Transfer Credit and Course Equivalency

C O N T E N T S

• Course Substitution
• Credit by Audition or Portfolio
• Credit by Examination AP, A-Levels, CLEP, IB
• Credit for UArts’ Pre-College Programs
• Credit for UArts’ ESL Institute
• Non-Accredited Institutions
• Residency Requirements
• Transfer Credit
• Transfer Credit Appeal

Course Substitution

Course substitution enables an alternate course to be substituted for a required course in a curriculum.

The following policies apply to course substitutions:

• The substituted course should support the learning objectives of the program.
• A program director may consider course substitution only when a student is unable to enroll in a required course or where an alternate course is identified to better suit a specific academic goal.
• Requests must be submitted during the advising period for the term in which the student will enroll in the course that will be substituted for a program requirement. 

To request a course substitution:

Students will discuss requests pertaining to:​

• Critical Studies Requirements with the Director of Critical Studies.​
• Major Requirements with their program director
• Minor Requirements with their minor advisor/director.

Course substitution forms are submitted electronically to the Office of the Registrar via OnBase.

Credit by Audition or Portfolio

The University may award credit for prior artistic learning experiences through audition or portfolio review.

The following policies apply to credit by audition or portfolio

• Credit will only be granted during the admission process.
• A maximum of 18 credits will be awarded.
• Work must have been completed prior to matriculation.
• Work cannot have been assigned as part of a secondary or postsecondary course.
• Credit by Portfolio is determined by the student’s Program Director.
• Credit by Audition is determined by the Audition Committee and the Dean.

Credit by Examination

Credit and advanced placement may be awarded to students on the basis of examination results from the:

• Advanced Placement Program (AP)
• Cambridge International: A Levels (CIE)
• the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• the International Baccalaureate (IB)

Official score reports should be sent to the University for evaluation. The maximum number of credits awarded for must adhere to the undergraduate programs residency requirement.

Advanced Placement Program

Students who successfully complete AP classes during high school and AP exams prior to matriculating into an undergraduate degree program, will have credit awarded upon receipt of official score reports by The Office of the Registrar as follows:

Cambridge International (CIE) A-Levels

Students who successfully complete CIE classes during high school and CIE exams prior to matriculating into an undergraduate degree program, will have credit awarded upon receipt of official score reports by The Office of the Registrar as follows:

College-Level Examination Program

Credit for The College Board’s CLEP exams may be awarded for subject examinations in composition & literature, foreign language, history & social sciences, 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.
• A score equivalent to the minimum acceptable score or higher as recommended by the American Council on Education is necessary.

International Baccalaureate

Scores of 4 or higher on the Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL)  International Baccalaureate English exam will award credit and advance placement as follows:

• SL English exam, 3.0 credits awarded: WRIT 101 Writing 1 . Placement in WRIT 102 Writing 2 .¹
• HL English exam, 6.0 credits awarded: WRIT 101 Writing 1   & 3.0 credits toward Critical Studies elective requirements. Placement in WRIT 102 Writing 2 .¹
• Science or Mathematics exam, 3 credits awarded: SIFT*XXX Science Inquiry Foundation Track.
• Other exams, 3.0 credits awarded toward Critical Studies elective requirements.

¹ Placement testing determines eligibility to enroll in COMP 112H Written Composition II: Honors.

Credit for Pre-College Programs

Undergraduate students who have successfully completed a credit bearing pre-college program(s) at the University and who matriculate into an undergraduate degree program at the University will be awarded a maximum of 3.0 credits, applied as undergraduate general electives.

The Office of the Registrar will administratively award credit to newly matriculated students at the start of the fall and spring semesters.

Credit for ESL Institute

Undergraduate students who have successfully completed the ESL Institute at the University, who achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and who matriculate into an undergraduate degree program at the University will be awarded a maximum of 3.0 credits, applied as undergraduate general electives.

The Office of the Registrar will administratively award credit to newly matriculated students at the start of the fall and spring semesters.

Non-Accredited Institutions

Credit may be awarded for coursework completed at a non-accredited institution during the admission process. Program directors will determine eligibility based on the applicant’s portfolio or audition and academic record. 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.

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 Programs

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

• Eligibility for Transfer Credit
• Inclusion in Academic Record
• Preliminary Transfer Credit Evaluation
• Deadline for Final Transcripts
• Changes to Transfer Credit
• Graduate Programs Transfer Credit
• Undergraduate Programs Transfer Credit

Eligibility for Transfer Credit

Transfer credit may be granted for courses completed successfully at regionally accredited institutions, provided they are similar in content and meet standards comparable to those offered at the University. To ensure accurate evaluation, the University may request course descriptions and/or syllabi.

Inclusion in Academic Record

Credits transferred from other institutions will become a permanent part of the student’s academic record. It is important to note that while the credits are included in the academic record, the grades for these courses will not be recorded on the transcript and will not be factored into the calculation of the student’s grade point average.

Preliminary Transfer Credit Evaluation

Applicants will receive a preliminary evaluation of their transfer credit at the time of admission. However, the final decision regarding the award of transfer credit and the determination of the student’s class level will be contingent upon the receipt and verification of official final transcripts by the Office of the Registrar.

Deadline for Final Transcripts

If official final transcripts are not received by the advising period of the student’s second semester of attendance, any pending transfer credit will be removed from the student’s record.

Changes to Transfer Credit

Incoming students have the opportunity to request changes to their transfer credit through the add/drop period of their first semester. These changes may include additions, deletions, and reevaluations of individual courses. However, please note that after this period, only additions and reevaluations are possible. It is recommended that students check with Student Financial Services regarding how changes in transfer credit will affect their financial aid.

Graduate Programs Transfer Credit

The following criteria must be met:

• 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 Programs Transfer Credit

The following criteria must be met:

• A minimum grade of C must have been achieved.
• The course must be undergraduate level.
• Must adhere to the undergraduate programs residency requirement.
• Courses taken in residence at the University may not be repeated at another institution.
• International students wishing to take courses to satisfy undergraduate Critical Studies requirements 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 Critical Studies.

To request transfer credit:

1. Prior to enrolling in a course at another institution, the student should have the course reviewed to ensure it will be accepted for transfer credit. Approval is granted for requirements as follows:     
   • Major requirements: student’s program director
   • Minor requirements: student’s minor advisor/director
   • Critical Studies requirements: The Office of the Registrar
   • General Electives: The Office of the Registrar
2. Students should begin the process by completing a Transfer Credit form, located on the UArts portal in the Student Forms card.
   • Students will need to submit the name of the college, and course number(s) and title(s) for review.    
3. If the course is approved for transfer, the designated official will approve the transfer credit.
   • Students may be asked for additional information before the course can be approved.
   • Students will receive a confirmation when the form is submitted, and when the course is approved.
4. Upon successful completion of the approved course, an official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer Credit Appeal

Students should review their transfer credit evaluation for accuracy. If any omissions or errors are discovered, or if the student feels the equivalency made is incorrect, the student has the right to appeal that evaluation.

To submit a transfer credit appeal:

• Incoming students: Prospective/Admitted students who do not agree with the transfer of credits or placement should contact the Admissions Office. Matriculated students who do not agree with the transfer of credits or placement should contact the Office of the Registrar. Transfer credit and placement will be reviewed for errors. Students will receive a decision within 10 business days.
• Current students: Students requesting an appeal of this decision should fill out the Transfer Credit Appeal form, located on the UArts portal in the Student Forms card. The transfer credit appeal board will consist of a representative from the Admissions office, Registrar’s office, appropriate Program Director, and Dean. The board will render a decision within 10 business days of the received appeal.
• If a student does not agree with the decision, they may appeal to the Provost.