We welcome students who have strong academic backgrounds and allow transfer of credits from other accredited graduate institutions.
Transfer of Credit from Accredited Graduate Theological Schools
1. Credits normally must have been earned in an accredited graduate theological school and must be reported on an official transcript.
2. No transfer credit is granted for the certificate program.
Master's Programs
3. The number of credit hours earned via online courses will reduce the maximum number of credits eligible for transfer, since both are considered "off-campus" courses. Courses taken online through Westminster's MAC program are excepted from this policy.
4. Shared credit (transfer credit from an institution from which the student has completed a master’s degree): Ordinarily, the seminary may accept up to one-half of the credits earned for a first theological master’s degree toward a degree at Westminster, not to exceed one-half of the credits required for the MDiv and MAR degrees at Westminster. The minimum number of credit hours of study that a student must complete on Westminster’s campus, excluding Greek, Hebrew, English Bible Survey and Advanced Theological Writing courses, is 46 hours for the MDiv degree, 28 hours for the MAR degree, and 28 hours for the residential MAC degree.
For all of the MDiv and MAR degrees cited above, the final 24 credit hours must be Westminster courses unless a petition for an exception due to extenuating circumstances is approved. Courses taken earlier through CCEF and transferred at the end of a student's degree program are exempted from this policy. The maximum number of “off-campus” credits (shared credit and online credits combined) that will be eligible for approval toward a student’s degree program is 46 for the MDiv degree, 27 for the MAR degree, and, except as specified elsewhere, 28 for the the MAC degree.
5. Transfer credit (from an institution from which the student has not received a Master’s degree): The minimum number of credits hours of study that a student must complete on Westminster’s campus, excluding Greek, Hebrew, English Bible Survey and Advanced Theological Writing courses, is 46 hours for the MDiv degree, 28 hours for the MAR degree, and 24 hours for the residential MAC degree. For all of the degrees cited above, the final 24 credit hours must be Westminster courses unless a petition for an exception due to extenuating circumstances is approved. Courses taken earlier through CCEF and transferred at the end of a student's degree program are excepted from this policy. The maximum number of “off-campus” credits (transfer credit and online credits combined) eligible for approval towards a student’s degree program is 46 for the MDiv degree, 27 for the MAR degree, and, except as specified elsewhere, 28 for the MAC degree.
6. Only courses in which a grade of C or above was received will be considered for transfer credit toan MAC, MAR, or MDiv degree program.
7. Grades are transferred only from courses from a Westminster program in which no degree was earned or from courses taken at Jerusalem University College (JUC). (See Holy Land studies for more information.)
8. Credits on a quarter system are figured as a two-thirds equivalent of Westminster’s semester system.
9. Courses might be transferred as required or elective credit. It is more likely that, if approved, course credit will be applied to elective hours rather than to required courses (since the content or perspective might not be the same).
10. The emphasis chosen in the MAR or MDiv program could make a difference in the number of credits that are transferred. For example, the MAR and MDiv General emphases require more elective hours.
11. A special restriction applies to courses at other institutions in the areas of Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology, when the courses do not use the original languages. Such courses can normally be transferred for MAR or MDiv credit only as electives. But the coordinator of the department (Old Testament, New Testament, or Systematic Theology, as the case may require) may at his discretion allow up to a maximum of three hours per department to be transferred toward required credit for the MAR or the MDiv (for a total of nine hours in Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology combined).
12. Greek and Hebrew language courses completed at another institution will not be considered for transfer credit. Greek and Hebrew language courses completed at Westminster will count toward MDiv or MAR degree requirements in the case of reinstatement but will not count in the case of readmission. Students whose language courses do not count toward the MDiv or MAR degree requirements must take the language courses or place out of some or all of them by means of a placement exam.
13. Unless otherwise noted elsewhere, courses completed at Westminster or at another institution that are more than ten years old prior to initial matriculation or readmission will not be considered for transfer credit or be applicable to a present Westminster MDiv, MAR, or MAC program. Course work between five and ten years old will be accepted only with the approval of the appropriate department. This limitation does not hold in the case of reinstatement. However, please refer to the seminary’s maximum time limit policy for individual programs.
Advanced Degree Programs
14. Only courses in which a grade of B or above was received will be considered for transfer credit to a ThM, PhD, or DMin degree program.
15. Study completed at Westminster or another institution more than five years prior to initial matriculation in the PhD, ThM, or DMin program cannot be applied for transfer credit to the program that the student is entering. This limitation does not hold in cases of reinstatement or readmission. Credit for study completed in Westminster’s PhD, ThM, or DMin program prior to reinstatement or readmission is subject to the approval of the appropriate field committee.
16. Normally, up to two approved ThM/PhD level courses from another institution may be transferred to the ThM program, only one of which may count toward the three required courses in the ThM candidate’s concentration. A ThM candidate who has completed the MDiv degree at Westminster may petition the appropriate field committee for permission to transfer a third approved ThM/PhD level course, as long as at least two courses in the candidate’s concentration are taken at Westminster. However, the number of non-classroom courses taken at Westminster (directed reading and independent study) will reduce the maximum number of courses eligible for transfer credit.
17. Transfer credit toward the PhD program for courses completed in Westminster’s ThM program is given depending upon the nature and quality of the work. However, individuals who have obtained a ThM degree from Westminster may be given shared credit for up to four courses of the residence requirements. For PhD candidates in the Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation field, credit for non-NT or OT courses is not granted unless by exception.
18. Shared credit toward the ThM or PhD degree, for advanced degree work pursued before the completion of requirements for a Westminster MDiv or MAR degree, shall be limited to two courses.
19. PhD candidates in the field of Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation: Ordinarily, transfer credit will not be granted for courses completed at other institutions prior to enrollment. With written permission of the advisor, the candidate already matriculated at Westminster may take courses at other graduate institutions to transfer as elective credit. Transfer credit will not be approved for required courses.
20. PhD candidates in the field of Historical and Theological Studies: Up to four courses of advanced work beyond a first theological degree may be approved for transfer credit, if the advanced work is not credited toward an earned degree. However, approved transfer credit is limited to two courses if the advanced work is pursued prior to completion of a first theological degree. Transfer credit must substitute for the “external” courses requirement, while any remaining transfer credit may substitute for any of the other course categories. With the exception of a ThM from Westminster, work credited toward an earned degree is not eligible for shared credit.
21. A current student who has received pre-approval to take a course at another institution for transfer credit must make arrangements for enrollment at the other institution and report to the registrar at Westminster in writing before the beginning of the semester when he/she will enroll at the other institution. If no Westminster course is taken in the semester the student is enrolled elsewhere, the student is withdrawn for that semester and will not pay a fee to Westminster. See automatic withdrawal section for exceptions. Failure to conform to these stipulations may result in withdrawal of the student from the program and in the refusal of Westminster to count these courses toward degree requirements.
22. A maximum of 2 courses may be accepted for elective transfer credit for the DMin program. Review your specific degree program requirements for restrictions and exceptions.