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.

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.

Credit by External Examination
Credit is allowed for other types of educational experience when applicable to the student’s degree requirements according to the following guidelines:

1. College Proficiency Examination Program (CPEP). Administered by the New York State Education Department, CPEP offers examinations in the arts and sciences, nursing, health, and teacher education.
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The College Entrance Examination Board offers a national credit-by-examination program that includes general examinations in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, English, composition, introductory accounting, and computer and data processing. CLEP exams can not be used to satisfy general education requirements.
3. United States Armed Forces Institute (USAF/DANTES). The USAFI offers credit-by-examination in a variety of academic areas including the humanities, social sciences, and business administration.
4. Regents External Degree (RED). The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York offers various programs in which students can demonstrate successful subject area competencies by examination.
5. International Baccalaureate. In accepting this credit, SUNY Poly apportions credit earned through this program toward the student’s general education and, where applicable, major degree requirements.

Advance Placement and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Administered by the College Entrance Examination Board, Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be awarded for courses taken in high school dependent upon the scores achieved. Certain academic programs may not accept AP credit for specific requirements. Students should check with the program faculty to determine how AP credit will be applied in that program. Students should send an official copy of their scores directly to the Admissions Office. AP credit cannot be used to fulfill SUNY Poly’s requirement for the satisfactory completion of one upper-division writing course. In addition, AP credits in biology, chemistry, environmental science or physics will only fulfill the SUNY Poly’s requirement for the satisfactory completion of one laboratory course in the physical sciences when a score of 4 or 5 has been achieved on any of the four AP examinations. Below is a listing of AP examinations and acceptable scores:

Explanations: 

1. 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.
2. (*) 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).

International Baccalaureate Credit
Offered both overseas and through some high schools in the United States, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program leads to a diploma or certificates of examination. Students should send an official copy of their IB transcript directly to the Admissions Office. Transfer credit may be earned for IB courses subject to the following conditions:

• Individual IB courses will be evaluated by faculty in the respective discipline who will determine the standard needed to be achieved, the number of credits to be awarded, the equivalent SUNY Polytechnic Institute course(s) for which credit is granted if appropriate, and the degree and/or program requirement(s) that the transferred credit satisfies if appropriate.
• Completion of individual courses at the Higher Level with an IB test score of 4-7 may earn between 3-9 credits based upon review by the relevant faculty.
• Completion of individual courses at the Standard Level with an IB test score of 6-7 may earn between 3-4 credits upon review by the relevant faculty. Credit for SL level courses will only be awarded to students who have completed an IB Diploma.
• Certain academic programs may not accept IB credit as meeting specific requirements. Students should check with the program faculty to determine how IB credit will be applied in that program.
• IB courses cannot be used to fulfill SUNY Polytechnic’s Upper Division Writing Requirement.

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.