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Stephen F. Austin State University

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Transfer Admission and Credits (A-44)

Original Implementation: September 8, 1978
Last Revision: April 23, 2013

Transfer Admission

Students applying to Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) who have attended accredited institutions of higher education must apply as transfer students.

Transfer applicants must have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) (using a 4.0 scale) on all transferable work attempted [see Course Grades (A-54)]. Transfer applicants who have completed fewer than 15 semester hours of transferable college credit must have the required cumulative 2.00 GPA and must also satisfy eligibility requirements for first-semester freshmen. Transfer applicants who have completed 15 or more semester hours must have the required 2.00 GPA and must not be on academic suspension.

Although transfer students with less than a 2.0 grade point average are not eligible for admission into the fall or spring semesters, those who are not currently on academic suspension at another institution are eligible for provisional admission to a summer term. Summer provisional students may be eligible to enroll for subsequent semesters if they complete nine semester hours of non-developmental coursework as approved by their academic dean and earn at least a 2.0 grade point average on all work attempted.

Applicants who are denied admission as transfer students may appeal the admission decision through the Transfer Appeals Program in the Office of Admissions. Appeals are reviewed by the Admission Appeals Committee. Following the review of an appeal, the committee submits a recommendation to the executive director of enrollment management for final decision. Students admitted through this procedure are assigned to the Academic Advising Center for advisement.

Transfer Credits

The university accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions on a course-by-course basis as determined by the Office of Admissions. All courses are examined in terms of content, level, and credit hours awarded, and are subject to the following conditions:

• An SFA course prefix and number are awarded when the content of the transfer course is equivalent, and when the course was taught on the same level and in the same department at the transferring institution.
• General enbloc credit is assigned to a course that is transferable but is not an exact equivalent by level or by description. In this case, the credit is awarded on the same level as was attempted at the transferring institution, and the student’s academic dean will determine its acceptability into degree programs.
• Most academic credit is transferable with the exception of remedial or developmental courses. Some departments may limit the number of credit hours that may be applied toward a degree.
• A maximum of 66 academic hours plus four hours of kinesiology activity from junior or community colleges may apply toward a degree, unless an exception has been granted by the provost and vice president for academic affairs.
• Courses transferred from a community college may be transferred only as a lower-level course and may not be considered as advanced upper-level credit.
• There is no limit for undergraduate credits transferred from senior colleges. At the graduate level, no more than 12 credit hours may be transferred; however, the total number of transferable hours may vary by program.
• All undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 42 semester hours including 36 hours of advanced credit at SFA in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Graduate students must complete a minimum of 18 course credits at SFA that apply to their graduate degree.
• Course work earned from educational experience obtained in the armed forces is accepted in transfer on a limited basis. The "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services" is used by the Office of Admissions for evaluating military credit. Military transcripts such as the AARTS, SMART, Community College of the Air Force and the Coast Guard Institute, and the joint services transcript are used in the evaluation review process.
• Credit for vocational/technical courses, experiential learning and professional certification programs can be used in the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree program or programs approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Students may repeat courses taken at SFA at other accredited institutions. Transfer hours will, however, be governed by the following rules:

1. The grades earned at SFA will remain on the transcript;
2. The hours attempted at SFA will not be changed as a result of course work completed elsewhere;
3. Transfer credit for a course originally taken at SFA has no effect on the grade point average for work attempted at SFA;
4. Transfer hours of repeated work may be used to satisfy degree requirements other than those related to grade point average.

Policies and procedures of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and other applicable accreditation bodies will be followed regarding transfer of core curriculum courses, fields of study courses, and any transfer credit disputes.

 

 

Cross Reference: General Bulletin; Graduate Bulletin; Course Grades (A-54)

Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dean of the Graduate School

Forms: None

Board Committee Assignment: Academic and Student Affairs