transfercredit.htm

Note: Transfer of Credit means applying courses taken at another institution towards your MS program. Advanced Standing means applying part of a previous MS degree towards your current MS program. They both involve transferring courses taken elsewhere into your MS program here, but they are not applied for in the same way. This document explains how to transfer courses into your program that do not come from another MS degree; click here to find out about advanced standing.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT

The University requires that a minimum of 24 credits (or 50% of programs over 48 credits) must be taken in resident graduate study (this includes online courses). In our 30-hour programs, you may apply up to six graduate credit hours to your Master’s program through courses taken at other institutions either prior to or during the Master’s program; the rest of the program must be completed at UALBANY, including required practicum courses (e.g., ERDG600, ERDG620). No required practicum courses can be transferred into any of our programs, except under certain conditions (see the Department policy on this). If you want to transfer credit for courses taken prior to entering the master’s program, make the request immediately after admission. In the course of the program, if you wish to take a particular course from another university, submit a transfer of credit form in advance. (Policies for the number of credits that can be transferred into the 36-hr, 40-hr, and 67-hr programs have not yet been finalized).

The Reading Department will only accept, for transfer credit, graduate courses that are functional equivalents of the courses it offers. Courses that meet for less than a month, require few if any extended readings or written assignments, involve little or no library study, or are on topics that do not integrate theory with practice, cannot be transferred into our program, regardless of whether they carry graduate credits. The Department will review the course to determine if it is part of a required program approved by NYSED.

The Department accepts courses that were taken less than 10 years prior to entering our program. To transfer a course that was taken more than 10 years ago, the Department will require evidence that the course is still applicable to the the program of study. Students may apply up to six credit hours to their Master's program through courses taken at other institutions either prior to or during the Master's program; the rest of the program must be completed at SUNYA. If a student seeks to transfer credit for courses taken prior to entering the master's program, the request should be made immediately after admission in order to make program planning decisions. In the course of the program, if you wish to take a particular course from another university, submit a transfer of credit form in advance. In both cases, a form, REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF CREDIT TO A GRADUATE PROGRAM, has to be completed. There are several strict requirements for courses to be eligible for transfer:

a. Required practicum courses have to be completed at the University at Albany, and cannot be transferred into the program.

b. Undergraduate credits cannot be transferred into the graduate program.

c. Proper documentation has to be provided of the courses requested for transfer (this includes an official transcript, a course syllabus, and a copy of the course description);

d. You must have a grade of "B" or above for the course in order for it to qualify for transfer of credit and you must have at least a "B" average in the Reading program.

e. Courses taken more than six years prior to the projected completion date of the MS program are not eligible for transfer unless an extension of time is granted by the Graduate Academic Council (apply through the Reading Department).

Filing a TOC request

Before filing a request for Transfer Credit, discuss it with your Program Advisor, to determine if the courses are appropriate, and which program areas they fit (you have to indicate which course or program area--e.g., elective reading--the transferred course(s) will replace. If you are requesting approval of a course in advance, submit the form to the Reading Department. All completed course requests for transfer of credit must be submitted, with all required documentation, directly to the Graduate Admissions Office (UAB121), not to the Reading Department. the Graduate Office checks the documents, and sends the request over to the Department. In turn, we examine the paperwork, approve or disapprove the request, and return our recommendation to the Graduate Office. This whole process may take a month or so. Eventually, you are notified in writing by the Graduate Office, and if approved, the transferred courses appear on your transcript.

Last Updated: January 29, 2008