Spring 2024 > Academic Policies and Procedures > Transfer Credit > Transfer Credit for Previous Education

Transfer Credit for Previous Education

WCU may accept a maximum of 90 traditional transfer credits for undergraduate course work and a maximum of 9 credits for graduate courses.^*

WCU may accept credit for previous courses taken from other academic institutions or organizations that meet the following criteria:

1. The course was taken from an institution accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the American Council on Education (ACE).
2. A grade of C- (70%) or better was achieved for an undergraduate course and a grade of B- (80%) or better was achieved for a graduate course as documented on official transcripts. However, as each program maintains its own transfer credit requirements, please refer to the specific academic program section for which you are applying.
   1. Undergraduate pre-licensure programs require a grade of "C" (2.0) or better.
   2. Undergraduate post/non-licensure programs require a grade of "C-" (1.7) or better.
   3. Graduate post/non-licensure programs require a grade of "B" (3.0) or better.
   4. For pre-licensure graduate transfer credit requirements, please see the academic programmatic section of the catalog.
3. The course recency requirements are met (see requirements below).
4. Courses with less than the required semester credits may be combined with other courses to meet the required credit requirements.
5. When awarding transfer credit based on classes from quarter-based institutions, West Coast University will grant students credit based on the WCU course equivalent. For example, for a standard four-credit quarter lecture course, three WCU semester credits will be awarded.
6. The course meets the requirements of the specific academic program for which it is being considered. Each program maintains its own transfer credit requirements.
7. Courses taken as part of a completed degree are generally not accepted, however, they may be considered for dual-degree programs, as part of the WCU Bridge program, or at the discretion of the Dean.

Recency Requirement: The University's recency policy mandates that all science courses, required as a pre-requisite to the program core, must have been completed in the five (5) calendar years prior to admission.  All other science courses not designated as a pre-requisite to the program core may be submitted for evaluation of transfer credit requirements regardless of recency.

Students who request to transfer credits from previously attended institutions must submit sealed official transcripts to the Registrar’s Office from originating institutions prior to their first day of class.  If students are unable to submit transcripts or transcripts are unavailable, students may be conditionally enrolled for a period of one term through the submission of unofficial transcripts, submitted no later than four days after the start of a student’s first term.  Students failing to submit official transcripts prior to the final day of the first term may be denied transfer credit for prior courses.  In addition to official transcripts, copies of course descriptions, school catalogs, and course syllabi may be requested for evaluation purposes.

In addition to the university requirements above, official transcripts must be received by the deadlines indicated by the individual program to which the student is applying. 

Decisions regarding transfer credit are made by the program Dean or Director at the campus to which the student is applying.  The program Dean or Director will review transcripts from previous institutions to determine what credit, if any, will be granted.  If official transcripts are received later than the University or programmatic deadline, an extension to consider credit may be awarded at the program Dean’s/Director’s discretion. 

* Students transferring approved credits into graduate nursing programs for “the 3Ps” (Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology) will satisfy the WCU credit requirements for the 3P classes. Any specialty-focused or undergraduate 3Ps courses (e.g., Advanced Pathophysiology in Neonates) are not transferable. Students who are practicing nurse practitioners can potentially transfer one additional non-clinical course of up to 3 credits.