Transfer & Prior Learning Credit

A student applying for advanced standing after having attended another accredited institution shall send an official transcript to the Admission Office (undergraduate students) or the Graduate and Professional Studies Office (graduate students). If requested, the student must provide copies of course descriptions and/or syllabi. The Registrar’s Office will determine whether credits are transferable to Lebanon Valley College.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit Requirements

Credits will be accepted if:

  • Grades are C– (1.670) or better.
  • Coursework and learning outcomes align with LVC curricula and standards.
  • Transferred credits count for credit hours but are not factored in the grade point average.
  • A maximum of 90 transfer and prior learning credits will be accepted toward a baccalaureate degree.

 

Accreditation Standards for Transfer:

  • U.S. institutions must be regionally accredited or hold accreditation from other, non-regional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Non-regionally accredited U.S. institutions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Institutions outside the U.S. must be recognized as a degree-granting institution in their home country.
  • International transcripts require a course-by-course evaluation by a U.S.-based service recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

 

General Education Requirements

  • General education requirements completed with at least 40 credits at a prior institution will be honored by LVC.
  • Partially completed requirements will transfer on a credit-match basis, with remaining credits completed within LVC’s 40-credit general education program.

 

Credit Requirements for Major

  • Transfer students are normally expected to complete at least 25% of required major credits at LVC.
  • Additional courses may be required by academic departments.
  • 300- and 400-level major coursework must be completed in residence unless otherwise approved.

 

Associate Degree Holders

  • Students with an associate of arts or science degree from a regionally accredited institution following a curriculum or program similar to LVC receive full credit acceptance (usually a minimum of 60 credits).
  • D-grade coursework will not count toward major requirements.

 

Transfer Articulation Agreements

LVC has agreements with:

  • Harrisburg Area Community College
  • Lehigh Carbon Community College
  • Montgomery County Community College
  • Reading Area Community College

 

Concurrent Enrollment

LVC students must obtain prior consent from advisors and the Registrar’s Office to take courses at another institution while enrolled at LVC.

 

Study Abroad/Away

  • Credits and grades from approved study abroad/away programs will be converted to LVC equivalents.
  • Planned courses must be pre-approved for transfer before starting the study abroad/away program.
  • Students in approved programs remain eligible for federal financial aid.
Graduate Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit Requirements

  • Coursework and learning outcomes must align with LVC’s graduate program curricula and standards.
  • Credits must be earned within seven years before admission to the LVC graduate program.
  • Only grades of “B” (3.00) or higher are eligible for transfer (B- or lower is not accepted).
  • Transferred credits count toward credit hours but are not factored in the grade point average.

 

Accreditation Standards for Transfer:

  • U.S. institutions must be regionally accredited.
  • Institutions outside the U.S. must be recognized as a degree-granting institution in their home country.
  • International transcripts require a course-by-course evaluation by a U.S.-based service recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

 

Transfer Credit Limits

Limits for degree programs:

  • Programs requiring fewer than 60 credits: Up to 9 credits (including a maximum of 6 core credits) may be transferred.
  • Programs requiring 60 credits or more: Up to 15 credits may be transferred.
  • These limits also apply to transferring credits from a previously earned graduate degree at LVC.

Limits for certificate programs:

  • Up to 3 credits from another institution may be transferred if part of a graduate degree.
  • No external credits may be transferred to stand-alone certificate programs.

 

Graduate Credits Taken as an Undergraduate

  • Except for programs with undergraduate direct admission to graduate programs, LVC students can apply up to 6 graduate credits earned during their undergraduate studies toward a graduate degree or certificate.
  • Approval is required from the Registrar and graduate program director.
  • At least 30 additional credits must be completed toward a master’s degree after earning a bachelor’s degree. Graduate credits earned as an undergraduate cannot be included in this total.
Undergraduate Credit for Prior Learning

Lebanon Valley College recognizes the ability of highly motivated matriculated students to master specific areas of study on their initiative and provides programs to allow these students the opportunity to gain credit. Except for those seeking a second bachelor’s degree, any matriculated student may earn a maximum of 30 credits toward a bachelor’s degree through credit for prior learning. Credit will be recorded with a satisfactory (S) grade.

Advanced placement with credit in appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who earn scores of 4 or 5 on College Board AP examinations. The official AP College Grade Report must be submitted by the student for evaluation by the Registrar.

Advanced placement without credit may be granted based on the Achievement Tests of the College Board examinations or such other proficiency tests as may be determined appropriate by the Registrar and department chair.

Learn more about the Advanced Placement Policy.

Many LVC courses can be challenged for credit by examination. Students should request challenge examinations through their academic advisors. All requests must be approved by the Registrar and department chair in which the course is listed.

Challenge exams are considered comprehensive examinations in the subject area. The grading criteria for challenge exams will be determined by each department. The exact nature of the examination will be determined by the faculty member and department chair involved and may include any means of evaluation normally employed by the department. There is a fee for preparation and grading of each challenge exam, and it is charged without regard to the test results.

Challenge exams may not be taken by students who have received any grade in a course equivalent to or more advanced than the course for which the student is requesting credit by examination. Challenge exams may not be used to acquire credit for a course previously failed. Practicums, internships, seminars, research courses, independent study, writing-intensive courses, and courses with laboratory components are normally not subject to credit by examination. Individual departments may have additional criteria regarding challenge exams. Consult the department chair in which the course is listed for specific information.

Credit shall be granted to those students who score well on CLEP examinations that are approved by the College. To receive credit, a student must earn a minimum score of 50. The English composition essay is required to receive credit for English Communications with a minimum score of 64. Credit for foreign language at the intermediate level requires a minimum score of 62 (for French), 63 (for German), and 66 (for Spanish) on Level 2 tests.

A maximum of six credits shall be awarded for each examination.

Learn more about the CLEP policy.

Students taking DSST exams will be granted credit in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations and with approval of the Registrar, the appropriate department chair, and, if seeking to fulfill a General Education requirement, approval of the Director of General Education. ACE recommends credit for a minimum score of 400 on a 200–500 scale.

Lebanon Valley College values the IB Diploma Program and its curriculum that develops sophisticated, critical thinking, intercultural competence, and respect for diversity. We welcome applications from IB students.

Credit for appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who achieve scores of 5, 6, or 7 on International Baccalaureate individual subject examinations. For each Higher-Level subject, 6–8 credits will be granted; for each Standard-Level subject, 3–4 credits will be granted. Three elective credits will also be granted for grades of C or better on the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay components.

Students who complete the IB Diploma Program and achieve an overall score of 30 or better will automatically be granted 30 credits. Credit for equivalent courses will only be given for individual subject scores of 5 or better, otherwise only elective credit will be granted.

Lebanon Valley College provides for the awarding of undergraduate academic credit for knowledge acquired through nonacademic experience in subjects in the College curriculum. The experience should have a direct relation to the material taught in a course in the College curriculum and should extend over a sufficient period to provide substantive knowledge in the relevant area. Matriculated students who believe they qualify for such credit may petition the appropriate department through their academic advisors. This petition must be outlined on the Experiential Learning Application and:

  1. detail the relevant experience in question;
  2. provide appropriate supporting evidence;
  3. note the equivalent College course by department and number; and
  4. state the number of credit hours sought.

The appropriate department will consult with the academic advisor to determine the best means (interview, examination, portfolio, etc.) for evaluating the experience.

Approval of experiential credit must be made in writing over the signatures of the academic advisor, the appropriate department chair, the Associate Provost of Arts and Sciences, and the Associate Dean of Academic Success and Registrar. There is a fee for evaluating each application for experiential learning credit, and it is charged without regard to the outcome.

Experiential credit cannot exceed a maximum of 12 credit hours in the degree program.

Lebanon Valley College recognizes learning through military and workplace training. Credit is awarded in accordance with credit recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) and where training is equivalent to or consistent with Lebanon Valley College curricula and standards. Coursework may satisfy General Education or major requirements with approval of the Director of Curriculum and appropriate department chair, respectively. To receive credit, students must provide an official transcript that documents successful completion of their training and includes ACE credit recommendations.