Transfer Credit for Graduate Students Policy (Policy 30)

Purpose

This policy applies only to credits being transferred from regionally accredited institutions to any Governors State University graduate major.

1. Transfer of Prior Credits
   1. The decision to accept transfer credits toward degree requirements is made during the first semester of enrollment when the student study plan is developed. Transfer credits will not be applied or accepted after the first semester.  The student study plan will detail the requirements for the degree including the number of transfer credits accepted toward the requirements. 
   2. Transfer of graduate credit hours shall not exceed thirty-three (33%) percent of the total number of credit hours required in any major. Only work from regionally accredited institutions completed with a grade of "B-" or better or "P" or equivalent will be considered for transfer credit. 
   3. Transfer credits earned ten (10) or more years before the student's acceptance into a degree program will not be accepted toward the degree requirements unless approved by the respective academic dean.
   4. No more than fifteen (15) credit hours taken as a graduate student-at-large shall be transferable towards the requirements of any graduate degree.
   5. Undergraduate students may elect to enroll for graduate credit but are limited to a maximum of nine (9) credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree requirements which may be applied toward graduate degree requirements.
   6. Undergraduate students may enroll in graduate (only 5000-6999 level) courses only with written permission of the course instructor and the dean of the college in which the course is offered.
   7. In certain terminal degree programs with a closely related master’s degree program, the program may decide to accept coursework transferred in from a master’s degree toward the terminal degree. This type of course transfer may be done under the following conditions:
      1. No more than 30 credit hours may be transferred in from a master’s degree to a terminal degree.
      2. Program faculty and academic advisor must confirm that coursework transferred in closely aligns with coursework of the terminal degree.
      3. The terminal degree program must specify requirements for transferring coursework from master’s degree(s) in the academic catalog.

2. Post-Admission Transfer Credits 

   After admission to a degree program, additional credit will not be accepted from another institution unless permission to apply such credits toward degree requirements was obtained from the Dean before taking courses at another institution. Additional credit accepted post-admission may not exceed the limits set within this policy. Only courses with "B-" or better grades will be accepted in transfer after matriculation to a graduate degree program.

   Collegial units may establish more stringent requirements subject to review by the Graduate Studies Council and approval by the provost before implementation.