Transfer Credit Policies
Credits and Grades for Transfer Courses
Idaho State University recognizes, accepts, and requires all college-level coursework attempted at institutions with regional accreditation status be submitted for credit evaluation.
Idaho State University honors the originating institutions course level classifications (i.e., lower division, upper division, professional technical, remedial, etc.). All coursework taken at a Junior/Community College is considered lower-division.
Credits will be transferred to Idaho State University corresponding to the level at which they were earned at the originating institution. Please note: transferred lower division (1000- or 2000-level) credits may NOT count toward the university or department upper division (3000- or 4000-level) credits totals, regardless of the appropriate course content equivalencies.
The Office of the Registrar initially evaluates lower division coursework to determine transferable credit for incoming undergraduate and post baccalaureate transfer students. Lower division course equivalency decisions are made according to course content and are subject to periodical review by individual departments and by ISU’s Office of Academic Affairs. Upper division course content equivalency decisions are made by individual departments at ISU.
Credits awarded for International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), BYU (FLATS), and ACT/SAT exams are reviewed by the Idaho State Board of Education, ISU’s Office of Academic Affairs, and departments.
Coursework classified as correspondence, extension, Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) or credit by exam by the issuing institution is subject to reclassification in accordance with ISU governing authorities.
Coursework taught under a different system from ISU's will be converted (e.g., quarter hours) to semester hours.
Transferred coursework is subject to university limits as defined in the degree requirements section of the catalog. Where there is a question as to whether transferred courses satisfy specific department requirements, a review of the transfer work will be conducted in consultation with the department concerned.
Transfer course grades are converted to the ISU equivalent with no corresponding grade point average.
The university reserves the right to reclassify repeated credit in accordance with its own policy governing the acceptance and limitation of such credit.
Transfer grades and credits are not used in calculating the Idaho State University grade point average. Students who repeat an ISU course elsewhere may use the transfer course in accordance with ISU’s repeat course policy but the ISU grade point average will not be impacted.
Students transferring to ISU with an Associate of Science, Associate of Arts, or Associate of Arts and Science degree, from a regionally accredited institution, or with an Idaho SBOE GEM competency area, will be considered to have met ISU’s corresponding general education requirements.
Awarding of Credit from Non-Accredited Institutions
The process for considering possible transfer credits and recognizing undergraduate degrees granted by non-accredited colleges and universities is as follows:
The student must petition the appropriate academic department at Idaho State University. In addition to formal evaluation of the request, the department may require competency verification.
In the petition, the student must explain how s/he wishes to deviate from university policy. Some scenarios include:
a) wishing to have certain courses from the non-accredited institutions substitute for courses at Idaho State University that fulfill General Education Objectives;
b) a request to have designated courses from the non-accredited institution substitute for Idaho State University courses that fulfill requirements in the student’s major; and/or
c) a request that an entire degree from a non-accredited institution be recognized as equivalent to that earned from an accredited institution.
Idaho State Board of Education - GEM Policy
Idaho State University administers the General Education policies established by the Idaho State Board of Education. Students transferring to ISU from a public Idaho institution without a qualifying associate degree will be subject to a GEM course review upon transfer.