Credit Normally Allowed

All college-level courses (except some religion and theology courses) taken in U.S. institutionally accredited institutions will be counted toward the degree. Upper-division, graduate, and professional courses from U.S. institutionally accredited institutions will only be counted if needed to meet minimum degree requirements.

In determining transfer of a student’s credits, Santa Monica College honors prior course repetition actions taken by other accredited institutions.

Consult a counselor for information regarding credit for coursework taken after leaving SMC. A maximum of six (6) semester units is granted for Cooperative Work Experience/ Internship.

Santa Monica College does not automatically review official incoming transcripts to determine how completed coursework may apply. Students must meet with a counselor to help them determine course applicability toward their specific degree, certificate, or transfer goals. Course credits are not automatically added to the SMC transcript. In most circumstances, credits are recorded to the transcript only after the student petitions for a degree or certificate. Students may submit a petition to the Admissions & Records Office to post credits for successfully completed AP, CLEP, and IB tests. Evaluators will determine eligibility and post credits to the transcripts accordingly.

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Reduction of Credit

Non-Institutionally Accredited Institutions

Under specific circumstances, students may transfer up to fifteen (15) semester units of credit from a non-institutionally accredited institution to Santa Monica College. To initiate the request for credit transfer, students should submit a Use of Non-Accredited Coursework petition to the Admissions Office.

Course Limitations

Basic Skills courses may NOT be applied toward the degree. See the Basic Skills Preparation Courses information above for details.

Students may apply as elective units toward any degree or Certificate of Achievement up to six (6) semester units of Independent Study credit.

Students may apply as elective units toward any degree or Certificate of Achievement up to eight (8) semester units of Cooperative Work Experience/Internship credit.

Foreign Coursework

Students who have satisfactorily completed courses from a foreign nation’s appropriately accredited university may be able to apply the course credits toward a degree at SMC. Students should consult a counselor BEFORE requesting to have credits evaluated, because the time it takes to evaluate a large number of units can delay enrollment. Courses must first be evaluated by an approved credential evaluation agency, and then reviewed by the SMC Admissions Office. Some courses may also require approval by the department chair. Once courses are approved, their credit(s) may be transferred to SMC.

To have foreign coursework credits evaluated, students should visit smc.edu/foreigncoursework and contact one of the approved credential evaluation agencies listed there.

Please note: Foreign coursework will NOT satisfy general education requirements for Area 1A (English Composition), Area 1B (Oral Communication and Critical Thinking), and Area 6 (Ethnic Studies).

Credit for Prior Learning

Credit can be awarded for prior experience or learning only for specific courses that match the subject matter of the student’s previous learning, and only for courses listed in the College's catalog. This credit can be applied toward a local degree, IGETC, CSU GE, or certificate of achievement, as appropriate.

Credit may also be given to electives for students who do not need additional general education or program credits to meet their goals. This ensures that the credits help students progress toward certificates or degrees. Credits earned through examination or assessment methods listed below will not count toward the 12 semester units of credit required in residence for a degree. Additionally, credits earned through examination or assessment will not count as units enrolled for the term, but will be added to the total units completed.

Advanced Placement (AP; score of 3 or higher)
International Baccalaureate (IB; score of 5 or higher on a high-level examination)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Evaluation of a Joint Services Transcripts (JST)
Satisfactory evaluation of industry recognized documentation
Satisfactory evaluation of student-created portfolios
Achievement of an examination administered by other agencies approved by SMC
Satisfactory completion of an examination administered by SMC in lieu of completion of a course listed in the SMC catalog.

Details concerning requests for Credit from Prior Learning will be posted on the College’s website at smc.edu/cpl as they become available. SMC will not be able to offer CPL opportunities in all courses.