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Transfer Credit Policy

Policy Number: 04.0013

Purpose

This policy provides guidance on the acceptance of transfer credits towards graduate and undergraduate programs of study at The New School.

Scope

This policy is applicable to all enrolled students and is guidance for applicants.

Definitions

Higher Education Institution: A post-secondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or comparable international agency for non-U.S. institutions.

Responsibilities

Registrar’s Office: The Registrar’s Office is responsible for reviewing and posting all applicable transfer credit within the guidelines outlined in this policy.

Policy

  1. Approved Sources for Transfer Credits
    1. Higher Education Institutions: The New School awards transfer credit for coursework completed at an institution of higher education. Additional review and criteria for accepting transfer credits may be required in certain circumstances, as outlined below.
      1. Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions: Transfer credit completed at a higher education institution that is not accredited by a regional accreditor may require additional review by the academic unit responsible for delivering the corresponding curriculum at The New School. Students seeking transfer credit from a non-regionally accredited institution should provide, at a minimum, a syllabus for each course so that course content, course objectives, learning outcomes, and faculty credentials may be reviewed for alignment with The New School requirements. Additional documentation may be requested.
      2. Non-U.S. Institutions: Courses completed at non-U.S. institutions must be certified by their respective country’s Ministry of Education or equivalent. All applicants must submit an official transcript and an official translation if the transcript is not in English. Applicants who attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States may have their transcript(s) evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation may be prepared for each transcript. The evaluation should examine and equate all course work on a course-by-course basis and include grading equivalents to U.S. colleges.
        1. This option also applies to transfer credits earned via Study Abroad experiences with two exceptions:
          1. Transfer credits for study abroad experiences that have corresponding articulation agreements with The New School which specify the terms for transferring credits
          2. Transfer credits for which an official transcript is issued by a U.S. School of Record for a third-party provider or other independent agency of study abroad programs. Certain other third-party providers may be exempted from the required transcript translation and from issuing a transcript by a School of Record.
    2. Military Credits: The New School will award credit for military education based on the guidelines presented by the American Council on Education (ACE). Students must present a military transcript - AARTS (Army), SMART (Navy and Marine), CCAF (Air Force), or Joint Services Transcript (JST). Military coursework may be equated to equivalent New School courses, but in most cases students will be awarded general, non-liberal arts credits that may be applied to undergraduate degree requirements. Students should consult the appropriate program leadership and Deans’ offices should they wish to apply military credits toward major and/or minor requirements.
    3. Credit by Examination and Prior Learning Assessment: Students may earn undergraduate transfer credit by examination or through prior learning assessment according to the following criteria:
      1. AP Examination: AP exams with scores of 4 or higher may be awarded 4 undergraduate transfer credits per exam.
      2. IB Diploma: Higher Level (HL) courses with scores of 5 or higher may be awarded 8 undergraduate transfer credits per exam. Standard Level (SL) courses with grades of 5 or higher may be awarded 4 undergraduate transfer credits per exam.
      3. Cambridge Exams: A Level exams for which a student earns a C or higher may be awarded 8 undergraduate transfer credits. AS Level exams for which a student earns a C or higher may be awarded 4 undergraduate transfer credits.
      4. French Baccalaureate: French Baccalaureate subjects for which a student earns a score of 13 or higher may be awarded 8 undergraduate transfer credits. For subjects with a score of 10-12, a student may receive 4 undergraduate transfer credits.
      5. College Level Examination Program (CLEP): Undergraduate transfer credit will be awarded to incoming students based on the CLEP Exam results. Credit is awarded in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommended guidelines.
      6. Prior Learning Assessment: Students admitted to the Bachelor’s Program for Adult and Transfer Students may be awarded transfer credit for learning in non-course, non-credit, or continuing education if evaluated through The New School’s Prior Learning Assessment process.
  2. Transferable Content and Grades
    1. Transfer credit will only be awarded for content that:
      1. Is relevant to curricula offered by The New School, as determined by program leadership and Deans’ offices (as appropriate)
      2. Fulfills degree requirement(s) for the student’s program of study
      3. Has been earned at the level (undergraduate or graduate) to which it is being applied at The New School
    2. Transfer credit will not be awarded for remedial, pre-college, or duplicative coursework
    3. When possible transfer credit will be awarded as direct equivalents to courses offered at The New School.
    4. At the graduate level, transfer credit will only be awarded for coursework in which the student has earned a grade of “B” or higher. Courses for which a grade of “Pass” (or equivalent) has been earned may be accepted for transfer provided that the Registrar (or equivalent) of the sending institution provides a statement that a “Pass” grade is equivalent to a grade of “B” or higher. For courses taken during the Spring 2020 term, courses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if they qualify for transfer in the following circumstances: (i) without proof of grade equivalency (Pass/Fail courses) or (ii) if a grade of less than “B” was received (for letter-grade courses).
    5. At the undergraduate level, transfer credit will only be awarded for coursework in which the student has earned a grade of “C” or higher. Courses for which a grade of “Pass” (or equivalent) has been earned may be accepted for transfer provided that the Registrar (or equivalent) of the sending institution provides a statement that a “Pass” grade is equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. For courses taken during the Spring 2020 term, students will (i) not be required to provide proof of grade equivalency for Pass/Fail courses and (ii) will be awarded transfer credit for any passing grade for courses in which a letter grade was earned.
    6. Grades and grade point averages (GPA) are not transferred. Only the course title, name of the sending institutions, and number of credits awarded for transfer appears on a student’s New School transcript.
  3. Time Limits for Awarding Transfer Credits
    1. New Students
      1. Students applying to The New School must submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions as part of the admissions application process. All transcripts must be submitted no later than at the conclusion of the first term of matriculation.
      2. Credits earned more than ten (10) years prior to admission may require additional review to be considered for transfer.
        1. The New School for Social Research does not accept any transfer credits for coursework completed more than ten (10) years prior to matriculation.
    2. Continuing Students
      1. Prior approval is required for courses taken at other institutions, via the External Credit Request Form, while a student is enrolled at The New School. All official transcripts must be received by the end of the subsequent semester to be considered. For students, who are completing their final semester/final requirements at another institution or are studying abroad in their final semester, the official transcript must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before the degree conferral date. All transcripts received after the degree conferral date will delay the awarding of the degree to the next degree conferral date.
  4. Transfer Credit Limits
    1. Transfer credit may make up, in total, no more than half of a student’s major requirements.
      1. Students who have completed experiences in excess of maximum allowable transfer credits may work with program leadership and/or Dean’s Office (as appropriate) to elect which credits to apply to their record, up to the maximum.
    2. Undergraduate Transfer Limits:
      1. Students may not exceed the maximum number of transfer credits permitted for their degree:
        1. Associate of Applied Sciences: Students in the Interior Design AAS program may transfer a maximum of 31 credits. Students in all other AAS programs may transfer a maximum of 30 credits.
        2. Bachelor’s Program for Adults and Transfer Students Students may transfer a maximum of 84 credits, of which up to 30 credits may be awarded via the Prior Learning Assessment process.
        3. BA/BFA: Students may transfer a maximum of 42 liberal arts credits and 42 studio art credits from another institution. The combined total may not exceed 84 credits.
        4. BFA Jazz and Contemporary Music: Students may transfer a maximum of 64 credits to The New School.
        5. Other Bachelors Programs: Students in all other Bachelors programs may transfer a maximum of 60 credits to The New School.
    3. Graduate Program Transfer Limits:
      1. College of Performing Arts: Transfer credits are not accepted for graduate programs.
      2. New School for Social Research:
        1. Masters Programs:
          1. A maximum of 9 credits may be transferred toward the following programs:
            1. International Affairs MA
            2. Economics MS
            3. Public and Urban Policy MS
          2. Creative Writing: Transfer credits not permitted
          3. All Other Masters Programs: Students may transfer a maximum of 3 credits.
        2. PhD Programs:
          1. Public and Urban Policy:
            1. Students with masters degree from another institution or another division of The New School may transfer a maximum of 30 credits
            2. Students with masters degrees earned at the Milano School may transfer a maximum of 36 credits.
            3. Students with a masters degree and at least one full year of doctoral coursework from another institution may transfer a maximum of 42 credits.
          2. All Other PhD Programs:
            1. Students may transfer a maximum of 30 credits at the discretion of the department.
        3. Advanced Certificates: Credits may not be transferred.
      3. Parsons and Parsons Paris:
        1. No credits can be transferred toward the following programs:
          1. Architecture MArch
          2. Communication Design MPS
          3. Documentary Media Studies Advanced Certificate
          4. Fashion Design and Society MFA
          5. Interior Design MFA
          6. Lighting Design MFA
          7. Media Management Advanced Certificate
          8. Photography MFA
          9. Sustainability Strategies Advanced Certificate
        2. A maximum of 6 credits may be transferred toward the following programs:
          1. Fashion Studies MA
          2. History of Design and Curatorial Studies MA
          3. Theories of Urban Practice MA
          4. Design and Technology MFA
          5. Fine Arts MFA
          6. Textiles MFA
          7. Transdisciplinary Design MFA
          8. Data Visualization MS
          9. Design and Urban Ecologies MS
          10. Strategic Design and Management MS
        3. A maximum of 9 credits may be transferred toward the following programs:
          1. Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management MS
          2. Industrial Design MFA
          3. Media Management MS
          4. Media Studies MA
  5. Displaced Persons and Other Extenuating Circumstances
    1. Extreme Events
      1. If a student cannot provide the appropriate copies of official transcripts or other documentation from their previous institutions due to sudden or extreme events such as the loss of diplomatic relations between the United States and another country, the rise of an unstable government, civil war, ongoing intense crime or violence, or violent events, The New School will accept unofficial copies of documents until said events have been resolved. If the student is found to have falsified documentation or credentials, consequences for such actions will follow those outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, Academic Integrity and Honesty Policy and any other applicable University Policy.
    2. Natural Disasters
      1. In cases of natural disaster, students will have one year following the event to obtain copies of appropriate or required documentation. Extension can be granted in extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the Registrar’s Office. If said documentation is permanently lost to the student, The New School will first address legal obligations required within the guidelines provided by the state and federal entities. Second, The New School will follow national or international best practice.
    3. Stateless Persons or Refugees
      1. A unique pathway will be developed for each displaced person or refugee if an alternative pathway to completing their education is needed. The following steps may be implemented to assess a student’s academic history and develop a completion pathway:
        1. An application for admission
        2. A sworn or personal statement from the applicant
        3. A personal interview with faculty and staff
        4. Assembling a portfolio of available background and evidence including: any available transcripts (including partial and non-formal transcripts), past student identifications, class lists, proof of tuition payments, admittance to or proof of state examinations, copies of license or certificates, copies of diplomas, copies of professional identification
        5. Assessment of competencies via sample works or writings, interviews, examination or special projects with faculty or staff.

Procedure

N/A

Policy Administration

Responsible University Official: Paula Young

Responsible Office: Office of the University Registrar

Contact Information: creditanddegree@newschool.edu

Policy History

Effective Date: March 19, 2026

Last Reviewed Date: March 19, 2026

Next Review Date: March 19, 2031

Revision History:

  • 03/19/26: Removed previous residency requirement and mention of schools and programs no longer offered at The New School. Additionally:
    • Updated 1. Approved Sources for Transfer Credits to include new options for IB Diploma "Standard Level" courses and Cambridge Exams "AS Level" exams transfer credits, and remove restriction for Eugene Lang College students to receive CLEP examination transfer credits.
    • Updated 4. Transfer Credit Limits to remove option for "advanced standing" for new matriculated students, remove previous lower transfer limit for BFA Dramatic Arts students, and revised limits for graduate programs.
  • Initial policy amended fall 2023

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