It is the policy of SUNY Poly to accept only those transfer credits that are applicable to the student’s degree requirements, i.e., – a 64 semester hour transfer of credit into a baccalaureate program requiring 124 hours indicates that the student will need to complete an additional 60 hours to finish the bachelor’s degree. A minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average must be maintained for all credit transferred. Courses for which transfer credit is allowed may not be repeated for credit at SUNY Poly. Total transfer of credits may not exceed 94 semester hours (141 quarter hours). SUNY Poly accepts transfer credit only. Transfer course grades and quality points earned at the transfer institution are not reflected in a student’s grade point average. The level at which credit is earned for a specific course (e.g. lower division or upper division) is retained when that credit is transferred to SUNY Polytechnic.
Transfer of Credits Taken Prior to Matriculation
Students may transfer all applicable earned credit not to exceed 76 semester hours of lower division credit. Additional credit beyond 76 semester hours may be accepted from four-year institutions at the junior and senior levels if it is applicable to the student’s degree program. Under no circumstances may the student transfer more than 76 credits of lower division coursework.
Credit Evaluation Review Process
Once a student’s initial credit evaluation is completed by the Admissions Office, it undergoes an additional review to ensure accuracy and alignment with program requirements.
Each academic program’s coordinator reviews the evaluation to:
- Confirm course equivalencies
- Ensure credits are applied appropriately to program and degree requirements
- Verify compliance with academic and accreditation standards
This secondary review helps provide students with the most accurate understanding of how their prior coursework applies to their chosen program. If adjustments are needed, the credit evaluation is updated accordingly before it is finalized and shared with the student.
Transfer of Credits Taken After Matriculation
Matriculated students who wish to take coursework at another college and receive additional transfer credit must receive prior approval by filing a Petition to Take Courses at Another College in accord with the procedures of their academic unit and the Registrar’s Office. Approval of transfer credit will be based on the applicability of the course towards the student’s degree requirements, and successful completion of the course with a grade of “C” or better. Ordinarily, these courses shall be taken from four-year colleges, but under no circumstances may the student transfer more than 76 credits of lower division coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation upon completion of the course.
1. Acceptance of credits
SUNY Poly has a policy to accept transfer credits from other institutions and/or award academic credentials acquired during professional training.
The professional training could be completed prior or concurrently with the program the students are enrolled in.
2. Eligibility of credits
Credits for Prior Learning (CPL) may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
- military education and training
- industry certifications, apprenticeships (including in partnership with labor unions), and related employer-recognized credentials that lead to upward mobility; industry certifications and licenses or other credentials
- standardized published exams including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations
- portfolio review and challenge exams
- work experience, non-credit courses, certification programs, seminar training and workshops
- non-credit to credit pathways
- others.
These credentials can be translated into college academic credit that will apply towards a program or course(s) at SUNY Poly. This will also include the training completed outside of SUNY Poly completed concurrently to any course(s) or program(s) for a given semester.
The transfer credits and CPLs can only be applied to the courses offered at SUNY Poly. Additionally, the transfer credits and credits for prior professional learning experience will only be accepted if they align and fulfill educational goals or the Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) of the program or courses in question.
Both the Curriculum and Academic Affairs committees agree that the discretion of acceptance of CPL lies with the faculty of the relevant Department to review and evaluate the fitness of CPL for the specific course. The Department further gets to determine the form of evaluation, testing and/or portfolio review, when translating CPL to college credits on behalf of SUNY Poly.
Any current or applying students can request CPL evaluation that applies to a course/ program at SUNY Poly. The evaluation will be completed as described in the guidelines in section three.
3. Limitations of credits
The limit for these transfer credits and credits for prior learning must be in accordance with the SUNY Poly policies: https://sunypoly.edu/academics/catalog/undergraduate.html
The same CPL cannot be applied to multiple courses/programs. However, the hours for CPL can be counted and split if they apply to more than one course/program.
No more than 16 Credits for Prior Learning can be applied to a student’s program of study with the exclusion of AP, CLEP, and IB credits, which are subject to the total transfer credit limit listed above.
Below is a listing of AP examinations and acceptable scores:
Below is a listing of AP examinations and acceptable scores:
| AP Exam | Score | Credit Granted | Gen. Ed. Category | SUNY Poly Equivalent |
| Art History | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Arts | NA |
| Biology | 3 | 4cr | Natural Science | BIO 101 |
| Biology | 4 | 4cr | Natural Science | BIO 103 |
| Biology | 5 | 8cr | Natural Science | BIO 103 & BIO 104 |
| Calculus (AB) | 3 | 4cr | Mathematics | MAT 121 or MAT 112 |
| (AB) | 4, 5 | 4cr | Mathematics | MAT 151 |
| (BC) | 3 | 4cr | Mathematics | MAT 151 |
| (BC) | 4, 5 | 8cr | Mathematics | MAT 151 & MAT 152 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4cr | Natural Science | NA |
| Chemistry | 4, 5 | 4cr | Natural Science | CHE 110 |
| Computer Science (A) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | NA | CSC 301J |
| Computer Science (AB) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | NA | CSC 301J |
| Economics (Micro) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Social Sciences | ECO 110 |
| Economics (Macro) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | NA | ECO 112 |
| ENG.(Lang.&Comp.) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Basic Communication | ENG 101 |
| ENG.(Lit.&Comp.) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Humanities | NA |
| Environmental Sci. | 3 | 3cr | Natural Science | NA |
| 4, 5 | 4cr | Natural Science | BIO 106 | |
| European History | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Western Civilization | HIS 150 |
| French (Language) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | FRE 101 |
| French (Lit) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | NA |
| German | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | NA |
| Govt&Politics (Comp) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Social Sciences | POS 330 |
| (US) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Social Sciences | POS 110 |
| Human Geography | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Social Sciences | NA |
| Latin (Literature) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | NA |
| (Virgil) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | NA |
| Music Theory | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Arts | NA |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3cr | Natural Science (non-lab) | NA |
| 4, 5 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 101 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3cr | Natural Science (non-lab) | NA |
| 4, 5 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 102 | |
| (C-Elect&Mag) | 3 | 3cr | Natural Science (non-lab) | NA |
| 4 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 102 | |
| 5 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 102 or PHY 202 | |
| (C-Mechanics) | 3 | 3cr | Natural Science (non-lab) | NA |
| 4 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 101 | |
| 5 | 4cr | Natural Science (lab) | PHY 101 or PHY 201 | |
| Psychology | 3, 4, 5 | 3cr | Social Sciences | PSY 100 |
| Spanish (Language) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | SPA 101 |
| Spanish (Lit) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Foreign Language | NA |
| Statistics | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Mathematics | STA 100 |
| Studio Art (Drawing) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Arts | ART 135 |
| (2-D Design) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Arts | ART 110 |
| (3-D Design) | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Arts | NA |
| U.S. History | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | American History | HIS 101 & HIS 102 |
| World History | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | Other World Civilizations | NA |
| World History | 3, 4, 5 | 4cr | World History and Global Awareness | NA |
Explanations:
- NA – SUNY Poly does not have an equivalent course. The AP credit is given, but it does not preclude student from taking any SUNY Poly course.
- (*) If credit is received for PHY 101 and/or PHY 102 then PHY 201 and/or PHY 202 cannot be taken for additional credit. (see PHY 201 and PHY 202 in the catalog).
Effect of Transfer Credits
Credits awarded under the above regulations have no effect upon the computation of the student’s grade point average. Students who receive failing grades at SUNY Poly and then transfer in credit from an equivalent course will not have failing grades excluded from GPA calculation at SUNY Poly.