Students who transfer to Panamerican University must meet the institution’s regular admission requirements. Students must notify Admissions of their desire to have their previous courses considered for transfer credits by Panamerican University. Applicants with prior graduate studies must submit previous college transcripts as well as a course schedule for each course the applicant wishes to transfer.
Panamerican University has specific policies regarding the transfer of credits, and accepts those credits considered equivalent for purposes of issuing a degree. Acceptance of any credit is solely at the discretion of the Panamerican University administration. Panamerican University examines each of the courses taken and completed by the applicant, in conjunction with the study program selected by the student.
In order to maintain the essential structure of the programs, there is a limit to the number of credits that a student can transfer.
Credit transfer procedure
Students must comply with the following:
- Please submit all official transcripts in the original language with an official English translation, from previous institutions from which you wish to have transfer credits considered. These documents must be evaluated by a NACES member evaluation agency.
- The minimum acceptable grade for transfer from previous courses is a letter grade of “C” or its equivalent.
Panamerican University considers equivalent courses successfully completed, from baccalaureate and graduate level institutions and other institutions at the appropriate educational level. - Description of the course and study program, certified by the sending institution (for example, catalogue, program guide or an official letter from the institution verifying its validity).
- Provide copies of original course syllabuses and/or course content documents for full evaluation, which will help Panamerican University determine the level of content that matches the equivalent course at Panamerican. The content match between the two courses must be at least 70% to be considered for the award of transfer credits.
- Additional documents may be required at the discretion of Panamerican University, to fully evaluate your transfer request.
- All previous courses must have been completed within the last ten (10) years. For courses older than 10 years, challenge exams may be requested. The approval and administration of said exams is at the discretion of the Academic Dean and the faculty of the subject area. Panamerican University reserves the right to review each individual transfer situation based on its merits which may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the relevant professional application of previous university level studies. In any case, Panamerican University has the final decision to approve the transfer credit.
Students may appeal the transfer credit approval decision as follows:
- The student must submit a request to the Registrar in writing, within ten (10) days after the decision on a credit transfer request.
- The Secretary reviews the petition and may request additional documentation and/or an interview with the student to assist in the appeal process.
- Once the appeal and all supporting documentation have been received, the Secretary will provide a response to the appeal request within the following fifteen (15) days.
- The final authority on transfer credit is the Academic Coordinator.
- The final response to an appeal will be delivered within thirty (30) days of receipt of the appeal request.
NOTE: Credits transferred to and from Panamerican University are accepted solely at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the responsibility of the student to confirm if the Panamerican University credits are accepted by another institution. No guarantee of credit transfer is made or implied by Panamerican University.
For possible transfer credits from another institution, we only consider courses with a grade of C or higher. Course credits with a grade lower than C are not accepted by Panamerican University.
Panamerican University reserves the right to make the final determination of the number of transfer credits that are accepted. In all cases, at least 25% of the course credits of the degree program must be completed at Panamerican University.
Credit for prior learning and experience
Panamerican University reserves the right to grant credits for learning and previous experience. Credit for prior learning is credit for extensive professional experience acquired outside the University that has resulted in a level of knowledge and skills appropriate to and comparable to the level and content of the program or credential offered at the University. The maximum amount of credit allowed for Credit for Prior Learning will not exceed 25% of the credits required for the program in which the student is enrolled. The University may require that the Credit for Prior Learning be validated, through the test or presentation of a portfolio that demonstrates the skills possessed by the student before accepting said credit. Courses that are part of an area of concentration or specialization are not eligible for credit for prior learning. See the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog for required fees. Master’s courses are not eligible for credit prior learning.
Credit by exam
Students may receive credit for a Panamerican University course by taking an exam instead of the actual course. At Panamerican University, we realize that many students have already acquired college-level learning in a subject area and have mastered the content of certain courses. Panamerican University’s challenge exams are the equivalent of passing an end-of-term cumulative exam or a series of comparable exams. Exams vary depending on the type of course contested.
A challenge exam is an opportunity for a student to demonstrate college-level learning through a course-specific institutional exam. The exam is developed by Panamerican University accredited professors in the academic discipline that the course offers. Credit is awarded for the student’s demonstrated competency of specific course requirements through successful completion of the exam.
Challenge Exam Criteria and Limitations:
- Students may not enroll in the course for which they plan to attempt a challenge exam.
- A challenge exam may not be attempted for a course in which the student is currently enrolled, or has previously taken (earned a grade, failed, or withdrew), or has transferred from another institution.
- Students are limited to two challenge exam attempts per course. After two failed exam attempts, students must enroll in the course.
- Students may not challenge courses that are part of any concentration or specialization.
Some exams can be taken prior to admission to Panamerican University. A student may earn no more than 30 credit hours per exam for any or all of the programs. Credit will not be awarded for any course in which the student has received credit from any educational institution. Master’s courses are not eligible for credit by exam.
