Policies

Advanced Placement (AP) Students who receive a score of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered by the College Board may receive credit at Catawba College.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Catawba College recognizes the College-Level Exam Program (CLEP) and may grant credit for examination scores of 50 or higher as recommended by ACE.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Catawba College recognizes International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level work and may grant credit for examination scores of 4, 5, 6, or 7 on higher level exams only.

Transfer students who have earned one of the following associate degrees - Arts, Fine Arts, Sciences, or Nursing - are required to send their unofficial college transcripts and application to Catawba College. Transfer students who have not earned an associate degree are required to send their unofficial college transcripts(s), official final high school transcript or equivalent, and application to Catawba College. To be admitted, transfer students must: 1. Have earned at least 24 hours of transferable credit or earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Nursing degree (A.S.N.) from a regionally accredited college.

Graduates of North Carolina Community College Associate Degree programs covered under the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours of transfer credit. Students who are attending or have attended an accredited 2-year community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar. Students with 24 or more college credits will be evaluated based on their transfer work only.

At Catawba College, it typically takes 124 credits hours to receive a degree; therefore, students are allowed up to 186 attempted hours (including all transfer hours accepted toward completion of a student’s program) to be considered for Federal financial aid. When total hours attempted are: Students must have earned at least: 35 hours 24 hours 64 hours 43 hours 95 hours 64 hours 125 hours 84 hours 155 hours 104 hours E. Transfer Students: Transfer students are evaluated based on the number of hours accepted by Catawba College. Once transfer credit has been evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and the student has been awarded credit hours, the student will fall under the same quantitative and qualitative requirements as previously mentioned based on that designated classification.

TRANSFER CREDIT Transfer of Credit Students who have attended other higher education institutions must have all official transcripts sent directly from the Office of the Registrar of that institution to the Catawba College Admissions Office. The Catawba Registrar’s Office will evaluate transcripts to determine transfer credit to be awarded after a student has been accepted and has deposited. Transfer credit is given only for courses in which grades of “C-” or better were earned from a regionally accredited college or university and which the Catawba College Registrar determines to be acceptable for transfer credit. The Catawba College Registrar, in verbal consultation with appropriate department representatives as necessary, will determine whether such courses are comparable to Catawba offerings and therefore acceptable for transfer credit. Graduates of North Carolina Community College degree programs (Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.)) covered under this articulation agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours transfer credit. Students who are attending or have attended an accredited community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar.

Students enrolled at Catawba College who wish to participate in military courses for transfer credit should secure permission from the Registrar prior to participation in the military work. The Catawba Registrar’s Office will evaluate transcripts to determine transfer credit to be awarded after a student has been accepted and has deposited. (See “Transfer Credit” above.) These records should be submitted to Catawba College as far in advance of the registration date as possible, and no later than two weeks prior to the term in which a student plans to enter.

TRANSCRIPTS A transcript is a complete and unabridged copy of all academic work attempted while matriculated at Catawba College, with the exception of transfer credit taken elsewhere.

The grades for courses transferred in are not factored into the Catawba GPA, but the transferred credit hours are included in the calculation of a student’s overall hours attempted classification below.

However, when this is not possible and, a. The credit at the teaching institution is higher than Catawba’s credit: The number of credits transcripted will match the credits of the equivalent Catawba course and the same grade will be applied to the Catawba GPA. However, the additional credits will be transferred in as transient/transfer credits (no grade applied to GPA), provided that a grade of “C-“ or better was earned for the transcripted course.

Students earning a score of 3 or higher may be granted credit on any of the Advanced Placement (AP) Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board.

Graduates of North Carolina Community College Associate Degree programs covered under the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours of transfer credit. Students who are attending or have attended an accredited 2-year community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar. Students with 24 or more college credits will be evaluated based on their transfer work only.

However, the additional credits will be transferred in as transient/transfer credits (no grade applied to GPA), provided that a grade of “C-“ or better was earned for the transcripted course.

Students who are seeking academic credit for courses completed at other institutions or through prior learning assessment must be currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program. Transfer Credit Academic credit is generally accepted only from institutions that are accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations approved by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Students must complete a Petition for Credit for Prior Learning form and pay a nonrefundable fee prior to testing. Students must complete a Petition for Credit for Prior Learning form and pay a nonrefundable fee prior to submitting. Students must submit a Petition for Credit for Prior Learning form, pay a nonrefundable fee prior to submitting and be able to provide documentation for the credential. Students may be allowed to apply prior learning assessment through credit-by- examination or portfolio development for a maximum of 50% of the required credit hours for degree or certificate completion. State Seal of Biliteracy Students earning the State Seal of Biliteracy, the equivalent of two years of foreign language coursework taken during high school, are eligible to receive prior learning credit. Acceptance of all prior learning assessment credits are subject to departmental approval. Triton College cannot guarantee that credits awarded through prior learning assessment will be accepted by another institution.

Students who are attending or have attended an accredited 2-year community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Graduates of North Carolina Community College degree programs covered under the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours of transfer credit. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar. Students with 24 or more credits of college credit will be evaluated based on their transfer work only. Learn about Transfer of Credit below: Read More Contact Us

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION Under unusual circumstances, a student may petition the Academic Policies and Standards Committee (ACPOL) for permission to meet a degree requirement by examination.

credit by examination Course credit awarded to students demonstrating knowledge through proficiency, DSST or CLEP Exams. transfer credit Upon petition, credit that has been earned at another accredited college or university will be applied to the student’s Triton record.

Students enrolled at Catawba College who wish to participate in military courses for transfer credit should secure permission from the Registrar prior to participation in the military work.

These hours will be transfer credit substituted for an elective.

Students may register in person for all courses and by telephone or online for many occupational and university transfer credit courses, and almost all courses offered through the School of Continuing Education.

The Catawba Registrar’s Office will evaluate transcripts to determine transfer credit to be awarded after a student has been accepted and has deposited. (See “Transfer Credit” above.) These records should be submitted to Catawba College as far in advance of the registration date as possible, and no later than two weeks prior to the term in which a student plans to enter.

Credit by examination may not be used for the purpose of repeating a course.

When total hours attempted are: Students must have earned at least: 35 hours 24 hours 64 hours 43 hours 95 hours 64 hours 125 hours 84 hours 155 hours 104 hours D. Transfer Students: Transfer students are evaluated based on the number of hours accepted by Catawba College. Once transfer credit has been evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and the student has been awarded credit hours, the student will fall under the same quantitative and qualitative requirements as previously mentioned based on that designated classification.

At Catawba College, it typically takes 124 credits hours to receive a degree; therefore, students are allowed up to 186 attempted hours (including all transfer hours accepted toward completion of a student’s program) to be considered for Federal financial aid. When total hours attempted are: Students must have earned at least: 35 hours 24 hours 64 hours 43 hours 95 hours 64 hours 125 hours 84 hours 155 hours 104 hours E. Transfer Students: Transfer students are evaluated based on the number of hours accepted by Catawba College. Once transfer credit has been evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and the student has been awarded credit hours, the student will fall under the same quantitative and qualitative requirements as previously mentioned based on that designated classification.

Transfer credits are excluded from the GPA calculation.

Additionally, students may earn credit through Prior Learning Assessment. Prior Learning Credit is defined as credit awarded for demonstrated college-level learning gained through work, traditional and nontraditional educational experiences, and other life experiences. Prior Learning Credit may be awarded through one of more of the following means: Advanced Placement College Level Examination Program (CLEP) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests Military Experience Portfolio Evaluations Proficiency Examinations Transfer Credit International Baccalaureate Seal of Biliteracy The CLEP allows students to earn up to 30 hours of credit in the five general areas of English; humanities and fine arts; mathematics; physical and life science; and social and behavioral science/history. Triton College partners with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) to provide credit for prior learning/portfolio evaluations.

TRANSFER CREDIT Catawba College may accept a maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit toward a graduate degree program taken at a regionally accredited institution. Transfer credit will be given only for graduate courses approved for the student’s program in which grades of B or better were earned. No undergraduate course credits will be counted in the total requirements for the degree program. However, in some cases, appropriate undergraduate course credits may be accepted to meet prerequisite requirements. Regularly enrolled graduate students at Catawba College who plan to take courses at other institutions must have these courses approved by the Director of the Graduate Program and the Registrar before beginning the courses. Such courses taken without prior approval will not be accepted for credit.

TRANSFER CREDIT Students who have attended other higher education institutions must have all official transcripts sent directly from the Office of the Registrar of that institution to the Catawba College Admissions Office. The Catawba Registrar’s Office will evaluate transcripts to determine transfer credit to be awarded after a student has been accepted and has deposited. These records should be submitted to Catawba College as far in advance of the registration date as possible, and no later than two weeks prior to the term in which a student plans to enter. Former students whose last date of attendance was more than seven years prior must resubmit all documents. All documents submitted to Catawba College (ex: SAT scores, high school transcripts, college transcripts) cannot be returned, copied, or forwarded. Transfer credit is given only for courses in which grades of “C-” or better were earned from a regionally accredited college or university and which the Catawba College Registrar determines to be acceptable for transfer credit. On its official transcripts, Catawba College will show course titles, grades, and credit hours earned (but not quality points) on transfer and transient courses for which Catawba has comparable courses and in which the student has earned a “C-” or better. The Catawba College Registrar, in verbal consultation with appropriate department representatives as necessary, will determine whether such courses are comparable to Catawba offerings and therefore acceptable for transfer credit. Catawba College will calculate grade point averages for graduation, honors, junior marshals, etc. on Catawba work only. In checking graduation requirements in general education, the Catawba College Registrar will evaluate transfer and transient work and count comparable courses as satisfying Catawba’s core requirements. Catawba College is a signatory institution of the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and the North Carolina Community College System. Policies governing this agreement are found at ncicu.org. Graduates of North Carolina Community College degree programs (Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.)) covered under this articulation agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours transfer credit. All general education course requirements for graduation will be waived upon receipt of a final college transcript from a North Carolina Community College, covered under this articulation agreement, indicating a student has been awarded an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree before entering Catawba College. Students who have earned the A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education from a North Carolina Community College may transfer up to 64 hours. Catawba College is a signatory institution of the 2018 Uniform Articulation Agreement between North Carolina Independent College and Universities RN to BSN Program and North Carolina Community College System: Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Policies governing this agreement are found at ncicu.org. Students who have earned the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from a North Carolina Community College may transfer 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. In accordance with the 2018 Uniform Articulation Agreement Between North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities RN to BSN Program and North Carolina Community College System: Associate Degree Nursing Programs, students earning an AAS in Nursing will have fulfilled Catawba’s General Education requirements, as well as nursing program entry requirements. However, admission to the nursing program is not guaranteed. Students who are attending or have attended an accredited community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar. Catawba College does not award credit for experiential learning or professional certificates at the undergraduate level. The College does not award credit for courses taken on a non-credit basis with the exception of military credit or experience. Regularly enrolled students seeking a degree from Catawba who plan to attend another college during the summer as a “transient” student must have the plan approved in writing by the Registrar at Catawba before beginning the course, and if the student anticipates taking a course required for a major, permission must first be sought by the appropriate department/division chair. Courses taken by such students without the prior written approval of the Registrar may not be accepted for credit by Catawba. Credit for transient work is given only for courses in which grades of “C-” or better are earned. Students having earned 90 or more semester hours who propose to take transient work must secure written approval from the Academic Policies and Standards Committee. Students must secure written approval from the Academic Policies and Standards Committee to attend another college during the fall and/or spring as a "transient" student.

Transfer of Credit Students who have attended other higher education institutions must have all official transcripts sent directly from the Office of the Registrar of that institution to the Catawba College Admissions Office. The Catawba Registrar’s Office will evaluate transcripts to determine transfer credit to be awarded after a student has been accepted and has deposited. These records should be submitted to Catawba College as far in advance of the registration date as possible, and no later than two weeks prior to the term in which a student plans to enter. Former students whose last date of attendance was more than seven years prior must resubmit all documents. All documents submitted to Catawba College (ex: SAT scores, high school transcripts, college transcripts) cannot be returned, copied, or forwarded. Transfer credit is given only for courses in which grades of “C-” or better were earned from a regionally accredited college or university and which the Catawba College Registrar determines to be acceptable for transfer credit. On its official transcripts, Catawba College will show course titles, grades, and credit hours earned (but not quality points) on transfer and transient courses for which Catawba has comparable courses and in which the student has earned a “C-” or better. The Catawba College Registrar, in verbal consultation with appropriate department representatives as necessary, will determine whether such courses are comparable to Catawba offerings and therefore acceptable for transfer credit. Catawba College will calculate grade point averages for graduation, honors, junior marshals, etc. on Catawba work only. In checking graduation requirements in general education, the Catawba College Registrar will evaluate transfer and transient work and count comparable courses as satisfying Catawba’s core requirements. Catawba College is a signatory institution of the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and the North Carolina Community College System. Policies governing this agreement are found at ncicu.org. Graduates of North Carolina Community College degree programs (Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.)) covered under this articulation agreement may receive up to 64 semester hours transfer credit. All general education course requirements for graduation will be waived upon receipt of a final college transcript from a North Carolina Community College, covered under this articulation agreement, indicating a student has been awarded an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree before entering Catawba College. The Associates in Fine Arts (AFA), does not apply. Students who have earned the A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education from a North Carolina Community College may transfer up to 64 hours. Catawba College is a signatory institution of the 2018 Uniform Articulation Agreement between North Carolina Independent College and Universities RN to BSN Program and North Carolina Community College System: Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Policies governing this agreement are found at ncicu.org. Students who have earned the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from a North Carolina Community College may transfer 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. In accordance with the 2018 Uniform Articulation Agreement Between North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities RN to BSN Program and North Carolina Community College System: Associate Degree Nursing Programs, students earning an AAS in Nursing will have fulfilled Catawba’s General Education requirements, as well as nursing program entry requirements. However, admission to the nursing program is not guaranteed. Students who are attending or have attended an accredited community or junior college may transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to Catawba College. Students who have attended or are currently attending an accredited four-year institution may transfer up to 90 semester hours of credit to Catawba College, as determined by Catawba’s Registrar. Catawba College does not award credit for experiential learning or professional certificates at the undergraduate level. The College does not award credit for courses taken on a non-credit basis with the exception of military credit or experience.