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Transfer Credit Policy and Process

Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy

1. Transfer students are required to complete all degree requirements with at least sixty (60) credits from Cornell University.  Thus, a maximum of sixty (60) hours in transfer credit, for courses with a grade of “C” or above, may be allowed from other accredited colleges or universities.

  • Transfer credit is not awarded toward SHA electives (except CIA).
  • Up to eighteen (18) credits may transfer toward SHA core required courses.
  • Up to eighteen (18) credits may transfer toward Cornell distributive electives.
  • Up to twenty-four (24) credits may transfer toward Cornell free electives.

2. Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges but taught in high school to high school students, even if the college provides a transcript of such work.

3. The school does not accept online/distance learning course credit for courses taken outside of Cornell University.  This policy is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 for courses completed online Spring 2020 forward.

4. Students who are currently accepted and enrolled may transfer in credit, but only from four (4) year regionally accredited colleges and universities (pre-approval required).

5. AP/IB Credit is accepted as free elective credit only (except for HADM 1410 – Microeconomics for the Service Industry and First Year Writing Seminar). Please note that effective summer 2019 forward, a maximum of 15 credit hours of test credit can be applied towards degree requirements.  Please refer to the Courses of Study’s advanced placement section for a full listing of accepted score cutoffs and the credit associated with those scores.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit Process

The registrar of the school manages the transfer credit process in coordination with the faculty.

1. For 1100 and 2200 level SHA core courses and distributive or free elective courses, the syllabus must:

  • cover 80 percent or more of the material covered in the Cornell/SHA course.
  • use a standard textbook equivalent to that used in the Cornell/SHA course.
  • include examinations, writing, projects, or other submitted work, produced individually or collectively, that is roughly as extensive as that required in the equivalent Cornell/SHA course.
  • indicate roughly equivalent meeting hours as are required in the equivalent Cornell/SHA course.

2. First Year Writing Seminar is reviewed by the Knight Institute.

3. 3300 and 4400 (upper) level SHA courses are not typically accepted.