Academic Policies Transfer Policies

Transfer Evaluations

When a transfer student is fully accepted to Kennesaw State University, the Office of Admissions notifies the Office of the Registrar that a transcript has been received. Transcripts are evaluated in the order they are received from the Office of Admissions and are completed on average within 2-3 weeks. Once completed, an evaluation confirmation notice is emailed to the student and transfer credits are viewable on the Owl Express transcript. DegreeWorks may be used to determine placement of transfer courses to the degree and facilitate academic advising.

Transfer credit for readmission students will be re-evaluated in accordance with the transfer evaluation policies in effect for the term a student is readmitted to KSU.

Copies of transcripts from other universities cannot be reissued to the student.

Military Transfer Credit Practice 

Military Transfer Credit may be awarded for undergraduate students accepted to Kennesaw State University Fall 2012 or later who have served in the U.S. Military and who desire to have their military experience considered for transfer credit. . Students must request their official Joint Services Transcript (JST) be sent directly from JST to the Office of the Registrar, Graduation Audit and Transfer Evaluation Services (G.A.T.E.S.).

Students should submit their JST transcript for evaluation prior to the add/drop period of their first term of matriculation at Kennesaw State University in order to allow for accurate academic advisement and accurate determination of financial aid eligibility.  The final deadline for any military transfer credit to be awarded to a student’s record is the last day of classes of their first term of matriculation at Kennesaw State University.  Students seeking to have any military transfer credit added to their record after this deadline must submit an appeal for review by G.A.T.E.S. and the Office of Financial Aid in order to determine if any military transfer credit can be awarded.

All experience and coursework listed on a JST transcript will be evaluated for applicability toward a student’s current degree program. Students may have the option of accepting or declining the military credit determined to be applicable toward their degree program. As of Fall 2019, awarded military transfer credit will receive a grade of “K”.  From Fall 2012 to Summer 2019, all awarded military transfer credit received a grade of “S”.  For more information regarding these types of grades please refer to the Academic Grading Policies section of this catalog.  All previously awarded military transfer credit will remain as a grade of “S” on a student’s record. Regardless of the term credit is awarded, military transfer credit cannot be removed from a student’s record. 

If a student changes their degree program at a future date, they have the option to submit an appeal for G.A.T.E.S. and the Office of Financial Aid to review and determine if the student is eligible for any additional JST credit to apply toward their new degree program.

Military Transfer Credit is not applied toward institutional graduation residency requirements and is not calculated in the graduation GPA. Kennesaw State University limits academic residency for active-duty service members (including Reservists and National Guardsmen) to no more than twenty-five percent of the degree requirements for all undergraduate degrees. Active-duty service members can satisfy academic residency requirements at any time during their program of study, specifically avoiding any final year or final semester residency requirement, subject to stated requirements in specific course areas such as majors.

Kennesaw State University affirms its commitment to fair, equitable, and effective policies and practices that recognize and deal with the special conditions faced by military students who want to obtain a college education.

Credit by Exam

There is no limit for the amount of credit by exam hours a student may receive. Credit by Exam hours are not applied toward institutional graduation residency requirements and they are not calculated in the graduation GPA. The graduation residency requirement serves as the limit for the amount of credit by exam credit a student may receive. 

PLA credit is not awarded based upon high school or college transcripts. Official score reports for AP, IB, CLEP, DSST and FLATS must be sent from the testing agency to Kennesaw State University to be considered for credit.

Students are required to meet all residency requirements.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for Advanced Standing

Students are eligible to take standardized examinations in a number of areas to earn credit for certain specific courses, provided a minimum score is attained on the tests. Credit earned will be recorded on the student’s permanent record. For specific information concerning subject areas in which tests are available, the cost and minimum score required for credit, please visit Academic Testing Services at http://testing.kennesaw.edu and review Tests Offered. CLEP credit may not be awarded for a course previously failed or audited.

Advance Placement (AP)

Kennesaw State University honors Advance Placement (AP) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved. For details on the scores required and course equivalencies, please visit the Registrar’s website and review Credit By Exam at http://transfer.kennesaw.edu.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Kennesaw State University honors International Baccalaureate (IB) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved. For details on the scores required and course equivalencies, please visit http://transfer.kennesaw.edu.

DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)

Kennesaw State University honors DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved. For details on the scores required and course equivalencies, please visit the Registrar’s website and review Credit by Exam at http://transfer.kennesaw.edu Credit may not be awarded for a course previously failed or audited. 

Departmental Course Examination for Advanced Standing 

Academic Departments do on occasion offer course examinations for credit to students who offer satisfactory evidence. A list of available exam options may be found on the Prior Learning Assessment website under Exam Options for Credit at http://pla.kennesaw.edu These exam options vary by course and by department. Requirements to sit for the exam are determined by the academic home department and described on the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) website under information and future Scholarships, Departmental Plans at http:pla .kennesaw.edu 

If the required score for the examination is met, students will receive the credit equaled with the course. These credit hours will not be included in the calculation of the Institutional Grade Point Average (GPA). 

Requests for department course examinations should be initiated through Owl Express

Authorization will not be given for a course under any of the following circumstances:

• If the student has previously audited the course 
• If the student has previously scheduled and failed the course
• If the student has previously scheduled the course, but has withdrawn after the first two calendar weeks from the day the semester begins. 
• If the student is currently enrolled in the course. 
• If the course is a prerequisite or an introduction to a course already completed. (This provision does not apply to skills courses such as physical education or music, for example) 
• If the course may be granted credit by a CLEP exam. 

Credit earned by institutional advanced standing examination may be used neither to satisfy residency requirements nor to satisfy more than one half of the major-field or minor-field requirements in a program of study.

A passing grade for an institutional advanced standing examination is a grade of 75 percent or higher for a lower-division course and a grade of 80 percent or higher for an upper division course.

A fee of $60 will be assessed for each institutional advanced standing examination attempted; no course may be attempted more than once.

A student must be admitted to the university at the time of application for advanced standing and must be enrolled in the university to receive credit for a course by advanced standing examination.  

Substitutions

Students with advanced standing credits or transfer credits for courses similar to those required in the General Education Core Curriculum may be permitted to satisfy KSU’s requirements through approved course substitutions. Students seeking such substitutions should contact the department chair of the respective course discipline.

Transferring Core Curriculum Credits to KSU

Students transferring to KSU from another USG institution may take advantage of the following policy by completing the General Education Program. Students successfully completing a course in one institution’s Areas A-E will receive full credit in Areas A-E for the course upon transfer to another USG institution as long as the following conditions are met:

• The course is within the Area hours limitations of either the sending institution or the receiving institution and
• The student does not change from a non-science major to a science major

Please note that additional courses may be required if they are prerequisites to major courses. Area F (lower division major) courses require a grade of “C” or better. Once the transfer evaluation has been completed, refer to DegreeWorks in Owl Express to determine how transfer credit is applied to a particular program of study.

Transferring Core Curriculum Credits to Another USG Institution

Students transferring from KSU to another USG institution may take advantage of the following policy by completing the General Education Program. Students successfully completing a course in one institution’s Areas A-E will receive full credit in Areas A-E for the course upon transfer to another USG institution as long as the following conditions are met:

• The course is within the Area hours limitations of either the sending institution or the receiving institution and
• The student does not change from a non-science major to a science major

Consult the transfer evaluation office at the receiving institution for specific transfer equivalencies.

Accreditation/Transfer Credit Practice

Transfer Credit is awarded from institutions holding Regional Accreditation status. Credit may be accepted for alternative accrediting bodies specifically recognized by AACRAO as long as the acceptance practice is reported as “AG” (generally accepted) by the flagship institution of that state.

TCSG

Credit will be accepted from TCSG institutions in observance of USG/TCSG transfer policy. Additionally, credit may be accepted for collegiate-level coursework at SACSCOC-accredited TCSG institutions.

International Transfer Credit Practice

International transcripts must be evaluated and endorsed/certified/accredited by an evaluation agency. The evaluation agency must be a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation is required. 

For transfer credit evaluations, international course descriptions must have been translated by a recognized translation service and certified as a true and correct translation.

Transfer policy for all students

Transfer credit will be awarded for course work with a minimum grade of “D” except for ENGL 1101 & ENGL 1102, which require a minimum grade of “C.” Additionally, unless noted in the catalog, a minimum grade of “C” is required for major-related courses and/or prerequisites to major courses.  Provided that native and transfer student are treated equally, institutions may impose additional reasonable expectations, such as a grade of “C” in Area A-F courses. 

Credit Evaluator 

Core Curriculum Courses

Transfer credit evaluations of the core curriculum are determined by the Registrar transfer evaluation staff in collaboration with academic departments. Transfer credit evaluations must adhere to USG transfer policies, reciprocity agreements, and other approved articulation agreements.

Major related courses

Transfer credit evaluations for the major-related coursework are determined in collaboration with academic departments.