Transfer Credit

Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and A-level Credit

Graduation credit in fulfillment of general education requirements and for elective courses may be obtained through many of the Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level tests and GCE A-level examinations. Credit will be awarded subject to the following guidelines:

  • A student earning scores of 4 or 5 on a given AP examination, or a score of 5, 6, or 7 on IB higher level tests or a grade of B or higher on A-level examinations may be deemed to have met one general education learning objective aligned with that AP examination, as determined by the Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee and the College Faculty.
  • A maximum of one elective course credit (four semester hours) may be awarded for a score of 4 or 5 on an AP examination or a score of 5, 6, or 7 on a higher-level IB examination or a grade of B or higher on an A-level examination in most subject areas as identified in the lists below.
  • If a student presents satisfactory scores on AP, and IB and A-level examinations in the same subject area, credit is awarded for only one examination except when a student presents satisfactory scores on two distinct examinations in the subject areas of economics, history, or politics where a maximum of two elective course credits (eight semester hours) may be awarded in those areas.

A concordance of examinations and general education designations follow:

AP Examination Satisfies IB Examination Satisfies A-Level Examination Satisfies
Art History (G2) Anthropology (G4) Biology (G5)
Biology (G5) Biology (G5) Chemistry (G5)
Calculus AB (G5Q) Chemistry (G5) Classical Studies (G4)
Calculus BC (G5Q) Chinese (G6) Computer Science (G5Q)
Chemistry (G5) Computer Science (G5Q) Economics (G4)
Chinese Language and Culture (G6) Dance (G2) English Literature (G1)
Computer Science A (G5Q) Economics (G4) French (G6)
English Language and Composition (None) English A1 (G1) German (G6)
English Literature and Composition (G1) English A2 (None) History: European (G4)
Environmental Science (G5) Film (G2) History: United States (G4)
European History (G4) French B (G6) History: International (G4)
French Language and Culture (G6) Geography (G4) Mathematics (G5Q)
German Language and Culture (G6) German (G6) Music (G2)
Government and Politics: Comparative (G4) History: Africa (G4) Physics (G5)
Government and Politics: United States (G4) History: Americas (G4) Psychology (G5)
Human Geography (G4) History: Asia/Oceania (G4) Spanish (G6)
Italian Language and Culture (G6) History: Europe/Middle East (G4) Thinking Skills (G3)
Japanese Language and Culture (G6) Mathematics (G5Q)
Latin (G6) Music (G2)
Macroeconomics (G4) Philosophy (G3)
Microeconomics (G4) Physics (G5)
Music Theory (G2) Psychology (G5)
Physics 1 (G5) Spanish B (G6)
Physics 2 (G5) Theatre Arts (G2)
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (G5) Visual Arts (G2)
Physics C: Mechanics (G5)
Psychology (G5)
Spanish Language and Culture (G6)
Spanish Literature and Culture (G6)
Statistics (G5Q)
Studio Art: Drawing (G2)
Studio Art: Three-Dimensional Design (G2)
Studio Art: Two-Dimensional Design (G2)
United States History (G4)
World History (G4)

Transfer Credit from Other Colleges and Universities

The College of Arts and Sciences allows some transfer credits for students who have been enrolled as at another college or university prior to enrolling at The University of the South. The Office of the University Registrar assesses transfer work on a course-by-course basis to determine comparability to courses offered by the College and applicability toward a University of the South degree. Academic work with a grade of C or above from other institutions is generally transferred for credit hours only. No credit will be accepted for a grade of C minus or lower. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours at two-thirds their face value (example: five quarter hours equal three semester hours). Work from international institutions using other credit systems will be converted to semester hours using approved protocols. The University of the South does not award transfer credit for course work taken on a non-credit basis or for “life experiences.” Grades for transfer work appear on the transcript, but do not affect grade point averages, final class ranks, academic honors, or eligibility for membership in the Order of the Gown.

Off-Campus Study

Students planning to take courses during a summer session at another institution must obtain permission from the Office of the University Registrar to attend and approval of specific courses to be taken. Forms are available in the Office of the University Registrar. Students seeking to enroll in a summer study abroad program other than a Sewanee summer abroad program must also have the approval of the Associate Dean for Global Education.

Maximum Amounts of Transfer Credit

Students who matriculate as first-year students may be granted a maximum of 32 semester hours for work completed from any source prior to high school graduation, including Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level tests, GCE A-level examinations, and dual/concurrent enrollment programs. Transfer credit for the same work will be granted but once even if that work is recognized on multiple credentials. For instance, transfer credit will be granted once for the same work appearing both on an AP score report and a college transcript.

Students who transfer to Sewanee after having been enrolled as a degree-seeking student at another college or university may be awarded a maximum of 64 semester hours in transfer, with no more than 32 semester hours awarded for work completed prior to high school graduation.

As each degree-seeking student must earn at least 64 semester hours of credit at Sewanee, the maximum amount of transfer credit awarded under any circumstance is 64 semester hours.