Transfer Frequently Asked Questions
This information is to be used in conjunction with your External Credit Report. You can view your External Credit Report on my.BoiseState. This information is provided to help you understand how your transfer credit will apply toward graduation requirements.
- What credits will Boise State accept?
- How do I read my external credit report?
- How do I determine if my transfer courses fulfill general education requirement?
- What if see a course on my External Credit Report that I can't find in the Boise State catalog?
- What if I have completed an academic Associates degree at another college or University?
- What if I have not completed an academic Associates degree at another college or University?
- What if I am transferring from an institution on the quarter system?
- What if I am transferring from a junior or community college?
- What if I have taken courses from a foreign institution?
- What if I have earned other types of credit at my transfer institution or elsewhere?
- How do my transfer credits apply to my degree and major at Boise State University?
- What do I need to do next?
Boise State University accepts all academic credits from regionally accredited institutions. Six regional associations accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. The associations are:
If you have earned credits from an institution that is not regionally accredited, you may still be able to transfer those credits to Boise State. In such cases, the department offering similar courses can review the credits you wish to transfer and decide which credits – if any – to accept. You must initiate this process with the assistance of your advisor. Back to Top |
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There are two types of transfer courses: equivalent and non-equivalent. If a course you took at another college or university is equivalent to a course at Boise State, it will be counted toward your degree as if you had completed the course at Boise State. However, upper division credit for courses will be based on the course-numbering system of your transfer institution, not the Boise State course it has been equated to. Non-equivalent courses are designated on your credit report with an “XF” at the end of a course number. At this first stage of transfer credit evaluation, a transfer evaluator will compare the course descriptions at your original institution with the course descriptions at Boise State. Some of the reasons why a course may be transferred as non-equivalent are:
If you have taken a course that does not appear on your credit report, that course was non-transferable. A course may be non-transferable if it is below college-level or technical in nature. Back to Top |
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Two types of courses that may appear on your credit report will count toward general education (core) requirements. First, any course that is equivalent to courses on the approved core list will count. Second, any non-equivalent course with a core designation of XFC1, XFC2 or XFC3 has been accepted as a general education course, even though Boise State may not offer an equivalent course. All core courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher to fulfill graduation requirements. A list of approved core courses can be found in the Boise State University catalog or online at http://academicsupport.boisestate.edu/universitycore/corecourses.shtml. Back to Top |
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| Some course numbers have changed in recent years. Depending on when you
transferred your credits to Boise State, your credit report might reflect either the current
or the old numbers. Please consult with your academic advisor or the Registrar’s Office
for assistance determining the current course number. Back to Top |
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| If you have earned an academic associate degree at a regionally accredited institution,
you will be considered “core certified” by Boise State University. This means that you
have fulfilled the lower-division general education or “core” classes at Boise State. The
statement “GENERAL UNIVERSITY CORE MET” will appear on your credit report. You are responsible for meeting all graduation requirements, including specific courses required by a college or department, based on the date you began at Boise State. Back to Top |
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If you are transferring from an Idaho school and have not earned an associate degree, you may still be considered “core certified” if your transcript is stamped “core certified” by the Registrar’s Office of your original institution. If you are transferring without an associate degree from an accredited institution, you will be granted credit based on a course-by-course review of your transcript. You are responsible for meeting all graduation requirements, including specific courses required by a college or department, based on the date you began at Boise State. Click here for more information about core certification. Back to Top |
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| If you are transferring from an institution that operates on a quarter system, your credit hours have been converted to a semester calendar. For example, a three-credit course on the quarter system will transfer as two credits to a semester system. If a course has been evaluated as equivalent, you do not need to repeat it to make up the deficiencies in credit. You will, however, be responsible for earning the minimum total hours required for graduation. Back to Top |
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| You may transfer all credits from a junior or community college, but only 70 credits may be used toward graduation. All courses from two-year colleges are considered to be lower division even if they are equivalent in content to upper division courses at Boise State. Back to Top |
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| Boise State University uses an outside service to evaluate international credit. To obtain this evaluation, you must be a currently enrolled, degree-seeking student. The evaluation process takes approximately six weeks. Back to Top |
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| Boise State University accepts satisfactory performance on national standardized exams, locally written exams, or satisfactory evaluation of other training and experience as alternatives by which you may satisfy certain general education, specific course or major requirements. Boise State will evaluate your exam or experience from the original source rather than transfer your earned credits from the previous institution. Click here for more information about Boise State's Credit for Prior Learning policy. Back to Top |
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| The Academic Advisement Report (AAR) is an academic requirement checking and degree-planning tool designed for undergraduate students and advisors. It compares the courses you've taken to the requirements for your degree and shows what you still need to graduate. The AAR is designed to be used in combination with the university catalog and your academic advisor. You may access the report by logging in to my.BoiseState. Back to Top |
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Step one: Read about general graduation requirements and specific requirements for your major in the Boise State University catalog. Step two: Meet with an academic advisor before you register for courses to review your Academic Advisement Report (AAR) and determine how your transfer credits can be applied to your degree as core, elective, or major requirements. Meeting with an advisor before you register for courses is crucial so that you can start the academic adjustment process described in Step Three. To begin the advising process, contact the department of your major to make an advising appointment. If you haven't yet chosen a major, contact the Advising and Academic Enhancement Center. Step Three: If you want to petition to use non-quivalent courses to meet major or core requirements, work with your academic advisor to request an academic adjustment. You will need course descriptions and/or a syllabus from your original institution to complete the adjustment form. |
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