Transfer Credit Policy
Transfer Credit Policy for Undergraduate Study
Middle Georgia State University (MGA) will accept credits from *institutional accredited colleges and universities.
*Commonly recognized institutional accrediting agencies are:
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Credits from other U. S. Department of Education (USDE)-recognized institutional accrediting agencies will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
International transfer credit is awarded on a case-by-case basis. A course-by-course credit evaluation from a professional evaluation agency indicating credit hours and grades converted to the semester system of higher education in the United States is required before credit is considered.
View all of MGA’s articulation agreements established for ease of transfer from other institutions and systems: https://www.mga.edu/academics/transfer-agreements.php
Visit our transfer articulation catalog to see course equivalencies listed by institution: https://mga.gabest.usg.edu/BannerExtensibility/customPage/page/USGTransferArticulation
All students who have applied and are seeking to have credits transferred into Middle Georgia State University must submit official transcripts and test scores before an evaluation can be completed. Once credits are awarded, students can review them in their SWORDS account via MyDegree.
Courses at the undergraduate level with a final grade of “C” or higher and related to applicable programs of the offerings at MGA are considered.
Students may follow the credit appeal procedures to allow for a final grade of “D” to be considered for transfer credit.
Upper-level coursework will not be reviewed solely on the original course numbering (i.e. 3000-level or above). Instead, course descriptions/learning objectives will be reviewed by a department chair to determine equivalency. Students may be asked to provide a syllabus for review.
Credits earned in a quarter system are converted to semester hours by multiplying the quarter credits by .667.
Students transferring to MGA from another University System of Georgia (USG) institution, or from MGA to another USG institution may take advantage of the General Education Core Curriculum: The IMPACTS Core Transfer Rules outlined in Academic & Student Affairs Handbook 2.4.10. Students successfully completing a course in one institution’s IMPACTS Core Curriculum will receive full credit in the IMPACTS Core Curriculum for the course upon transfer to another USG institution as long as the following conditions are met:
The course is within the Area hours limitations of either the sending institution or the receiving institution and
Students successfully completing a course in one institution’s Field of Study domain will receive full credit for the course upon transferring to another USG institution as long as the student retains the same major.
Please note that additional courses may be required if they are prerequisites to major courses. Core Communicating in Writing and Core Mathematics and Quantitative Skills require a grade of “C” or better. Some programs require a grade of "C" or better in Core Field of Study.
Students transferring from outside the USG to MGA may follow the credit appeal procedure if they took a course classified as a general education/core requirement to be applied to MGA’s IMPACTS Core Curriculum. Coursework may be accepted as a substitution or as a direct course equivalent. Individual course substitutions may be assigned to MGA’s IMPACTS Core Curriculum as deemed appropriate by the Registrar and/or the most closely associated Department Chair.
Students earning an associate of arts or an associate of science degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an agency listed above do not have to take additional courses for MGA’s IMPACTS Core Curriculum to earn the bachelor’s degree if they follow the credit appeal procedure for approval. Associate degrees from an institution of higher education accredited by an institutional accreditor not listed above are reviewed for waiver on a case-by-case basis. Career associates or associates of applied science are not applicable to a waiver.
Students can also earn credit through the following ways:
Official score reports and/or transcripts are required for evaluation and award of credit. A grade of “K” denoting credit will be recorded on the student’s academic transcript. A grade of K has no GPA value.
Military Service
In accordance with procedures established by the USG, MGA offers credit for military service (USG Academic & Student Affairs Handbook, 2.16.1 Course Credit for Military Experience) and based on training courses identified in the ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training. Military coursework/experiences will be reviewed by a department chair in the most closely related discipline to determine credit equivalency in degree program. Students may submit the military evaluation form to be considered for transfer credit.
Course Credit for Standardized Examinations
In accordance with procedures established by the USG (USG Academic & Student Affairs Handbook, 2.16.2 Course Credit for Standardized Examinations), MGA offers credit based on scores achieved on standardized examinations offered by nationally recognized organizations including, but not limited to:
Advanced Placement Program (AP)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
DANTES Subject Standardized Test Program (DSST)
Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS)
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
See individual standardized testing pages for list of exams applicable for awarding credit.
Departmental Exams
MGA academic units may develop and offer challenge examinations if approved by the Dean of each unit. Students seeking to challenge a course for credit should consult with the department chair for the appropriate procedure.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
MGA supports the idea that learning outside the classroom can be college level and under certain circumstances will warrant academic credit. Students seeking PLA credit should consult with the department chair for the appropriate procedure as approved by Academic Affairs.
General Conditions for Awarding Credit:
If a student wishes to appeal credit equivalency, they may submit a Credit Appeal form along with the course description and syllabus. The Registrar will review for decision or have the form escalated to the appropriate department chair or dean.
Students in an undergraduate program must earn a minimum of 25% of the credit hours required for the degree, or other credentials such as a certificate or diploma through direct instruction at MGA.
A maximum credit allowance up to the residency requirement for each degree program type may be combined through acceptance of institutional transfer credit and other sources such as course credit for standardized exams, military service, departmental exams, and prior learning assessments/awards.
Credit hours awarded for transfer are included in the student’s cumulative overall hours earned. Grades earned in transfer courses accepted for credit are not reflected in a student’s MGA cumulative institutional grade point average but are reflected in the cumulative overall grade point average and are displayed on the MGA transcript.
For graduation with honors, grades earned from transfer coursework are not considered. 50% of coursework earned through direct instruction at MGA is required for graduation with honors.
The policies for evaluating, accepting, and awarding are reviewed annually by the Office of Academic Affairs in consultation with the School Deans/Department Chairs and the Registrar’s Office.