Transfer of Credits

In consultation with their academic advisor, students may apply to transfer in graduate credits from another institution. To be accepted for transfer into a Master’s, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS), Certificate, or PhD program, a course must meet the following requirements:

1. The course must be at the graduate level from a regionally accredited institution (Note: MSW program additionally requires that the institution is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education).
2. The course must not have been used to meet degree requirements in another program of study at Lesley University or at another institution.
3. The course must be in an area of study judged by the school/program to be essentially parallel to a required course or suitable in content for elective credit.
4. The course must have been completed with a letter grade of “B” or better. Master’s and CAGS level courses with a “P/Pass” grade may be approved if accompanied by a statement from the affiliated university handbook or from the registrar’s office indicating that the grade is equivalent to a “B” or better.
5. The course must not be more than seven (7) years old at the time of graduation from Lesley University (Note: MSW and PhD programs stipulate that courses must not be more than five (5) years old at the time of graduation.)
6. Except where noted or by permission, transfer credits are based on courses completed prior to matriculation at Lesley University.

The maximum number of transfer credits permitted varies based on the graduate program. In rare cases, transfer of additional credits beyond the maximum may be approved. Such cases require multiple levels of permission, starting with a petition to the Department Chair/Program Director and subsequent approvals by the Dean of the College/School and the University Provost.

The University retains the right to determine whether transfer credits may be applied to the current program of study. Students who petition for transfer credit approval should not assume credits are accepted as transfer credit until they are posted to their academic record. While courses approved for transfer appear on the final Lesley University transcript, grades of transferred courses are not used to calculate the grade point average. Transfer credit must be approved and processed prior to the student’s final semester leading to graduation. Credits from international institutions may require additional documentation for transfer consideration.

Students should review the program catalog entry in this Graduate Catalog for the transfer credit policy for their program.

Process for transferring credits
Students initiate the transfer credit request process by communicating with their academic advisor and should be prepared to submit supporting documentation as requested that may include a course description, syllabus, or other information (e.g., credential evaluation for international credits). The academic advisor sends approved transfer of credit forms to the Registrar’s Office for final approval and processing. An official transcript from all colleges, universities, or military institutions must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. 

Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor in their first semester of study. Transfer credit must be approved and processed prior to the student’s final semester leading to graduation.

Master’s degrees and CAGS 
The maximum number of accepted transfer credit varies by program. In rare cases, transfer of additional credits beyond the maximum may be approved. Such cases require multiple levels of permission, starting with a petition to the Department Chair/Program Director and approvals by the Dean of the College/School and the University Provost.

Graduate School of Education (GSOE)
All GSOE master’s degree programs allow transfer credit for up to six (6) credit hours of appropriate coursework. 

Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences (GSASS)
All GSASS master’s degree programs allow transfer credit for up to six (6) credit hours of appropriate coursework. (Exception: The MFA program in Creative Writing allows for transfer credits of up to nine (9) credits of appropriate coursework.)

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
The MFA program in Creative Writing allows for transfer credits of up to nine (9) credits of appropriate coursework.

The MFA programs in Photography and Integrated Media and the MFA program in Visual Arts allow transfer credit for up to twelve (12) credit hours of appropriate coursework.  Students are required to submit a course description, undergo a portfolio review, and submit written justification for the requested credits.

Master of Social Work (MSW)
Students in the 60-credit MSW program are allowed to transfer a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours of appropriate coursework from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Courses completed more than five (5) years from the anticipated date of graduation will not be accepted.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Students in the 39-credit MBA program may transfer a maximum of six (6) credit hours of appropriate coursework. 

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS)
All CAGS programs at Lesley University allow transfer credit for up to six (6) credit hours of appropriate coursework. 

PhD degrees

Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences
Counseling & Psychology and Expressive Therapies PhD programs in Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences do not accept any transfer credits.

Graduate School of Education
Courses Taken Before Matriculation into the PhD Program

Students are permitted to transfer a maximum of nine (9) credits of post-master's work toward the PhD degree.

The courses must be:

• approved through advisement
• taken post-master's level
• completed at regionally accredited institutions no longer than five years prior to the date of admission to the doctoral program
• completed with a grade of "B" or better

Courses Taken After Matriculation into the PhD Program
With prior approval of the senior advisor and the Advanced Graduate Council, PhD students may include in their study plan traditional coursework at other universities (no limit on the number of credits that students can transfer into their program of study at Lesley University). Students register for these courses at the designated accredited institution and transfer the courses to Lesley University. All such credits must be approved by the senior advisor and the program director and must be transferred before the end of Phase II of the doctoral study.

Graduate Certificates
Students enrolled in a Graduate Certificate program with a total credit requirement of 21 credits or less may transfer a maximum of three (3) credit hours of appropriate coursework. 

Students enrolled in a Graduate Certificate program with a total credit requirement of 22 credits or more may transfer a maximum of six (6) credit hours of appropriate coursework. 

Students who enroll in the online graduate certificate Developing Literacy Expertise through Responsive Classroom Teaching in the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative can apply to transfer up to three credits. 

Transfer credits are not accepted in the online graduate certificate in Literacy Coaching and Teacher Leadership in the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative.

Graduate students who have completed a graduate certificate at Lesley may be eligible to use those course credits toward a Lesley graduate degree. Contact individual programs for more information.