Transferring Credit
If you've completed graduate coursework at another university, you may be able to transfer eligible credits toward your OSU degree. Transfer credit can help you build on previous academic work, but all courses must meet Graduate College requirements and receive approval through the Plan of Study process.
Transfer of Graduate Credit policy (University Catalog)
How to Transfer Graduate Course Credit
The review of transfer credit is not part of the admissions process, but is initiatied once you have been admitted to your program.
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Ensure your coursework meets transfer requirements.
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Submit official transcripts with relevant coursework.
Official transcripts for all graduate-level coursework and degrees earned after completion of a bachelor's degree must be submitted to support transfer credit consideration. Students should provide transcripts as soon as they are admitted or whenever they complete additional graduate coursework at another institution while enrolled at OSU.
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Update your Plan of Study.
Transfer courses should be entered individually in the “Transfer Graduate Courses” section at the bottom of the Update Courses screen in your Plan of Study.
Be sure to enter all information for the course(s) as it appears on the transcript from the institution where the credits were earned. You do not need to match transfer courses to equivalent courses at Oklahoma State University for the plan of study.
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When is transfer graduate credit reviewed for my graduate degree at OSU?
The review of transfer credit is often done within your department at the time of admission, but it is not part of the admission process at OSU. Transfer credit (official transcript required) is evaluated during the submission of the plan of study, which is due before the end of the first semester for graduate certificates, before the end of the second semester for master’s students, and before the end of the third semester for doctoral students.
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I thought the time limit to complete a master's degree was seven years. What is this talk about a ten-year rule?
There are time limits for graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees at OSU. Graduate certificate and master’s students have seven years from first admission to complete a certificate or degree. Doctoral students have 9 years from their first admission to complete their degree. There is also a separate time limit for coursework validity. Courses are valid for ten years. This means that at the time of your graduation, no courses older than ten years may be included on your plan of study as part of the degree requirements. This can be especially relevant if you switch degree programs while at OSU or are transferring in credit hours from another university.
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I am already a graduate student at OSU. Can I take an online class at another university for my degree here?
It is possible to take a course outside OSU while you are in the middle of a degree program, whether online or in person. If you want that course to count toward your degree program, three criteria need to be met.
- The course must be a graduate-level course offered by an accredited university and be taught by a member of that institution’s graduate faculty.
- You must earn a letter grade of ‘B’ or better in the course.
- Your advisory committee must have approved the course for use in your degree plan.
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I am doing a study abroad program. Is that considered transfer work?
Maybe. If you are participating in an OSU study abroad program, then you will probably be enrolled in OSU graduate credit hours while completing the international experience. If you are registering at an international institution for a semester or a year, you will earn hours as a student of that institution and will need to transfer those credits back to OSU.
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My plan of study listing valid transfer courses was approved by the Graduate College. Why are the courses not showing up on my transcript?
Transfer courses at the graduate level are not listed on the OSU transcript. If they are on your approved plan of study, then they are officially part of your approved degree requirements. When you graduate, a notation will be added to your transcript stating that ___ hours were transferred from _____ institution and counted toward the degree requirements. Also be aware that since transfer courses are not directly transcribed, they do not affect your cumulative GPA.