The number of transfer credits allowed will depend upon the standing of the institution(s) attended, the nature of the courses taken, and the grades earned. PBA declines to accept transfer credit of a grade lower than a “C-” (exception to this policy provided for in The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida Community College Articulation Agreement Manual). Only credits from institutions with accreditation recognized by the Department of Education are transferable to PBA. Coursework from non-accredited institutions will not transfer.
Any student who has completed an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida community college is guaranteed:
- Junior standing with the application of a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the Baccalaureate degree
- Recognition of completion of the General Education requirements, excluding the Biblical Studies component and Freedom in American Society
The following schools have additional natural science requirements:
- The School of Arts and Sciences
- The School of Communication and Media
- The School of Education
- The School of Ministry
- The School of Nursing
- The School of Pharmacy’s Pre-Pharmacy program
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Credit will be awarded for a course(s) completed at an institution that is deemed degree-granting by a post secondary regional accrediting commission, at the time the coursework was completed, if the student has earned a grade of “C-” or better. Grades for transferred courses do not count in the PBA cumulative GPA. A student presenting accredited transfer credit from an institution that was not accredited as degree granting by a post secondary regional accrediting commission at the time the coursework was completed may seek credit validation upon the successful completion of 30 credit hours at PBA (with a 2.0 PBA cumulative GPA or higher). For planning purposes, an unofficial evaluation of credit will be provided. Only courses for which a grade of “C-” or better has been earned will be considered.
Upon the completion of the residency requirement and satisfaction of the academic progress requirement, the unofficial evaluation will be validated, and the courses will transfer as noted on the official evaluation. The student must submit written notification to the Office of the Registrar upon successful completion of the residency requirement.
A maximum of 67 semester hours of credit may be transferred from all two-year or community colleges. The last 32 hours of credit must be earned at PBA. Each transfer student must take at least one-third* of the required courses in the major(s) and/or minor(s) at PBA. A student may not receive upper-level credit at PBA for a course completed elsewhere for lower-level credit.
The Dean of the discipline for which the transfer is sought, in consultation with the Registrar, will approve/not approve a transfer course from another academic institution to meet PBA’s requirement for a Global Studies Elective or a Social Science Elective. The proposed transfer course should be comparable to, though not an exact equivalent of, an approved PBA Global Studies or Social Science Elective selected for the particular major. Among the factors which may be considered are learning outcomes and an appropriate integration of faith and learning. Transient credit will not be approved to satisfy Global Studies or Social Science electives.
PBA follows ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations for credit by examination and publish our guidelines for awarding credit for AP and CLEP. Both are available on College Board’s website www.collegeboard.org. The University reserves the right to make the determination of credits awarded outside of ACE guidelines.
*The School of Ministry applies more stringent transfer standards for courses within the major field of study. School of Ministry majors should refer to Chapter 4 – Programs of Study – The School of Ministry for school-specific transfer policies.