Master of Fine Arts Transfer Credit Policy

Policy Number: #200

Responsible Executive(s):

  • Provost

Responsible Office(s):

  • Office of the Registrar

Date Adopted: 11-14-2018

Date Revised: 01-14-2023

  1. Purpose
    This policy ensures that transfer credit is consistently being applied and accepted for Master of Fine Arts (“MFA”) students with prior learning or experience
  2. Scope
    1. This Policy applies to all University Students applying to or accepted to the Master of Fine Arts program.
  3. Definitions
    1. Transfer/Competency-Based Credit: Transfer credit is awarded for course work (undergraduate and graduate) completed at other colleges and universities that are accredited by a regional accrediting association. The seven regional accrediting associations are:
      1. Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
      2. Middle State Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
      3. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission of Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CHIE)
      4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
      5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS- COC)
      6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission (WASC-SCUC)
      7. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)
    2. Graduate Transfer Credit: Graduate transfer is accepted only for courses in which a grade of “B-” or better is earned. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours by using a 3:2 ratio.
      1. A maximum of six semester hours may be awarded based on recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training or by the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide for Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The credit must be recommended for graduate-level credit and must be appropriate for graduate degree requirements.
      2. Of the total semester hours required for any one of the graduate degree programs, no more than 20% of the total semester hours required may include transfer or competency-based course work or course work included in a previously earned graduate degree from a transfer institution or from Regis University.
      3. After careful review of the graduate course content, transfer credit is approved by the dean or designee of each graduate program. Only credit completed within the last ten years is eligible for transfer consideration. Transferable graduate work is equated to Regis courses when possible.
      4. Graduate degree programs may have more restrictive or more specific transfer credit policies in addition to the general policies stated above. Specific transfer policies appear in the appropriate graduate degree section of this Catalog.
  4. Policy
    1. MFA students with prior learning or experience as a published writer or other experience deemed appropriate by the MFA program and the Regis College Dean’s Office can be awarded Regis University Portfolio credit.

      The student presents evidence of their prior learning experience to the Co-Founder and Director of the MFA program. The Co-Founder/Director assess appropriateness of the experience and determines if the experience warrants graduate-level learning and whether the experience can be awarded credit and used toward MFA degree requirements. If so, a recommendation of MFA course equivalency and credit hours awarded is presented to the Regis College Dean’s Office.

      The Regis College Dean’s Office approves or denies the request for credit. If approved, the Regis College Dean’s Office sends the formal request of credit to the Director of Academic Records. The credit is reflected on the Regis University transcript as Regis University Portfolio credit under the Competency-Based Credit section of the Official Regis University transcript.

    2. Exceptions to the Policy
      1. Current Policy: Of the total semester hours required for any one of the graduate degree programs, no more than 20% of the total semester hours required may include transfer or competency-based course work or course work included in a previously earned graduate degree from a transfer institution or from Regis University.
        1. Exception: Allow more than 20% of hours required for the MFA to be awarded through transfer credit and count toward degree requirements.

          Students may be awarded up to a maximum of 15 semester hours toward the MFA degree through the Portfolio Process. Any exceptions to more than 15 semester hours awarded must be approved by the Provost on case-by-case basis.

      2. Current Policy: Transfer credit is awarded for course work (undergraduate and graduate) completed at other colleges and universities that are accredited by a regional accrediting association.

        A maximum of six semester hours may be awarded based on recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training or by the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide for Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The credit must be recommended for graduate-level credit and must be appropriate for graduate degree requirements.

        1. Exception:Allow Portfolio credit to be awarded and count toward MFA degree requirements.

          Graduate programs at Regis have required that course work awarded for graduate-level transfer credit be completed through a regionally accredited institution, from the American Council on Education (ACE) National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training, or from the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide for Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Graduate transfer credit has not been awarded for Portfolio credit and has not counted toward graduate degrees requirement.

  5. Related Policies Procedures, Forms and Other Resources
    Regis University Catalog
    Colleague (University SDS) screens. Exhibit A.

Exhibit A
Colleague (University SDS) Screens

Transfer credit portal