Glossary of Terms Related to Transfer of Credit
Applicability The decision of the degree college regarding the application of all credit, including transfer credit, to a particular degree.
Articulation The process of communication and interrelation which allows for the transfer of credit from one institution of higher education to another.
A to B (Associate to Baccalaureate) Agreement An agreement between a community college and the degree college within the university specifying a program of study leading first to an Associate Degree from the community college and transferring to the university to complete a specific Baccalaureate Degree. This type of agreement can produce a seamless transfer for students who enter the program early. Sometimes called a 2 + 2 Agreement or a Block Transfer Agreement. Depending upon the program of study and other individual factors, it may take longer than 2 years to complete each segment.
Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) Recognition of successful completion of a program of studies (usually about 60 - 70 semester credits) usually designed to prepare a student for entry directly into a career. While some of the courses may be accepted in transfer, many courses are not designed for transfer to a bachelor's degree. Students transferring with an AAS degree to a bachelor's degree should expect to take additional lower division courses.
Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science Degree (AS) Recognition of successful completion of a program of studies (usually about 60 - 70 semester credits), often with a specific Major or Concentration. Frequently awarded by community colleges and may be awarded by career colleges. This degree may be completed in approximately two years by a full-time student. Many of the courses are designed to transfer to a four-year college or university to apply toward a bachelor's degree. An associate degree is not required to transfer to UNL. All transfer courses are evaluated on a course by course basis.
Bachelor's Degree Recognition of successful completion of a program of studies (usually about 120 - 130 semester credits), often with a specific Major, Minor or Concentration. Also known as a baccalaureate or undergraduate degree. This degree may be completed in approximately four years by a full-time student, although time to degree completion depends upon the program of study and individual factors. Bachelor's degrees are awarded by colleges and universities, or colleges within a university. (e.g. within the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the College of Arts & Sciences awards the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology)
Course outline A description of the main content, organization and expected outcomes of a course, normally including the number of credits awarded, hours of class time and laboratory time, how the course is evaluated, assignments, and texts (also called a syllabus).
Degree College The UNL undergraduate college which will grant the degree the student is seeking. (e.g. the College of Business Administration or the College of Arts & Sciences)
Department Faculty and administrators associated with a particular discipline or program (e.g. the Sociology Department).
Direct Equivalent A course which has been evaluated by a UNL faculty member and determined to be equivalent to a specific UNL course. A direct equivalent will fulfill the same requirement as the UNL course with the exception of Integrated Studies credit or credit for residency.
Equivalent Equal in value or having the same result. Two courses which are determined to have corresponding content, outcomes, and level are said to be equivalent.
Evaluation Process by which the department evaluates transfer credit to determine its equivalence to a UNL course based on similar content, level and outcomes. May also refer to the process by which a student's degree college evaluates transfer credit which does not have a direct equivalent.
General Elective Credit (GNCR) Course transfers as UNL elective credit. Application of elective credit to the student's degree program is at the discretion of the degree college. Some majors allow little room for elective credit.
High School or remedial level course (HSCR) Hours and courses do not transfer even though they may have been earned at a postsecondary institution. This would include courses such as beginning and intermediate algebra. Certain courses may be used toward admission requirements, but will not count toward a degree.
International Credit Credit earned at an institution outside the United States . Because educational systems vary greatly, all international credit must reviewed by specific department faculty to evaluate its applicability to a UNL degree. To ease this process, some courses have been reviewed and transfer as direct equivalents.
Lower division (or lower level) General introductory courses, usually making up the first two years of a bachelor's degree. Credit awarded by a community college is generally considered lower division credit.
Major A program of study in a degree where a significant number of the courses are in a single discipline (e.g. Philosophy, History) or related disciplines in an interdisciplinary major (e.g. Women's Studies or International Studies).
Minimum Grades All transfer grades must be passing. Each college determines acceptability and applicability of coursework with grades lower than "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) including "C-".
Minor A program of study requiring fewer courses than a major. Some majors are more concentrated and do not require a minor.
Multiple Course Equivalency A direct equivalence involving a combination of courses. In some cases the course content is divided differently. An accounting series may be divided into 3 courses at one institution which are equivalent to two courses at UNL.
Non Degree Applicable (NDAP) Transfer course credit hours which are included in the equivalency and generally not degree-applicable. For example, if 4 credit hours are awarded for a course at another institution, but the equivalent UNL course awards 3 hours credit, the extra 1 semester hour of transfer credit may be recorded as NDAP and would not apply to the student's degree.
Prerequisite A course a student must pass before s/he can enroll in a more advanced course in the discipline or in a related discipline. For example, college algebra and trigonometry are prerequisites for Computer Science I.
Quarter/Semester hour Conversion Quarter credits times 2/3 equals Semester Credits (4.5 quarter hours equals 3 semester hours). UNL uses number of quarter hours times 0.667 for conversion to semester hours.
Quarter An academic term of approximately 10-12 weeks.
Regional Accreditation Accredited status granted by one of the six regional accrediting commissions recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. (www.chea.org)
Semester An academic term of approximately 15 - 16 weeks.
Semester/Quarter hour Conversion Semester Credits times 3/2 equals Quarter Credits. (3 semester hours equals 4.5 quarter hours)
Sequential Courses In sequential courses, entry level courses must be completed before taking higher level courses. This is fairly obvious in math, languages, and sciences, but also applies to most disciplines. In courses such as math and foreign languages, students are encouraged to complete the sequence without a break. Taking a break or transferring students may be required to take a placement exam to continue with the sequence. Students in a course of study requiring sequential courses must plan very carefully and should consult with advisers at the bachelor's degree granting institution. Depending on the availability of the courses at the transfer institution, the time to degree completion can be significantly extended. Some examples:
- Students in the UNL College of Business Administration must have completed MATH 104 (Business Calculus) before enrolling in any upper division business courses, yet it may not be listed as a prerequisite for each course.
- Elements of Biochemistry (BIOC 321) requires CHEM 251 (Organic Chemistry I), which requires both CHEM 109 and 110 (General Chemistry I & II)
- Several 400 level psychology courses require completion of 12 hours of psychology courses.
Study Abroad Credit Credit earned by a UNL student while studying outside the United States . Because of variation in educational systems and coursework, this credit ideally should be previewed by department faculty before embarking on the study abroad experience. Credit transcribed from an institution outside the United States must be reviewed by specific department faculty to evaluate its applicability to the student's degree program.
Subject Credit (SUBJ) Course transfers as subject area hours (e.g., ENGLXXX, MATHXXX) not assigned to a specific course. It can be designated with a level, such as 1XX for freshman level, 2XX for sophomore level, etc.
Substitution Process by which the degree college agrees to substitute a similar (comparable) course for a particular requirement of a student's degree. This may occur when a course is not considered a direct equivalent.
Syllabus See Course Outline
Time to degree completion Due to sequential courses, major and minor options, and specific requirements which may not be available at the transfer institution, the time required to complete a University of Nebraska-Lincoln degree will vary, particularly for transfer students.
Transcript An official transcript is the original record verifying a student's enrollment and achievement (grades), and certified (e.g., by signature and/or seal) by the institution. It is normally sent directly, by mail upon the student's written request.
Transfer Course Equivalencies Table An on-line table of courses from selected institutions listing the courses which have been reviewed by UNL faculty and the current UNL equivalent for those courses. Application of all courses to a specific UNL degree is at the discretion of the UNL college granting the degree. (http://nebraska.unl.edu/tequiv/index.asp)
Transfer Credit Credit awarded by a program (such as a testing program) or postsecondary institution other than the institution at which the student is currently enrolled. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this is any credit not awarded by UNL.
Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions A publication by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and used as one source of information to evaluate credit. Transfer acceptance practices of reporting institutions in each state provide information regarding credit awarded by other colleges and universities. Each institution applies its own credit evaluation policies in determining acceptability and applicability of courses.
Transfer Guides An on-line list of suggested courses that may be taken at a specific community college which will transfer and apply toward Essential Studies requirements at UNL. Begin by selecting the community college, and then the UNL College which grants the student's intended degree. (http://ucommxsrv1.unl.edu/dgs/)
Transfer Institution The postsecondary institution at which a student has taken course work and been awarded credit that the student now wishes to apply toward a degree at another institution.
Two Plus Two (2+2) Agreement See A to B Agreement.
Undergraduate Bulletin The set of rules, regulations, policies, programs, requirements, and courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln . Sometimes called a catalog. Available on-line, the bulletin UNL Bulletin is updated annually. A student is normally bound by the requirements of the bulletin in effect when the student was admitted to the degree college. Each degree college has policies regarding newer bulletins.
Upper division (or upper level) Less general, more focused courses, usually making up most of the final two years of a bachelor's degree.
Vocational or skill development course (VCRD) Courses designated as vocational or skill development courses have very limited application to a UNL degree.
When Credit Values Differ
- If a transfer course is awarded more hours credit than the equivalent UNL course, the evaluator determines whether additional hours (above UNL hours) will be granted subject credit (SUBJXXX), elective credit (GNCR), or are included in the equivalency and are not degree applicable (NDAP).
- If a transfer course is awarded fewer hours credit than the equivalent UNL course, the evaluator may stipulate that the course will satisfy the requirement for the UNL course, without additional hours.
