• Recognized Institution — Coursework must be from a recognized, appropriately accredited institution.
• Official Transcripts — Official transcripts required; unofficial may be used for preliminary evaluation.
• Comparable Academic Content — Content, level, outcomes, and credit value must align with CIU courses.
• Minimum Academic Grade — C or better (undergraduate); B or better (graduate/doctoral). Pass/fail may be considered with documentation.
• Academic Currency — Age of coursework may be considered, especially in rapidly changing fields.
• Relevance to the Degree — Credit must contribute meaningfully to general education, major, electives, or other approved requirements.

Up to 90 semester credit hours may be accepted from recognized colleges or universities, subject to academic evaluation and program requirements.

direct equivalency or elective credit may be awarded based on course alignment.

Up to 12 semester credit hours may be considered, subject to program approval.

• Graduate-level coursework from recognized institution
• Relevant to the proposed Master's degree
• Meets minimum grade standard (B or better)
• Academically comparable to CIU graduate coursework
• Cannot bypass culminating work (thesis, capstone, research project, etc.)

Doctoral coursework is evaluated individually, with emphasis on research orientation and relevance.

• Prior doctoral-level coursework from recognized institutions
• Direct relevance to the proposed doctoral program
• Quality, level, currency, and compatibility with doctoral pathway
• Approval by doctoral academic authority

Exceptional students admitted to this pathway have previous undergraduate or graduate coursework evaluated for transfer credit. Eligible prior coursework may be incorporated, but does not eliminate the requirement to demonstrate learning outcomes for both degrees.

CIU welcomes international students. Coursework is evaluated when documentation establishes comparability to U.S. higher education.

• Direct Course Equivalency — previous course matches a specific CIU course.
• Elective Credit — academically appropriate but not equivalent to a specific CIU course; applied toward electives.
• No Transfer Credit — denied if standards, documentation, or relevance are insufficient.

Not automatic: submission of transcripts does not guarantee transfer credit. Each record is evaluated individually.

Transfer students must complete the portion of the program required to be completed at CIU. Transfer credit cannot satisfy every requirement; all institutional, programmatic, major, specialization, research, and culminating requirements must be met.

CIU recognizes that adult learners and professionals may have knowledge gained outside traditional classrooms. Professional experience, certifications, military training, and continuing education may be reviewed where permitted.

⚠️ Professional experience does not automatically translate into academic credit.

• 1 Submit official transcripts
• 2 Provide supporting documentation (syllabi, etc.)
• 3 Academic evaluation (recognition, level, content, grade, relevance)
• 4 Credit determination (direct equivalency, elective, or no credit)
• 5 Degree audit & incorporation into academic record
• 6 Student notification of approved transfer credit