Transfer Credit Policy
Upon request of the Admissions Office, the Registrar will initiate the transfer credit assessment process for applicants whose files are complete. Currently enrolled students should contact the Registrar directly.
A limited number of transfer credits for M.A.C.E., M.A.P.T., and M.Div. students may be accepted for work completed within the past eight years at institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, or at institutions offering graduate-level work accredited by one of the nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies in the United States. Union Presbyterian Seminary reserves the right to deny transfer credit for courses taken at institutions that do not meet its accreditation standards. Transfer students are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office for further details.
In assessing the transferability of credits earned at other institutions, the Registrar’s Office, in consultation with the Academic Dean, will examine only official transcripts. As needed, the Registrar’s Office will consult faculty members in departments related to the areas in which courses have earned these credits. If approval is given to the transfer of credits, the Registrar’s Office will notify the student (or applicant, if a person requests this information in considering whether to apply for admission to our seminary). At the student’s request, and with written information, the Registrar’s Office will release this information to other entities such as denominational credentialing bodies and Veterans Affairs. The Registrar’s Office will maintain these records as part of the seminary’s institutional records.
Students who receive transfer credit for all required courses in any competency area are ordinarily required to take at least one elective course in that area (biblical studies, theology, ethics, history, education, and practical theology). Transfer students must earn at least half of the credits required for their degree at UPSem, including at least six credit hours in supervised ministry for M.Div. students.
Students transferring into the M.Div./ M.A.C.E. dual degree program or the M.Div./M.A.P.T. dual degree program must spend a minimum of three years enrolled in the program in order to receive both degrees.
Students transferring into the M.A.C.E./M.A.P.T. dual degree program must spend a minimum of two years enrolled in the program in order to receive both degrees.
Some denominationally required courses that are offered online may be eligible for credit. Richmond and Charlotte students are to contact the Academic Dean.
Union Presbyterian Seminary considers for transfer credit only those distance-learning courses for which it can be established, in the judgment of the appropriate academic dean in consultation with the appropriate departments, that peer and student-faculty interaction meet or exceed standards maintained in UPSem courses. Credits that have already been applied toward an earned degree cannot ordinarily be transferred.
No credits may be accepted from a conferred degree. Degree requirements for prior credit students are specified in the UPSem academic catalog.