Transfer Credit
Azusa Pacific University may accept transfer credit for equivalent courses from schools accredited by regional and national agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDE). To be awarded credit for transfer work, professional students can view lists of preapproved courses through Transferology; all other courses must be approved through a Substitution and Transfer Credit Request Form, which students may submit online, but they must receive approval prior to registration for the course(s). In addition, students must complete the transfer course (including correspondence courses) with a grade of C- or higher. APU credit is given on a 4.0 scale for transfer work. Quarter units will be converted into semester units.
Students who reenroll at APU after leaving and spending two or more consecutive semesters at another academic institution may apply those transferable units toward their General Education requirements. Only units transferred at reenrollment will be considered.
APU may also accept a maximum of 24 undergraduate units of non-General Education elective credit from institutions accredited by the following list of nationally accredited organizations:
- The Association for Biblical Higher Education
- The Association of Theological Schools
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
These units may apply only as elective units, and are not applicable toward General Education, major, or minor requirements.
Courses eligible for transfer include any courses designated as baccalaureate level by the credit granting institution and intended for transfer. Remedial courses and vocational/technical courses are not accepted, except when approved through Prior Learning Assessment. Students must complete transfer work with a grade of C- or higher. APU credit is given on a 4.0 scale.
Courses taken through online agencies, services, and institutions will not be accepted to APU unless the host university is regionally accredited.
The university can give credit for no more than 70 units of coursework from a community or junior college and 90 units from a four-year institution. All quarter units will be converted to semester units. APU grants two semester units of credit for every three quarter units.
For information on transfer guidelines, see:
- Concurrent Enrollment Policy for Professional Students
- Correspondence Course Credit for Professional Students
- General Education Information for Professional Transfer Students
- Military Credit Policy
Prior Learning Assessment
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the evaluation of learning that has taken place outside the traditional classroom for the purpose of awarding college credit. PLA is a WASC-approved process to help students articulate college-level learning that may be used to earn units toward elective or general education requirements for their degree. The student may use a variety of pathways to earn PLA units. These include:
- Kolb-model Experiential Learning Essays
- Credit for some military experience
- Submission of professional/technical training documents
The maximum number of units that may be earned with PLA is 30, and units may be applied only toward professional undergraduate degree programs. If credit for an Experiential Learning Essay is not granted after the first review, students may resubmit one additional time. Students are charged a per-unit fee and a one-time evaluation fee that may be found under Graduate and Professional Student Financial Services on the APU website. Financial aid is not available for these fees.
Students should not assume acceptance of transfer work until they receive written notification from the registrar.