Transferring Credit

If you are considering transferring to Lewis & Clark, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@lclark.edu. To enhance your academic planning at LC, we recommend that you seek pre-approval for transfer credits. If these transfer credits are approved, you may then ask if they meet either general education or major/minor specific requirements.

Transfer credit is generally awarded for course work completed at other colleges or universities accredited in the United States, provided the Office of the Registrar determines the course work to be:

1. completed at a regionally accredited college or university;
2. college level;
3. consistent with Lewis and Clark’s liberal arts curriculum;
4. graded C or better (P or CR grades must be verified as having been C or better work, as well). Grades from transfer credits are not computed into the student’s LC grade point average;
5. taken on the college or university campus; and
6. not repeated for credit already granted for a course.

The amount of credit granted for courses taken at other institutions on the semester system is determined by the amount of credit given at the originating institution (i.e., if a course in Astronomy at University X carries 3 semester credits, LC will grant 3 credits). Credit earned on a quarter-system calendar is converted to semester credits on the basis that 1-quarter credit equals .67 semester credits (i.e., if a course in Astronomy at University X carries 3 quarter credits, LC will grant 2 semester credits). Cases involving credits from an academic system that is not on a standard quarter or semester system will be evaluated as they arise.

Students may transfer a maximum of 68 graded credits to L&C, providing those credits are approved by the Office of the Registrar. Due to Lewis & Clark’s residency requirement, all students must take 28 of their last 32 credits at L&C.

Transfer Credit for General Education Requirements

Unless awarded by the Registrar upon initial evaluation of transfer credit, students may request evaluation of transfer courses for specific general education credit by obtaining a General Education Requirements: Transfer Credit Evaluation form from the Registrar’s Office. Transfer students should complete the form and return it to the Registrar along with:

1. the name of the institution and the name of the city, state, and country in which it is located;
2. the catalogue description of the course;
3. an indication of whether the institution is on the quarter or semester system;
4. the number of credits earned.

Transfer Credit for Major/Minor Requirements

It is important first to verify with the Registrar’s Office that the proposed course is transferable as credit toward graduation in general, and then consult with the department Chair.

Only the Chair of the department can determine if a transfer course can be applied towards a major or minor, so students should ask the Chair for written approval.

There is a limit on the number of transfer credits that may be applied to a major or a minor. A minimum of 20 semester credits for the major and 12 semester credits for the minor must be taken at L&C.

Overseas Study

Students who have studied or who plan to study abroad through another accredited US college or university program should check with the Registrar about transferring credits to L&C.

In order to gain approval, provide a detailed description of the program and the course work to be completed. Transfer credit is not granted for “stand alone” travel/study programs (e.g., programs where credit is not granted by an accredited US college or university). In keeping with the standard applied to L&C overseas study programs, a maximum of 16 semester hours of transfer credit is allowed for work completed on a study abroad program.

For More Information:

If your last name begins with A-L, please contact:

Robin Jarecki
Transfer Coordinator
503-768-7329
rjarecki@lclark.edu

If your last name begins with M-Z, please contact:

Cherilyn Ronningen
Transfer Coordinator
503-768-7332
cer@lclark.edu