Transfer Credit

Policy

After matriculation, Duke undergraduates may receive credit for two types of transfer courses, namely credit earned:

You may transfer as many as 8 credits for a full year plus two for a summer session.  However, in no instance may you transfer more than ten courses when combining study abroad and the allowable number of domestic transfer courses (see below).  You will need to work closely with and follow the procedures employed by the Office of Study Abroad to secure transfer credit for study abroad. (See Study Abroad for further information).

Follow the procedures outlined below to secure approval of domestic transfer credit.

Note: Transfer credit will not be awarded for course taken online or at a junior or community college.

 

Procedure

Approval of Transfer Credit from Another U.S. 4-year College or University     

In order to receive transfer credit for course work earned at another domestic institution, you must secure (pre-)approval of the course(s) you wish to take elsewhere by completing STEPS 1, 2 and (optionally) 3 below.

STEP 1: Departmental Approval

To begin the transfer credit approval process, you will want to print out a copy of the

       Transfer Credit Instructions/Form (PDF, 360KB)

and, following the instructions carefully, complete the form and take it first to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the department or program that corresponds to that of the course in question.   The DUS must sign the form, approving the content of the course and determining its equivalency to a specified Duke University course.   The DUS will also in most cases assign the course an Area of Knowledge designation.

STEP 2: Dean's Approval

Next, submit the form to one or the other of the following locations for Dean's approval:

  • Academic Advising Center on E. Campus (undeclared students)
  • Trinity College Dean's Office in 011 Allen Building (declared majors)
 

Your dean must approve the course as equivalent to a Duke course with regard to the number of contact hours (35 hours).  After your dean has signed the tentative approval form, it will be faxed to Registrar's Office.

When you have completed the course, have the institution send a copy of your transcript to the Office of the University Registrar, Box 90054, Durham, NC 27708. Only courses in which you earn a grade of C- or better are eligible for transfer. A grade of TR will be recorded on your Duke transcript for a transfer course.

STEP 3 (optional): Determining Eligibility for any Mode of Inquiry Codes

If you wish to apply for a Mode of Inquiry Code for a course that you took abroad on a Duke-approved program or domestically at another U.S. institution, you may do so only after the course has been approved for transfer credit.  To apply, print out a copy of the

      Transfer Course Modes of Inquiry Request Form (PDF, 87KB).

Submit the completed form together with the required support materials to the Transfer Course Coding Committee, 011 Allen Building, by the deadline noted on the form. (Completion of the form and provision of documentation does not guarantee that the request will be approved.)

Note: The determination of Modes of Inquiry for a transfer course is significantly more difficult than approval of credit and Areas of Knowledge since Duke has very specific criteria for permitting courses to count toward the Modes of Inquiry requirements of the Curriculum. You do not need to request a Mode of Inquiry code in order for your course to be transferred and given an Area of Knowledge. Apply for a Mode of Inquiry code for a transfer course only if it is pertinent to your plans for completing Curriculum requirements.