfolio review or audition for artistic experience independent of any coursework. Credit by portfolio or audition is granted only for work done prior to matriculation at The University of the Arts.

Academic standing and course credit based on portfolio review are determined by the appropriate department director during the admission process. This portfolio work cannot have been part of the assigned work for a secondary or postsecondary course.

Credit by CEEB Advanced Placement Program (AP)

For each AP exam a student completes with a score of 4 or better the University may award three credits toward a student’s liberal arts requirements, according to the following guidelines:

• Students receiving a score of 4 or better on either AP English exam will receive three credits toward the six credit First Year Writing requirement and placement in LACR 102 (First Year Writing II). For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors LACR 102.
• Students who have received scores of 4 or better on both AP English exams will receive three credits toward the First Year Writing requirement, three credits toward the 15-credit liberal arts elective requirement, and placement in LACR 102. For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors LACR 102.
• Students receiving a score of 4 or better on other AP examinations will receive three liberal arts elective credits per exam. Students may not complete the liberal arts SIFT requirement through Advanced Placement examination.
• Credit is not given for Advanced Placement examinations in studio art, music theory, or performance.
• The total number of credits a student may receive through Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate examination may not exceed 12 credits.

Credit by Examination

Programs at the University may require students to sit for placement examinations prior to placement in a required sequence of courses. Students who demonstrate sufficient mastery of skills or course material will be placed in the appropriate level in the sequence. At the discretion of the program director, they will either be provided credit for previous courses in the sequence, or will be asked to complete other courses in the major as substitutes for those courses, or a combination of the two.

Audition credit requires the approval of the Audition Committee and the school director. Academic standing and course credit based on the audition are determined during the admission process.

Credit for Continuing Studies Coursework

The University of the Arts Continuing Studies courses provide knowledge and essential skills in specific fields and are taught by highly qualified faculty with in-depth experience in their subject areas. Continuing Studies courses at The University of the Arts may be applicable to degree programs at the University. Credit is awarded based on a review of the student’s Continuing Studies transcript and portfolio.

Credit for ESL Institute Coursework

Students that successfully complete the ESL Institute, earning a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, and matriculate into an undergraduate degree program will be awarded 3.0 credits for their ESLI coursework. These credits will be applied as undergraduate free electives. This policy does not apply to graduate students as this coursework is not commensurate with graduate level study.

Credit for International Baccalaureate

The University of the Arts recognizes the International Baccalaureate Examination (IB). The University may award six credits toward the liberal arts requirements for a score of 4 or better in a higher-level (HL) examination and three credits for a score of 4 or better in a standard-level (SL) examination in an academic subject. Students may not complete the liberal arts SIFT requirement through IB examination.

Students who receive a score of 4 or better on the HL English exam will receive three credits toward the six credit First Year Writing requirement, three credits towards the 15-credit liberal arts elective requirement, and placement in LACR 102 (First Year Writing II). Students who receive a score of 4 or better on the SL English exam will receive three credits toward the six credit First Year Writing requirement and placement in LACR 102. For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors LACR 102.

An official report of scores on the IB exams should be sent to the Office of Admission for evaluation. Students are notified of the credits awarded prior to registration.

The total number of credits a student may receive through Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate examination may not exceed 12 credits.

Credit from Non-Accredited Institutions

Based on the applicant’s portfolio or audition and academic record, credit may be awarded at the time of admission by the department director of the intended major. The maximum number of credits awarded may not exceed the number of credits earned at the non-accredited institution (as adjusted to conform with the University’s credit evaluation policies). These credits may be assigned to fulfill specific requirements of the University of the Arts degree as agreed upon by the department director and the Registrar.

Students who have completed course work at institutions outside the United States will have those credits evaluated appropriately. In some cases they may be asked to have their transcripts evaluated by an outside agency. Applicable fees are the responsibility of the student. A full evaluation may be obtained from the following agencies:

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI)
PO Box 6908
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087

Residency Requirements

Graduate Students

Graduate students must complete all coursework in residence at the University except those credits permitted as transfer.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of four full-time semesters in residence at the University preceding graduation and must earn a minimum of 48 credits. The final 12 credits applied toward degree requirements must be earned in residence at the University.

Transfer Credit

Graduate Students

A maximum of six transfer credits may be awarded for graduate-level courses or upper-level undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit, completed at a regionally accredited institution, passed with a grade of B- or better, similar in content, and of the same standards to those offered at The University of the Arts. Students will only be given credit for courses applicable to their degree requirements, which are approved by the Graduate Program Director and the Registrar.

Credits transferred from other institutions become part of the student’s academic record. However, grades will not be recorded on the transcript nor used in determining the student’s grade point average.

Students who wish to take liberal arts courses at another institution must secure prior approval from the Dean of Liberal Arts on a transfer credit evaluation form. Such courses may not duplicate courses already taken for credit at The University of the Arts. Additionally, except for courses in a foreign language or in American Sign Language, courses transferred in after matriculation to meet liberal arts elective requirements must be upper-division courses at other institutions (those intended for Juniors and Seniors).

Undergraduate Students

Transfer credit may be awarded for courses successfully completed at regionally accredited institutions, which are similar in content, and of comparable standards to those offered at the University of the Arts. A minimum grade of C must have been achieved for a course to be evaluated for transfer. Transfer credit will only be awarded for courses applicable to degree requirements. Students may be requested to provide course descriptions and/or syllabi to ensure proper evaluation. Students must adhere to the residency requirements articulated above. Contact the Office of the Registrar for further information.

Credits transferred from other institutions become part of the student’s academic record. However, grades will not be recorded on the transcript or used in determining the student’s grade point average.

Applicants are given a preliminary transfer credit evaluation at the time of admission. The final award of transfer credit and placement level are subject to receipt of official final transcripts and verification by the Office of the Registrar at the time of enrollment.

Liberal Arts Distribution Transfer Requirements

A maximum of 36 transfer credits can be applied to a student’s liberal arts distribution. The maximum award is evaluated for transfer students during the admission process. Transfer credit awarded must adhere to the undergraduate transfer credit policy articulated above.

All students must complete the required Liberal Arts Humanities Seminar and Period Interpretation coursework at the University of the Arts. Transfer credit is not accepted for completion of these required courses.

Post-matriculation, students may transfer a maximum of 15 credits toward their liberal arts distribution. Students who receive 15 transfer credits or more during the admission process are ineligible to receive additional transfer credit once they have matriculated, unless granted advanced permission by the Dean of Liberal Arts.

Students who wish to take liberal arts courses at other institutions must secure prior written approval from the Dean of Liberal Arts. Courses may not duplicate those already taken for credit at the University. Additionally, except for courses in a foreign language or in American Sign Language, courses transferred post-matriculation to meet Liberal Arts elective requirements must be upper division courses at other institutions (those intended for juniors and seniors). Contact the Division of Liberal Arts for further information.