Transfer of Credits Guidelines
Students must enter Humane Society University with 60 or more credit hours from an accredited institution of higher learning. Admission is limited to students who have received an associate degree or completed the equivalent of at least two years of a four-year college degree program with a grade point average of 2.5 (C+) or above. A student may transfer no more than 90 credits from other colleges or universities.
Transfer Credit Evaluation
The Admissions Officer and Registrar are responsible for administration of the transfer of credits from other institutions. The transfer of credit evaluation seeks to ascertain if students meet the admissions requirement of 60 credits and general education distribution requirements. The evaluation also determines the number of credits that can be applied towards the student's Humane Society University degree program.
As a part of the application process, students submit an official transcript for each college attended. The Admissions Committee and Registrar review and evaluate each transcript, taking into account the accreditation status of the institution, the level and content of coursework completed by the student, and the grades received to evaluate the potential transferability of an applicant's prior coursework. A Transfer of Credit Evaluation report will be generated based upon existing course equivalency data. Upon written request the Registrar will make the report available to the student.
In limited cases in which students have completed human-animal studies courses at other institutions, the appropriate Department Chair will determine whether courses are equivalent to course offerings within the department and whether these course credits can be applied towards the major. The decision will be based upon the Department Chair's review of the course description, course syllabus, and/or discussion with the student.
To receive transfer credit for a course as a general elective, students must have received a C or higher. Students must have received a grade of C or higher in each course towards the general education and major requirements. Pass/fail courses will not be considered for transfer credit as general electives. However, pass/fail courses cannot be used to satisfy general education or major requirements.
General Education Distribution Requirements
For admission to Humane Society University degree programs, students need to have met general education requirements in previous coursework. These requirements include:
- Writing: 3 credits
- Quantitative Methods: 3 credits
- Natural Sciences: 3 credits
- Social Science: 3 credits
- Arts and Humanities: 3 credits
The following are content criteria to be used for evaluation of these general education distribution requirements:
Writing
Writing courses include composition, English, or writing intensive classes. Courses will be accepted as writing intensive if the college or university from which the student has transferred designates the course as writing intensive or if the student can show through a syllabus and copies of assignments that the course required 12 or more pages of formal writing as either a series of short assignments or a longer project.
Quantitative Methods
Quantitative methods courses include Mathematics, Statistics, and Accounting. The quantitative course requirement also may be met by other courses such as disciplinary research methods classes that require quantitative analysis. Review of course descriptions and/or syllabi may be necessary to determine if courses satisfy the quantitative distribution requirement.
Natural Sciences
Natural Science includes courses in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics. Natural Science also includes cross-disciplinary courses such as environmental science.
Social Sciences
Social Science includes Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Communications, Cultural Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Arts and Humanities
Arts and Humanity courses include Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Literature, Foreign Languages, Philosophy, Music, or Religion.
Professional Experience
In some cases, distribution requirements can be satisfied by related professional experience in a general education area if applicant has completed the required 60 or more course credits. Students may be required to supply evidence of the related professional work.
Completion of General Education Requirements at Other Institutions
If a student has completed an associate's degree at an accredited community college, s/he is not required to satisfy additional general education distribution credits.
If a student completed the general education requirements at a four-year regionally accredited college or university, s/he is not required to meet additional or different general education requirements at Humane Society University. A letter from the Registrar of the previous state college or university stating that all general education requirements are complete is required.
If a student has completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, s/he is not obliged to meet the Humane Society University general education requirements.
Quarter to Semester Hour Equivalency
One quarter hour is generally equivalent to 2/3 of a semester hour. Quarter hour units will be converted to semester units by dividing the total number of quarter units by 1.5.