University of Pittsburgh logo

Credit Transfer

Students laughing

BASW Student Transfer Credit Information

BASW Transfer Credit is defined as the awarding of academic credit toward the BASW degree for course work or field work completed at an accredited academic institution when such work is evaluated by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work’s BASW Program as entirely comparable. Potential students applying to the BASW major at the University of Pittsburgh who have earned college-level credit at another accredited undergraduate social work program prior to entering the BASW major may be eligible to have those credits counted toward completion of the BASW degree. An official transcript of all courses taken at other schools must be submitted at the time of application, whether or not it is intended that such courses be counted toward a degree at the University of Pittsburgh.

Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, the School of Social Work's BASW Program does not grant transfer credits or exemptions for prior life or employment experience.

Policies and Procedures

Transfer credits are subject to the following guidelines and limitations:

  1. Credits earned by the student at another accredited institution will be accepted if the quality of the credits earned is at least a “C” grade or better, per University of Pittsburgh Transfer Credit Policy
  2. Academic credit for fieldwork will be awarded only for fieldwork completed at an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education when such work is evaluated as entirely comparable.
  3. Courses for which credit is sought must correspond with those offered by the University of Pittsburgh in objectives and content, as described in the University of Pittsburgh’s CCAC/Pitt Connection Transfer Guide.
  4. The number of credits reduced or granted for a given course can neither exceed the number on the official transcript from the School where they were earned, nor the number earned in the corresponding course at the University of Pittsburgh.
  5. No transfer credits can be part of the final thirty (30) credits required for the BASW degree. The final thirty (30) credits must be earned in residence at the University of Pittsburgh.
  6. All transfer credits are subject to re-evaluation if and when the student transfers from one school to another within the University of Pittsburgh.
  7. No more than 90 credits can be transferred from four-year schools and no more than 60 credits can be transferred from two-year schools. This decision is made on the basis of the last school attended, according to the University of Pittsburgh Transfer Credit Policy.
  8. If a course for which transfer credit has been awarded is repeated, the transfer credit is cancelled and the student must enroll in another course to make-up those transfer credits.
  9. Transfer credits awarded by the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will be accepted consistent with University of Pittsburgh policy.
  10. Transfer credits awarded by the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Arts and Sciences for Advanced Placement will be accepted consistent with the aforementioned policies.
  11. Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, the BASW Program does not grant course or field credit, transfer credit, or exemptions for prior life, volunteer, or employment experience.
  12. Transfer credits for liberal arts courses in which the student has received a C grade or better do not have a statute of limitations, though the BASW program reserves the right not to accept liberal arts courses for transfer if the content is deemed outdated.
  13. Transfer credit for social work courses in which the student has received a C grade or better must have been completed within the previous seven academic calendar years at a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education when such work is evaluated as entirely comparable.
  14. Transfer credits will be calculated by the administrative Support Staff person assigned to the BASW Program and included in the student’s permanent record prior to registration for the Spring Term following the student’s matriculation into the BASW Program.
  15. A student may appeal a negative ruling regarding transfer credits to the Academic and Professional Behavior Committee, following the procedures described in this handbook for filing student grievances.