Transfer of Credit
Transfer Credit from Other Institutions
All transfer credit is granted at the discretion of the institution. The College reserves the right to reject any course that is contrary to the College’s Mission. Transfer credit is not considered in the computation of the Aquinas GPA (grade point average). Only courses taken at regionally-accredited institutions (in traditional format or by distance learning) with a minimum grade earned of C- will be evaluated for transfer credit. Vocational, technical, developmental, and remedial courses will not be considered. The amount of transfer credit accepted will be determined by the Dean in accordance with degree requirements of the College. Once a student starts attending Aquinas College, the student must complete all of the coursework required for the degree at Aquinas College. Should special circumstances arise that require a student to take a course(s) at another institution while attending Aquinas, the student must obtain a Request for Transfer Credit form from the Dean of the appropriate School to be approved by the Vice President for Academics, providing written confirmation that the credit will be accepted. Failure to obtain such an agreement might prevent the course(s) from being transferred.
Transfer Credit – Extra-Institutional Learning
Aquinas College acknowledges that learning experiences can occur in settings other than traditional classes and thus warrant college-level credit. All credits gained through the following programs are recorded as transfer credit and not considered in the computation of the Aquinas GPA (grade point average). Students may earn up to a maximum of 60 hours toward a baccalaureate degree (30 hours maximum through standardized exams).
- AP (Advanced Placement) – The Registrar’s Office maintains a list of accepted exams and course equivalencies. For credit to be awarded, a minimum scaled score of 3 is required on the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement tests. Credit awarded is based on ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations. The grade is recorded as “CR” on the student’s transcript.
- IB (International Baccalaureate) – Aquinas College recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum as a strong college preparatory program and encourages students in this program to apply for admission to the College. The Office of the Registrar maintains a list of accepted exams and course equivalencies. Examination scores are required to be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar; credit will be awarded per examination, subject to review and approval for the appropriate academic Dean. The grade is recorded as “CR” on the student’s transcript.
- CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) The Registrar’s Office maintains a list of accepted exams and course equivalencies. Generally, a minimum score of 50 is required. Credit awarded is based on ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations. The grade is recorded as “CR” on the student’s transcript.
- Military Credit – Students being certified to the VA for benefits must submit an official military transcript for evaluation. Credit will be awarded if equivalent to Aquinas course content and necessary for student’s degree. All credit awarded is based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE) and recorded on the transcript as “CR.”
- Computer Competency Exam – Aquinas College offers a competency examination for students who believe they have the required knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access to meet the objectives of CPU 115, Introduction to Computers. Students who have taken computer courses above the 100 level are not eligible for the competency examination. Permission to take the test must be obtained from the student’s advisor. Students must pass the examination with a score of 70% or higher to be awarded 3.0 credit hours and a grade of “P.” If student fails to pass the competency exam, it is important that he remember to register for the CPU 115 course as soon as possible. Students should be aware that credit given by Aquinas College for the Computer Competency Exam might not be transferable to other institutions.