Transfer Credit Policy

Date of original implementation: 2006

Date of Last Revision: July 2017

Transfer credit requests, initiated by the student, are evaluated only on the basis of official transcripts. Students must submit a completed admissions application packet,including official transcripts and course descriptions/syllabi, if applicable.

Evaluation Process

• The Transfer Credit Office reviews official transcripts and identifies all courses that meet the general criteria and may be eligible for transfer.
• Undergraduate academic advisors will create an academic plan which includes all eligible transfer credits that meet Cambridge College undergraduate degree/program distribution requirements. Based on the policy below, credits constituting an earned associate's degree will be accepted in total up to 69 credits. Credits outside of, or above and beyond an earned associate's degree, will be evaluated for transferability by the academic advisor.
• For licensure programs, specialized concentrations, CAGS and doctoral programs, the program chair reviews the content and approves courses that meet program-specific criteria.
• Final determination of the transferability and programmatic distribution of credit lies with the academic dean of the appropriate school.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

Student must be accepted into a specific degree program for transfer credit to be evaluated. The following general criteria will guide the evaluation process.

Courses: General Criteria

• Course credits must be earned at a regionally or nationally accredited degree granting institution of higher learning.
• For courses not included as part of an earned associate's degree, only grades of C (2.0) or better are considered, and such courses must meet program distribution requirements;
• Professional development courses (PD) and continuing education units (CEU) are not eligible for transfer;
• Associate's degrees from regionally or nationally accredited institutions are accepted in their entirety at 60-69 semester hours, including only the courses actually required for the degree.
• A maximum of ninety (90) semester hours from a regionally or nationally degree granting accredited institution of higher learning may be accepted, provided the coursework meets Cambridge College degree/program distribution requirements.

Standardized Examinations

• Credits earned through standardized examinations (DANTES, DSST, CLEP, FLATS and AP) may be accepted and will be recorded as transfer credits.
• Credits earned through school-specific testing are not eligible for transfer;
• Credits earned through standardized exams may replace major requirements only at the discretion of the program chair or academic dean;
• Students already matriculated into a Cambridge College program are advised to consult their academic advisor for written approval prior to taking any standardized exams. Without prior approval; acceptance of credits is not guaranteed.

ACE Evaluated Transcripts

Credits recognized through the American Council on Education (ACE) evaluated transcripts will be accepted at their full credit value as follows.

• Up to 60 lower level credits may be accepted, provided the coursework meets Cambridge College general education or elective distribution requirements.
• An additional 30 upper level credits may be accepted provided the coursework meets Cambridge College degree/program distribution requirements;
• No "V" or vocational credits will be accepted for college transfer credits.

Please note:

• Prior written approval by the undergraduate academic dean is required before taking courses at other institutions.
• As many as 18 transfer credits may be awarded for FLATs or other language equivalency exams.
• ACE evaluated and standardized exam credits may not duplicate a course taken at Cambridge College or at another institution.
• Electronic transcripts will be accepted from military branches that only provide electronic transcripts i.e. Army (AARTS) transcripts which will transition to Joint Services Transcripts on January 1, 2013.

Master's and CAGS and Doctoral Transfer Credit

The student must be accepted into a specific degree and concentration for transfer credit to be accepted. The following general criteria will guide the evaluation process.

All courses must meet the following criteria.

• Only graduate courses designed for graduate degree credit may be accepted.
• Courses completed at regionally accredited institutions authorized to grant graduate/post-graduate degrees may be accepted.
• Only grades of B (3.0) or better are considered; other grades must be confirmed as equivalent to B or better.
• Courses must be degree credit-bearing graduate courses that are not professional development or continuing education unit courses.
• Courses must meet current program requirements.

School of Education & Counseling: CAGS and EdD

CAGS and EdD transfer courses must be advanced graduate level; courses open to undergraduate students are not accepted.

Courses NOT Acceptable

Courses not acceptable for master’s, CAGS or doctoral transfer credit:

• Course work taken at other institutions after enrollment in a Cambridge College graduate degree program or during an absence from that program
• Field experiences, practica and internships
• Independent learning, research and applied action projects (final projects cannot be replaced by transfer credit)
• Professional development courses, including school collaborative courses and other courses taken for continuing education units
• Courses/credits included in another degree (anticipated or completed)

Licensure Course Transfer

To safeguard your licensure application, a course is accepted for transfer into a licensure program only if:

• The content matches a corresponding Cambridge College required course, meeting the high standards of our programs, and
• It is judged to match the requirements and expectations of the licensing authorities.

Counseling Licensure Courses - Final approval of other institutions’ course work for your licensure application is solely within the discretion of the licensing authorities; please seek their advice.

Educator Licensure Programs - All transfer of credit into educator licensure programs is defined by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) as a “waiver.” Records of all waivers are kept in student files, and are subject to audit at any time by the ESE. These records will be required when you apply for licensure.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Nine credits may be accepted from an approved master of education program and 12 credits from an approved CAGS program; total: 21 credits.