Santa Clara University

ACADEMIC CREDIT EVALUATION

Santa Clara awards credit based on the Advanced Placement Program, the International Baccalaureate Program, courses completed at other colleges and universities, and courses completed in University-approved study abroad and domestic study programs using the criteria outlined herein. Students may not take a course for credit for which they have received advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, or transfer credit.

Advanced Placement Credit
Santa Clara participates in the Advanced Placement Program to recognize college-level academic achievement prior to matriculation and to encourage students to pursue advanced studies in their areas of interest. Credit or placement is determined by the appropriate department based on review of the student’s advanced placement scores, sometimes in the context of supplemental departmental examinations. Students will be notified of advanced placement credit upon matriculation at the University.

The following chart indicates the subject examination, required scores, and Santa Clara credit granted through the Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Courses waived will always satisfy relevant requirements in the major of the department that offers the course. However, only some courses waived will satisfy requirements in the Core Curriculum.

Courses waived by Advanced Placement test scores, when relevant, may satisfy Second Language, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Science requirements in the Core Curriculum. No other undergraduate Core requirement can be satisfied with AP test scores.

Final decisions on academic credit for some AP scores are made individually by the appropriate academic department in consultation with the University Registrar.

*See department chair for evaluation of credit toward major or minor.

International Baccalaureate
Santa Clara University recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program for admission and advanced placement.

The following chart indicates the subject examination, required scores, and Santa Clara credit granted through the International Baccalaureate higher level tests. Courses waived will always satisfy relevant requirements in the major of the department that offers the course. However, only some courses waived will satisfy requirements in the Core Curriculum.

Courses waived by International Baccalaureate scores, when relevant, may satisfy Arts, Second Language, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Science requirements in the Core Curriculum. No other undergraduate Core requirement can be satisfied with IB test scores.

No credit is awarded for IB subsidiary level examinations. Final decisions on academic credit for some IB scores are made individually by the appropriate academic department in consultation with the University registrar.

*See department chair for evaluation of credit toward major or minor.

Units Taken at Other Institutions
Credit is awarded for coursework completed at other colleges and universities subject to certain limitations. Courses from accredited institutions are generally transferable if they are similar in nature to courses listed in the Santa Clara University Undergraduate Bulletin. Courses from California community colleges are also generally transferable under the same conditions and if designated as transferable to the University of California. Courses of a trade or technical nature do not transfer. Courses from colleges not accredited, trade schools, extension programs, or correspondence programs do not transfer.

Students can receive credit for coursework completed at other colleges and universities prior to matriculation at Santa Clara for no more than half of the total number of quarter units required for the specific Santa Clara degree. After enrolling at Santa Clara, students can receive credit for coursework completed at other colleges and universities for no more than 10 quarter units of free electives, subject to the limitation that no more than half of the total number of quarter units required for a Santa Clara degree can be earned at another institution. Transfer credit earned after initial enrollment at Santa Clara may not be used to fulfill University Core Curriculum, college or school, department, or program requirements.

Transfer credit for all coursework completed at other colleges and universities requires approval from the Drahmann Center and the chair of the department offering the equivalent Santa Clara course. The student must have earned a grade of “C” or better in a course for transfer credit to be granted. Courses taken on a pass/no pass or credit/no credit basis are not accepted as transfer credit. Grades for units earned at other institutions are not included in a student’s Santa Clara academic history or in the calculation of the Santa Clara grade point average.

Study Abroad and Domestic Study Programs
Units and grades earned for coursework in University-operated study abroad programs, University-affiliated study abroad programs, University study abroad exchange programs, and University-affiliated domestic study programs are included in a student’s Santa Clara academic history. Units earned in approved study abroad and domestic study programs may be used to fulfill University Core Curriculum, college or school, department, or program requirements subject to prior approval by the appropriate dean’s office, department chair, or program director. However, such units do not satisfy the University residency requirement. Grades earned in approved study abroad and domestic study programs are included in the calculation of the Santa Clara grade point average.

Units earned for coursework in study abroad and domestic study programs not operated by or affiliated with the University are accepted only as transfer credit and are subject to the policies governing units taken at other institutions. The second-level Core Curriculum requirement in Religion, Theology, and Culture can be fulfilled with a pre-approved study abroad course. The third-level Core Curriculum requirement in Religion, Theology & Culture cannot be fulfilled with a study abroad course.