Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

CREDIT BY TRANSFER FROM INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Procedure: Regionally Accredited U. S. Institutions

The Undergraduate Admissions Office is responsible for the evaluation of transcripts from other colleges and universities and for recording the evaluation on the academic record of degree candidates. This includes both degree candidates admitted with advanced standing from other colleges and universities and degree candidates at Penn State who study at other colleges and universities and seek degree credit at Penn State for such study. Questions relating to advanced standing course evaluations should be directed to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED

To initiate an evaluation, the registrar or other appropriate official at the other college or university must send an official transcript directly to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Penn State. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will review the transcript on a case-by-case basis. If a transcript is not available, the student should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to discuss alternative documentation.

If courses carry non-semester hours of credit, they are converted to semester hours of credit when recorded on the student's academic record. Information on the conversion of units and course units to semester hours of credit usually is provided by the college or university using these systems.

Transfer credit(s) will be posted to the student's record but will not appear on the student's official transcript until the student has completed a credit-bearing course at Penn State.

Accredited Institutions Outside U.S.

Credit for courses completed at a recognized college or university outside of the United States may be obtained by one of the following methods:

1. Evaluation for Transfer Credit. If possible, course work should be evaluated for transfer credit according to Senate Policy 42-82. Some course work may be eligible for credit by validation as described in Senate Policy 42-81.
2. Students may seek credit by examination as specified in Senate Policy 42-50 or credit by portfolio as specified in Senate Policy 42-97 for courses that do not transfer.
3. Credit(s) will be posted to the student's record but will not appear on the student's official transcript until the student has completed a credit-bearing course at Penn State.

NOTE: A Penn State degree candidate should proceed as follows before taking courses at a college or university outside of the United States. The candidate should consult with the Undergraduate Admissions Office for confirmation as to whether the college or university outside of the U.S. is recognized, and if so, whether credit may be obtained through the evaluation of transfer credit by course content. Upon completion of the foreign study, the candidate should request that necessary official transcripts be forwarded to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Refer to Senate Policy 42-84

U.S. Institutions That Are Not Regionally Accredited

Refer to Senate Policy 42-86