Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 University Catalog [Archived Catalogue]

Transfer Credit and Course Equivalency


C O N T E N T S

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. Critical Studies (Liberal Arts) Distribution, with the Director of the School of Critical Studies.​

  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. 

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 CS 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.
Policy: Continuing Studies Coursework Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

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 student’s School Director.
Policy: Credit by Audition or Portfolio Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

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), and 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:

AP Exam Score UArts Course Awarded Credits
Art History 4 or 5 AHST 101 Art History Survey I    3.0
Biology 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Calculus AB 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Calculus BC 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Chemistry 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Chinese Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Computer Science A 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Computer Science Principles 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
English Language and Composition 4 or 5 COMP 111 Written Composition I  or Critical Studies Elective 3.0
English Literature and Composition 4 or 5 COMP 111 Written Composition I  or Critical Studies Elective 3.0
Environmental Science 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
European History 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
French Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
German Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Government and Politics: Comparative 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Government and Politics: United States 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Human Geography 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Italian Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Japanese Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Latin 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Macroeconomics 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Microeconomics 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Music Theory 4 or 5 Free Elective 3.0
Physics 1 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Physics 2 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Physics C: Mechanics 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Psychology 4 or 5 PSYC*1XX 3.0
Research (Second part of the Capstone program) 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Seminar (First part of the Capstone program) 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Statistics 4 or 5 Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Spanish Language and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Spanish Literature and Culture 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Studio Art: 2-D Design 4 or 5 Free Elective 3.0
Studio Art: 3-D Design 4 or 5 Free Elective 3.0
Studio Art: Drawing 4 or 5 Free Elective 3.0
United States History 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
World History 4 or 5 Critical Studies: Elective 3.0

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:

CIE Exam (A Levels Only) Score UArts Course Awarded Credits
Accounting C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Applied Information & Communication Technology C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Arabic C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Art & Design C or better Free Elective 3.0
Biology C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Business C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Chemistry C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Chinese C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Classical Studies C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Computer Science C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Computing C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Design & Technology C or better Free Elective 3.0
Design & Textiles C or better Free Elective 3.0
Digital Media & Design C or better Free Elective 3.0
Economics C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
English Language C or better COMP 111 Written Composition I  or Critical Studies Elective 3.0
French C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Geography C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
German C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Global Perspectives and Research C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
History C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Information Technology C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Law C or better Free Elective 3.0
Literature in English C or better COMP 111 Written Composition I  or Critical Studies Elective 3.0
Marine Science C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Mathematics C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Mathematics - Further C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Media Studies C or better Free Elective 3.0
Music C or better Free Elective 3.0
Physics C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Portuguese C or better Critical Studies: SIFT 3.0
Psychology C or better PSYC*1XX 3.0
Sociology C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Spanish C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0
Thinking Skills C or better Critical Studies: Elective 3.0

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:

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

Policy: Credit by Examination Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: June 2018

Credit by Examination (administered by program)

Programs 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.

Submission Procedure

  1. Upon successful completion of a required exam the program director submits a petition for Credit by Exam electronically via OnBase to the Office of the Registrar.
  2. The petition is then reviewed by the student’s college dean.
  3. If approved the petition is processed by the Office of the Registrar.
Policy: Credit by Examination Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

Credit for Pre-College Programs

Undergraduate students who have successfully completed an approved 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 free electives. Approved programs include: Art, Media + Design; Creative Writing; Dance; Music; Music Business, Entrepreneurship + Technology; and Theater. One-week intensives are non-credit bearing.

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

Policy: Credit for Pre-College Programs Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: June 2018

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 3.0 credits, applied as undergraduate free electives.

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

Policy: ESL Institute Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

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.

World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI)
PO Box 6908
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Policy: Non-Accredited Institutions Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

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.

Policy: Residency Requirements Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: N/A

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:

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

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.
  • 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 (formerly Liberal Arts): The Office of the Registrar
    • Free Electives: The Office of the Registrar
  2. Students should begin the process by completing a Transfer Credit form, available on the Portal, in the Forms and Requests section.
    • 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.
Policy: Transfer Credit Policy Administrator: The Office of the Registrar   Policy Last Revised: 19 April 2019