Transfer Students

CMU welcomes transfer students from a wide range of educational backgrounds. Transfer credit is considered for students who have been conditionally admitted to a CMU program and have submitted all required documentation, including a valid study permit for international students.

To assess transfer credit, students must submit official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions. In some cases, course outlines or syllabi may be requested to determine course equivalency.

The Registrar’s Office evaluates all transfer credit requests automatically. Courses may be assessed in one of three ways:

• For equivalency to a CMU course, on a course-for-course basis.
• For block-transfer credit, by grouping together several courses in a subject field.
• For unallocated credit in a subject field or as a general elective. (In this context the term ‘unallocated credit’ means that the credit does not match any course offered at CMU.)

Students are encouraged to work closely with an academic advisor to understand how their previous coursework fits into their CMU program.

Transfer credit is only granted for courses in which a student has earned:

• Undergraduate level: a minimum grade of C
• Graduate level: a minimum grade of B

Courses completed more than 10 years ago may be considered outdated and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Departments may apply additional criteria based on subject relevance and currency.

Students may transfer up to 60 credit hours toward a CMU undergraduate degree. Graduate programs have specific residency requirements that may limit the number of transferable credits.

Transfer credit may be awarded in one of the following formats:

• Course Equivalency: Direct match to a CMU course. Example:

• Block-Transfer: Grouping of courses in a subject area. Example:

• Unallocated Credit: Credit in a subject field that does not match a specific CMU course but may fulfill general requirements. Example:

Unallocated credits are recorded using a standardized format:

• BTS-0101: Unallocated Introductory Bible credit at the 1000-level
• PSYC-0200: Unallocated Psychology credit at the 2000-level
• UNAS-0320: Unallocated Social Science credit at the 3000-level

Each CMU program has specific residency requirements. Transfer students must complete a minimum number of credit hours at CMU to be eligible for graduation. Advisors will help ensure these requirements are met.

CMU may consider transfer credit from Bible colleges, technical institutes, and community colleges. Credit is granted based on academic rigor, course content, and alignment with CMU’s degree requirements.

If requested, students must provide detailed course outlines or syllabi. These documents should include:

• Course description
• Learning outcomes
• Reading lists
• Assessment methods
• Contact hours

Transfer credit documentation should be submitted as early as possible. While CMU does not currently enforce a strict deadline, delays in submission may impact course registration and degree planning.

All transfer students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to review their transfer credits and plan their degree path. Advisors help ensure that transferred courses align with program requirements and that students meet residency and graduation criteria.

Misconception #1:
“If CMU accepts my transfer credits, that means I meet the admission requirements.”

Misconception #2:
“If CMU doesn’t accept all my transfer credits, I might lose my admission.”

Here’s the Truth: Admission and transfer credit are two separate processes.

Admission

• Admission is based on your overall academic record, including GPA and completed credentials.
• You can be admitted even if not all of your previous courses are eligible for transfer.
• Once you’re admitted, your spot at CMU is secure—transfer credit decisions do not affect your admission status.

Transfer Credit

• Transfer credit determines how much of your previous coursework counts toward your CMU degree.
• Only courses with a C or higher (undergrad) or B or higher (grad) are considered.
• Successful transfer credits don’t carry any grade; they do not affect your GPA at CMU.
• Some courses may transfer as electives, not as required courses.
• Others may not transfer at all due to age, content, or program fit.

Why the Confusion?

It’s easy to assume:

• “If I’m admitted, all my courses should count.”
• Or, “If some courses aren’t accepted, maybe I wasn’t qualified.”

But remember:

• Admission = you’re in.
• Transfer credit = how your past work fits into your CMU degree.

What Should I Do?

• Meet with an academic advisor to understand how your transfer credits apply.
• If some credits aren’t accepted, your advisor will help you plan your path forward.
• You may need to take additional courses at CMU to meet degree requirements—but your admission is not at risk.

CMU will recognize transfer credit, subject to a few exclusions, equivalent to the hours the student has earned at Bethany College to a maximum of 60 credit hours for any student meeting the following criteria:

• The student has completed a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work at Bethany College
• The student has achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher at Bethany and a minimum grade of 'C' in each course.
• The student is choosing a four-year degree program at CMU. If the student chooses a three-year degree program at CMU, the maximum credit-for-credit transfer will be 45 credit hours.

CMU will assess transfer credit for any student who does not meet the criteria listed in the previous paragraph but meets CMU's regular admission requirements according to existing policies regarding transfer of credit.

The Bethany College courses excluded are men's/women's basketball, soccer, hockey, or volleyball.

*For the complete Transfer Credit agreement, contact the Registrar's Office.

CMU will recognize transfer credit equivalent to the hours the student has earned at CBC to a maximum of 60 credit hours for any student meeting the following criteria:

• The student has completed a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work at CBC.
• The student has achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher at CBC and a minimum grade of 'C' in each course.
• The student is choosing a four-year degree program at CMU. If the student chooses a three-year degree program at CMU, the maximum credit-for-credit transfer will be 45 credit hours.

CMU will assess transfer credit for any student who does not meet the criteria listed in the previous paragraph but meets CMU's regular admission requirements according to existing policies regarding transfer of credit.

*For the complete Transfer Credit agreement, contact the Registrar's Office.

SBC students who intend to complete the Bachelor of Education may transfer to CMU after one or two years of study at SBC to complete a Bachelor of Arts with the requisite teachable courses within another two years. The transfer credit these students bring from SBC will cover as much as 36 credit hours of the requirements of CMU's core curriculum. At CMU these students will complete courses to meet the remaining requirements in CMU's core curriculum (i.e., usually 12 credit hours of science, practicum, and integrative studies) and sufficient courses to cover the distribution requirements and the teachable subject requirements of the after-degree Bachelor of Education program for which they plan to apply.

CMU will assess transfer credit for any student who does not meet the criteria listed in the previous paragraph but meets CMU's regular admission requirements according to existing policies regarding transfer of credit.

*For the complete Transfer Credit agreement, contact the Registrar's Office.

CCMU will grant transfer credit for the course BUSI-1000 Business and Organizational Administration (3 credit hours) to graduates of MBCI who meet the following criteria:

• Meet CMU's regular admission requirements.
• Graduated from MBCI in 2019 or later.
• Awarded the Ventures Certificate for completion of the following requirements: Business Innovations 10S, Entrepreneurship 20S, Accounting Essentials 30S, Economic Principles 40S, Completed the Ventures Portfolio, Participation in the Youth in Philanthropy Club (minimum one-year).
• Achieved a minimum average of 80% over four courses required in the Ventures Certificate with a minimum grade of 75% in each course.

*For the complete Transfer Credit Agreement, contact the Registrar's Office.