Transferring Credit from Other Institutions

Worcester State University determines transferability of credits from other colleges and universities based on best practices as outlined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrar's and Admission Officers (AACRAO), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Transfer and allocation of credit is determined based on the sending institution’s regional accreditation, the comparability of the learning experience to WSU, and the applicability of the learning experience to the student’s selected major/minor at WSU.

Stipulations that apply to transfer credit include:

  1. College-level courses completed at colleges and universities accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), or similar regional associations, are acceptable for transfer to Worcester State University.
  2. Coursework completed at non-regionally accredited institutions is considered on an individual basis, through a thorough examination of course content, syllabi, and/or learning objectives. Students may appeal the denial of transfer of credit from non-regionally accredited institutions to the Admissions Transfer Center.
  3. Transferability and allocation of courses to Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC) and/or free electives must be approved by the Admissions Transfer Center and Academic Success Center, according to established LASC transfer policies.
  4. Substitutions of transfer credit in the requirements of the major/minor must be approved by the department in which the major/minor is housed.
  5. The completion of the MassTransfer General Education Foundation at any Massachusetts community college, satisfies the WSU general core/LASC requirements, with the possible addition of two courses (6 hours) including a Capstone course and another LASC Content Area Course of the student's choice. Completion of the MassTransfer General Education Foundation is confirmed upon receipt of an official transcript stamped with “MTB Complete”.  

    Students who enter WSU under the Mass Transfer Block will be required to complete an additional 6 credits in the LASC. The additional 6 credits will be met in the following way:

    a.    Completion of a capstone seminar sponsored through the students' major field of study or through the LASC.
    b.    Completion of an additional 3 credit LASC course in the content area of the student's choice to be completed at WSU.

    The completion of a Bachelor's Degree from any regionally accredited institution of post-secondary education satisfies the WSU general core/LASC requirements. Completion of the Bachelor's Degree is confirmed upon receipt of an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university with a degree completion graduation date.

    Transfer students without the MassTransfer General Education Foundation or a Bachelor's Degree can transfer a maximum of 40 credits into LASC.
  6. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred from a community or junior college to WSU is 72. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred from a four-year institution to WSU is 90. If a student has attended a combination of two-year and four-year institutions, a maximum of 90 credits, including no more than 72 credits from the two-year college(s), can be transferred.
  7. A residency requirement at WSU exists, which includes completion of at least 30 of the last 40 credits of any degree program and completion of more than half of the major/minor courses while matriculated at WSU.
  8. All transfer courses must be college-level. WSU does not accept remedial or developmental coursework in transfer.
  9. Courses earned with grades of C- or better will be considered for transfer.
  10. Life experience credit, internships, practica, colloquia, and cooperative education experiences at another college generally do not transfer to WSU. Credit for such experiences may be offered to adult learners through the Prior Learning Portfolio Program or through a review with the American Council of Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service.
  11. A transfer credit evaluation is prepared for new transfer students upon their acceptance to WSU.  The transfer credit evaluation summary and estimated number of transfer credits to WSU is attached to the student's acceptance email sent by the Admissions Transfer Center.