2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Transfer of Academic Credit

Athens State University accepts graduate transfer credit. Coursework must be relevant to the degree or major a student plans to pursue at Athens State University. The evaluation process for content and level of instruction of transfer coursework begins with the Registrar’s Office to ensure student competencies in the coursework. Institutions must be accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for inclusion in the student’s records and possible fulfillment of some degree requirements. Official transcripts from accredited institutions must be submitted to the Admissions Office for evaluation when applying for admission to any graduate programs at Athens State.

Graduate transfer credit from an institution accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is only articulated to the Athens State transcript for use in an Athens State graduate program after review and approval from graduate program faculty using the Curriculum Adjustment process. The transfer graduate credit is reviewed to ensure the content and level of instruction of the transfer coursework are equivalent to similar coursework offered at Athens State and required for the graduate degree program. However, the acceptance, articulation, and application of any graduate transfer credit towards graduate program requirements are subject to several restrictions, as published in the Transfer and Acceptance of Academic Credit policy in the University’s online Policy Library:

A maximum of six (6) hours of graduate coursework from an institution accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be transferred in to an Athens State University graduate program requiring 30-36 semester hours unless otherwise specified. Programs with specific exceptions are listed below:

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies: Students may transfer a maximum of 22 graduate semester hours into the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 33% of their coursework at Athens State University.

Master of Fine Arts in Integrative Design: Students with an earned Master of Arts in Art or Master of Arts in Art and Design may be eligible to transfer a maximum of 30 semester hours into the University's Master of Fine Arts (terminal degree) program. All other graduate coursework must be completed at Athens State University.

Coursework that is more than five (5) years old at the time of application for graduation may not be used for fulfilling graduate course requirements.

Only grades of A and B for graduate coursework are eligible for transfer to Athens State University.