Transfer Credit Center: Academic Passport Policy
What is Academic Passport?
West Chester University’s Academic Passport Policy is designed to facilitate the transition of students and their credits with an earned Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degree from other institutions with Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognized accreditation. Degrees earned include:
- Associate of Art (A.A.)
- Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
- Associate of Science (A.S.)
- Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S)
Under the Academic Passport:
Under Academic Passport students will have automatically satisfied WCU’s General Education requirements with the exception of a 3-credit Diverse Communities requirement. This exception does not extend the student’s time to degree at WCU. In addition, the Academic Passport will also waive the Additional Baccalaureate Degree Requirement of Speaking Emphasis. Students will need to satisfy the Capstone requirement, the remaining credits of Writing Emphasis, and depending on the major, the Language & Culture requirements at WCU.
Academic passport is available to students at any point during their WCU career and is applied when they offer a final transcript indicating their associate degree. This makes it possible for students to engage in reverse transfer to apply some WCU-earned credits to their community college to earn their associate degree while enrolled at WCU
Who is eligible?
Students with an earned Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degree from other institutions with Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognized accreditation.
How will I know I am eligible?
When students apply for admissions to WCU they should indicate in their application if they have either
- Already received a qualifying Associate’s Degree or
- will receive a qualifying Associate’s Degree in the near future
The WCU Transfer Team will note their “candidacy” for academic passport on their record so that advisors and students are aware. The Degree Audit will also show general education courses as satisfied by Passport.
When students complete their Associate’s degree, they should send a final transcript showing the conferred degree (date the degree was awarded) to the Registrar’s Office for a final review and to have their “candidacy” updated to an awarded Academic Passport once admitted.
I am eligible, now what?
In order to have Academic Passport added to your Degree Audit, students must submit a final copy of their official transcript that shows one of the respective degrees conferred.
The Office of the Registrar will review your transcript and apply Academic Passport to your Degree Audit.
How does credit transfer?
Admission to a specific curriculum at WCU shall be determined by WCU based upon the same criteria required for non-transfer students. Transfer students shall not be required to repeat or retake courses that they have already successfully completed at another school.
Credits earned by a Community College student as part of a qualifying degree program (or credits earned at another System school) should be accepted and applied toward completion of the baccalaureate degree requirements. WCU shall apply as many credits as possible toward the satisfaction of lower division general education requirements.
WCU will try to apply the remaining credits to the transfer student’s major requirements. The rest of the transfer student’s credits shall be applied to satisfy elective requirements.
- For students with an Associate degree up to a maximum of 45 general education credits and liberal arts credits earned at the two-year college shall be used to meet lower division WCU general education requirements.
- This applies even if WCU does not offer the specific course being transferred or has not designated that course as general education. A course-by-course match shall not be required.
Students shall receive an evaluation of credits prior to enrollment and payment of tuition and fees.
Other things you need to know...
The Academic Passport does not guarantee entrance to a specific major or program. WCU schools, colleges, and majors may have additional requirements for admission. Accepting courses as meeting the General Education requirements does not imply that they are equivalent to specific West Chester University courses. Equivalency in courses, as indicated by the course number, is determined and granted by individual departments. Nothing in this policy requires a department to grant equivalency if it does not exist. Some programs require specific courses in mathematics and the liberal arts distribution offerings as part of their degree program. Students must complete all courses that are specified by their major/minor program as well as all university requirements for graduation. Students should read the course catalog and consult with their advisor.
Academic Passport Advising Guide
For students who were admitted Fall 2022 and after - General Education Academic Passport Guide
For students who were admitted Fall 2019 through Spring 2022 - General Education Academic Passport Guide
For students who were admitted before Fall 2019 - General Education Academic Passport Guide
Questions and Contact Information
Students/Parents: For questions about admission to WCU, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Faculty and Staff: For questions about Academic Passport,
please contact the Registrar.