Policies

score of 3 or higher on the AP English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition exam

A score of 3 or higher on the AP exam

1The College accepts credits in many subject areas for Advanced Placement scores of three or higher.

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 095 if taking the course taught in English, SPA 203 or an Avant score of 5 or higher if taking the course taught in Spanish

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 095 or SPA 203 or an Avant score of 5 of higher; EDU 101 , EDU 104 with a grade of C or higher

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 095 or SPA 203 or an Avant score of 5 or higher; EDU 104 with a grade C or higher

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 095 or SPA 203 or an Avant score of 5 or higher; EDU 104 with a grade of C or higher

Individual academic program start dates can be reviewed online at C ourse Finder . Students who have been away from HCC for two or more semesters (excluding summer) must apply for readmission at Apply . Official transcripts from any college or university attended while away from HCC are required for consideration of any transfer credit.

Individual academic programs and program start dates can be reviewed in the online College Catalog at hcc.edu/courses-and-programs . Students who have been away from HCC for two or more semesters (excluding summer) must apply for admission at hcc.edu/apply . Official transcripts from any college or university attended while away from HCC are required for consideration of any transfer credit.

AP scores SAT scores ACT scores GED test scores High School transcripts College transcripts HiSET scores Accuplacer Classic or Next Generation scores More information can be found at: hcc.edu/admission/course-placement/waiving-course-placement . You can turn in unofficial/official transcripts or score reports by emailing them to admissions@hcc.edu . (Please note that an official transcript is required for transfer of credits through AP or prior college coursework).

Credit by Examination Holyoke Community College grants transfer credit for sufficient scores on certain Advanced Placement 1 (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and challenge exams for selected courses. These exams are administered by the Testing Center. An official score report must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Student Records office, Frost Building, Room 223. 1 The College accepts credits in many subject areas for Advanced Placement scores of three or higher. The updated list can be found on the Testing and Workforce Certification Center webpage .

Former work meeting the requirements of the College’s regular transfer policy ( See Transfer Credit ) will continue to count in earned hours, but will not be calculated in the G.P.A.

Transfer with a GPA of 2.0+ and have guaranteed transfer of credits A student completing an associate’s degree program under MassTransfer will have graduated with a minimum of 60 credit hours and will have completed the following 34-credit general education transfer block, exclusive of developmental coursework.

2 Select from the following: ENG 208 , ENG 224 , ENG 235 , ENG 250 , HIS 107 , LAX 110 , MUS 106 , MUS 140 3 Select from the following prefixes: AST, CHM, ESC, PHS 4 Credit for Prior Learning can be earned for EDU 175 . Contact Student Records for more information. MassTransfer will also grant students automatic acceptance to certain state colleges and universities by achieving the minimum grade point average and the HCC degree.

6 Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) can be earned for EDU 175 . Contact Student Records for more information. MassTransfer will also grant students automatic acceptance to certain state colleges and universities by achieving the minimum grade point average and the HCC degree.

This option was designed to prepare students to transfer into University without Walls programs at UMass and other colleges and universities that grant credit for prior learning. This option is designed to prepare students to develop a comprehensive portfolio of written documentation that reflects the students’ professional experience which is evaluated for college credit by the transfer university.

Credits are awarded for the purpose of degree completion at HCC and may not transfer to other higher education institutions. The HCC Registrar makes the final determination on accepting transfer credit for courses completed at another institution. To have prior transcripted credit evaluated for transfer to a program of study at HCC, send your official transcript to: HCC Admissions Office, CC 148, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040 The college awards transfer credit from other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning for courses that are contained within the student’s declared program of study. Transfer credit is awarded only if the incoming course’s learning outcomes meet the minimum standard of 75% alignment to the outcomes of an HCC course. When transfer credit is awarded, the grades earned are not averaged into the student’s grade point average at HCC. Transfer credit will appear on the HCC transcript with a “T” in the grade field. If a student is in an undeclared/non-matriculated program, the transfer credit review will be limited to English 101/102 and Math. Transfer credit for ENG 101 and ENG 102 will be awarded for all students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. HCC programs having professional accrediting requirements and/or selective admissions processes (such as Nursing or Radiologic Technology) may have unique transfer credit requirements such as minimum grade levels higher than a C- and/or limits on the age of classes being transferred in. Students may transfer in up to 75% of credits toward a degree or certificate. In order to be considered for transfer credit, courses must adhere to the following standards: Courses must be completed at an institution with current/active accreditation from one of the seven institutional accrediting agencies recognized by the Federal Department of Education (DOE) as of 2025; or recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Grades of “Satisfactory” (S), “Pass” (P), or similar will be considered for transfer only if the official transcript clearly indicates that such grades are equivalent to a grade of “C-” or higher. Nontraditional Sources of Credit The College will consider nontraditional sources of transfer credit if recognized by the American Council of Education (ACE), which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Credit for Prior Learning Holyoke Community College recognizes that not all learning occurs within the walls of a traditional classroom setting. HCC students may be eligible for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) based on knowledge gained through academically-related employment, nontraditional online learning, training, military service, or other relevant life experience. Examples of CPL that HCC will consider awarding credit for include (but are not limited to): Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations College Level Exam Program (CLEP) Examinations DANTES/DSST Examinations HCC Challenge Examinations Industry Credentials in Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Education, and Health Sciences Internal Articulation agreements between the HCC Academic and Student Affairs Division and the HCC Business and Community Services Division (e.g.. Gateway to College and Transition to College and Careers) International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations Joint Services Transcripts (JST) Portfolio Review Assessments CPL articulations for workforce/noncredit courses, industry credentials, HCC challenge exams, and HCC portfolio evaluation will be awarded only if an official agreement for the granting of credit is in place at the point when the student requests an evaluation of prior experience. Retaking Courses for a Better Grade Students are not permitted to transfer a course to HCC to replace a grade for a course already completed at HCC.