Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer Guidelines
Government majors and minors may petition to transfer credit from courses completed at other colleges and universities (including Study Abroad programs) to be applied to the requirements for the major or minor.
Before seeking transfer credit, CAS students should consult the Undergraduate Bulletin. Students from other schools at GU should consult their bulletin.
Students considering courses in non-GU summer programs with the intention of credit transfer and applying the credit to the major or minor should consult CAS Summer School Policies and the Department before enrolling.
The Director and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies evaluate petitions for credit transfer. Courses should be comparable in academic rigor and academic content to a three-credit GOVT course. The following outlines the main criteria.
Format of Instruction
- A course should meet the minimum standard of instructor/student/class contact as set by GU policies. Courses must require regular peer-to-peer interaction (unless the course is clearly designed as a tutorial in the Oxbridge style). There must be evidence that the instructor will be present and actively engaged in delivering course material dynamically, interacting with students throughout the course, and providing regular feedback.
- A course structured mostly around PowerPoint presentations, recorded lectures, other passive media, or with limited faculty-to- student interaction, will not be approved. Examples include but
are not limited to asynchronous online, self-paced courses and independent studies without close and in-person supervision. A course with online components (including synchronous and/orhybrid) that result in a reduction in in-person contact hours will not be approved.
Instructor Credentials
- The primary or lead instructor of a course should hold a PhD in political science, international relations, political theory/philosophy, public policy, or a closely related field.
- A practitioner with exceptional professional experience and demonstrated expertise relevant to the subject matter of the course, and who is affiliated with a degree-granting institution, may sometimes be acceptable. A course taught by such an instructor will receive heightened scrutiny during the evaluation process.
- A course taught by an instructor in a non-degree granting program who does not hold a PhD or equivalent is unlikely to be approved.
Course Content
- Topics should focus on questions explored in political science scholarship. The study of politics may be approached from many intellectual perspectives but the program in Government requires students to engage with the discipline of political science and its methods.
- Reading assignments should draw primarily on scholarly literature relevant to the discipline of political science and government, together with appropriate primary sources.
- The course should involve minimal duplication of material covered in courses that a student has already taken at GU.
The above criteria represent the main guidelines. The DUS and Associate DUS review courses on a case-by-case basis. Additional criteria may apply, especially for Study Abroad courses not completed at a degree-granting institution of higher learning.
Courses not approved for the major or minor may still be applied as a free elective to meet graduation requirements. Students should consult their advising deans.
Limits on Credit Transfer
Students may count up to two non-GU courses toward the major or no more than one non-GU course toward the minor (including courses from Study Abroad).
Transfer students may count up to five non-GU courses toward the major or no more than two no-GU courses toward the minor (including courses from Study Abroad).
The Department does not accept AP credit. (Students who score a 4 or 5 in AP American Government may substitute an upper-level American Government course taken at GU in place of GOVT 1200: The U.S. Political System.)
The Department Seminar must be taken in residence; no non-GU course may fulfill this requirement.
Petition Procedure
To request transfer credit, students should forward the following documents and information to the Associate DUS via email:
- the course syllabus (a course description is not adequate)
- the instructor’s professional credentials
- the reading list for the course
- a PDF of their current Degree Audit (when applicable)
Additional information such as completed assignments and rubrics may sometimes be required.
If credit transfer is approved, students will submit the signed copy of the Evaluation of Transfer Credit form to their advising dean.
Questions?
Email the Associate DUS for general credit transfer inquiries. For those specific to Study Abroad, email GOVTStudyAbroad@georgetown.edu.