To receive transfer credit, current students must have an official transcript sent directly from the institution to the Emerson Registrar's Office. Newly admitted students must have their official transcript(s) sent to the Admission Office, who will disseminate the information to the Registrar’s Office when appropriate.
The Registrar's Office will review the transcript to determine liberal arts equivalency and elective credits.
Major course equivalency will be determined by the academic department, either by the department chair or undergraduate coordinator. It is advised that students keep course descriptions and syllabi, in case additional information is necessary to determine course equivalency.
- Transfer credit is granted for comparable coursework completed at accredited two- and four-year institutions with a grade of "C" or better.
- Students with junior or senior status who have not reached their credit transfer limit may only request transfer credit for courses taken at a four-year, baccalaureate-degree granting institution.
- Quarter hour and trimester hour credits will be reduced to semester hour credits.
How many transfer credits are allowed?
- Transfer Students: Students transferring into Emerson College from another institution may transfer in a maximum of 80 pre-matriculation credits, with no more than 64 of those credits from a junior or community college and no more than 32 credits from exams (e.g., AP, IB, CLEP). Post-matriculation, transfer students will be limited to a maximum of 64 transfer credits, including those credits transferred in pre-matriculation.
- New First Time Students: Students for whom Emerson College is their first college may transfer in a maximum of 32 credits (this maximum includes transfer courses and exam-based credits combined).
Transfer Credit Pre-Approval
Current students who wish to complete external coursework for transfer into Emerson are strongly advised to submit potential courses for pre-approval from the myEmerson app > Transfer Credit Pre-Approval.
After submitting their courses, students will be notified via email whether each course is appropriate for transfer into Emerson, how many credits it will transfer in for, and if it will fulfill a particular requirement.
If seeking to fulfill a major or minor requirement, students may also be directed to obtain the permission of their department chair or undergraduate coordinator.
If submitting courses for international study, please note the U.S.-accredited college or institution that will be transcripting your work under “School Name,” rather than the international institution.
AP Credit Equivalencies
AP test scores of 4 or 5 will receive four credits in the areas of the exam. Students may transfer in a maximum of 32 credits overall, which includes exam-based credits (AP, IB or CLEP). Official score reports from College Board must be submitted directly to the College.
| AP Exam | Liberal Arts Equivalency |
|---|---|
| Art History | 4 credits toward the Aesthetic Perspective |
| Biology | 4 credits toward the Scientific Perspective |
| Calculus (AB or BC) | 4 credits toward the Quantitative Reasoning Perspective |
| Chemistry | 4 credits toward the Scientific Perspective |
| Economics (Micro or Macro) | 4 credits toward the Social & Psychological Perspective |
| English Literature | 4 credits toward the Literary Perspective |
| Environmental Science | 4 credits toward the Scientific Perspective |
| European History | 4 credits toward the History & Politics Perspective |
| Foreign Language | 8 credits toward the World Languages Perspective |
| Physics | 4 credits toward the Scientific Perspective |
| Psychology or Sociology | 4 credits toward the Social & Psychological Perspective |
| Statistics | 4 credits toward the Quantitative Reasoning Perspective |
| US Government & Politics | 4 credits toward the History & Politics Perspective |
| US History | 4 credits toward the History & Politics Perspective |
| World History | 4 credits toward the History & Politics Perspective |