ACADEMIC TRANSFERS

Welcoming students from diverse academic paths

Ricketts Great Books College® welcomes applications from students who have previously completed college-level coursework at other institutions and are interested in joining our academic community. Due to the distinctive and integrated nature of our curriculum, all transfer applications are carefully evaluated to ensure that students who earn their degree from Ricketts Great Books College® will have completed the essential courses that define our program.

Evaluation of Transfer Credit

Case-by-Case Review: Courses from other institutions will be reviewed individually to determine their applicability toward the Ricketts Great Books College® degree.
Required Documentation: Students must submit:
- An official transcript from the institution where the course was completed.
- A course syllabus from the term in which the course was taken.
Supplemental Materials: The Transfer Evaluation Committee may request additional information, including copies of substantive assignments, reading lists, or examinations, to assist in determining equivalency.

Criteria for Awarding Transfer Credit

Credit may be granted when the prior course covers substantially the same material as a Ricketts Great Books College® course and is of equivalent academic rigor, and is delivered in a manner consistent with our instructional philosophy.
The Committee should give particular weight to whether:
- The institution is of demonstrably high academic quality.
- The course relied primarily on original source material rather than summaries or textbooks.
- The mode of instruction included seminar-style, discussion-based learning rather than lecture-only formats.
- The student engaged in activities resembling Socratic seminars, critical dialogue, and close reading of primary texts.
Examples of acceptable equivalencies:
- A course in 19th Century Literature may be accepted in lieu of GB25: 19th Century Literature.
- A course in calculus and physics with calculus may be accepted in lieu of GB20: Physics and the Origins of Calculus.
- A semester-long course on Plato may be accepted in lieu of GB03: Plato.
Transfer credit will generally not be awarded for:
- Courses outside the Ricketts Great Books College® curriculum (e.g., modern foreign languages, applied vocational training).
- Courses where the majority of the reading material is not drawn from original source texts.
- The History of Ideas course sequence, which is a foundational component of the Ricketts experience, and is normally completed in the first year.

Process

Students apply for admission through the standard Ricketts Great Books College® application process.
Upon acceptance, but prior to registration, students submit the required transfer credit documentation.
The Transfer Evaluation Committee reviews materials and issues a provisional written determination prior to the student’s first course registration.
Students will be notified of provisionally accepted credits and corresponding course exemptions.
Upon completion of their first semester at Ricketts Great Books College®, the Transfer Evaluation Committee will review their performance and confirm or adjust the provisional transfer credit as appropriate.
Students may appeal transfer credit decisions through the published Academic Appeals process.

Limitations

The maximum number of transfer credits accepted will be determined according to degree requirements and in compliance with accreditation standards.
The final decision on transfer credit rests with the Transfer Evaluation Committee.
Transfer credit is initially awarded on a provisional basis. Transfer credit will be confirmed only after a student completes their first semester at Ricketts Great Books College® and has demonstrated the expected level of proficiency.

Courses Taken at Other Institutions While a Student at Ricketts Great Books College

Students who wish to take courses at another accredited college or university while actively enrolled at Ricketts Great Books College® must obtain prior written approval from the Academic Dean.

Approval Requirement: Coursework completed elsewhere without prior approval will not be considered for transfer credit.
Documentation: Requests must include a course description and syllabus from the other institution.
Evaluation: The Academic Dean will determine whether the course is eligible for credit toward the student’s degree at Ricketts Great Books College®.
Concurrent Enrollment Limits: Students may not take courses elsewhere that duplicate or substantially overlap with Ricketts courses they are currently enrolled in or scheduled to take.

TRANSFER CREDIT & PRIOR LEARNING

Transfer-Out Disclosure

“The transfer of credits earned at Ricketts Great Books College to another college or university is at the sole discretion of the receiving institution. The College cannot guarantee that credits earned here will be accepted elsewhere. Students who plan to transfer should contact the receiving institution in advance to confirm whether Ricketts Great Books College credits will be accepted.”

Prior Learning Assessment

Ricketts Great Books College awards credit for prior learning only when prior study closely matches a specific College course. Because the curriculum is built on the close reading of original primary texts in Socratic, discussion-based seminars, the only prior learning the College can recognize is documented prior study that shares those features. The College does not charge a fee for prior learning assessment.

What qualifies

A single category qualifies: prior study — whether or not it carried credit — in which you engaged in close reading of original source materials in a Socratic, discussion-based seminar led by a qualified instructor (for example, a non-credit Great Books seminar, an audited graduate seminar, or a qualifying continuing-education program). Prior credit-bearing coursework at a college or university is handled under the Transfer Credit policy instead.

What does not qualify

Professional or military experience.
Training programs, professional certifications, and licenses.
Credit-recommendation services and standardized exams (CLEP, AP, DSST).
Portfolio assessments of life or work experience.
Self-directed reading without a qualified instructor and seminar discussion.

Criteria

Each petition is evaluated against five criteria, all of which must be met: textual alignment with the target course’s readings; comparable depth of engagement (close reading and analytical writing); Socratic, discussion-based pedagogy under a qualified instructor; appropriate instructor credentials in a recognized setting; and a live discussion (viva voce) with College faculty confirming substantive engagement.

How to petition

At or before your first registration, submit a Prior Learning Petition naming the course(s) for which you seek credit, with the prior reading list, the syllabus or program description, and evidence that the experience was seminar-based (for example, a letter from the instructor or session recordings). A faculty content expert reviews the petition; if the documents support it, you take part in a live discussion with faculty. The Dean of Faculty approves the final determination, and you receive a written decision.

Limits

Prior learning credit and transfer credit combined may not exceed 25% of the credits required for your degree; the rest must be completed at the College. Prior learning credit is recorded as course-equivalent credit and does not affect GPA.

Appeals

You may appeal a determination within 15 business days by writing to the Dean of Faculty, identifying a material error or providing new evidence. An independent faculty reviewer and the Dean reconsider the petition; a written decision is issued within 10 business days and is final.