Course Equivalency Policies

Rowan University accepts transfer credits from other colleges and universities, and other prior learning experiences on the basis of course equivalency, which means that a course taken at another institution is comparable to a Rowan course’s objectives, learning outcomes, and educational level.

• Mode of delivery (i.e. face-to-face, online, or hybrid) is not a factor in determining course equivalency.
• The University evaluates credits based on established equivalencies as well as on an individualized, case-by-case analysis.
  • Courses with a Rowan University equivalent are applied to meet program requirements.
  • Courses that do not have a Rowan equivalent may still count as free electives/earned hours toward graduation, under certain circumstances
• The appropriate academic department determines the acceptance and application of all transfer courses that are not already recognized as equivalencies.
• General education and free elective credits do not expire.
• For all students admitted after September 1, 2014, academic programs may not:
  • Limit the number of transfer credits accepted.
  • Differentiate between two-year institutions and four-year institutions in accepting transfer credits.
• Students must be matriculated at Rowan University to have transfer credits entered into their academic records.
• Grades earned in courses that are transferred are recorded on the transcript, but do not count toward the student’s Rowan University GPA.
• Rowan University evaluates all credit and training earned, regardless of accreditation source.
• Rowan University generally recognizes courses from institutions holding the following institutional accreditations:
  
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Higher Learning Commission
  • WASC Senior College and University Commission & Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of schools and Colleges
  • Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • New England Commission on Higher Education

Sending Undergraduate Transfer Credit Transcripts

It is the student’s responsibility to have a final, official transcript for any college-level coursework sent to Rowan University directly from the issuing institution.

• If admitted to the university or a current student of the university, send official, updated transcripts either of the ways listed below:
  • Electronically send to electronic-transcripts@rowan.edu
  • Mail to:
    Rowan University Admissions Office
    201 Mullica Hill Rd.
    Glassboro, NJ 08028

• If not yet officially admitted to the university, please send all undergraduate transcripts directly to the Admissions Office.

• If you are a Graduate or Doctoral Level student, please send all transcripts to Rowan Global. 

Credit Appeals

A Credit Appeal Form should be completed if you disagree with a posted course equivalency or believe a mistake has been made in the process. Include the course description and syllabus for the course taken, the course you feel you should have received credit for and a rationale for the appeal. Once submitted, the appeal can take 7-10 business days. All decisions will be communicated to your Rowan University email address and, if approved, sent to the Office of the University Registrar for any updates.

• Click here for the Credit Appeal Form
• Please direct any questions to:
  • Mayra Arroyo, Transfer Services Coordinator, University Advising Services
  • Email: arroyo@rowan.edu or transferhelp@rowan.edu 
  • Phone: 856-256-4452

Duplicate Credit

Rowan University cannot grant transfer credit in cases of duplicate credit. Duplicate credit refers to a situation when a student transfers a course (whether from a community college, AP exam, or other source) and also takes the equivalent Rowan University course or takes a course at a different institution that transfers in as the same Rowan University course. In these cases, the course with the highest grade (or the latest attempt if multiple attempts earn the same highest grade) will be included and duplicate course/courses will be excluded. Depending on when a student shares transcripts or exam results with Rowan University, duplicate credit might be discovered and updated after a student’s initial matriculation into Rowan University.

Transfer Credit Limits

While there is no limit to traditional course credits transferred (from an accredited college or university), University policy requires a minimum of 30 credits be completed through Rowan University coursework. Depending upon the individual situation, credits will fulfill general education, major requirements, and/or electives.

• Link to Non-traditional transfer credit information (AP, CLEP, ACE, etc.) 

Credit Hours and Grades

• Credits are transferred on a semester-hour basis, which means credits from schools on the quarter-hour system may transfer at a less than one-for-one rate.
• In some cases, a course may be recognized as equivalent but have fewer credits than the corresponding Rowan University requirement. Academic departments will identify appropriate and reasonable measures for addressing such discrepancies, which may include additional course or credit requirements or waivers.
• Grades earned in courses that are transferred are recorded on the transcript but do not count toward the student’s Rowan University GPA.
• Earned credits are transferred and posted irrespective of grades. However, if a program requires a minimum grade as part of their curriculum, the credit may not necessarily be applied to program requirements. This applies to both transfer students and students who start their freshman year at Rowan.
• Non-traditional credit such as CLEP, AP, Military, International Baccalaureate, etc. will transfer in with a grade of TR.
• When transferring in separate lecture and lab passing grades, the lecture grade will always be used as the combined grade reflected on the transcript. 
• Courses that are combined will always receive the higher of the two grades for the combined course. 

Back to Top