Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credit is credit earned for coursework completed at another institution and applied to meet requirements at Messiah College. Students may transfer graduate coursework from other institutions under the following conditions:

  • The coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution.
  • The credits are graduate level.
  • A minimum grade of a “B” was earned for each transferred course.
  • Credits completed before enrolling in the School of Graduate Studies must have been completed within seven (7) years before matriculation. See individual programs for exceptions.
  • Currently enrolled students who wish to take credits at another institution and transfer them to Messiah College must have written approval of the Program Director prior to starting coursework.
  • The course is not listed as one required to be completed at Messiah College. See transfer credit chart below.
  • The number of credits transferred does not exceed the maximum allowed in the student’s program. See transfer credit chart below.
  • Only credits and courses are eligible for transfer. Grades earned at the original institution are not calculated into the student’s Messiah College grade point average.
  • Transfer credits are not eligible to meet requirements for 12-credit graduate certificates. A maximum of three (3) credits may be transferred to meet requirements for graduate certificates requiring more than 12 credits.

Transfer Credit Chart by Program

Graduate Degree Program Credits Allowable Number of Transfer Credits Courses that must be completed at Messiah College
DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner 86 18 NURS 601, NURS 602, NURS 620, NURS 623, NURS 632, NURS 721, NURS 722, NURS 731, NURS 732
DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy  110 0 All DPT courses must be completed at Messiah College
MA Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 580, COUN 581, COUN 582
MA: Counseling: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 573, COUN 587, COUN 588, COUN 589
MA Counseling: School Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 583, COUN 584, COUN 585
MA: Higher Education 36 9 HIED 511, HIED 562, HIED 563, HIED 565
MA: Strategic Leadership 30 6 LEAD 501, LEAD 590
MBA 36 9 BUSA 501, BUSA 590, COMM 550, SENT 530, SENT 540, SENT 550
MEd: Christian Education  36 0 All courses must be completed at Messiah College and Asbury Theological Seminary
MEd: Curriculum and Instruction 30 6 EDME 503, EDME 525, EDME 534, EDME 544
MEd: Curriculum and Instruction with Online Teaching 30 6 EDME 503, EDME 525, EDME 534, EDME 544, EDME 554
MEd: Intercultural Studies  36 0 All courses must be completed at Messiah College and Asbury Theological Seminary
MEd: Online Teaching 33 6 EDME 503, EDME 525, EDME 534, EDME 544, EDME 554
MEd: Special Education 30 6 EDME 530, EDME 531, EDME 541
MEd: Special Education (Courses Leading to Special Education PA Certification) 39 12 EDME 530, EDME 531, EDME 541
MEd: Special Education with Online Teaching 36 6 EDME 530, EDME 531, EDME 541, EDME 554
MED: TESOL 33 6 EDME 521, EDME 533, EDME 543
MED: TESOL (Courses Leading to PA ESL Certification) 37 9 EDME 521, EDME 532, EDME 533, EDME 542, EDME 543
MED: TESOL with Online Teaching 36 6 EDME 521, EDME 532, EDME 533, EDME 543, EDME 554
MEd: TESOL with Online Teaching  33 6  EDME 524; EDME 532; EDME 533 or 543
MM: Conducting 30 6 MUSI 501, MUSI 502, MUSI 503, MUSI 621, MUSI 622, MUSI 623, All MUAP courses
Master of Occupational Therapy 80 0 All courses must be completed at Messiah College
MSN: Nurse Educator 39 9 NURS 530, NURS 531
 MSN: Nursing Administration 38 9 NURS 560, NURS 562

Procedure to transfer credits

  • When a student applies, he/she requests the former college to send an official transcript of work to the Graduate Admissions Office.
  • The Graduate Admissions Office provides copies of the transcripts to the Program Director.
  • The Program Director notifies the student and Registrar how the credits will transfer and the Registrar’s Office updates the student’s record accordingly.

The Program Director has the final authority on all transfer credit decisions. Transferred credits become part of the student’s program of study and it is the student’s responsibility to work with his/her advisor to carefully schedule remaining coursework.