Evaluation of Transfer Credit Policy (Updated 06/14/2023)
Evaluation of Transfer Credit from U.S. Institutions
Dickinson State University (DSU) accepts college/university level coursework recognized by the United States Department of Education from regionally accredited organizations or nationally recognized agencies. Before transfer credits are evaluated for specific course equivalencies or program requirements, the credits must be accepted by the Office of Academic Records according to University policies and procedures. These requirements apply to new DSU students as well as returning students who have subsequently attended post-secondary institutions since their initial enrollment at DSU.
- Upon acceptance to DSU, the Office of Academic Records will perform an evaluation of all transfer credit for degree -seeking students according to institutional and North Dakota University System guidelines including Common Course Numbering and General Education Transfer Agreement. Transfer courses are reviewed to determine if credits are either accepted as a course equivalent to a DSU course or applied toward general education or program requirements. Courses approved as equivalent, must meet a comparability standard of 70 percent of course content as determined by assessing learning outcomes and content as established by the course outline, syllabus, and/or course description. College-level credits that do not have a direct course equivalent or do not meet specific program requirements will be accepted as general electives and count toward total credits required for graduation.
- Students who wish to challenge the rejection of credit for course equivalency, general education, or program credit may request an additional review by the Office of Academic Records or the appropriate department chair. Students requesting an additional review are responsible for providing supporting evidence.
- Students accepted to Dickinson State University two weeks or less prior to the start of the semester will not be guaranteed an official transcript evaluation prior to registration.
- Courses will be accepted in transfer to replace grades and credits earned at Dickinson State University if the course transferred is deemed equivalent to the Dickinson State University course. Therefore, if a course is completed at and subsequently repeated at another institution, the credit for both courses will be posted on the Dickinson State University transcript, however, only the , only the highest grade achieved will be calculated into cumulative credits and grade point average.
- College-level credit attempted will be posted as transfer credit by Dickinson State University. The following exceptions apply to this rule, and include, but may not be limited to the following:
- Developmental courses by definition of the transferring institution or equivalent to a developmental course at Dickinson State University. Developmental courses may fulfill prerequisite requirements.
- Continuing education courses
- Institution-based credit by standardized exams.
- Credit granted for prior learning assessment, armed service credit or evaluated non-college coursework credit.
- Courses with a "W" grade with the exception of NDUS collaborative credits from provider institution
Graduate level courses by definition of the transferring institution legend may be transferred to satisfy undergraduate requirements as part of a formal Memorandum of Understanding.
- Students who have completed an Associate in Arts and/or Associate in Science degree shall be granted credit for having met all lower-division general education requirements. Students may be required to complete other courses, which may fall under a general education category, only if the courses are required as part of the student’s program and were not completed prior to transfer or are part of the receiving institutions upper-division general education requirements.
- Institutional policy requires that a minimum of 32 credits toward a baccalaureate degree be earned at the 300-400 level. Therefore, while 200-level courses transferred from another institution may satisfy a specific upper-level program requirement, those courses will not be counted toward the 32-credit upper-division degree requirement.
- Transfer courses and grades appear on the official and unofficial Dickinson State University transcript and are used in calculation of cumulative grade point average. In addition, transfer coursework is detailed on the academic advisement report on Campus Connection.
- Quarter-system transfer credits are converted to semester credits, when applicable.
Evaluation of International Transfer Credit
According to North Dakota State University System (NDUS) procedure 411.5, international transcripts must be submitted according to the criteria below. The guidelines for the evaluation of transfer credit listed above also apply to international transfer credit.
In most circumstances, international college credentials from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated/translated by an approved external credential evaluation service. The evaluation is the sole responsibility of the student and must be submitted for evaluation to the Foreign Credential Services of America (FCSA) or member organizations of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). The evaluation must contain a course-by-course evaluation.