Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credit is credit earned for coursework completed at another institution and applied to meet requirements at Messiah University. Students may transfer graduate coursework from other institutions under the following conditions:

  • The coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution.
  • The credits are graduate level.
  • A minimum grade of a “B” was earned for each transferred course.
  • Credits completed before enrolling in the School of Graduate Studies must have been completed within seven (7) years before matriculation. See individual programs for exceptions.
  • Currently enrolled students who wish to take credits at another institution and transfer them to Messiah University must have written approval of the Program Director prior to starting coursework.
  • The course is not listed as one required to be completed at Messiah University. See transfer credit chart below.
  • The number of credits transferred does not exceed the maximum allowed in the student’s program. See transfer credit chart below.
  • Only credits and courses are eligible for transfer. Grades earned at the original institution are not calculated into the student’s Messiah University grade point average.
  • Transfer credits are not eligible to meet requirements for 12-credit graduate certificates. A maximum of three (3) credits may be transferred to meet requirements for graduate certificates requiring more than 12 credits.

Transfer Credit Chart by Program

Graduate Degree Program Credits Allowable Number of Transfer Credits Courses that must be completed at Messiah University
 Master of Business Administration 36 9 BUSA 590
 M.A. Healthcare Leadership  30  6 LEAD 590 
M.A.: Strategic Leadership  30 6 LEAD 590
M.A. Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 580, COUN 581, COUN 582
M.A.: Counseling: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 573, COUN 587, COUN 588, COUN 589
M.A. Counseling: School Counseling 60 18 COUN 501, COUN 520, COUN 540, COUN 583, COUN 584, COUN 585
M.Ed.: Curriculum and Instruction 30 6 EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: Elementary Education with PDE Initial Teaching Certification in PreK-4   63  9

 EDME 534, EDME 572, EDME 574, and
EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed. PK-12 Education with initial PDE certification 60-66 9 EDME 534, EDME 572, EDME 576, EDME 578, and EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: Online Instruction 33 6 EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed. Secondary Education with PDE Initial Certification Track 58-60 9 EDME 534, EDME 572, EDME 576, EDME 578 and EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: Special Education 30 6 EDME 530; EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: Special Education with PDE Initial Teaching Certification in Special Education (PK-12) 78 9  EDME 534, EDME 572, EDME 575, and
EDME 583 or EDME 584 
M.Ed.: Teaching Language and Content  33 6 EDME 532; EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: TESOL 33 6 EDME 583 or EDME 584
M.Ed.: TESOL (Courses Leading to PA ESL Certification) 37 9 EDME 532; EDME 583 or EDME 584
 M.A.: Higher Education 36 9 HIED 511, HIED 562, HIED 565, HIED 567
M.A.: Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership  36 9 HIED 530, HIED 562, HIED 567
 M.M.: Conducting 30-33 6  MUSI 501, MUSI 502, MUSI 503, MUSI 621, MUSI 622, MUSI 623, All MUAP courses
Master of Music Education   30-33  6  MUED 520, MUED 680, EDME 505, Literature Course, Pedagogy Course
D.N.P.: Family Nurse Practitioner 86 18 NURS 601, NURS 602, NURS 623, NURS 632, NURS 731, NURS 732
D.N.P. Nursing Leadership  36-39 9 NURS 623, NURS 632, NURS 731, NURS 732
M.S.N.: Nurse Educator 39 9 NURS 530, NURS 531
 M.S.N.: Nursing Administration 38 9 NURS 560, NURS 562
 Master of Occupational Therapy 80   0  All courses must be completed at Messiah University
 Doctor of Physical Therapy 110 0  All courses must be completed at Messiah University

Procedure to transfer credits

  • When a student applies, he/she requests the former college to send an official transcript of work to the Graduate Admissions Office.
  • The Graduate Admissions Office provides copies of the transcripts to the Program Director.
  • The Program Director notifies the student and Registrar how the credits will transfer and the Registrar’s Office updates the student’s record accordingly.

The Program Director has the final authority on all transfer credit decisions. Transferred credits become part of the student’s program of study and it is the student’s responsibility to work with his/her advisor to carefully schedule remaining coursework.