Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit Criteria

A maximum of 64 transfer credits may be recorded on the Smith transcript. Transfer credit is accepted from accredited institutions of higher education in the United States and abroad. Normally only those courses falling within the scope of Smith's liberal arts curriculum will be approved. Credit is evaluated and transferred on a course-by-course basis with approval from the registrar.

Enrolled Students

Enrolled students interested in studying elsewhere must have their work approved in advance by the registrar for domestic study or the Office for International Study for courses abroad.

For domestic transfer credit, complete the transfer credit application and submit it to the registrar's office with course descriptions for in-person courses and course syllabi for online courses. You will be notified of pre-approval status after all materials are submitted.

Transfer Credit Application

Transfer Credit Application

Dual Enrollment for Smith Students

Students may not be enrolled in coursework at another institution during the Fall and Spring semesters at Smith. This includes summer and interterm/winter session courses that ovelap with the start and end of the regular Smith semesters. Courses taken through the Five College Interchange during the Fall and Spring semesters are not considered dual enrollment.

Online Transfer Credit & Criteria

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and related impacts on higher education, Smith is easing its restriction on acceptance of transfer credit from online course work.

Students who enter Smith as traditional, first-time/first-year students may transfer up to 16 transfer credits for online courses meeting the criteria below. This includes both pre-matriculation course work that has been awarded credit (AP Credit/College Credit Earned Before Matriculation, below) and course work taken after matriculation at Smith.

Students who enter Smith as transfer students, including Ada Comstock scholars, may transfer in more than 16 credits of online coursework if taken prior to matriculation at Smith. Students entering with more than 16 credits of online transfer work must receive Administrative Board approval to take additional online transfer work during their period of enrollment.

Online Transfer Credit Policies and Criteria

All existing policies governing transfer credit at Smith College apply to courses taken online. Please see general transfer credit requirements on this page for additional information and Transfer Credit Policies. In addition to those general requirements, online courses must also meet the following criteria to be approved for transfer credit:

• Online course work completed prior to spring 2020 semester is not normally eligible for transfer credit.
• Online courses must be offered by a regionally accredited college or university, and must be applicable to an undergraduate degree at that school. For that reason, MOOCs and other non-credit or credit-optional courses (e.g., edX, Coursera, Udacity, etc.) are not eligible for transfer credit.
• Online courses must be offered during a defined term/session, with a definite beginning and end date, and may not be self-paced or entirely asynchronous.
• Online courses may only be taken during the summer or winter break (not overlapping the fall or spring semesters) or while the student is on leave from Smith (for matriculated students).
• Online courses must have structured progression through course material.
• Online courses must include significant student-faculty and student-student interaction, in addition to assignments and feedback.

Students must submit a full syllabus with the transfer credit application form to the registrar’s office for review by the office. The syllabus should provide clear indication of the above requirements. Students should provide ample time for the review process and are advised not to register for an online course until pre-approval has been confirmed.

Study Away Transcripts

A transfer credit applicaiton form must be completed for any courses taken for credit elsewhere in the United States. Official transcripts should be submitted to:

Office of the Registrar
College Hall 102
Smith College
Northampton MA 01063

registrar@smith.edu

We accept transcripts in unopened, sealed envelopes or sent by secure electronic transcript providers. Hand delivered transcripts are not accepted if opened.

Transcripts for credit earned abroad should be sent to the Office for International Study.

Five College Interchange

Five College Interchange course are not considered transfer credit and are not subject to transfer credit restrictions; however, normally only those courses falling within the scope of Smith's liberal arts curriculum wil be approved.

Exception

Interterm and summer sessions at the University of Massachusetts are not included in the Five College Interchange and therefore are considered transfer credit, subject to the restrictions and procedures required for the acceptance of transfer credit.

AP Credit/College Credit Earned Before Matriculation

Credits completed prior to matriculation as a degree student (college level work, AP, IB, and A-levels) are not applied to the degree immediately upon approval. The courses are added to your record and credit may be applied only in the following circumstances (see your class dean for more details):

1. to make up a shortage of credit incurred through failure.
2. with the approval of the administrative board, to make up a shortage of credit incurred as a result of withdrawing from a course for reasons of health.
3. to undertake an accelerated course program (completing the degree requirements in six or seven semesters). 

Any credits completed in summer school before matriculation are counted in the 12-credit limit of summer credit allowed toward the degree. A maximum of one semester (16 credits) of any combination of pre-matriculation credit may be counted toward the degree.

Individual academic departments are responsible for determining if the transfer courses may be counted toward the requirements of the major. Pre-matriculation credits may also be used to count toward the 64 credits outside the department of the major or as pre-requisites for higher level courses without credits being applied towards the degree.

Pre-matriculation credits may not be used to reduce your course load or to fulfill the distribution requirements for latin honors or the writing intensive requirement.

Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

Smith accepts AP scores of 4 or 5 on most AP exams and IB scores of 5, 6, and 7 for most higher level exams. 

Exams accepted and course equivalents determined by the departments are listed below.

Test Credit Course Equivalencies 2023-2024

Test Credit Course Equivalencies 2023-2024

College Credit Earned Before Matriculation

College credit earned at an accredited college or university before matriculation as a first-year student may be accepted if it meets the following criteria:

1. The course is taken on a college/university campus with matriculated degree students, and is taught by a college/university professor.
2. The course is not listed on the high school transcript as a course counting towards the high school diploma.
3. A grade of B- or better is earned in the course.
4. The course meets the Smith College guidelines for transfer credit.

To have pre-matriculation credit reviewed a completed pre-matriculation certification form signed by the high school must be submitted to the registrar's office along with an official transcript from the college.

Pre-Matriculation Credit Certification

Pre-Matriculation Credit Certification

A-Levels, French Baccalaureate, and Other Diploma Programs

Smith accepts A-level grades of A and B on most Advanced level exams. Upon review by the registrar French Baccalaureate and some 13th year programs outside of the United States may be accepted.