UNC Charlotte Academic Policy: Credit for Prior Learning and Graduate Transfer Credit

I. Executive Summary

This policy establishes the framework for evaluating, awarding, and documenting academic credit for transfer  coursework and prior learning. It ensures consistency, transparency, and academic integrity in recognizing  prior learning—whether acquired through regionally accredited institutions, military service, professional  training, certifications, or other verified experiential learning opportunities. Up to a total of 40% of a graduate  certificate or degree may be earned by credit for prior learning, 30% of which can come from transfer credit,  with some stipulations. Graduate programs may specify a lower amount of transfer credit or credit for prior  learning. 

The policy outlines clear criteria for accepting transfer credits, including accreditation standards, course  equivalency, and alignment with degree requirements. For credit for prior learning, the policy defines  acceptable methods for assessment, such as portfolios, standardized exams or specialized challenge exams. 

This policy facilitates a streamlined process, supporting student mobility, reducing redundancy in learning, and  accelerating degree completion. It aligns with institutional goals for access and academic excellence while  maintaining rigorous academic standards for all learners.  

II. Policy and Procedure Statement

Credit for Prior Learning 

A student may have relevant professional or military experience that could qualify for academic credit through  assessment of prior learning. Credit for prior learning may be combined with transfer credit but cannot exceed  40% of the degree.  

Credit by Examination (also known as a challenge exam) 

A currently enrolled UNC Charlotte student may earn credit for a University course by passing a program approved challenge examination, without completing the regular coursework. Because some courses may not  be eligible for credit by examination, the graduate program decides whether to offer the exam. If approved, the  student must pay the required fee. Credit earned this way will appear on the transcript as hours earned with a  grade of Pass or Unsatisfactory. No grade points will be assigned. The hours attempted will equal the hours  earned. No partial credit is awarded. If the student fails the exam, no grade points or hours attempted will be  recorded. This policy does not apply to courses for which students have already received a passing or failing  grade at UNC Charlotte.

Credit by Competency Assessment  

Relevant competencies may be demonstrated by specialized assessments at the discretion of the academic  program. Assessments may include portfolios, presentations or other forms of assessment as appropriate to  the course provided they demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes for the relevant course. Competencies  may come from industry, corporate or military experience, prior credentials or certifications. 

Transfer Credit 

Students enrolled in a graduate degree or certificate program at UNC Charlotte may transfer graduate credit  based on the guidelines stated below and according to the policies on the Graduate Catalog year reflected on  their degree audit. Students may request transfer credit through a Graduate Academic Petition. 

Graduate Credit Earned at UNC Charlotte 

Students may transfer graduate credit earned at UNC Charlotte under the following conditions: 

  • The course credit is appropriate to the degree program in which the student is enrolled and subject to  approval by the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School 
  • The credit earned is within the published program time limits as outlined in the Catalog ● The student received a grade of C or above for the course and the overall GPA remains at or above 3.0  (See Academic Standing and Grading and Related Policies in the applicable Graduate Catalog) ● The capstone requirement for a master’s program cannot be transferred 
  • Up to 9 hours of master’s capstone or thesis credit may transfer into a doctoral program as elective  credit 
  • Undergraduate coursework is not transferable for graduate credit 
  • Coursework taken as part of an earned master’s or doctorate degree is not transferable to a degree at  UNC Charlotte at the same or lower level 
  • Coursework taken as part of an earned certificate is not transferable to another certificate program at  UNC Charlotte. 

Graduate Transfer Credit Earned at Other Institutions 

Master’s and certificate students may transfer up to 30% of the total credit hours required for a master’s degree  or certificate program, and doctoral students may transfer up to 30 credit hours from other institutions under  the following conditions: 

  • The course credit is appropriate to the degree program in which the student is enrolled and subject to  approval by the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School 
  • The credit earned is within the published program time limits as outlined in the Catalog ● The student received a grade of B or above as defined by UNC Charlotte; coursework that has been  graded on a Pass/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis will be accepted for transfer if  equivalent to an A or B grade at UNC Charlotte (See Grading and Related Policies in the applicable Graduate Catalog) 
  • Coursework taken as part of an externally earned master’s or doctorate degree is not transferable to a  degree at UNC Charlotte at the same or lower level 
  • The capstone requirement cannot be transferred into a master’s program. 
  • Graduate credit from other institutions may not be applied to Advanced Standing Tracks for doctoral  programs. (See Doctoral Degree Requirements in the applicable Graduate Catalog) 
  • Credit taken under the quarter system will be converted to semester hour credit; partial or fractional  credits cannot be not awarded
  • Graduate courses that appear in the undergraduate section of a transcript are only transferable if they  were not counted toward the student’s undergraduate degree 
  • Up to 9 hours of master’s capstone or thesis credit may transfer into a doctoral program as elective  credit

III. Definitions

  • Accepted Accrediting Body – The following are accepted accrediting bodies: Accrediting Commission  for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher  Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England  Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities  (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and  WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 
  • Assessment – Assessments may include portfolios, presentations, or other formats that demonstrate  mastery of the course learning outcomes. 
  • Certification – An industry-recognized credential or designation that is obtained once the student has  successfully passed a certification exam. Certification differs from licensure in that certification is a  validation of specific industry-valued competencies and not a legal requirement for practicing a  profession. 
  • Credit/semester hours – A credit/semester hour is an amount of work represented in intended  learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement. UNC Charlotte adheres to the  Carnegie unit, which is a nationally recognized equivalency that consists of not less than: 
    • 750 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 1500 minutes of out of  class student work for one semester hour of credit. Each credit hour corresponds to 50 minutes  per week of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 100 minutes of out of class  work per week for a 15 week semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a different  amount of time, whether instruction is delivered face to face, or in a hybrid or distance mode  and regardless of the type of academic work leading to the award of credit hours, such as  lecture, seminar, internship, practica, studio, to name a few. Regardless of the length of term,  the standard of 750 minutes of contact minutes and 1500 minutes of out of class work for each  credit hour remains the same. 
    • 1500 minutes of direct faculty instruction for one semester hour of credit for a lab course.
  • Degree – Diploma or title awarded to a student who completed a prescribed course of study.
  • Early Entry – Accelerated program for students who begin graduate study during their undergraduate  senior year. 
  • Industry or corporate experience – Evaluation of non-collegiate instructional programs, such as, but  not limited to, those for apprenticeships and other workplace training that demonstrate competency  required for completion of degree or certificate programs.
  • Military education and training – Learning gained through military training and experience including,  but not be limited to, recruit training, military occupational specialty (MOS) training and education,  Defense Language Institute foreign language coursework and exams, Community College of the Air  Force (CCAF) coursework, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the DANTES  Standardized Subject Test (DSST).

IV. Policy Contact(s)

V. History

  • Established: TBD
  • Revised: September 21, 2017 [Substantive changes made to transfer credit]
  • Revised: March 31, 2022 [Approved by Faculty Council]
  • Revised: October 30, 2025 [Renames the policy and maintains the maximum limits for transfer credit while allowing graduate program directors additional flexibility to recognize prior learning]

VI. Prior Versions