Transfer Credit Policy
SMC encourages her students to benefit fully from their experience here by completing all the courses of the four-year program. Even most transfer students come for the full experience and do not use previous work to exempt out of SMC classes. We realize, however, that circumstances may not allow this option for every student. Accordingly, transfer credits, as well as credits from AP® and CLEP® scores, are reviewed and awarded on a case-by-case basis.
To begin, students wishing to transfer credits from other institutions request a review of their official transcript from the originating institution by the Academic Dean. Please note that students must receive a C or better in a course for those credits to be eligible for transfer.
Initial review takes place at the departmental level. Department heads, or a delegate from the department, compare course titles, catalog descriptions, and in some cases course syllabi. Recommendations are submitted to the Academic Dean, who reviews those recommendations with the College President for final approval.
Given the fixed and specifically Catholic nature of the St. Mary’s curriculum, credits from other institutions, and those awarded for AP® and CLEP® scores, though accepted upon review for reasons of admissions, may not exempt the transferring student from required St. Mary’s courses. Under no circumstances will more than 60 credits (49%) be accepted from sources other than SMC classes. Transfer students may request a review of the decision with the Academic Dean.
In the case of a course offered at another institution for fewer credit hours than an equivalent St. Mary’s College course, the student receives transfer credit for the equivalent course but only for the number of credit hours earned, a number which may not fulfill total credit hour requirements.
St. Mary’s program is designed for courses to be taken in the sequence presented. However, rare situations may require a student to take a course out of sequence, or to make a reasonable course substitution, to continue progressing in the program. Unless specified in the following list, courses may be taken in any order, but any proposed modifications require review and approval by the Academic Dean.
St. Mary’s assigns transfer grades and grade point average in accordance with St. Mary’s grading policy. St. Mary’s College grade point averages relate only to completed St. Mary’s courses. Transfer grade point averages combine with St. Mary’s grade point averages to determine overall academic standing.