Transfer Credit at Calvin
This page is for students with questions about transfer credit. On this page, you'll find information on exam-based credit and transferring credit from other institutions into Calvin.
I'm a potential transfer student looking for more information
Credit by Exam
Calvin will not award credit by exams that result in duplication of course content from any other course or test for which the student has received credit, either at Calvin or through transfer of credit. A maximum of 32 semester hours may be obtained via non-classroom-based credit.
Students may submit scores from an Advanced Placement (AP) examination conducted by the College Board.
Students who completed AP exams before 1/1/2023 will fall under the previous requirements. The scores and equivalencies can be found here.
| AP Examination Title | Min Score | Equivalent Calvin Course | Core Category Met | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 4 | History core credit | Humanities: History | 3 hrs |
| Art History | 4 | Visual Arts core credit | Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Visual Arts | 3 hrs |
| Biology | 4 | Biology 123 | Natural Sciences, Biology | 4 hrs |
| Calculus AB (or AB subscore) | 3 | Mathematics core credit | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Calculus AB (or AB subscore) | 4 | Math 171 | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Calculus BC | 3 | Math 171 | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Calculus BC | 4 | Math 171 & 172 | Mathematical Science | 8 hrs |
| Chemistry | 3 | Elective credit | 3 hrs | |
| Chemistry | 4 | Chemistry 101 & 101L | Natural Sciences, Chemistry | 4 hrs |
| Chemistry | 5 | Chemistry 101, 101L, 102, 102L | Natural Sciences, Chemistry | 8 hrs |
| Chinese Language/Culture | 3 | Chinese 102 | World Language 1 | 4 hrs |
| Chinese Language/Culture | 4 | Chinese 201 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Comparative Govt & Politics | 4 | Politics 214 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Political Science | 4 hrs |
| Computer Science A | 3 | Computer Science 108 & 108L | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| English Language and Comp | 4 | English 101 | Foundational Writing | 4 hrs |
| English Literature and Comp | 4 | English Elective | 4 hrs | |
| Environmental Science | 4 | Environmental Studies 210 | 4 hrs | |
| European History | 4 | History 152 | Humanities: History | 3 hrs |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | French 202 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | French 301 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | German 202 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | German 301 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Human Geography | 4 | Geography 101 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Geography | 4 hrs |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | Japanese 102 | World Language 1 | 4 hrs |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | Japanese 201 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Latin | 3 | Latin 201 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Latin | 4 | Latin 201 & 202 | World Language 2 | 8 hrs |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | Economics 191 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics | 2 hrs |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | Economics 191 & 222 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics | 4 hrs |
| Microeconomics | 3 | Economics 191 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics | 2 hrs |
| Microeconomics | 5 | Economics 191 & 221 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Economics | 4 hrs |
| Music Theory | 4 | Music 100 & 108 | Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Performing Arts | 6 hrs |
| Physics 1 | 4 | Physics 221 (General Phys I) | Natural Science: Physics | 4 hrs |
| Physics 2 | 4 | Physics 222 (General Phys II) | 4 hrs | |
| Physics B | 4 | Physics 221 | Natural Science: Physics | 4 hrs |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 4 | Physics 235 | 4 hrs | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | Physics 133 | Natural Science: Physics | 4 hrs |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | Math 110 | 2 hrs | |
| Psychology | 4 | Psychology 151 | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Psychology | 4 hrs |
| Research | 4 | Elective credit | 3 hrs | |
| Seminar | 4 | Elective credit | 3 hrs | |
| Spanish Language | 3 | Spanish 202 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Spanish Language | 4 | Spanish 301 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Spanish Literature | 4 | Elective: 300 level Spanish | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Statistics | 4 | Statistics 143 | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Studio Art: Draw, 2-D, 3-D design | 4 | Studio Art core credit | Arts, Oral Rhetoric, Visual Rhetoric: Visual Arts | 4 hrs |
| US Govt & Politics | 4 | Political Science core credit | Social & Behavioral Science, Political Science | 3 hrs |
| United States History | 4 | History core credit | Humanities: History | 3 hrs |
| World History | 4 | History core credit | Humanities: History | 3 hrs |
IB credit will be given to students who receive a grade of 5 or higher on higher-level (HL) exams. No credit will be given for subsidiary-level exams. Students must provide an official report of their IB exam scores. Visit the IB website for instructions about how to send a transcript of results.
| IB Examination Title | Min Score | Equivalent Calvin Course | Core Category Met | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art | 5 | Art Elective | Arts & Rhetoric | 3 hrs |
| Biology | 5 | Biology 123 | Natural Sciences | 4 hrs |
| Chemistry | 5 | Chemistry 101 | Natural Sciences | 4 hrs |
| Computer | 5 | Computer Science 108 & 108L | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Economics | 5 | Economics 191 | Social & Behavioral Sciences | 2 hrs |
| English | 5 | English 101 | Foundational Writing | 4 hrs |
| English Literature | 5 | English Elective | Humanities | 3 hrs |
| French | 5 | French 202 | World Languages 2 | 4 hrs |
| Geography | 5 | Geography 110 | Social & Behavioral Sciences | 4 hrs |
| History, Americas | 5 | History Elective | Humanities | 3 hrs |
| History, European | 5 | History Elective | Humanities | 3 hrs |
| History, US | 5 | History Elective | Humanities | 4 hrs |
| Indonesian | 5 | Language Credit | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Korean | 5 | Korean 202 | World Language 2 | 4 hrs |
| Mathematics | 5 | Elective | Mathematical Science | 4 hrs |
| Music | 5 | Music 103 | Arts & Rhetoric | 3 hrs |
| Philosophy | 5 | Humanities | 3 hrs | |
| Physics | 5 | Natural Sciences | 4 hrs | |
| Psychology | 5 | Psychology 151 | Social & Behavioral Science | 4 hrs |
| Spanish | 5 | Spanish 202 | World Languages 2 | 4 hrs |
| Visual Arts | 5 | Art Elective | Arts & Rhetoric | 3 hrs |
Calvin will accept A-Level (A2) exam scores of C or better for college credit in certain subjects.
| Exam | Course credit |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Accounting 203 |
| Biology | Natural Science Core |
| Business | Business Elective (3 hrs) |
| Chemistry | Chemistry 101* |
| Economics | Economics 191 |
| English | English 101 |
| Geography | Geography 110 |
| History | History 152 |
| Information Sys | |
| Math | Mathematics 171 |
| Math - Further | Mathematics 172 |
| Physics | Physics 222 |
| Psychology | Psychology 151 |
*The registrar's office may work with designated academic departments for further review of higher level achievement and curriculum depth on a case-by-case basis.
Calvin accepts credit for the exams listed below. Visit the CLEP website for instructions about how to send a transcript of results.
| CLEP Examination Title | Min Score | Equivalent Calvin Course | Core | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | Social & Behavioral Science: Political Science | 3 hrs | |
| American Literature | 50 | English 220 | Humanities: Literature | 4 hrs |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 50 | Elective | 3 hrs | |
| Biology | 50 | Biology 123 | Natural Sciences | 4 hrs |
| Calculus | 50 | Math 171 | Mathematical Sciences | 4 hrs |
| Chemistry | 50 | Chemistry 101 | Natural Sciences | 4 hrs |
| College Composition | 50 | Elective | 3 hrs | |
| College Mathematics | 50 | Elective | 4 hrs | |
| English Literature | 50 | English Elective | 3 hrs | |
| Financial Accounting | 55 | Accounting 204 | 4 hrs | |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | Psychology 201 | 4 hrs | |
| Information Systems | 50 | Elective | 4 hrs | |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | Elective | 3 hrs | |
| Introduction to Psychology | 50 | Psychology 151 | Social & Behavioral Science: Psychology | 4 hrs |
| Introductory Business Law | 55 | Business 350 | 4 hrs | |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | Sociology 151 | Social & Behavioral Science: Sociology & Social Work | 2 hrs |
| Macroeconomics | 50 | Economics 191 | Social & Behavioral Science: Economics | 2 hrs |
| Microeconomics | 50 | Economics 191 | Social & Behavioral Science: Economics | 2 hrs |
| Principles of Management | 50 | Elective | 3 hrs | |
| Principles of Marketing | 55 | Marketing 301 | 4 hrs | |
| Spanish with Writing: Level 1 or Level 2 | 50 | Spanish 102 | World Languages 1 | 4 hrs |
Current Students
You may obtain credit from other schools while studying at Calvin, but it's important to follow the steps below. Please note that Calvin will not award credit for duplicate course content from any other course or test for which the student has already received credit.
To take courses at another school during the summer or a semester away from Calvin, you will work primarily with the other school's admissions and registrar's offices.
Determine the school and course(s)
- You as the student must use the other school's website & resources to determine when/if the course you are interested in is offered there.
- Find their tuition and application/registration deadlines.
Obtain approval for the transfer course from Calvin
- Check first for pre-approved courses. Equivalencies listed in this database do not require additional approval.
- For courses that are not pre-approved, fill out the transfer credit pre-approval form.
- Note: An advisor must sign the form for approval of major, minor, cognate or other program courses prior to submitting the form to the Registrar's Office. For approval of core courses, submit directly to the Registrar's Office.
Apply to other school as a guest student
- Search "Guest student application" on their website for details. For some Michigan schools, use the Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application.
- Follow up on your application with the other school if needed, register for your course(s) and pay your tuition.
Complete the course
- with a grade of C or better.
Request an official transcript
- to be sent directly to Calvin for posting to your academic record.
- At least one Foundations of Christianity class must be taken at Calvin.
- Community and Commitments (CORE 100), Diversity & Difference tag, Environmental Sustainability tag, Global Regions & Cultures tag, and Contemporary Challenges and Enduring Questions tag must be satisfied at Calvin.
- At least four upper-level courses in your major must be completed at Calvin.
Calvin will accept transfer credits only from accredited institutions. This includes many other colleges, universities, and community colleges. A good indicator that we will accept their credits is if their website ends in .edu. Contact us to confirm.
Many local students transfer credits from local schools like GRCC.
Some Calvin students have had success finding online courses from these schools:
Louisiana State University
Taylor University Online
Brigham Young University
Indiana University
University of Wisconsin
University of North Dakota
College of DuPage
University of Illinois
Arizona State University
There are many other schools that offer online courses. These just happen to be ones used by some Calvin students in the past.
You as the student must research the course you would like to take and when/if it is offered at a different school.
- Foundational Writing: Many community colleges offer a 2 course composition sequence; it takes both courses to fulfill the Foundational Writing core requirement at Calvin.
- Arts & Rhetoric: Speech or oral communication is the most likely to be approved or needed for specific majors.
- Health & Movement: Courses do not have to match in title, but must have an activity component to be considered.
- World Languages I: You must complete the equivalent of the second college semester, often titled 'Elementary II.' The sequence is Elementary I, Elementary II. Review the curriculum of the school you are considering for WL core.
- World Languages II: You must complete the equivalent of the third college semester, often titled 'Intermediate I.' The sequence is Elementary I, Elementary II, Intermediate I. Review the curriculum of the school you are considering for WL core. Note that WLII is the Knowledge and Understanding section of the core, where it might be possible to complete other requirements in place of language.
- Foundations of Christianity: One Foundations of Christianity core must be taken at Calvin. Look for courses similar in title to your required core area.
- Natural Sciences: Look for courses with labs; a lab is a requirement for a course to transfer into the Natural Sciences core.
- Tags: Traditional Calvin students cannot satisfy Diversity & Difference, Global Regions & Cultures, Environmental Sustainability, or Contemporary Challenges & Enduring Questions tags with transfer credit
Information on pre-approved off-campus program courses — or the enrollment process while studying abroad — visit the off-campus programs academics site.
