Transfer Credit Policy
The following three guidelines are used to determine the general acceptability of transfer credit: 1) the educational quality of the institution; 2) the equivalency of the nature, content, and level of course; 3) the direct appropriateness and applicability of the credits earned to the programs offered by Patrick Henry College. The following criteria govern the transfer of credit:
1. An official transcript from each institution attended must be submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to acceptance. Upon admission as a degree-seeking student, the Registrar will evaluate the transcript(s) submitted and issue a transfer credit evaluation to the prospective student. Transfer credits are applied to the student's transcript upon enrollment.
2. Transfer students who are enrolled in courses during or after their acceptance must submit their transcript within 30 days of enrollment at PHC or the end of the course (whichever is later). Once enrolled, transfer credit may not be awarded unless transient student status is approved prior to the course. See "Transient Student Status" for complete information.
3. The Registrar evaluates credit for transfer from institutions accredited by agencies authorized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Where institutions have not sought accreditation as a matter of principle, but who graduates have a high acceptance rate in graduate schools and law schools, and whose courses are taught by faculty with terminal degrees, PHC may choose to accept transfer credit. In some cases, these credits may be conditionally accepted for transfer based upon earning a 2.0 cumulative PHC GPA upon completion of the first semester (or 12 credits).
4. PHC may accept up to 50 transfer credits. Up to 9 credits may be major courses. Courses may not be transferred to fulfill Freedoms Foundations I & II; Philosophy; Principles of Biblical Reasoning; Rhetoric; Western Literature I & II; History of the United States I & II. Transferred courses that do not apply to core courses or major courses are transferred as open electives.
5. The Registrar serves as the final authority in evaluating credit for transfer. In special instances, students may submit supplemental course material (syllabi, catalog descriptions, etc.) to the Registrar to be reviewed. Upon evaluating this information, additional credit may be awarded.
6. Vocational, technical, developmental, remedial, and military courses or courses graded on a pass/fail scale are generally not eligible for transfer. Credits awarded on the basis of institutional or competency exams are not eligible for transfer. No credit will be awarded on the basis of life experience. No credit will be awarded for CLEP (College Level Examination Program).
7. Only courses with grades of 'C' and above will be considered. Grades and Grade Point Averages do not transfer.
8. Credits transferred from institutions on the quarter system will transfer on the following scale: 5 and 4 quarter hours = 3 semester hours; 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours; 2 and 1 quarter hours = 1 semester hour.
Credit from other sources
Patrick Henry College recognizes the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board and will review the results of AP examinations for credit for first semester students. AP scores must be sent directly from the College Board to be evaluated (photocopies of student results are not evaluated). AP Examination Scores of 4 and 5 are evaluated for transfer according to the following table:
AP Examination |
Score of 4 or 5 |
Art: History of Art |
Elective - 3 credits |
Calculus AB |
Elective - 3 credits |
Calculus BC |
Elective - 3 credits |
Chemistry |
Elective - 3 credits |
Computer Science AB |
Elective - 3 credits |
Economics: Micro** |
Elective - 3 credits |
Economics: Macro** |
Elective - 3 credits |
English Lit. & Comp |
Elective - 3 credits |
English Lang. & Comp |
Elective - 3 credits |
European History |
HIS130* & HIS140* |
Human Geography |
Elective - 3 credits |
French Language |
Elementary Modern Language - 6 credits** |
French Literature |
Elementary Modern Language - 6 credits** |
German Language |
Elementary Modern Language - 6 credits |
Physics B |
SCI220* & SCI220L* |
Spanish Language |
Elementary Modern Language - 6 credits** |
Spanish Literature |
Elementary Modern Language - 6 credits** |
*It should be noted that though a student may receive credit for these courses, AP content may not include the biblical worldview content of PHC courses. The student may be expected to articulate this worldview in subsequent courses.
** Students who score a 4 or 5 on both Language and Literature will receive credit for both Elementary and Intermediate level proficiency.
*** Students who take both Micro-economics and Macro-economics will receive credit for ECON320.
Credits from the Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and International Baccalaureate (IB) are evaluated on a case by case basis.
