Transfer Credits

Matriculated SPD students interested in transferring external credits to Stony Brook University must adhere to the following criteria:

1. No credits will be reviewed for transfer from another institution until a student is officially matriculated in an SPD program and has completed at least one graduate course as a matriculated student at Stony Brook University toward that program.

2. A student may request to transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credits toward an SPD master's degree or 6 graduate credits toward an advanced graduate certificate. All requests are contingent upon the approval of the program director. The credits must be from institutions authorized by recognized accrediting agencies to grant graduate degrees, and must be applicable to graduate degree or certificate programs offered by those institutions.

3. Transfer credits must carry the grade of B or better (B- grades are not acceptable). Pass or Satisfactory grades are not transferable unless these grades can be substantiated in writing by the former institution as B or better quality.

4. Transfer credits cannot be older than five years at the time of a student’s admission or readmission to matriculated status in SPD.

5. Credits used to fulfill a requirement for either a baccalaureate or another graduate diploma, certificate, or degree may not be transferred toward an SPD program.

6. Transferred courses cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Studies Core requirements in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree or the Core Curriculum requirement in the Master of Professional Studies degree. SPD’s transfer credit advisor will determine how transferred credits may be applied toward other SPD requirements.

7. If a transferred course has been determined to have a Stony Brook equivalent, the equivalent course may not be taken for credit toward an SPD degree or advanced graduate certificate.

8. After matriculation in an SPD program, prior approval must be obtained from the transfer credit advisor to take courses at another institution for credit toward an SPD degree or certificate.

9. Credits earned through correspondence or travel, or video courses, or credits earned through examination may not be transferred.

10. Credits earned through specially formatted programs will not be considered for transfer.

11. The completed Transfer Credit Request form must come with the following additional information: complete syllabus, a list of required text/s and outside readings, a complete schedule of class meetings (including dates, times, and locations) and the basis for student evaluation, prior to review.