Transfer of Credit
With approval of the program faculty and the Dean of the Graduate College, a limited number of
graduate course credits acquired elsewhere, at UVM prior to admission, or by credit by examination
may be included as part of a student’s program of study. Credit by examination is earned by arranging
through a program faculty member to take an examination that tests the student’s skill and knowledge
in a particular UVM course appropriate for inclusion in the student’s degree program.
If a transfer of credit is approved, only the credit is transferred, not the grade.
Graduate credit earned at UVM after completion of the bachelor’s degree, but prior to admission to a
graduate program, is considered transfer of credit and is subject to the requirements and limits that
follow.
Approval of credit: Approval of credit is granted by the graduate program based on the specific
program requirements described in the Graduate College Catalogue, as well as (1) the number of credits
requested, (2) the appropriateness of credit for inclusion in the degree program, and (3) the currency of
the credit. These criteria are described below. Any exceptions must be approved by the program
faculty and the Dean of the Graduate College.
Number of credits: Master’s degree and Doctor of Education students are allowed 9 hours of transfer
credit, and/or credit by examination and an additional 6 credits acquired from appropriate courses
taken at UVM prior to admission to a degree program may also be transferred; Doctor of Philosophy
students are allowed 24 credits and an additional 6 credits acquired from appropriate courses taken at
UVM. This means that all master’s students take at least 21 credits at UVM (at least 15 after admission);
Doctor of Philosophy at least 51 credits (at least 45 after admission); and Doctor of Education at least 47
credits (at least 41 after admission). For master’s programs that require more than 30 credits, program
faculty may, in individual cases, allow more transfer credits. In all cases, students must take at least one
half of their degree credits at UVM after admission and adhere to all requirements stipulated by the
graduate program.
Appropriateness of credit: Transfer credit and credit by examination must be approved by the program
faculty as appropriate for inclusion as part of the student’s degree requirements. Credit cannot be
awarded for (1) courses taken prior to completion of an undergraduate degree program, (2) courses that
would not receive graduate credit if taken at UVM, (3) courses with a grade lower than B (3.0), (4) thesis
or dissertation credits received at another institution, and (5) credit by examination given by another
institution.
Currency of credit: Transfer credit and credit by examination must be taken within 7 years of completion
of the master’s degree and within 9 years of completion of the doctoral degree. Students wishing to
apply for readmission to a program after deactivation must demonstrate currency of knowledge in the
field of study to which they are applying. Currency of knowledge must be formally evaluated by the
program faculty. In addition, the returning student must complete a program of study including at least
2 courses in the current program.
Concurrent Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy Credit
Up to 30 hours of course work for which graduate credit is earned at UVM in a master’s degree
program, whether a master’s degree is received or not, may be applied toward a Ph.D. program. No
provision is made for a person to employ the same credit to satisfy two master’s degrees at UVM.
