Transfer Student Resources

The College of Charleston welcomes transfer students.  The Office of the Registrar assists students with questions prior to enrolling at the College, and with the official evaluation of transcripts submitted from other universities.  Transfer credit equivalency at the College of Charleston is evaluated by the academic departments in consultation with the Office of the Registrar.  Courses eligible for transfer are evaluated based on content, level, comparability of the course completed, and any program accreditation of the institution at which the course was taken. Credit can be evaluated in three ways: equivalent, elective, or not applicable for transfer.  As a rule, credit for a specific College of Charleston catalog course will be granted when the academic department has determined that the content, level, and pre-requisites of the course completed elsewhere are equivalent to the College of Charleston course. Students must be degree seeking in order for transfer credit to be posted.

Transfer Credit Information

A final transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the College.

The College of Charleston will not release copies of education records/transcripts received from previous institutions and/or copies of test scores submitted from testing agencies.

A course from another institution is eligible to be evaluated for transfer credit when the course is:

• earned at a school accredited by a regional accreditation association
• graded at least a “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale)
• not a duplication of credits already earned

The College of Charleston requires the relevant academic program director (or director’s designee), or the relevant dean (or dean’s designee) for a discipline or interdisciplinary program not currently represented at the College, to determine the suitability of course credit earned elsewhere for transfer to the College.  Disputes over transfer credit determination may be appealed in writing to the Provost (or the Provost’s designee) no later than 15 days following receipt of the transfer credit evaluation.  The decision of the Provost is final.

Coursework completed more than ten (10) years ago may be subject to an additional review to determine if transfer credit will be awarded.

The College of Charleston reserves the right to adjust academic records (delete or revise any transfer credit) if the transfer credit does not completely comply with all College of Charleston policies and regulations.

The maximum number of transfer credits acceptable toward a College of Charleston A.B., B.A., B.G.S., or B.S. degree is ninety (90) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination (e.g. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.). The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied to the requirements for a College of Charleston B.P.S. degree is eighty-seven (87) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination. For students admitted or readmitted prior to fall 2020, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty (60) credit hours.  For students admitted or readmitted fall 2020 forward, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty-six (66) credit hours.

Students may decline transfer credit to add another transfer course(s) without going over the maximum hours of transfer credit allowed. Students may also decline transfer credit to take a course at another institution as a transient or cross-registered student.

Coursework completed at other institutions must have a minimum grade of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale) to be awarded transfer credit. Courses graded on a pass/fail basis are acceptable only if the institution where the courses were completed indicates in their published grade scale information that a “Pass” grade is the minimum equivalent of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale). Credit hours awarded will reflect the hours of credit the other institution would have awarded the course, however credits awarded at another institution as a result of placement testing are not acceptable.

Grades do not transfer, only credits; therefore, new transfer students will enter the College of Charleston without a grade point average (GPA).

Credits awarded at another institution as a result of placement testing are not acceptable. In addition, the College of Charleston does not award transfer credit for life experience, work experience gained prior to admission, and/or non-credit bearing coursework completed toward a professional certificate. Graduate and doctoral level coursework will not be accepted for undergraduate transfer credit.  The College of Charleston does not give academic credit for non-credit coursework and does not accept non-credit coursework, certificates or continuing education units for credit.  Credit earned while studying abroad at a partner university or organization will appear on a student’s CofC transcript as transfer credit, therefore it is not subject to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) substantive change thresholds.

The College of Charleston is on a semester system. The following table should be used to determine semester hour equivalent of courses taken from a quarter hour system school:

NOTE: College of Charleston rounds half credit hours up to the next whole number. (For example, a half credit from another school would equal one credit hour at College of Charleston.)

Students offered admission to the College of Charleston may use Degree Works to view an updated list of awarded and pending transfer credit. The “Term by Term History” link in Degree Works provides the best view of transfer credit, although the information is also visible in the degree audit area.

Transfer Credit Maximums

Students admitted or readmitted Fall 2016 forward:  The maximum number of transfer credit hours that may be applied to the requirements for a College of Charleston A.B., B.A., B.S., or B.G.S. degree is ninety (90) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination (e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate). The maximum number of transfer credits acceptable toward a College of Charleston B.P.S. degree is eighty-seven (87) credit hours total, including all credits earned by examination.

Students admitted prior to Fall 2016:  The maximum number of transfer credit hours that may be applied to the requirements for a College of Charleston A.B., B.A., B.S., or B.G.S. degree is ninety-two (92) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination (e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate).  The maximum number of transfer credits acceptable toward a College of Charleston B.P.S. degree is eighty-seven (87) credit hours total, including all credits earned by examination.

Students admitted or readmitted Fall 2020 forward:  The maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees (A.B., B.A., B.S., B.G.S., B.P.S.) is sixty-six (66) credit hours.

Students admitted prior to Fall 2020:  The maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees (A.B., B.A., B.S., B.G.S., B.P.S.) is sixty (60) credit hours.

Effective with courses taken Fall 2015 forward, students may decline transfer credit in order to take a course at another institution without going over the maximum hours of transfer credit allowed.

Your courses are eligible for transfer when they are evaluated based on

• content,
• level,
• comparability of the course completed, and 
• any program accreditation of the institution at which the course was taken.

Credit can be evaluated in three ways:

1. equivalent.
2. elective.
3. not applicable for transfer.

In order to attend the College, you'll need to submit a final transcript from each college and university previously attended. You'll need to submit a transcript even if no credit was earned and/or no courses were completed. 

A course from another institution is eligible for transfer credit evaluation when the course is: 

• earned at a school accredited by a regional accreditation association. 
• graded at least a "C" (2.000 on a 4.000 scale). 
• not a duplication of credits already earned. 

Disputes over transfer credit determination may be appealed in writing to the Provost (or the Provost’s designee) no later than 15 days following receipt of the transfer credit evaluation. The decision of the Provost is final.

Coursework completed more than 10 years ago may be subject to an additional review.

• If you were admitted or readmitted prior to fall 2020, up to 60 hours of transfer credit earned at a two-year institution may be applied to your College of Charleston bachelor’s degree.
• If you were admitted or readmitted fall 2020 or after, up to 66 hours of transfer credit earned at a two-year institution may be applied to your College of Charleston bachelor's degree. 

When does it make sense to decline credit? 

If you took courses in fall 2015 and after, you may decline transfer credit. You may want to decline credit if you want to add another transfer course or courses without going over the maximum hours of transfer credit allowed. Students may also decline transfer credit to take a course at another institution as a transient or cross-registered student.

We only accept coursework with a minimum grade of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale).

If your courses were graded on a pass/fail basis, we can only accept them if the institution indicates in their published grade scale that a “pass” grade is the minimum equivalent of an earned “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale).

When we award credit hours, it will reflect the hours of credit the other institution would have awarded for the course. However, credits awarded at another institution as a result of placement testing are not acceptable.

Grades do not transfer, only credits. New transfer students will enter the College of Charleston without a grade point average (GPA).

The College of Charleston does not award transfer credit for:

• life experience.
• work experience gained prior to admission.
• non-credit bearing coursework completed toward a professional certificate.

We do not accept graduate and doctoral level coursework for undergraduate transfer credit. 

We do not give give academic credit for non-credit coursework.

We do not accept non-credit coursework, certificates or continuing education units for credit.

Study Abroad Credit 

Credit earned while studying abroad at a partner university or organization will appear on a student’s College of Charleston transcript as transfer credit. It is not subject to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) substantive change thresholds.

The College of Charleston is on a semester system.

The following table should be used to determine semester hour equivalent of courses taken from a quarter hour system school. 

NOTE: College of Charleston rounds half credit hours up to the next whole number. For example, a half credit from another school would equal one credit hour at College of Charleston.

Once admitted, you can use your College of Charleston credentials to log in to Degree Works and view an updated list of awarded and pending credit. Access Degree Works through MyPortal. For instructions, visit the Next Steps page. 

The S.C. transfer articulation agreement identifies 86 courses that are guaranteed to transfer among the public colleges and universities in South Carolina. NOTE: Course equivalents are subject to change at any time and do not replace an official evaluation of transfer credit by the Registrar's Office. 

Students admitted or readmitted in fall 2015 to spring 2021

• S.C. Two-Year Colleges Transfer Articulation Agreement (PDF) 

Students admitted or readmitted in fall 2021 or later

• S.C. Technical College Transferrable Courses (PDF) 

Unofficial information about transfer credit is available through the Transfer Equivalency Database and Transferology. 

You can also learn more by visiting the South Carolina Transfer and Articulation Center.

SC Technical College Degree Completion Recommendation Guides

Click on the appropriate link below to view degree completion recommendations for Schools at the College of Charleston.

Important Notes:

• These guides are for advisement purposes only and do not include every technical college course that is available for transfer to the College of Charleston. Students should seek the assistance of an academic advisor at their technical college when planning an academic program to meet the requirements of the college or university to which they desire to transfer.
• These guides do not include every technical college course that is available for transfer to the College of Charleston.   Rather, the guides are suggestions for you and your advisor(s), based on the requirements in place for the indicated academic year. 
• Students are not required to take all courses listed in the guides prior to transferring.
• Courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.000 on a 4.000 scale) or higher in order to be considered for transfer credit. 
• The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied to the requirements for students admitted or readmitted prior to fall 2020, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty (60) credit hours.  For students admitted or readmitted fall 2020 forward, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty-six (66) credit hours.

Catalog Year 2023-2024

• School of the Arts
• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs
• School of Sciences and Mathematics

South Carolina Associate Degree Transfer Guarantee 

Start your work at the College of Charleston with 60 credit hours and junior status! 

If you have earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from a public, two-year institution of higher learning in South Carolina, then you will receive a minimum of 60 transfer credit hours at the College of Charleston and junior status.

Your courses will still be evaluated for transfer credit, and those courses not eligible for equivalent transfer will be considered for a block of transfer credit designated as SCTR 1EE in order to reach the necessary 60 credits. 

If you complete an A.A. or A.S. degree at a public, two-year institution in South Carolina, you will meet all pre-requisite requirements for admission to the Bachelor or Professional Studies (B.P.S.) degree. 

If you were admitted or readmitted starting in the spring 2020 semester or after, you will have your Joint Services Transcript (JST) evaluated for potential transfer credit. The College of Charleston awards transfer credit to undergraduate military students in recognition of their military training in accordance with the criteria below.

Eligibility 

• Students must be a veteran with an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions, an active service member or a member of the Reserves/National Guard who has completed required trainings. Active Duty, Reservist and National Guard must provide Orders or Statement of Service along with their official transcript. Veterans are required to provide their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) along with their official transcript. 
• The Joint Services Transcript (JST) from the issuing agency is required for current and former Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard students. 
• The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) official transcript is required for all students who have attended this institution. 

Transfer Credit 

The College of Charleston requires the relevant academic department chair (or chair’s designee) or program director (or director’s designee) to determine the suitability of course credit earned through military training for transfer to the College.

The College of Charleston uses the American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations and university transfer credit policies to assess U.S. military training credit for undergraduate students. 

The College reserves the right to accept ACE recommendations as a guideline, but will retain and exercise responsibility for assuring that the military training credits accepted are at the collegiate level and have resulted in learning outcomes comparable to credits those students would achieve through the College’s own instruction. 

All College of Charleston transfer credit policies apply to the process of evaluating and awarding military training for academic credit. 

Students may earn up to 30 transfer credit hours from their Joint Services Transcript. Only courses which have American Council on Education (ACE) course recommendations are eligible for evaluation. These credit hours count toward the maximum transfer credit hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees (A.B., B.A., B.S., B.G.S., B.P.S.).

Students who have completed one year of military service in the United States military will be awarded four credit hours of elective transfer credit for the physical education activity course PEAC 1EE. These credit hours are included in the 30 credit hour maximum referenced above.

See the Maximum Credit Hours Accepted section for more information. 

If you have coursework from a college or university outside of the United States, you must submit official transcripts (mark sheets, academic records) with English translations to a recognized credential evaluation agency for verification and a course-by-course evaluation. A list of NACES-approved agencies can be found on the NACES website.

In addition, you must submit English translations of course descriptions to the College of Charleston.

You are responsible for ensuring the translation and evaluation of documents meet our deadlines. You are also responsible for all costs associated with these services. NOTE: This may take several months. 

Once the external credential evaluation agency completes its work, you may submit your transcript for evaluation by the College. 

NOTE: If the College of Charleston has a formally recognized transfer articulation agreement with another institution, regardless of citizenship, you do not need to use the external credential evaluation agency. 

Connect with international admissions for more information. 

For current students requesting to take courses at another institution.

A degree candidate at the College of Charleston who wishes to receive College of Charleston credit for courses at another institution must submit the appropriate Coursework Elsewhere form.

To ensure that the courses will be accepted at the College of Charleston for transfer credit, they must be approved by the Office of the Registrar before actual enrollment. To be eligible for transfer credit:

• courses must be taken at a regionally accredited institution 
• must be courses that would receive credit towards graduation at the other institution (i.e. not developmental courses). 
• not a duplication of credits already earned

Official permission to take coursework elsewhere is reflected on the student’s Degree Works degree audit as a College of Charleston course with a grade of “VP” (visiting permission). The "VP" status indicator is only used within a student's Degree Works degree audit.  Students should note that permission to take the requested course(s) is not confirmation of how/if the course(s) will fulfill degree requirements. Permission only confirms the College of Charleston course equivalent(s) approved by the faculty. Students should therefore pay close attention to the way the course has been approved for transfer credit, verifying the approved College of Charleston equivalent is what he/she desires and/or the course is not a repeat of already earned credit (see Course Repetition Policy in the Catalog). Students should also be aware that a course “Under Evaluation,” “Needs Syllabus,” or “Needs Course Description” is not guaranteed to transfer. Degree Works degree audits should be checked periodically for updates that will be posted after an evaluation of the course for potential transfer credit has been completed.

Once coursework elsewhere permission is posted on the Degree Works degree audit, if proof of permission to register as a transient student is required by the institution where the course will be taken, students should send a copy of their approved Coursework Elsewhere/Transient Form along with a copy of their degree audit verifying the permission. Students should contact the Division of Student Affairs, Office of the Dean of Students, at 843.953.5522 if the other institution requires a Letter of Good Standing.

Acceptance of credit for an approved transfer course will become final only when the Registrar's Office receives an official transcript of the student’s record from the accredited institution where the course was taken. A final transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the College.

Coursework completed at other institutions must have a minimum grade of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale) to be awarded transfer credit. Courses graded on a pass/fail basis are acceptable only if the institution where the courses were completed indicates in their published grade scale information that a “Pass” grade is the minimum equivalent of “C” (2.000 on a 4.000 scale). Credit hours awarded will reflect the hours of credit the other institution would have awarded the course, however credits awarded at another institution as a result of placement testing are not acceptable.

The College of Charleston reserves the right to adjust academic records (delete or revise any transfer credit) if the transfer credit does not completely comply with all College of Charleston policies and regulations.

The maximum number of transfer credits acceptable toward a College of Charleston A.B., B.A., B.I.S., or B.S. degree is ninety (90) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination (e.g. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.). The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied to the requirements for a College of Charleston B.P.S. degree is eighty-seven (87) credit hours, including all credits earned by examination. For students admitted or readmitted prior to fall 2020, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty (60) credit hours.  For students admitted or readmitted fall 2020 forward, the maximum number of transfer hours earned at a two-year institution that may be applied to the requirements for all College of Charleston bachelor’s degrees is sixty-six (66) credit hours.

Effective with courses taken Fall 2015 forward, students may decline transfer credit in order to take a course at another institution without going over the maximum hours of transfer credit allowed.

NOTE: College of Charleston transfers credit hours only, not grades. Taking courses at another institution has no effect on a student's College of Charleston GPA.

The senior year of work for the degree must be completed in residence at the College of Charleston. However, candidates may petition to complete up to 12 credits of their final credit hours at another institution or by CLEP or DSST exam by submitting the Coursework Elsewhere during Senior Year Petition Form (Senior Petition).

For current students requesting to take courses at another institution, click the link below to access the Coursework Elsewhere form on The Hub:

The College of Charleston accepts credits from the Advanced Placement (AP) program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). If you enroll in a class that you have received AP credit for, you will not receive credit for taking the class, although your grade may be included in your GPA. If you wish to decline AP credit for a class, you must download and complete a Decline AP Credit form. You must submit this form prior to taking the class. Credit will not be awarded for individuals sitting for the Advanced Placement exams after graduating from high school.

View Advanced Placement Credits

The College of Charleston accepts the International Baccalaureate program. If you have taken college-level courses in secondary schools and have achieved a score of four, five, six or seven on a higher level (HL) IB examination, you will be awarded credit. Other language exams not listed can also be reviewed for credit. Results may be similar to those listed for Spanish, French and German.

View International Baccalaureate Credits

The College of Charleston awards credit for selected CLEP Subject Exams. Academic departments determine the minimum CLEP score the College can accept. When the credit is awarded, the student's record will indicate that the credit comes from a CLEP examination.

View CLEP Subject Examination Credit 

The College of Charleston awards credit for a grade of “E” or higher on the Cambridge International Advanced (“A”) or Advanced Subsidiary (“AS”) Level exams. Exam results must be sent directly from the testing agency to the College of Charleston for credit evaluation. Note: No credit is awarded for the English General Paper (AS Level).

View Cambridge International Exams

The College of Charleston awards credit for selected DSST exams. The passing grade for each examination is the score recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). When credit is awarded, the student’s record will indicate the credit comes from a DSST examination.

View DSST Examination Credit

If you wish to decline exam credit, you must download the appropriate form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.

NOTE: Undeclared students must have this form approved by their academic advisor. Declared students must have this form approved by their faculty advisor. A request to decline credit must be submitted prior to the completion of the class it will affect.

If you wish to reinstate exam credit, you must download the appropriate form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.

NOTE: Undeclared students must have this form approved by their academic advisor. Declared students must have this form approved by their faculty advisor. A request to reinstate credit may take place if the student is not enrolled/currently enrolled in the reinstated course.