Credit from Other Sources

General Policies

The following general policies apply to credits earned or sought from sources other than courses offered by St. Lawrence and courses taken by cross-registration. 

  1. The student must be matriculated as a full-time student at St. Lawrence University, with the exception of an employee of St. Lawrence University or other member of the Associated Colleges who may be part-time. 

  2. At entrance, acceptability of credit is determined by the registrar; at other times it is determined by the registrar and/or committee in consultation with the appropriate department chair(s). 

  3. Credit is given no grade value and does not become a part of the student’s cumulative or major or minor GPA. For a unit to be transferred, it must have a minimum grade of C or 2.0 on a four-point system. 

  4. Upon entrance, the equivalent of two years’ work may be counted toward graduation. Sixteen units must be completed at St. Lawrence. 

  5. Matriculated students in good academic standing (having a minimum GPA of 2.0 and the proper number of completed units) may transfer up to eight units of credit. 

  6. Matriculated students on academic notice may apply to pursue coursework at another institution. However, the approved credit will not appear on the student transcript until the student is back in good academic standing at St. Lawrence University. 

  7. Transfer credit will not be granted to students while they are under academic suspension. A student readmitted from academic suspension may request the registrar for transfer of credit earned elsewhere while under suspension. 

Specific Policies

In addition to the general policies, the following specific policies apply to particular means of obtaining credit.

  1. Transfer credit from other institutions: 

    • To be assured of receiving credit toward graduation from St. Lawrence University, matriculated students must obtain prior approval of individual courses or programs of study. If they intend to study off campus during a regular fall or spring semester, such approval must be obtained from the CIIS committee and the appropriate department chair(s). Off-campus summer programs are approved by the Registrar and the appropriate department chair(s). 

    • The credit value of transferred work undertaken during an academic year by a matriculated student shall be assessed against the standard of the expected normal full load of the host institution. In other cases: 

      • A maximum of two three-semester-hour courses may be transferred to St. Lawrence as one St. Lawrence unit each. 

      • Beyond two courses, credit value of semester-hour courses shall be assessed in accordance with a table of values maintained by the registrar. wherein 1 unit at St. Lawrence University is the equivalent of 3.6 semester or credit hours. 

  2. Advanced placement and credit toward graduation are granted to students who achieve a rating of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination in the following subjects: 

AP SLU Equivalent 

AP Course

SLU Equivalent with section

Art 2D Design 

ELEC NCE 

Art 3D Design 

ELEC NCE 

Art History 

AAH NCE 

Calc AB 

MATH 135 (or subcode BC exam) 

Biology

Forward to department

Calc BC 

MATH 135 and MATH 136 

Chemistry 

CHEM 103 

Chinese Language 

ELEC NCE 

Comp Gov and Politics 

GOVT 105 

Computer Sci. Principles 

CS 140 

Computer Sci. A 

CS 219 

Drawing 

ELEC NCE

Econ-Micro 

ECON 100 

Econ-Macro 

ECON 100 

Econ - Macro AND Micro 

ECON 100/ECON NCE  

Eng LANG/COMP 

ELEC NCE 

Eng LIT/COMP 

ENG 190 

Environ Studies (Sci) 

ENVS 101 

European History 

HIST 102 

French Language 

FR 103 

German Lang/Culture - score 4* 

GER 101 

German Lang/Culture - score 5* 

GER 101/GER 102 

Human Geography 

ELEC NCE  

Japanese Lang and Culture - score 4 

ELEC NCE 

Italian Lang and Culture 

ELEC NCE 

Music Theory 

MUS 100 

**Physics B 

Awarded by dept – PHYS 103/ 104  

**Physics C Part 1 

Awarded by dept – PHYS 151 

**Physics C Part 2 

Awarded by dept – PHYS 152 

Psychology 

PSYC 101 Without Lab (PSYC-101NL) 

Research 

ELEC NCE  

Spanish Language 

SPAN NCE 

Spanish Literature 

SPAN NCE 

Statistics 

STAT 113 

Studio Art 

ELEC NCE  

US Gov and Politics 

GOVT 103 

US History 

HIST 103/HIST 104 (.5 unit each) 

US History 

HIST 103 (1 unit) OR HIST 104 (1 unit) to be used when already registered for HIST 104 or HIST 103 

World History 

HIST NCE 

 

*German scores of 4 will receive 1 unit of credit equivalent to GER 101. Scores of 5 will receive 2 units of credit equivalent to GER 101 and GER 102. 

***Laboratory Qualification: Students must demonstrate significant lab experience to the Physics department chair to receive any credit.  

Note: Students earning a score of 4 or 5 on the General Biology AP exam may earn 1.25 units for Biology 102 if they successfully complete Biology 101. For a complete explanation of this option, refer to the “Advanced Standing” section of the Biology section in this Catalog. 

Courses are acceptable in lieu of departmental prerequisites and fulfill distribution requirements, as indicated. The effect of advanced credit upon the department major requirements is determined by each department chair. 

  1. International Baccalaureate and credit toward graduation are granted to students who achieve a rating of Higher Level Examinations in which a score of 5 or higher in the following subjects: 

IB Exam

SLU equivalent or general credit

Biology 

forward to dept 

Chemistry 

CHEM 103 

Economics 

ECON 100 

English A1 

ENG-NCE 

English A2 

ENG-NCE 

English B 

ENG-NCE 

English A: Lang and Lit 

ENG 190 

English A: Literature 

ENG 190 

English NCE 

ENG NCE 

Film 

DMF NCE 

French 

FR-104 

Geography 

ELEC-NCE 

German (score of 5) 

GER-101 

German (score of 6 or 7) 

GER-101 and 102 

Global Politics 

GOVT-108 

History 

HIST- NCE 

History Africa 

HIST- NCE 

History Americas 

HIST-NCE 

History Asia/Oceana 

HIST- NCE 

History Europe 

HIST- NCE 

Italian B 

ITAL-104 

Math Studies 

MATH-135 

Music 

No credit but can advance to MUS 200/201

Philosophy 

PHIL-100 

Physics 

forward to dept 

Psychology 

PSYC-101NL 

Social & Cultural Anthropology 

ANTH 102 

Spanish A: Lang and Lit 

SPAN-104 

Spanish A: Literature 

SPAN-104 

Spanish A1 

SPAN-104 

Spanish B 

SPAN-104 

Spanish AB 

SPAN-104 

Theatre 

PCA-125 

Visual Arts 

ELEC-NCE