Transfer

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.

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.

Calvin will accept A-Level (A2) exam scores of C or better for college credit in certain subjects. 

*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.

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.

1. Determine the school you wish to attend and the course(s) you wish to take. Use the other school's website and resources to:
   • Find course listings.
   • Determine the course registration timeframe and process.
   • Understand tuition (residency rules may apply) and billing cycles.
2. 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.
3. Apply to other school as a guest student. For Michigan schools, use the Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application.
4. Follow up on your application with the other school if needed, register for your course(s) and pay your tuition.
5. Complete the course with a grade of C or better.
6. 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.

• Foundational Writing: Many community colleges offer a 2 course composition sequence; it takes both courses to fill the writing core.
• 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.