Transfer of Credit
An evaluation of credit is made after all official records are received directly from each institution previously attended. The applicability of transferred credits toward degree requirements is determined by the department head of the student’s major and is maintained by the Registrar's Office. In some cases, due to accreditation standards, validation of a course by successful completion of more advanced work in the same discipline or by examination may be required.
Only work passed with a grade of C or better may be transferred. Except for consortium agreements, no credit will be allowed toward graduation or toward fulfillment of major requirements for a course passed with a C- or less at another institution. Credit will not be awarded for courses determined to be below the collegiate level at Western Carolina University nor from an institution not accredited by a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency. Undergraduate credit will not be awarded for graduate-level courses.
A minimum of 25% of semester hours applied toward a bachelor’s degree must be earned through regular enrollment in Western Carolina University junior-senior level courses, including a minimum of 12 hours in junior-senior courses in the major field.
In addition to those credits accepted as equivalents of the university’s freshman and sophomore courses, a maximum of 30 hours of credit may be allowed toward graduation for freshman and sophomore courses completed at other institutions which are normally offered above the sophomore level at Western Carolina University.
There is no time limit on the course work accepted for undergraduate transfer credit. However, students who plan to schedule courses with stated prerequisites should consider auditing the prerequisite courses if no work has been attempted in the field within the past five years.
Grades made in transferred courses are not considered in computing the GPA at Western Carolina University, but transferred courses are added to earned hours and will affect the student’s overall academic standing. A student may not expect to have the repeat course policy applied on the basis of courses completed at other institutions. Currently enrolled and former students (those not enrolled for one or more of the immediately preceding semesters, excluding summer terms) who attempt courses at other institutions must earn a cumulative 2.00 GPA and submit official transcripts of all work attempted to the Office of Admissions in order to be eligible to return to Western Carolina University.
Transfer Credit from Unaccredited Institutions
Credit for courses taken at unaccredited institutions, if accepted, may be subject to validation by successful completion of more advanced courses and through the university’s credit by examination and CLEP policies.
Transfer of Credit from Technical Programs
Credit may be transferred from a technical program of a two-year institution and applied toward an appropriate bachelor’s degree if the institution is fully accredited or is a candidate for regional accreditation.
Credit for Veterns of Military Service
To receive credit for military service, a veteran must have served at least 12 months in continuous active duty in a branch of military service and must present the registrar an official copy of the Department of Defense (DD) 214. Once the DD-214 is received, the student will receive seven hours of credit in free electives. Service school courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis using the American Council of Education recommendations for evaluation of military credits. This award of credit does not alter other university requirements or major, minor, concentration or general education requirements for a degree. Questions regarding the transfer of credit for veterans of military service should be directed to the Director of Military Education at 828.227.2135.