All transfer coursework must be approved by the student's Graduate Program and by the Graduate Dean.
Graduate College Criteria for Transfer Credit Towards a PhD
The acceptance of transfer credit from another institution for a doctoral degree at OUHSC is determined in accordance with the following criteria:
-
Transfer credit must constitute less than 50% of the credit hours applied toward a doctoral degree. Exceptions can be made for additional non-OU coursework taken by electronic media, if the course is taken following enrollment in an OUHSC doctoral program and approved by the student's Graduate Program.
-
The coursework transferred must represent valid graduate credit earned in graduate level courses from an accredited college or university.
-
The credit must carry a grade of A, B, or S.
-
The credit must be applicable to the degree program.
-
Courses that are not part of a completed, relevant master’s degree must not be more than six years old at the time of admission to the degree program. In special cases, credit more than six years old may be transferred if recommended and validated by the department and approved by the Graduate Dean. The departmental procedures to validate the student's current knowledge and competency must have the approval of the Graduate Dean.
-
If the student has completed a master's degree, the entire program may be accepted as transfer credit, if the coursework meets the standards outlined in the Bulletin and the Graduate Program determines that the coursework is current and relevant. No more than six hours of thesis research credit from a completed master's degree may be applied toward a doctoral degree. Credit from a completed master's degree must account for less than 50% of the credit hours for the doctoral degree.
-
Credit from a professional degree program such as the MD, DDS, or DVM degree may be applied toward a graduate degree as transfer credit, provided that such courses carry a grade of A, B, or S and have been approved for graduate credit by the academic institution of origin.
-
Graduate coursework completed while a student is in a doctoral degree program at the University of Oklahoma Norman or OU Tulsa Campuses will be considered as residence credit, and upon approval of the department and the Graduate Dean, may be used without limitation as credit toward a doctoral degree.
-
Credit hours previously counted for one doctoral degree may not be applied toward a second doctoral degree.
-
Credit by correspondence or by advanced standing examination will not apply toward a graduate degree.
-
Graduate coursework taken in Tulsa from the University of Oklahoma is not considered transfer credit. OSU Tulsa consists of five cooperating universities that provide undergraduate and graduate level courses as well as some degree programs. Credit taken from the other cooperating universities through OSU Tulsa is considered transfer work and must comply with the transfer policies.
Graduate Program Evaluation of Proposed Transfer Credit
The PhD Advisory Committee is responsible for evaluating the proposed transfer coursework to determine equivalency with the required PhD curriculum.
-
If completed coursework is deemed equivalent to a required course in the PhD curriculum, the transfer credit may be accepted in lieu of the required PhD course. The course would not need to be retaken in the PhD curriculum.
-
If completed coursework is deemed similar, but not equivalent to a required course or not current, the student must take the required OUHSC course, a related OUHSC course, or an independent study to demonstrate competency. The credit hours required for the PhD can include either the completed, current “similar” coursework or the course to be taken at OUHSC, but not both.
-
Additional completed coursework that is relevant to the doctoral curriculum can be counted as elective credit.
-
The Advisory Committee should submit a recommendation to the Graduate College regarding the proposed transfer courses and determination of equivalency.
