Columbia Southern University (CSU) evaluates transfer credit upon student submission of the following:

  • official post-secondary transcripts
  • military and employer courses reviewed by the American Council on Education (ACE)
  • credit by examination score sheets
  • professional training certificates

Accepted courses are relevant to the program of study and equivalent in both content and degree level. The Office of the Registrar conducts all transfer credit evaluations.

Exceptions to the Transfer Credit Policy, and all items encompassed within, must be approved by the Academic Program Director, College Dean, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, or Provost.

Sources of Transfer Credit

Academic Credit

CSU accepts academic credit from accredited institutions whose agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Transferrable Courses

  • Courses with a grade of “D” or above may apply to undergraduate degree requirements, unless a minimum grade of “C” is required to satisfy specific program requirements.
    • A grade of “D” is not accepted as transfer credit for the following:
      • English Composition courses
      • Mathematics requirement
      • Major Requirements or Program Electives specific to Nursing programs
  • Courses with a grade of “B” or above may apply to master’s degree program requirements; in some cases, a grade of “C” may be considered.

Transcripts submitted in languages other than English must be evaluated by an approved third-party and translated into English. Acceptable third-party agencies are those recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES). Transcripts may also be evaluated by a transcript evaluator fluent in the language of origin and English, and possess expertise in the educational practices of the country of origin. All translated materials must be official and translated to English.

Credit by Examination

CSU uses ACE guidelines to determine if examinations warrant awarding academic credit. Examinations must meet minimum passing scores. CSU accepts credit by examination from testing centers, to include but not limited to, the following examples:

Professional Licenses, Certificates, and Training Programs

CSU uses ACE guidelines to determine if training programs, certificates, professional licenses, and/or military training warrant awarding academic credit. The following ACE publications are used:

Professional training certificates without an ACE recommendation may be considered. Approval is determined upon the Academic Program Director’s review and acceptance of industry curriculum standards associated with the certificate.

Experiential or Equivalent Learning

CSU takes into consideration that adult learners gain knowledge outside of a traditional academic environment and will consider experiential learning credit through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) review. An experienced subject matter expert conducts a PLA review to determine if the prior learning experience meets the standards to award academic credit.

Students should contact their Academic Advisor for more information.

Technical Credit

The Academic Program Director reviews submitted technical credit by assessing the course content and learning outcomes to determine transferability.

Maximum Allowable Transfer Limits

Undergraduate Degrees

A minimum of 25% of an associate or bachelor’s degree must be completed at CSU. Transfer credit for experiential learning may not exceed 25% of the degree program.

Master’s Degrees

A minimum of 33% of a master’s degree program must be completed at CSU. Transfer credit for experiential learning may not exceed 25% of the degree program.

Postgraduate Professional and Doctoral Degrees

A minimum of 33% of a postgraduate professional or doctoral program must be completed at CSU. Transfer credit for experiential learning only applies to didactic courses and may not exceed 25% of the degree program.

Additional Transfer Credit Limitations

  • Transfer credit cannot be applied toward CSU certificate programs.
  • CSU does not accept developmental and remedial coursework for transfer credit.
  • Transfer credit decisions, determined by previous colleges or universities, that involve auditing or waiving of program requirements are not applicable at CSU.
  • Capstone courses must be completed at CSU. Transfer credit cannot be applied toward these requirements.
  • Transfer credit may be limited to satisfy specific and relevant degree program requirements. Some courses may not be transferrable due to age of credit. In these cases, the Academic Program Director will review the course information to determine transferability.
  • CSU does not typically accept transfer credit from non-accredited institutions; however, transfer credit decisions are not based solely on accreditation. In some cases, CSU qualified faculty conduct a review to determine that courses meet the requirements for the degree the institution awards and that applicable accreditation standards are met.

Transfer Credit Decision Appeal

Students may appeal transfer credit decisions. The completed Transfer Credit Decision Appeal form must be submitted to Registrarappeals@columbiasouthern.edu. The Office of the Registrar will escalate the appeal to the appropriate Academic Program Director or College Dean for consideration.

Transfer of CSU Credit

CSU credit transferred to other institutions is evaluated at the sole discretion of said institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to seek prior approval of CSU credits for purposes related to transferability of credit, credentialing, tuition reimbursement, or other academic and professional reasons. Students with questions regarding the transfer of CSU credit may send inquiries to Registrar@columbiasouthern.edu.