Academic Credit Evaluation

Transferring Classes from Other Institutions

Students may transfer up to 12 quarter units of graduate-level (post-baccalaureate) coursework from other accredited institutions. Courses to be considered for transfer must have been completed within five years of the initial enrollment date in the Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries. Transferred credits only apply to the specific course for which the exemption is sought. Successfully transferred classes appear as transfer units on the student’s Santa Clara University transcript.

For consideration, the student must submit the Application for Transfer Credit form to the Director of the Program, the syllabus from the original course, a certified official transcript from the accredited institution, and all other applicable documents. A minimum grade of “B” in the course(s) is required.

The instructor of the equivalent course and the Faculty Advisor shall review the request and submit their recommendations to the Program Director.

Waiving Courses

Students wishing to waive courses must submit the Application for Waiver Credit form to the Program office, official transcript(s) from the accredited institution(s), a course description, and a syllabus detailing the coursework completed. A minimum grade of “B” is required. The instructor of the equivalent course and the department chair shall review requests for course waivers. Recommendations are then submitted to the Graduate Programs in Pastoral Ministries.  Courses need to have been completed within five years of the initial enrollment date.

Such waivers are rare and may be granted only in cases where a student has had recent and parallel graduate coursework or experience. The content of the substituted course must be consistent with the academic goals and objectives of the respective program.

Students who waive classes with the permission of the Program Director and Faculty Advisor receive no indication on their transcript that the classes have been waived, but a notation is made in the student’s file that the specific class requirements have been met and waived. Another class must be taken in lieu of the waived class.

Challenging Courses

Students may challenge certain courses that satisfy specific degree requirements. A successful challenge may allow a student to substitute an elective for an otherwise required course.

Challenged courses, however, do not satisfy the unit requirement for graduation. Students may be required to take another class in lieu of the challenged class in order to meet this requirement.

Students are not allowed to challenge more than three courses. A successfully challenged course is appropriately acknowledged on the student’s transcript.

To challenge a course, students must (1) have completed at least 15 units at Santa Clara (unless an exception is granted by the Faculty Advisor in writing); (2) have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2; and (3) have permission from the instructor, Faculty Advisor, and the Program Director to proceed with the challenge. The instructor must complete a written description of the proposed challenge process and have it reviewed by the Faculty Advisor. The request is then submitted for approval to the Program Director.

The course equivalency examination for challenged courses may be either oral or written, as determined by the instructor. There is a $100 fee to take it.