Policy

Colorado College encourages prospective students to take the most rigorous courses available at their secondary schools. When considering applications for admission, the Admission Committee takes special note of students who pursue such courses of study. The college also recognizes challenging course work by giving credit in some instances for Advanced Placement work (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) work, college courses, and certain foreign secondary degrees. No credit is awarded for CLEP tests or for life experience.

Approximately one-third of each entering class at Colorado College is awarded advanced standing credit. This credit can be used to satisfy general education requirements where appropriate (Advanced standing credit will not be allowed to fulfill Critical Perspectives requirements), to satisfy major requirements where the department allows, and to accelerate graduation. However, accelerated graduation is not mandatory; students are eligible to remain enrolled and receive financial aid for four full-time academic years. The college will award up to eight units (sophomore standing) in transfer credit to students whose scores meet the appropriate criteria. Note that the registrar’s office will not award double credit for the same subject earned through different programs (e.g., AP American Literature and IB American Literature), nor will it award double credit if a student takes a Colorado College course in the same subject matter. The registrar’s office will consider requests for credit after a student is admitted and has sent in the deposit.

Transfer Credit

Colorado College accepts transfer credit for previous work done by a student. The following guidelines are used in the transfer and awarding of academic credit from an accredited institution or approved program:

• To earn credit at Colorado College, all transfer credit must come from a regionally accredited, degree-granting college or university (including community colleges) or a program preapproved by the office of international and off-campus programs for off-campus study and exchanges.
• Students who have completed work at other colleges and who wish to have this work credited toward a CC degree must have official transcripts from those colleges sent directly to the registrar at Colorado College. Course descriptions/syllabi for each course may also be requested.
• Students who wish to complete a semester abroad or study away as domestic exchange students must receive approval from the office of international and off-campus programs, department chairs or program directors, and the registrar’s office for all course work prior to enrolling.
• A letter grade of ‘C–’ or higher is required to earn transfer credit. ‘D+’ and below will not earn transfer credit at Colorado College. Courses for which a Pass or Satisfactory was earned at another college will earn credit at Colorado College ONLY if the college/university can provide verification that the student passed with a letter grade of “C–“ or higher.
• Courses must be substantially similar to Colorado College courses, and cannot duplicate, overlap, or regress from previous work.
• One Colorado College unit is equivalent to 4 semester hours, or 6 quarter hours.
• Grades do not transfer to Colorado College and are not calculated into the Colorado College GPA (grade point average).
• For college study during secondary school, please see additional requirements listed under Advanced Placement credit.
• Courses taken in disciplines offered at Colorado College are evaluated by the registrar in consultation with department chairs or program directors. The department chair or program director is the final authority on credit earned in their discipline.

Credit can be awarded for liberal arts courses taken in disciplines not offered by CC upon review by the registrar. If approved, these courses will be awarded general elective credit.

Procedures

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Definitions

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