Policies

In addition, students who are non-native English speakers will be required to submit English language proficiency testing (DET, IELTS, or TOEFL iBT scores) unless all years of secondary education instruction is conducted entirely in English or unless they are a full IB Diploma Programme student with an earned or predicted score of 6 or 7 in an English A course.

Credit will be considered only in cases where a course has been studied at the “higher level” and the student has been given an IB grade of 5 or higher, depending on departmental standards.

In other words, first-year incoming credits, transfer credits, courses taken through other institutions abroad, etc., will not count in the 60 credits to be taken at W&L. Of the 30, no more than nine credits can be counted toward the requirements for a particular major with departmental approval; individual departments may set a limit of less than nine credits counted toward the major. Students admitted as transfer students (after the first year) may transfer up to 60 credits from all sources.

No more than 60 of the 120 credits required for the W&L degree may be earned elsewhere or by any other means than through courses offered at W&L or through formal exchanges (e.g., VMI, Mary Baldwin, Spelman). In other words, first-year incoming credits, transfer credits, courses taken abroad, etc., will not count in the 60 credits to be taken at W&L. Of the 30, no more than nine credits can be counted toward the requirements for a particular major with departmental approval; individual departments may set a limit of less than nine credits counted toward the major. Students admitted as transfer students (after the first year) may transfer up to 60 credits from all sources.

(Society of the Cincinnati Foundation) Advanced Standing: If a student is given Advanced Standing placement in MATH 1220 - Calculus II (by way of AP scores, or the department placement exam) and successfully completes that course in their first year at W&L with a grade of C or better, full credit will be awarded for any calculus course skipped. This Advanced Standing placement option is available only to first-year students.

Transfer credit awarded at the 100 and 200-level in military science meets Experiential Learning, retroactive to Fall 2016.

Study Abroad Important Note for Business Administration Majors Studying Abroad or Transferring Credit: Students planning to study abroad or transfer credits into W&L should be aware of the following restrictions: Core Requirements: BUS 2100 , BUS 2200 , BUS 2300 , and BUS 2400 , and must be completed at W&L and may not be transferred from another institution. This includes: Study abroad programs Summer courses Transfer credit from other institutions These nine credits may include: Up to six credits in BUS-prefixed courses (i.e., business electives) And/or up to nine credits in approved non-BUS courses that count toward the non-business elective requirement Students may mix and match within these limits (e.g., 3 BUS + 6 non-BUS credits, or 0 BUS + 9 non-BUS credits), but no more than six BUS credits may be transferred into the major.

For the fall, winter, and spring terms combined, the following will not be considered: transfer credit and grades of Incomplete, Pass, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Work-in-Progress.

If a student repeats a course at another institution in order to receive transfer credit, the previous Washington and Lee grade will not change and will remain in the student’s Washington and Lee grade-point average.

Requests for Transfer Credit by First-Year Students Only work comparable to that at Washington and Lee in level, nature, and field may be accepted for degree credit. First-year students who wish to be awarded credit at Washington and Lee for courses previously taken at another college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies of the United States or an approved international institution should obtain a Credit Transfer Form online at go.wlu.edu/forms and return it with the requested information (course description and syllabus, official college transcript, information on instructor, location, and texts). Credits for courses completed at another institution with a grade of C (2.0) or higher may be transferred to Washington and Lee and used as degree credit. Grades for these courses will not be transferred, and a student’s cumulative grade-point average will include only work attempted at Washington and Lee. Requests and transcripts received by August 15 will be processed in time for new students’ registration for fall term. These courses are often prerequisites for work new students plan to undertake in their first term, so it is important to have the records sent as soon as possible. No college credit will be awarded if it has been used to meet one of Washington and Lee’s entrance requirements or if the transcript or syllabus arrive after the last class day of the student’s first term of enrollment at Washington and Lee.

ROTC Transfer Credit Policy Washington and Lee grants up to 12 transfer credit hours toward graduation for successful completion of the ROTC courses offered at VMI. These military science credits are transferred upon receipt of the VMI transcript at the end of each term and do not count toward each term’s full-time course load or toward W&L grade-point averages. Washington and Lee students may receive credit for their ROTC physical training to a maximum of three 100-level courses. One course, transferred in as PE-1FPR, may be used toward the FDR requirement, while two additional credits, if approved by the department, may be used toward elective credits for the degree. See the University Registrar’s website at go.wlu.edu/forms for the policy and declaration form.

ROTC Transfer Credit Policy Washington and Lee grants up to 12 transfer credit hours toward graduation for successful completion of the ROTC courses offered at VMI. These military science credits are transferred upon receipt of the VMI transcript at the end of each term and do not count toward each term’s full-time course load or toward W&L grade-point averages. Washington and Lee students may receive credit for their ROTC physical training to a maximum of three 100-level courses. One course (typically for aerobic running) may be used toward the FDR requirement, while two additional credits, if approved by the department, may be used toward elective credits for the degree. See the University Registrar’s website at registrar.wlu.edu/forms for the policy and declaration form. Add to My Favorites (opens a new window) Share this Page Facebook this Page (opens a new window) Tweet this Page (opens a new window) Print (opens a new window) Help (opens a new window) Global Search Catalog Search Choose Search Location Select an option Courses Degrees/Majors/Minors Department/Program Other Content Pages Entire Catalog Entire Catalog Search Keyword Field S earch Whole Word/Phrase Advanced Search Catalog Navigation Catalog Home Academic Calendars General Information Academic Colleges, Schools, and Departments Admission, Expenses, Financial Aid Degree Requirements Academic Regulations Academic Opportunities Undergraduate Course-of-Study Key Degrees, Majors, Minors, Areas of Study Courses Campus Life Matters of Record Faculty Archived Catalogs My Portfolio T 204 W. Washington St. | Lexington VA 24450 | 540-458-8400 Social Navigation Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo YouTube LinkedIn VISITOR NAVIGATION GPS Information Fast Facts Maps & Directions Virtual Tour Employment Opportunities CAMPUS NAVIGATION Directory Emergency Resources Accessibility Legal Notices Privacy Policy Title IX/Non-Discrimination © Copyright 2026 Washington and Lee University Search About W&L Academics Admissions & Aid Campus Life Outcomes Alumni Current Students Faculty & Staff Families Visitors News Events Arts Athletics Giving  All catalogs © 2026 Washington and Lee University. Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™ .

Determination of Attempted/Earned Credit Hours and Cumulative GPA Attempted Credit Hours All credits for courses in which a student is formally enrolled as of the end of the official drop/add period regardless of whether the student subsequently withdrew or failed All incomplete credits Transfer credits from another school that are accepted by W&L Credits earned through examination Repeated courses are counted as credits for each course taken Earned Credits Hours All credits completed with grades of ‘D-minus’ or better as well as Satisfactory and Pass grades Transfer credits from another school that are accepted by W&L Credits earned through examination Repeated courses are counted only one time as earned credits.

Transfer of Credit Only work comparable to that at Washington and Lee in level, nature, and field may be accepted for degree credit. Credits for courses completed at another college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies of the United States or an approved international institution, with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, as indicated by an official transcript received by the Office of the University Registrar, may be considered for transfer to Washington and Lee to be used as degree credit. Grades for these courses, however, will not be transferred, and a student’s cumulative grade-point average will include only work attempted at Washington and Lee. W&L does not award more credit for a course or program than that awarded by the host institution, as determined by the host’s official transcript. For courses taken online, no credit will be awarded if the work was begun prior to initial matriculation at Washington and Lee. Up to two courses (6-8 credits) taken online after matriculation may be used for degree requirements only with the permission of the department or program head in the appropriate discipline or, if the discipline is not represented at Washington and Lee, from the appropriate Associate Dean of The College. A student admitted as a transfer may receive no more than 60 credits for work transferred. Such credits are assigned by the appropriate department or program head (or designee) and the University Registrar at the discretion of the appropriate dean. Transfer students must complete at least six terms of full-time study at Washington and Lee prior to receiving a degree. ( See Residency Requirement )

Transfer of Credit Only work comparable to that at Washington and Lee in level, nature, and field may be accepted for degree credit. Credits for courses completed at another college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies of the United States or an approved international institution, with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, may be considered for transfer to Washington and Lee to be used as degree credit. Grades for these courses, however, will not be transferred, and a student’s cumulative grade-point average will include only work attempted at Washington and Lee. For courses taken online, no credit will be awarded if the work was begun prior to initial matriculation at Washington and Lee. Up to two courses (6-8 credits) taken online after matriculation may be used for degree requirements only with the permission of the department or program head in the appropriate discipline or, if the discipline is not represented at Washington and Lee, from the appropriate Associate Dean of The College. A student admitted as a transfer may receive no more than 60 credits for work transferred. Such credits are assigned by the appropriate department head and the University Registrar at the discretion of the appropriate dean. Transfer students must complete at least six terms of full-time study at Washington and Lee prior to receiving a degree. ( See Residency Requirement )

Transfer students may enroll only in September each year and are required to complete at least two years of full-time study at W&L to be eligible for a degree. For specific policies, see Transfer of Credit .

No matter when approval is requested, students must submit applications for approval on the Application for Degree Credit for Off-Campus Study form, obtainable from the University Registrar’s office or website at go .wlu.edu/forms . A maximum of five courses, not to exceed 15 credits of transfer summer credit may be offered toward all major, minor, degree requirements. If a student does not successfully pass a course, the course may be repeated in the summer at another institution to receive transfer credit.

Courses taken under such an exception during summer school are still subject to the restrictions listed under Summer Transfer Credit.

First-year incoming credits, transfer credits, courses taken abroad, etc., will not count in the 60 credits to be taken at W&L. Winter term abroad - October 15 Mansfield College Oxford Program - January 23 Fall term abroad - March 1 Summer term abroad - April 1 Course Approval: To ensure the transfer of credits, students are required to seek approval in advance from the appropriate department head or departmental designee (or academic dean when there is no similar W&L course) for all courses to be attempted while abroad. Those credits approved as non-equivalent elective credits may be applied to major requirements with permission of the department head. c. Grade: Credits will be awarded only if a grade equivalent to a C (2.0) or better is received. The actual grade on an abroad course is not transferred to the student’s W&L record and therefore does not affect the W&L cumulative grade-point average. Financial Aid for Study Abroad: Financial Aid awards may be transferred to help cover the costs of approved study abroad for fall term, winter term, or academic year. Students should have a zero or positive balance on account at the time funds are transferred.