Work satisfactorily completed at a regionally accredited collegiate institution is accepted for transfer provided it is academic in nature and is generally applicable toward a liberal arts program of study. A limited number of credits will be allowed for professional or vocationally-oriented coursework.
A record of all academic work undertaken in other collegiate institutions, including a record of correspondence and distance learning work and registration in summer sessions, must be presented to the Registrar by every student who has undertaken such work. Students who fail to provide such transcripts may be guilty of unethical conduct and may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or dismissal from the college.
Is it not advisable to enroll in additional coursework, including extension and online courses, at another collegiate institution while the student is enrolled at Whitman College or in a Whitman College Off-Campus Study program. In the event a student wishes to be dual enrolled, they will need to obtain permission, in advance, from their advisor. The student will need to submit the Request for Approval of Transfer Credit (RATC) form to the Registrar’s Office prior to starting their non-Whitman course. Nothing in this rule makes the granting of any credit mandatory by Whitman College.
Whitman College grants no academic credit for work experience or internships per se. See the Academic Credit for Internships section.
A total of 70 credits of advanced standing transferred from other regionally accredited collegiate institutions is the maximum non-Whitman work creditable toward a bachelor’s degree. This includes 30 credits allowed on the basis of scores earned and approved by Whitman faculty on the Advanced Placement Test(s) of the College Board, Higher Level courses for the International Baccalaureate, and GCE (Cambridge International) A-Level Exams. Professionally and vocationally oriented course work is allowed up to 10 credits maximum. Running Start courses, or certain military service are also included in the 70 credit maximum Credit earned exclusively from two-year colleges has a 62 semester credit maximum.
Each quarter system credit is worth two-thirds of a semester credit. Whitman does not transfer partial credit (anything less than 1 whole semester credit) and does not round up. The sole exception occurs when multiple courses from the same college are transferable to Whitman. In these cases, the fractional credits are combined if the sum is at least one or more semester credits. These are then applied toward general degree credit requirements.
No transfer credit is applied toward a Whitman degree unless it is of average (D or 1.0 on a numerical grade scale, in accordance to Whitman’s grading scale) or better quality. Credit may be awarded for transfer work graded as Pass/Fail, but only if the original institution's minimum "pass" grade is equivalent to a D or better. However, Off-Campus Studies courses (courses taken outside the United States and on U.S.-based Partner Programs) must be taken for a letter grade or its numeric equivalent. Transfer credit will not be awarded for Off-Campus Studies courses graded as Pass/Fail.
Grades awarded by other institutions are not made a part of the student's Whitman record, except for grades awarded through Off-Campus Studies Partner Programs, which appear on the Whitman transcript, but are not calculated into the grade point average.
Students who have participated in one or more Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate courses, or GCE (Cambridge International) A-Level Exams must arrange to have their scores or transcripts sent directly to Whitman College by the institution awarding credit. These courses may be applied toward the 124-credit degree requirement and certain majors and minors, but may not be used to satisfy Distribution Requirements.
If there is a credit discrepancy for a similar course, the credit amount from the institution where the course was completed will be the credit total transferred. For example, if a course is completed for 3 semester credits at another institution, it will not be eligible to transfer to Whitman for 4 credits, even in the case where it is considered to be satisfying the course requirements of a Whitman course worth 4 credits.
Conversely, if a transfer course is completed for 5 semester credits, 5 credits will be transferred to Whitman. A transfer course cannot be worth more than a Whitman course, so the additional semester credit(s) are likely to transfer as general degree credits to be used toward the 124 credits necessary to earn a Whitman degree.
The amount of credit allowed from various extramural sources is restricted as follows:
Credit Earned Through Exams
The college’s policy for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams is to award credit for each subject test as indicated on the following AP chart. (Please see AP chart below for individual exam score requirements and Whitman equivalent and credit). AP credit does not cover chemistry laboratory courses. Students must have completed and passed Chemistry 135, or an equivalent college chemistry course, in order to enroll in Chemistry 136. Likewise, students must have completed Biology 101L, or an equivalent college-level biology course with a lab component, in order to enroll in Biology 102L.
The college’s policy for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams is to award credit for each Higher-Level examination as indicated on the following IB chart. Students must have completed and passed Chemistry 135, or an equivalent college-level chemistry course with a lab component, in order to enroll in Chemistry 136. Likewise, students must have completed Biology 101L, or an equivalent college-level biology course with a lab component, in order to enroll in Biology 102L. (Please see IB chart below for individual course exam score requirements and Whitman equivalent and credit).
Credit may be awarded for select General Certificate of Education (GCE-Cambridge International) Advanced Level examinations, with a grade of A*, A or B pending review of each exam syllabus. Students interested in pursuing such credit should contact the Registrar’s Office.
Whitman College does not accept or award credits for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) general or subject examinations or DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST). Such credits awarded by other institutions will not be accepted for transfer. The college also does not accept transfer credit awarded on the basis of placement or challenge examinations at other institutions.
|
Advanced Placement Test (AP) |
AP Score |
Whitman Equivalent |
Whitman Credits |
|
2-D Art and Design |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
3 |
|
3-D Art and Design |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
3 |
|
Drawing |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
3 |
|
Art History |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
3 |
|
Biology |
5 |
*Biology 101, not 101L (lab) |
3 |
|
Chemistry |
4, 5 |
*Chemistry 125 |
3 |
|
Chinese Language and Culture |
5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Computer Science A |
4, 5 |
Computer Science 167 |
4 |
|
Economics: Macro |
5 |
Economics 102 |
4 |
|
Economics: Micro |
5 |
Economics 101 |
4 |
|
English Language and Composition |
5 |
RWPD 170 |
4 |
|
English Literature and Composition |
5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Environmental Science |
4 |
General Degree Credit |
3 |
|
Environmental Science |
5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
French Language and Culture |
4, 5 |
French 205 |
4 |
|
German Language and Culture |
4, 5 |
German 205 |
4 |
|
Government & Politics: United States |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Government & Politics: Comparative |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
History: United States |
5 |
History 106 |
4 |
|
History: European |
5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
History: World Modern |
5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Italian Language and Culture |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Japanese Language and Culture |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Latin |
4, 5 |
Latin 106 |
4 |
|
Mathematics: Calculus AB, or subscore of Calculus BC |
4, 5 |
Mathematics 125 |
3 |
|
Mathematics: Calculus BC |
4, 5 |
Mathematics 125 & 126 |
6 |
|
Mathematics: Statistics |
4, 5 |
Mathematics 128 |
3 |
|
Music Theory |
5 |
Music 101 |
3 |
|
Physics C: Mechanics |
5 |
*Physics 155 |
4 |
|
Psychology |
4, 5 |
Psychology 110 |
3 |
|
Spanish Language and Culture |
5 |
Hispanic Studies 205 & 206 |
8 |
|
Spanish Literature and Culture |
4, 5 |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
*AP credit does not cover science laboratory courses.
|
International Baccalaureate (IB) |
IB Higher Level score |
Whitman Equivalent |
Whitman Credits |
|
Biology |
5 or higher |
*Biology 101; not 101L (lab) |
3 |
|
Chemistry |
5 or higher |
*Chemistry 125 |
3 |
|
Chinese A: literature |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
8 |
|
Economics |
6 or higher |
Economics 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
English A: language and literature |
5 or higher |
RWPD 170, 4 credits elective |
8 |
|
English A: literature |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Film |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
8 |
|
French B |
5 or higher |
French 205 |
4 |
|
German B |
5 or higher |
German 205 & 206 |
8 |
|
Global Politics |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Hindi B |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
History of Africa and Middle East |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
History of the Americas |
5 or higher |
History Elective Credit |
4 |
|
History of Asia and Oceania |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
History of Europe |
5 or higher |
History 183 |
4 |
|
Music |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
8 |
|
Philosophy |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
|
Psychology |
5 or higher |
Psychology 110 |
3 |
|
Spanish A: language and literature |
5 or higher |
Hispanic Studies 205 & 206 |
8 |
|
Spanish B |
5 or higher |
Hispanic Studies 205 & 206 |
8 |
|
Theatre |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
8 |
|
Visual Arts |
5 or higher |
General Degree Credit |
4 |
*IB credit does not cover science laboratory courses.
Running Start/College in the High School Courses
Whitman will review credit earned through the Running Start Program and similar dual enrollment programs on a course-by-course basis. Credits awarded will be for classes at a commensurate level and in subject matter relevant to the Whitman College liberal arts curriculum. Students who earn credits from Running Start and/or College in the High School (CHS) (either Washington’s Running Start or a similar program from another state) will transfer no more than a total of 25 credits initially (10 credits of professional and/or vocational coursework may be included in this total). These initial credits may include: Running Start, CHS, AP, IB, and Cambridge A-level exams. These students will be considered first-year students for purposes of financial aid eligibility. Toward the middle of their first semester, and by the end of their first year at Whitman, students may notify the Registrar and Financial Aid that they wish to add the remainder of their eligible Running Start credits to their academic record. Running Start students are expected to enroll and complete GENS 175 in the fall of their first year; if at mid-semester they decide to transfer in their remaining eligible credits, and it totals at least 58 credits, they will not need to complete GENS 176 their second semester.
Two-Year Colleges
Associate in Arts Degree
Students enrolling at Whitman College with an earned Associate of/in Arts- Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA), are generally given junior credit standing (58 to 62 semester credits) and will have fulfilled many of the requirements within the Whitman’s General Studies Distribution Requirements.
Whitman’s acceptance of the DTA is part of an inter-institutional transfer agreement upheld by the Intercollege Relations Commission (ICRC) for Washington State. (wa-council.org/icrc/).
Acceptance of this DTA does not guarantee admission to Whitman College. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Office of Admission for advice in advance of an application for admission.
A maximum of 62 semester hours of credit may be transferred from accredited two-year colleges. Whitman will accept credit on a course-by-course basis from any Associate degree programs.
Off-Campus Studies Credit
No more than 38 semester credits (19 for one semester) from study abroad programs, including the Partner Programs of the college, may be applied toward degree requirements. Application of credit toward major requirements is subject to the general college limitation and to any specific departmental policy with respect to off-campus programs and transfer credit. Students who wish to receive Whitman credit for any study abroad course must receive prior approval from Off-Campus Studies at Whitman by submitting the Whitman Off-Campus Studies Application by the appropriate deadline. Credit earned during the regular school year on an off-campus program that is not a Partner Program of the college will not be accepted for transfer toward the Whitman degree.
Non-partner Summer study programs, however, may be approved by the Off-Campus Studies Committee for transfer but only if prior approval has been granted by the Off-Campus Studies Committee. To request summer study abroad transfer credit approval, students must submit the Summer Study Abroad Transfer Credit Application to Off-Campus Studies at least three weeks prior to their program's application deadline.
Military Service
American Council on Education (ACE) credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis according to Whitman’s standard transfer credit policy, provided that satisfactory military training and discharge credentials (DD214) are submitted. If credit for basic military training has been granted to satisfy high school requirements, it may not be counted as college credit.
Combined Programs
For students who are admitted to the combined study plan programs in engineering, forestry and environmental management, law, foreign language, oceanography, and international studies, the transfer credit provisions of the college are modified to fit the patterns of the combined plans. When the student completes residence in the combined plan school, Whitman College allows the transfer credit that is necessary in the pattern of the combined plans to meet the degree requirements of 124 credits.