Transfer Credit
Process for Transferring Credits
Transfer credits are accepted from regionally accredited colleges/institutions. During the application process, students should have official college transcripts from each institution they attended sent to the Office of Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions. Once they get accepted, students should consult with an admissions counselor before their first semester of study. Students 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 admissions counselor will send the approved transfer of credit eval forms to the Registrar’s Office for final approval and processing.
Matriculated students taking outside courses that need to be transferred should consult with their advisor (advising@lesley.edu). These official transcripts from the institutions will need to be sent to the Registrar’s Office via records@lesley.edu.
Transfer credits may not be used as a student's final credits at Lesley University. Please see the Transferring Undergraduate Credit-Matriculated Student section of this catalog.
Lesley 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 credits 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.
Undergraduate Requirements
Undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits for graduation. Students may transfer a maximum number of 90 credits into a BA, BAL, BS, or BSW degree. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred into a BFA Program is 66 credits.
Transfer students receive a tentative credit evaluation within two weeks of their acceptance. Incoming freshmen who provide an official college transcript when submitting their application file will also receive a tentative credit evaluation within two weeks of acceptance. In determining which credits may transfer, every effort is made to match courses with their Lesley degree equivalents. College-level courses with grades of C- or better are eligible for transfer credit. Students who transfer in a full associate’s degree may receive credit for all passed courses that applied to the associate degree. Courses taken for a pass/fail grade will be eligible for transfer with a "P" grade.
A credit evaluation provides an estimate of the number of credit hours and semesters needed to complete a degree program at Lesley. These calculations are the result of dividing the number of credits students have left to complete by the average number of credits taken during a typical semester at Lesley (15). This is an estimate only. It will take longer to complete their degree if students take fewer than 15 credits each semester. Course availability, prerequisites, timing of scheduled courses, completion of MTELs for education majors, and required internships/field placements may also increase the amount of time it takes to complete their degree.
PLEASE NOTE:
15 credits = 2nd semester freshman
30 credits = 1st semester sophomore
45 credits = 2nd semester sophomore
60 credits = 1st semester junior
Graduate Requirements
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:
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The course must be at the graduate level from a regionally accredited institution (Note: MSW program additionally requires that the institution be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education).
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The course must not have been used to meet degree requirements in another program of study at Lesley University or at another institution.
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The course must be in an area of study judged by the academic area/program to be essentially parallel to a required course or suitable in content for elective credit.
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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.
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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.)
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 Associate Provost and subsequent approvals by the area Vice Provost and the University Provost.
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 and approvals by the Vice Provost of the academic area and the University Provost.
Master’s Degrees
All master’s degree programs allow transfer credit for up to six (6) credit hours 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 program in Visual Arts allows 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
Counseling & Psychology and Expressive Therapies PhD programs in Mental Health and Well-Being do not accept any transfer credits.
PhD in Educational Studies:
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 program chair, PhD students may include in their doctoral study plan coursework to be taken at other universities. 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 chair 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.
Advanced Placement (AP) / International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination Credit
College credit may be requested by students achieving scores of 4 or 5 on appropriate College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. AP scores of 3 or better will be awarded credit in the AP Studio Arts Exams. This credit may be applied to either required or elective courses.
Download the AP Courses and Equivalencies PDF: https://lesley.edu/sites/default/files/2018-01/Lesley-AP-Courses.pdf
Lesley recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum as a challenging program of study and takes the rigor of this program into account when evaluating an applicant’s record. Upon receipt of official results, students completing the IB Diploma may receive the equivalent of one semester of work (18 credits) for Diploma scores of 24-29. Students are eligible for sophomore standing (30 credits) for Diploma scores of 30-45. Additionally, students who take IB courses but do not pursue the full IB Diploma may receive three units of credit for each Higher Level (HL) IB exam with a score of 4; if the score is 5 or greater, six credits will be awarded.
Download the IB Exam Curriculum Mapping PDF: https://lesley.edu/sites/default/files/2018-01/Lesley-IB-Exam.pdf
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level – GCE A-level for Undergraduate Students
Lesley recognizes the GCE A Level as a school leaving qualification offered by secondary schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges in the United Kingdom, some Commonwealth countries, and at many international schools around the world.
CLEP Credit for Undergraduate Students
College credit may be requested by students who present a passing score on appropriate college level examination program (CLEP) exams. This credit can be applied to either required or elective courses. Students may transfer up to 30 CLEP credits into their degree program (included in the total allowable transfer credits). CLEP credits must be presented prior to a student’s last semester of attendance. CLEP credits may not be used as the final credits toward a Lesley degree. Students must be registered at Lesley in the semester in which they intend to graduate.
American Council on Education Credit for Undergraduate Students
The University supports the awarding of transfer credits to students with college-level learning acquired via professional development programs, training experiences offered by an employer, community-based organizations, or military experience. If these non-college experiences have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) and college credits recommended, the University may accept these credits towards the student’s degree program. The recommendation from ACE will be reviewed by the Admissions Counselors in consultation with the Academic Advisors and the Registrar’s Office. Official ACE transcripts must be submitted in order to be accepted for transfer. Credits from certain organizations that are transcripted via ACE are limited to15 credits. Currently, approved organizations include StraighterLine. ACE credits must be received and officially posted to the student’s academic record prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate. Additionally, students must be registered for institutional credits at Lesley University during their final semester, and those credits must apply toward their degree requirements.
Additional Placement Procedures
All undergraduate students at Lesley University must meet competencies in writing and mathematics. A review of college coursework, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores will be used to determine students' placements in writing and mathematics courses. If a student feels the course assignment may not provide appropriate challenge, the student may choose to sit for a writing and/or mathematics exam, administered by Lesley, to determine placement.
We also recognize that students may have had experiences or developed life skills related to their future careers or college-level learning outside formal classroom settings. For this reason, accepted degree candidates may participate at the point of matriculation in the University's Prior Learning Assessment Process (PLA) to petition for credit for college level learning earned through experiences that occurred between high school graduation and prior to enrolling at Lesley.
Earning a Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution may apply for admissions to a program leading to a second degree of the same level, provided students:
- Choose a major field that is demonstrably different in curricula and objectives from that of the first degree.
- Meet the requirements for acceptance into selected fields (i.e., portfolio review for BFA admission).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in their original bachelor’s degree. Certain programs may require higher GPAs and prerequisite coursework. Students should check with the appropriate department for more information.
- Provide official transcripts from all the schools they attended. A maximum of 90 credits will be transferable from the first degree. The emphasis in determining transferable credits is to fulfill general education requirements. Credits taken at two-year or four-year schools after the first degree was awarded may be considered in the 90 transferable-credit maximum.
- Submit official score reports via the College Board or IB programs. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and CLEP exams that meet the minimum score requirements may be counted toward transferrable credits.
Additional Information:
- Units gained through Credit for Prior Learning options cannot be used by second bachelor’s students unless they were earned at Lesley University. These units will be counted among the 90 transferrable credits.
- New credits toward a second bachelor’s degree must be residential credits. Once admitted, students may not take coursework at another institution and transfer it back to Lesley University.
- Semester honors and/or Latin honors are awarded to eligible second bachelor's degree students who meet the published criteria.
- Dual-degree programs are not offered to second bachelor’s students. Students are not eligible to apply for a dual-degree program at Lesley University
- General Education foundation requirements, including Collaborations and Applications, will be waived for second bachelor's students.
- Academic standards must be met by second bachelor’s students. Students who fail to maintain all minimum academic standards will be subject to academic review.
- Major department requirements from the catalog under which second bachelor’s students were officially admitted must all be met. Students have ten (10) years to graduate under that catalog.
Bachelor's Degree Waiver for MFA Program
On occasion, an outstanding individual who does not formally hold a bachelor’s degree may be considered for admission to studies leading to a Master of Fine Art degree.
Candidates who have successfully completed the equivalent number of courses for an undergraduate degree (at least 60 semester credits, or 72 credits for financial aid consideration) from regionally accredited colleges and universities, but have not been awarded a formal undergraduate degree, can be considered. Such a person must be distinguished by outstanding professional performance or scholarly pursuits in areas appropriate to the field of proposed graduate study.
If an applicant does not have a bachelor's degree, they must apply for acceptance using the bachelor's degree waiver procedure, as outlined below:
Documentation must include the following:
- The applicant’s creative work must show extraordinary accomplishment, comparing favorably with the work of the strongest applicants, in the judgement of the director and selected member(s) of the MFA faculty. No applicant lacking a bachelor’s degree will be considered for admission without having met this threshold criterion.
- To ensure rigorous objectivity, the applicant’s creative work will also be reviewed by a faculty member in the relevant genre or area.
- The applicant's other application materials—personal statement, letters of recommendation, and transcripts from the credit equivalent of two years of undergraduate course work—should be uniformly excellent, demonstrating the candidate’s capacity to undertake graduate study in their chosen field.
- The applicant's life experience or professional work should be analogous, in breadth and depth, to the intellectual engagement normally associated with a completed undergraduate education. This shall be demonstrated through a detailed written rationale, beyond the personal statement, describing life experiences and addressing these issues:
- Life experiences that affected the student’s undergraduate career.
- The student’s professional work, length of time, and range of responsibilities.
- Relation of life experience to the master's degree program to which the candidate is applying. This should include, but not be limited to, publications, exhibitions, and public performances, lectures, and talks.
The bachelor’s waiver committee evaluation and decision process may take approximately two (2) months from the time all materials are received. After the final review is completed, the applicant will be notified if the waiver application has been approved, or not. Applicants not eligible for the bachelor’s degree waiver may apply to enroll in the adult bachelor’s degree program to complete the necessary requirements.
Students who apply for the waiver should be aware that the waiver procedure will not result in the awarding of a bachelor’s degree. It is important to note that some doctoral programs, licenses for professional certifications, and other professional activities may require a bachelor’s degree.
If the bachelor’s degree waiver is approved, an applicant’s admission materials for a Master of Fine Arts degree program will be reviewed. It should be noted that the bachelor’s degree waiver application and the Master of Fine Arts degree application are concurrent processes. However, acceptance into a Master of Fine Arts degree program cannot be given until the bachelor’s waiver has been approved.