Undergraduate Transfer Policy

  1. Biola University will accept credit for equivalent courses from schools accredited by regional or national agencies recognized by CHEA (Council for Higher Education Administration), including distance education courses.
  2. Biola University measures all courses in semester credit hours. Quarter credits are converted to semester credits by reducing the quarter credits by one-third. Such a reduction does not mean loss of credit. Quarter credit hours are converted as follows:

    5 quarter credit hours = 3.335 semester credit hours
    4 quarter credit hours = 2.668 semester credit hours
    3 quarter credit hours = 2.001 semester credit hours
    2 quarter credit hours = 1.334 semester credit hours
    1 quarter credit hour = 0.667 semester credit hours
    Students may complete a degree requirement with a quarter system course that converts to at least two-thirds the credit of the requirement. For example, a 3-credit Biola requirement requires at least 2.001 credits and a 4-credit Biola requirement requires at least 2.668 credits.
    If the course requirement is found within the Core Curriculum requirements of the degree program, credits will not need to be made up (with the exception of foreign language; foreign language can only be satisfied with the full number of credits indicated for the student's degree program). If this requirement is found within the major requirements or Core Bible requirements, the credits will need to be made up through major electives or Bible electives to ensure that the full number of credits for the degree is still met.
  3. Biola University accepts up to 70 transfer credits from accredited community colleges or up to 90 transfer credits from accredited four-year colleges and universities. No more than 90 transfer credits will be accepted.
  4. Incoming transfer students may fulfill their Core Curriculum (GE) requirements by completing Biola University's Core Curriculum (GE), completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or completing CSU Breadth. 

    The completed IGETC/CSU Breadth model for either the University of California (UC) or the California State University (CSU) systems is accepted by Biola University with the following provisions:
    1. First Year Seminar: The Biola Experience cannot be completed by the IGETC/CSU Breadth certification.
    2. The current foreign language requirement for all bachelor’s degrees cannot be completed by the IGETC/CSU Breadth certification.
    3. The current ENGL 313 (Writing in the Disciplines) requirement cannot be fulfilled by the CSU Breadth certification (note: full IGETC certification at admission fulfills ENGL 313).
    4. The minimum of 120 credits for graduation will remain the same.
    5. In addition to IGETC/CSU Breadth certification, students must take all major-specific Core Curriculum (GE), prerequisite, and support courses if not met through IGETC/CSU Breadth.
    6. Official documentation certifying IGETC/CSU Breadth completion must be received by the Office of the Registrar by the graduation petition deadline (March 15 for Spring, November 15 for Fall) prior to receiving commencement and/or graduation clearance.
  5. ​Partial IGETC, CSU Breadth, or General Education Coursework Completion: If a student at a California community college transfers before full completion of the IGETC or CSU Breadth transfer patterns, all coursework taken at the community college to meet the pattern guidelines will transfer to Biola University in satisfaction of Core Curriculum (GE) requirements for that area, with the exception of upper division, modern language, or program-specific requirements. Similarly, with the same exceptions, coursework taken at any regionally or nationally accredited institution to meet the general education guidelines of that institution will, in most cases, satisfy requirements for the comparable subject area in Biola's Core Curriculum.
  6. In addition to Core general education requirements, most students who transfer to Biola University will be required to take thirty (30) credits of Bible/Theology. (See the Bible Minor section for more information.)
  7. Once admitted, continuing students are subject to Biola University's Core Curriculum and program-specific requirements as essential to the mission, vision, values, as well as institutional learning outcomes. No more than 15 transfer credits will be accepted after a student matriculates (defined as the first day of a student’s first semester of coursework). Transfer coursework completed before a student’s first day of Biola coursework does not count towards the 15 maximum transfer credits, even if the official transcript is received after the student’s matriculation date. Continuing students should consult with their departments, academic advisors, and submit Transfer Petition Forms to the Office of the Registrar, before considering coursework outside Biola for potential transfer credit. 
  8. All students are required to take a minimum of 24 credits of upper-division coursework in their major, 15 of which must be taken at Biola University.
  9. A minimum of 24 of the last 30 credits must be earned at Biola University (i.e., only 6 credits may be transferred in during this time). 
  10. Biola has a biblical studies residency requirement for all students. Students in most traditional programs must take at least 15 Bible credits at Biola (6 of which must be upper-division). Students in select high-credit majors and/or transfer students with 45 or more transferable credits completed after high school graduation at the time of enrollment/matriculation must take at least 9 Bible credits at Biola (3 of which must be upper-division).
  11. Grades do not transfer — only earned credit amounts. A student's grade point average is computed only on work completed at Biola University.
  12. Courses may not transfer for several reasons: repeat of work already taken, low grades (D+ or lower), technical or vocational courses, remedial courses, etc.
  13. College-level credit earned during or subsequent to the 9th–12th grades will be given credit, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, ACTFL, and STAMP 4S exams. 
  14. A music major is limited to a maximum of three semester's worth of previous study in applied music (not including ensembles). The maximum number of transferred applied music credits for each program is as follows: 
    • B.M. Music Performance: 6 credits
    • B.M. Music Composition: 3 credits of primary instrument, and 6 credits of applied composition
    • B.M. Music Education: 3 credits
    • B.M. Music Therapy: 3 credits
    • B.M. Worship Arts: 3 credits
    • B.A. Music: 3 credits
    • B.A. Music, Commercial Music: 6 credits
    • Contemporary Worship Minor: 3 credits
    • Music Minor: 3 credits
      Applied music proficiency will be determined in the first semester of private study at Biola and further transfer applied music credits may or may not be granted as of that point. A non-music major is limited to a maximum of 8 credits in applied music (including ensembles).
  15. Transfer students selecting the Music Composition, B.M. or the Music Performance, B.M., who are transferring in 24 credits or more, are only required to complete 3 semesters of MUSC 200.
  16. A non-physical education major is limited to 8 credits in physical education or skill courses.
  17. The combined total of transferred credits plus completed Biola credits determines student level:
    • Freshman: 0-26 credits
    • Sophomore: 27-56 credits
    • Junior: 57-87 credits
    • Senior: 88 credits and above
  18. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree will have the Writing Competency Requirement and all Core Curriculum requirements (except those that are program-specific) waived.