Policies

Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5 in a foreign language;

Classes taken on non-Vassar programs during an academic leave are recorded as transfer credit. Non-transfer students may include no more than 9 units of work taken elsewhere in the 32 units presented for the Vassar baccalaureate degree.

Transfer credits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The general policy: Students will receive 1.0 unit of pre-matriculation transfer credit for every score of 4 or 5, subject to the maximum of 2.0 units of exam-based pre-matriculation credit.

The International Baccalaureate Program is described as a “demanding pre-university course of study that leads to examinations; it is designed for highly motivated secondary school students and incorporates the best elements of national systems without being based on any one.” Scores achieved for the Higher Level examinations are eligible for pre-matriculation transfer credit. Students who achieve a 5, 6, or 7 on an IB exam will receive 1.0 unit of transfer credit, subject to the maximum of 2.0 units of exam-based pre-matriculation credit.

Students may receive 1.0 unit (equivalent to a course for one semester) of pre-matriculation transfer credit for every eligible foreign exam score, subject to the maximum of 2.0 units of exam-based pre-matriculation credit.

For transfer students, this limit is reduced by 1 unit for each year of advanced standing awarded to the student.

Post-matriculation Transfer Credit Students normally matriculate at Vassar in their first year. Students who matriculate as first-years may transfer a maximum 9.0 units of credit including pre-matriculation credits. Students have a range of options for earning post-matriculation transfer credit. They can take work at another institution over the summer, they can go on a Vassar approved study abroad program, or they can take a Vassar approved domestic academic leave. In the case of summer work, pre-approval is recommended. In the case of study abroad or domestic academic leaves, pre-approval of proposed course work is required and is built into the application process. Students may not take the same course at another institution which they have already received credit for at Vassar. The procedure for having summer work done at an institution outside of Vassar pre-approved for credit is for the student to complete a Summer Election Away form. This form can be obtained at the Vassar Registrar’s Office. The student must take the form along with an official description of the summer course or program to the chair of the department in which the course would be assigned at Vassar. Both the respective department chair and the student’s adviser must sign the form and return it to the Registrar’s Office. Once the student has completed the course he/she must request that an official transcript of completed course work be sent to the Vassar Registrar’s Office. When the transcript is received, the credit will be applied automatically to the student’s Vassar transcript provided the student achieved a grade of C or better. All grades will appear on the transcript for all post-matriculation credit whether earned over the summer, on a study abroad semester, or on a domestic academic leave of absence; however, they will not be factored into the student’s GPA. Only grades of C or better will be awarded credit.

To be considered for transfer credit, courses must appear on an official college or university transcript. Students may not apply for transfer credit for these courses until after they matriculate and are active students at Vassar. The minimum grade required for any course to be eligible for transfer credit is C. Grades will not appear on the transcript for pre-matriculation credit, only the department, course title, and units transferred.

Work taken at another institution in the summer may be counted as transfer credit. In order to guarantee transfer of credit in advance, students must obtain signed permission from the chair of each department in which they are seeking credit, as well as their adviser, before the end of the second semester. See section on Transfer Credit Policy for specific transfer credit rules. Students may apply for retroactive credit, but the college makes no guarantee of transfer of credit unless summer work has been approved in advance.

Transfer Credit Policy Course work which may be eligible for transfer credit can include course work taken prior to a student’s matriculation at Vassar, as well as course work done on a Vassar approved Study Abroad, a domestic academic leave of absence, and summer course work taken at other institutions. With the exception of pre-matriculation course work, students are expected to have courses pre-approved for transfer credit if they plan to take them at institutions outside of Vassar. Courses which are ineligible for transfer credit include ungraded courses, ungraded community-engaged learning, courses done at unaccredited institutions, courses which come under the category of pre-professional or vocational, continuing education courses (CEU’s), and course work taken on a personal leave of absence. A maximum of two units of online or hybrid courses may be transferred subject to the following criteria: Online or hybrid courses may only be used to enable a student to graduate in eight or more semesters; they cannot be used to accelerate graduation. No self-paced or MOOC-based course work may be transferred. No online or hybrid courses may be transferred as part of international or domestic study away. Online or hybrid courses may be used to satisfy a student’s major or correlate requirements at the Department or Program’s discretion. Online or hybrid courses may not be used to satisfy the first-year-writing, or foreign language requirements. Students participating in the SUNY-Dutchess/Vassar College Exchange are required to take in-person courses. Transfer credit may be earned both prior to matriculating at Vassar and while a student is a degree candidate.

Students who are accepted as transfer students have spent a minimum of one semester at a school other than Vassar. The work they have completed at their previous institution(s) will be evaluated for transfer credit. Transfer students may also earn transfer credit once they have matriculated at Vassar. The maximum amount of transfer credit a transfer student may apply to their Vassar transcript is 16.0 units. Transfer students are also able to do summer work, go study abroad, or take a domestic leave of absence, provided they have not exceeded their transfer credit limit. For information about transfer credit evaluation students should consult with the Office of the Dean of Studies.

Courses taken at other institutions similar to courses at Vassar will be accepted automatically provided a minimum grade of “C” is earned. Up to two units of course credit earned by remote learning may be transferable.