Transfer Credit and Course Equivalency

​Policies  

Advanced Placement Program    Course Substitution    College-Level Examination Program    Continuing Studies Coursework    Credit by Audition or Portfolio    Credit by Examination    ESL Institute    International Baccalaureate    Non-Accredited Institutions    Pre-College Programs at UArts    Residency Requirements    Transfer Credit

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 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 FYWT 112 First-Year Writing II . For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors FYWT 112 .
• 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 FYWT 112  . For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors FYWT 112 .
• 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.

Course Substitution

Course substitution enables an alternate course to be substituted for a required course in a curriculum. The substituted course should support the learning objectives of the program. 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 request a course substitution:

1. Students will discuss requests pertaining to:​

   1. University Common Curriculum, with the Director of the University Common Curriculum

   2. Major Requirements & School Core, with the student’s Program Director

   3. Liberal Arts Distribution, with the Liberal Arts Dean’s Office.​

2. Course substitution forms are submitted electronically to the Office of the Registrar via OnBase. Requests must originate with the office or director indicated above. 

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The University of the Arts cooperates with the College Examination Board’s College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Credits may be awarded for subject examinations in composition and literature, foreign language, history & social studies, and science & 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.

Continuing Studies Coursework

Continuing Studies (CS) courses at the University of the Arts provide knowledge and skills in specific fields and are taught by highly qualified faculty with in-depth experience in their subject areas. Some UArts CS courses 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.

To request credit for CS coursework:

1. Students should contact their program director
2. The program director will review the student’s portfolio and CS transcript to determine if coursework is commensurate with undergraduate or graduate level work and acceptable for application to the student’s degree program.
3. If the course is approved for transfer the program director will electronically submit a petition for approval of transfer credit to the Office of the Registrar via OnBase.

Credit by Audition or Portfolio

A maximum of 18 credits may be granted by portfolio review or audition for artistic experience independent of coursework. Credit by portfolio or audition is granted only during the admission process for work completed prior to matriculation at the University.

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 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.

ESL Institute

Students that successfully complete the UArts 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. Credits will be applied as undergraduate electives. This policy does not apply to graduate students as this coursework is not commensurate with graduate level study.

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 FYWT 112 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 FYWT 112 . For students not already admitted to the honors program, a placement test taken during orientation determines eligibility for Honors FYWT 112 .

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.

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 program requirements as agreed upon by the program director and the Registrar.

Students who have completed coursework at institutions outside the United States will have those credits evaluated by one of the following agencies. Applicable fees are the responsibility of the student.

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

Pre-College Program at UArts

Students enrolled in Art, Media + Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Music Business, Entrepreneurship + Technology, STAR and Theater will be awarded 3.0 credits for successful completion of the program.  Credits will be applied as undergraduate electives.  One-Week Intensives are non-credit bearing.

The Office of the Registrar automatically awards undergraduate elective credit for students who have successfully completed approved pre-college programs at the start of the fall and spring semesters.

Residency Requirements

Graduate Programs

Graduate programs permit a maximum of 6 transfer credits. All remaining coursework required by a curriculum must earned in residence at the University.

Undergraduate Programs¹

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 48 credits be completed in residence at the University. Post-matriculation, a maximum of 15 credits will be considered for transfer. Approved study abroad  coursework does not apply to the 15 credit maximum.

Transfer Credit

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. Course descriptions and/or syllabi may be requested to ensure proper evaluation.

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

Applicants are provided a preliminary transfer credit evaluation at the time of admission. The final award of transfer credit and class level determination are subject to receipt and verification of official final transcripts by the Office of the Registrar. If final transcripts are not received by the advising period of the student’s second semester of attendance, pending transfer credit will be removed.

Graduate Programs

The following criteria must be met for coursework to be evaluated for transfer:

• A minimum grade of B- must have been achieved.
• The course must be graduate level.
• Must adhere to the graduate programs residency requirement.

To request transfer credit:

1. Prior to enrolling in a course at another institution the student should contact their program director, who will evaluate the course being requested for transfer.
2. If the program director approves the course for transfer they will electronically submit a petition for approval of transfer credit to the Office of the Registrar via OnBase.
3. Upon successful completion of the approved course an official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Undergraduate Programs¹

The following criteria must be met for coursework to be evaluated for transfer:

• A minimum grade of C must have been achieved.
• The course must be undergraduate level.
• Must adhere to the undergraduate programs residency requirement.
• Period Interpretation coursework are ineligible for transfer.
• Courses taken in residence at the University may not be repeated at another institution.
• International students wishing to take liberal arts courses at institutions in their home country must first be approved by the Director of International Student Programs or the ESL Coordinator and then seek approval from Liberal Arts.

To request transfer credit:

1. Prior to enrolling in a course at another institution the student should contact their program director, who will evaluate the course being requested for transfer.  If the request is for coursework to fulfill liberal arts distribution requirements the student should contact the Liberal Arts Dean’s Office.
2. If the program director approves the course for transfer they will electronically submit a petition for approval of transfer credit to the Office of the Registrar via OnBase.
3. Upon successful completion of the approved course a sealed official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

College Coursework Completed During High School

The University may award credit for undergraduate coursework completed during high school.

The following criteria must be met for coursework to be evaluated for transfer:

• Coursework must not have been applied to satisfy any high school graduation requirements
• Coursework must not have been part of a dual enrollment program that granted secondary school and college credit for the same course.
• Completed at an regionally accredited college or university, not on a high school campus.
• Course must have been successfully completed with a grade of C or higher

To request transfer credit:

1. A sealed official transcript must be submitted to the Office of Admission.
2. Official course descriptions must be included for review.
3. A signed letter from the applicant’s high school guidance counselor certifying which college courses were not applied to high school degree requirements.

¹This policy was revised in January 2016. Students assigned to the 2015 catalogue year or earlier will be held to the policy that most benefits the student. The former policy is accessible in the 2014 course catalogue.