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Transfer of Credits

Transfer of Credits 

All credit evaluation will be based upon official transcripts received from the original credit issuing institution. Transfer courses will not be calculated in the MSUM cumulative GPA. Transfer courses will be included in LASC, major, and minor GPA requirements.

Transfer credit from institutions accredited by regional associations (North Central, Middle States, etc.) will be accepted by MSUM subject to limitations. Transfer credit from nationally accredited schools on the CHEA/US DOE list will be reviewed for transfer credit acceptance on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer students will receive evaluations indicating the extent and distribution of credits which are accepted by MSUM toward LASC and their degree requirements. LASC requirements will be considered complete for transfer students who complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), the North Dakota General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement (GERTA), an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, or an equivalent (must meet credit and goal standards) Associate of Science (AS) degree. Courses will be evaluated to meet LASC goal requirements based on the sending institutions general education components or the equivalency assigned when transferred to MSUM. If general education requirements are not completed before transfer, transfer students must complete 42 credits in LASC courses and meet all goal areas. Transfer students must also meet MSUM’s writing intensive requirements.

Transfer credits may not be applied to meet an area requirement (LASC, major, or minor) unless they also meet the corresponding GPA requirement for the academic area.

Courses will not be accepted in transfer to replace any grades or credits earned at MSUM. If a course is completed at MSUM and an attempt is made to repeat the course elsewhere, the credit is considered duplication and is not eligible for transfer. Students who wish to take advantage of the repeated course opportunity to improve a grade must repeat the course at MSUM, with one exception only. MSUM students may register for a tri-college course to repeat a course previously taken at MSUM under current tri-college policies. When a course presented in transfer is repeated at MSUM, the transferred course is considered duplication and removed from the GPA and credit totals. The transferred course will be forfeited regardless of the grade earned when the course is repeated at MSUM.

Courses designated at the 100-200 level at the sending institution may not be used to meet the 40 credits of upper division courses required for graduation even if they are deemed equivalent to a 300-400 level course at MSUM.

MSUM will accept for transfer, as lower division electives, a maximum of 16 semester credits of vocational or technical courses offered by technical colleges. Specific requirements in a student's major or minor field of study may be waived upon evaluation of vocational or technical courses judged by MSUM faculty to be comparable or equivalent to courses offered by MSUM. Any credit granted upon review will be in addition to the total of 16 credits of lower division electives.

Credit is NOT awarded for departmental examinations or waivers of credit except as required by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.

Transfer Appeal Policy

Transfer students have the right to appeal an evaluation decision. Appeals may be completed by filling out the Transfer Evaluation Appeal form online.

Examination for Credit

Examination for credit may be attempted only by students who are currently enrolled at MSUM. They may only be attempted when the department has announced an examination or if an individual student has received written permission from the department chair to take an exam. Credit may not be granted by examination if the student has previously or is currently registered for an equivalent course. Credit earned through examination for credit is not resident credit and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation. For guidelines and procedures to earn examination for credit contact the Registrar's Office or go to the Exam for Credit form online.

Credit for Prior Learning

MSUM recognizes that some students have learned college material prior to admission. This type of learning may occur as a result of job or volunteer experiences. MSUM provides an opportunity for its students to obtain college credit for these learning experiences. The evaluation of this type of learning is done by faculty who teach the subject matter on campus; thus, credits cannot be evaluated in areas in which MSUM does not have faculty expertise. Credit acquired in this manner is generally not transferable to other institutions of higher education and does not meet this university's resident credit requirement. Credit for prior learning is not granted for graduate credits.

Students who have been admitted to a degree program at MSUM and completed a minimum of 16 credits with a GPA of 2.0 or better are eligible to apply for credit for prior learning. Application includes the presentation of a portfolio of information that validates what has been learned. Information regarding the procedure for granting this credit may be found at the Registrar's Office or go to Credit for Prior Learning form online.

Advanced Placement Credit (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program of The College Board through which a high school student completes college-level courses that are designated as AP in high schools. A student may earn college credits by demonstrating a specified level of performance on AP examinations. The AP exams, which are scored on a 5-point scale, can be taken by any student who feels prepared by independent study or other preparation as well as by students who complete AP courses. AP Score Reports are sent to the colleges or universities designated on your exam answer sheet. Students who do not designate MSUM on their answer sheet may contact AP Services (see below) to have scores sent to MSUM. The code for MSUM is 6678.

In accordance with MnSCU policy (3.15), a minimum score of three is required to receive credit for the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. AP exams will be granted the same number of credits as the course they replace. If MSUM does not have an equivalent course, free elective credit may be awarded. Credit earned through AP is not residence credit and may not be used to satisfy residence-credit requirements for graduation. AP credit may be used toward Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum requirements.

The policies and procedures concerning the awarding of this credit may be found on the Registrar's Office page. The following AP subjects and scores are used to award equivalent courses and credit at MSUM. This is the current listing as of Fall 2016.

AP Subject AP Code AP Course Accepted Score Equivalent MSUM Course LASC Goal(s)
Arts AP13 Art History 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 6
  AP14 Studio Art-Drawing 3 ART 101 GOAL 6
  AP14 Studio Art-Drawing 4,5 ART 101 & ART 102  
  AP15 Studio Art 2-D Design 3,4,5 ART 125  
  AP16 Studio Art 3-D Design 3,4,5 ART 126  
  AP75 Music Theory 3 MUS 107A + elective  
  AP75 Music Theory 4,5 MUS 107A & MUS 108A + elective  
  AP76 Aural Subscore 3 MUS 107B + elective  
  AP76 Aural Subscore 4,5 MUS 107B & MUS 108B + elective  
  AP77 Nonaural Subscore 3,4,5 Elective  
           
English AP36 English Language & Composition 3 ENGL 101 GOAL 1B
  AP36 English Language & Composition 4,5 ENGL 101 + elective GOAL 1B
  AP37 English Literature & Composition 3 ENGL 101 GOAL 1B
  AP37 English Literature & Composition 4,5 ENGL 101 + elective GOAL 1B
  AP91 English Language/
Literature/Composition
3 ENGL 101 GOAL 1B &
GOAL 6
  AP91 English Language/
Literature/Composition
4,5 ENGL 101 + elective GOAL 1B &
GOAL 6
           
History & Social Science AP58 Comparative Govt. & Politics 3,4,5 POL 150 GOAL 5 & 8
  AP43 European History 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 5
  AP53 Human Geography 3,4,5 GEOS 111 GOAL 5
  AP34 Microeconomics 3,4,5 ECON 202 GOAL 5
  AP35 Macroeconomics 3,4,5 ECON 204 GOAL 5
  AP85 Psychology 3 PSY 113 GOAL 5
  AP85 Psychology 4,5 PSY 113 + elective GOAL 5
  AP57 U.S. Government & Politics 3,4,5 POL 120 GOAL 5
  AP07 U.S. History 3 HIST 121 GOAL 5
  AP07 U.S. History 4,5 HIST 121 & HIST 122 GOAL 5
  AP93 World History 3 HIST 104 GOAL 5 & 8
  AP93 World History 4,5 HIST 104 & HIST 105 GOAL 5 & 8
           
Math & Computer Sciences
AP66 Calculus AB 3,4,5 MATH 261 GOAL 4
  AP68 Calculus BC 3,4,5 MATH 262 GOAL 4
  AP69 Calculus AB Subscore Grade 3,4,5 MATH 261 GOAL 4
  AP31 Computer Science A 3,4,5 CSIS 152  
  AP90 Statistics 3,4,5 MATH 234 GOAL 4
           
Sciences AP20 Biology 3,4 BIOL 104 GOAL 3
  AP20 Biology 5 BIOL 104 & BIOL 109/BIOL 109L GOAL 3L
  AP25 Chemistry 3 CHEM 150/CHEM 150L GOAL 3L
  AP25 Chemistry 4,5 CHEM 150/CHEM 150L & CHEM 210/CHEM 210L GOAL 3L
  AP40 Environmental Science 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 10
  AP80 Physics C Mechanics 3,4,5 PHYS 160/160L GOAL 3L
  AP82 Physics C Electricity & Magnetism 3,4,5 PHYS 161/161L GOAL 3L
  AP97 Physics I: Algebra-based 3,4,5 PHYS 160/160L GOAL 3L
  AP98 Physics II: Algebra-based 3,4,5 PHYS 161/161L GOAL 3L
           
World Languages & Cultures
AP28 Chinese Language & Culture 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP48 French Language & Culture 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP51 French Literature (no longer offered) 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 6 (HUM rubric)
  AP55 German Language & Culture 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP61 Latin: Literature (no longer offered) 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP60 Latin:Vergil 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP87 Spanish Language & Culture 3 SPAN 101 GOAL 8
  AP87 Spanish Language & Culture 4,5 SPAN 101 & SPAN 102 GOAL 8
  AP89 Spanish Literature & Culture 3,4,5 Elective GOAL 8
  AP59 International English Language (no longer offered) 3,4,5 Elective

International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)

MSUM recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, offered at many high schools in the United States and abroad, which allows students to take examinations for credit. In accordance MnSCU policy 3.16, a student shall receive three (3) or more course credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual Higher Level IB examinations. A student shall receive two (2) or more credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual Standard Level IB examinations. To receive this credit, students must have an official score report sent to MSUM. Credit earned through IB examination is not resident credit and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation. IB credit may be used toward LASC requirements. The policies and procedures concerning the awarding of this credit may be found on the Registrar's Office page. The following IB subjects and scores are used to award equivalent courses and credit at MSUM.

IB Exam MSUM Equivalency Credit Hours LASC Goal(s)
Theory of Knowledge (diploma award) Elective 3  
Classic Greek Higher Level Elective 6 8
English A1 Higher Level (diploma award) ENGL 101 6  
English A1 Higher Level (individual course award) ENGL 101 3  
English A1 Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
English A1 Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
English A2 Higher Level Elective 3  
English B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
English B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
French A1 Higher Level Elective 6  
French B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
French B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
French B Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
French ab initio Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
French ab initio Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
German A1 Higher Level Elective 6  
German B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
German B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
German B Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
German B Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
German ab initio Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
German ab initio Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
Spanish A2 Higher Level SPAN 101, SPAN 102 6  
Spanish B Higher Level (diploma award) SPAN 101, SPAN 102 6  
Spanish B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Spanish B Standard Level (individual course award) SPAN 101 4  
Spanish ab initio Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Spanish ab initio Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
Hebrew B Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Hebrew B Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
Japanese A1 Higher Level JAPN 101, JAPN 102 6  
Japanese B Higher Level (diploma award) JAPN 101, JAPN 102 6  
Japanese B Higher Level (individual course award) JAPN 101, JAPN 102 8  
Japanese B Standard Level (diploma award) JAPN 101 2  
Japanese B Standard Level (individual course award) JAPN 101 4  
Japanese ab initio Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Mandarin B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Mandarin B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Mandarin B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Mandarin B Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
Russian B Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Russian B Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Russian B Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Russian B Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 4  
Business & Management Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Business & Management Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Business & Management Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Business & Management Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Economics Higher Level (diploma award) ECON 202, ECON 204 6  
Economics Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 5
Economics Standard Level (individual course award) ECON 202 3  
Geography Higher Level (diploma award) GEOS 110, GEOS 115 6  
Geography Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 5
Geography Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Geography Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 0  
History Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 5
History Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 5
History Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Information Technology in a Global Society Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 8
Information Technology in a Global Society Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 8
Information Technology in a Global Society Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Information Technology in a Global Society Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Philosophy Higher Level (diploma award) PHIL 101, Elective 6  
Philosophy Higher Level (individual course award) PHIL 101 3  
Psychology Higher Level (diploma award) PSY 113, PSY 202 6  
Psychology Higher Level (individual course award) PSY 113, PSY 202 6  
Psychology Standard Level (diploma award) PSY 113 2  
Psychology Standard Level (individual course award) PSY 113 3  
Social & Cultural Anthropology Higher Level (diploma award) SOC 110, SOC 120 6  
Social & Cultural Anthropology Higher Level (individual course award) SOC 110 3  
Social & Cultural Anthropology Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
World Cultures Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 8
World Cultures Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 8
World Cultures Standard Level (diploma award) Elective 3 8
World Cultures Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3 8
Biology Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 3L
Biology Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 3L
Chemistry Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 3L
Chemistry Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3 3L
Design Technology Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Design Technology Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Physics Higher Level (diploma award) PHYS 200 6  
Physics Higher Level (individual course award) PHYS 200 3  
Environmental Systems & Societies Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6 10
Math: Further Mathematics Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Math: Further Mathematics Standard Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Computer Science Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Computer Science Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Computer Science Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 2  
Music Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Music Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Theatre Arts Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Theatre Arts Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  
Visual Arts Higher Level (diploma award) Elective 6  
Visual Arts Higher Level (individual course award) Elective 3  

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) is a testing program of The College Board designed to measure prior learning. A student may earn college credits by achieving a specified level of performance on a CLEP examination.

In accordance with MnSCU policy (3.33), MSUM will grant college credit to students who earn a score of 50 or higher on CLEP examinations, with the exception of Level 2 foreign language exams, for which a minimum score of 60 for German, 59 for French, and 63 for Spanish is required. CLEP exams will be granted the same number of credits as the course they replace. If MSUM does not have an equivalent course, free elective credit may be awarded. Credit will be awarded only if students achieve standard scores recommended by the Council on College-Level Examinations. However, credit will not be given to students who have previously or are currently enrolled in courses in the same subject.

MSUM does not accept CLEP credits after a student's first semester at the university.

Credit earned by CLEP exams may be applied to Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum but may not be applied to a major curriculum except with departmental approval. Credit earned through CLEP exams is not resident credit and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.

The policies and procedures concerning the awarding of this credit may be found on the Registrar's Office page. The following CLEP subjects and scores are used to award equivalent courses and credit at MSUM.

CLEP Examination

Accepted Score

Equivalent MSUM Course

Credit Hours

LASC Goal(s)

American Government

50

POL 120

3

GOAL 5

American Literature

50

Elective

6

GOAL 6

Analyze and Interpret Literature

50

Elective

4

GOAL 6

Calculus

50

MATH 261

4

GOAL 4

College Math

50

MATH 110

3

GOAL 4

College Algebra

50

MATH 127

3

GOAL 4

College Composition

50

ENGL 101

3

GOAL 1B

College Composition Modular

50

ENGL 101

3

GOAL 1B

English Literature

50

Elective

4

GOAL 6

Financial Accounting

50

Elective

3

 

French Level 1

50

Elective

6

 

French Level 2

59

Elective

12

 

Humanities

50

Elective

3

GOAL 6

General Biology

50

Elective

4

GOAL 3

Natural Sciences

50

Elective

6

GOAL 3L

General Chemistry

50

CHEM 102

4

 

German Level 1

50

Elective

6

 

German Level 2

60

Elective

12

 

History of the US 1: To 1877

50

HIST 121

4

 

History of the US 11: 1865-Present

50

HIST 122

4

GOAL 5

Human Growth & Development

50

PSY 202

3

GOAL 5

Info Systems & Computer Apps

50

Elective

3

 

Intro to Educational Psychology

50

Elective

3

 

Intro to Psychology

50

PSY 113

3

GOAL 5

Intro to Business Law

50

Elective

3

 

Intro Sociology

50

SOC 110

3

GOAL 5

Pre-calculus

50

MATH 142

3

GOAL 4

Principles of Accounting

50

Elective

6

 

Principles of Macroeconomics

50

ECON 204

3

GOAL 5

Principles of Management

50

MGMT 360

3

 

Principles of Marketing

50

MKTG 310

3

 

Principles of Microeconomics

50

ECON 202

3

GOAL 5

Social Sciences & History

50

Elective

6

GOAL 5

Spanish Level 1

50

SPAN 101 & SPAN 102

6

 

Spanish Level 2

63

SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 201, & SPAN 202

14

 

Western Civilization I

50

Elective

4

GOAL 5

Western Civilization II

50

Elective

4

GOAL 5

Dantes (DSST) Examinations

MSUM recognizes the DSST (Dantes) examination, which was originally designed for the military as a way to provide individuals an opportunity to obtain college level credit for what they have learned in nontraditional ways. Now available for civilian use, the DSST Test Control Officer (TCO) administers the exams on more than 560 military installations and official DSST test centers. The main users of the exams include adult education programs, U.S. Department of Defense, and two- and four-year colleges and universities.

In accordance with MnSCU policy, students must receive a minimum score on the examinations to qualify for possible awarding of credit and advanced placement, which is determined by the appropriate academic department on campus. If MSUM does not have an equivalent course, free elective credit may be awarded. Credit earned through DSST may not be used to satisfy residence-credit requirements for graduation.

To receive this credit, students must have an official score report sent to MSUM. The policies and procedures concerning the awarding of this credit may be found on the Registrar's Office page.

DSST Examination

 

Accepted Score

Equivalent MSUM Course

Credit Hours

LASC Goal(s)

A History of the Vietnam War

49

Elective

3

 

Art of the Western World

48

Elective

3

GOAL 6

Astronomy

48

AST 102

3

GOAL 3

Business Ethics and Society

400

Elective

3

 

Business Law II

52

Elective

3

GOAL 8

Business Mathematics

48

Elective

3

 

Civil War and Reconstruction

47

Elective

3

GOAL 5

Contemporary Western Europe

48

Elective

3

 

Criminal Justice

400

Elective

3

 

Environment and Humanity

46

Elective

3

GOAL 10

Ethics in America

400

Elective

3

GOAL 9

Foundations of Education

46

Elective

3

 

Fundamentals of College Algebra

400

MATH 124

3

GOAL 4

Fundamentals of Counseling

45

Elective

3

 

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

400

Elective

3

 

General Anthropology

47

Elective

3

 

Here's to Your Health

400

Elective

3

 

Human Resources Management

46

Elective

3

 

Human/Cultural Geography

48

Elective

3

GOAL 8

Intro to Business

46

Elective

3

 

Intro to Computing

400

Elective

3

 

Intro to Law Enforcement

45

Elective

3

 

Intro to the Modern Middle East

44

Elective

3

GOAL 8

Intro to World Religions

400

Elective

3

GOAL 8

Lifespan Development Psychology

46

Elective

3

 

Management Information Systems

400

Elective

3

 

Money and Banking

48

Elective

3

 

Organizational Behavior

48

Elective

3

 

Personal Finance

400

Elective

3

 

Physical Geology

46

Elective

3

 

Principles of Finance

46

Elective

3

 

Principles of Financial Accounting

49

Elective

3

 

Principles of Physical Science I

47

PSCI 170

3

GOAL 3

Principles of Public Speaking

47

COMM 100

3

GOAL 1A

Principles of Supervision

46

Elective

3

 

Principles of Statistics

400

Elective

3

GOAL 4

Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union

45

Elective

3

GOAL 8

Substance Abuse 400 Elective 3  
Technical Writing 46 Elective 3

Military Training or Service Credit 

MSUM uses the American Council on Education's (ACE) “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” to evaluate military learning. ACE translates military courses and occupations into academic credit, provides guidelines to interpret and recommend credit for formal service-school courses, and demonstrates proficiency in military occupations and college-level tests.

Credit for Army training may be obtained by requesting an official transcript from the Army/American Council on Education Registry System be sent to the Registrar's Office.

Credit for Sailor and Marine training may be obtained by requesting an official transcript from the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) be sent directly to the Records Office. Service members must have separated or retired from active duty on or after October 1, 1999.

Credit for Air Force training may be obtained by submitting a request to the Community College of the Air Force or go to your nearest Air Force base education office. Service members with credits/training for the Army pre-1981 and Sailors/Marines pre-1999 must request a DD295 and submit it for your college credit award review. Students should discuss the possibility of such credit with the MSUM Registrar.

For more information go to the following websites:

MnSCU Resources for Veterans and Service Member

American Council on Education (ACE)

Community College of the Air Force