Transfer Credit Resources
CCS makes every effort to ensure you get credit for your past college-level work. The College will consider transfer credit from the following:
Credit by Examination
CCS welcomes students with Cambridge International A-Levels and AICE qualifications. Credit will be considered for A-level courses on a case-by-case basis for new students. Incoming students are encouraged to contact their admissions counselor for answers to questions.
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) gives students the opportunity to receive college credit for what they already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. CCS uses the credit-granting scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).
CCS may grant a maximum of 3 credits per CLEP exam with a minimum score of 50.
If you have not yet taken a CLEP exam, please consult with an admissions counselor or (if a current student) your academic advisor prior to testing to make sure any test[s] you are planning to take will meet our requirements.
World Language CLEP tests are not applicable for credit.
If you are an incoming student and have questions regarding CLEP tests and our general education requirements, please contact the Office of Admissions at 313.664.7425, current student should contact the Academic Advising and Registration Office 313.664.7672.
College Credit Earned in High School
Did you know CCS offers its own Dual Enrollment (DE) courses? Available in person and online, our DE experiences allow you to earn college credits that can be applied to CCS or transfer to any college of their choice. Our Pre- College and Continuing Studies office also offers the CCS Precollege Summer Experience- a 3 credit, immersive portfolio building opportunity perfect for high school students. Students who complete DE or CCS Precollege Summer Experience at CCS will not be required to request a transcript upon enrollment to have their coursework applied toward their program requirements.
College-level courses completed while attending high school as part of, or an addition to, high school graduation requirements are considered ‘Dual Enrollment’ (DE). If you are taking or have completed any DE courses, be sure to request an official copy of your college transcript for your CCS admissions counselor and let them know early on about this accomplishment. Tip* see if you can do this digitally through parchment or clearinghouse.
Placement of any DE coursework toward program requirements will be subject to our Transfer Credit Policy
Are you enrolled in an Early Middle College (EMC)program? If so, you will apply as a freshman at CCS, regardless of how many credits you’ve earned. You’ll also want to work closely with your counselor up to a year before you intend to transfer to ensure a smooth transfer process.
EMC students are encouraged to apply by December 1st and share unofficial copies of their college transcripts by Dec. 15th to allow for time to complete a potential transfer credit evaluation. This way, if any additional details are needed you’ll have lots of time to organize in time for registration.
Placement of your coursework will be subject to our transfer credit policies. And our Transfer Credit Resources page may help you select classes that will fulfill requirements prior to transfer. Your best guide will be your CCS admissions counselor though so be sure to reach out early and often!
Transfer Equivalency and Pathway Information
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit from Joint Services Transcripts (JST) may be considered for transfer credit based upon American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines. Placement is subject to applicability of the course[s] to a student’s degree requirements and Transfer Credit Policy . For more on our Veterans Education Benefits go to: https://www.ccsdetroit.edu/admissions/veterans/
The CCS Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process offers eligible current students and newly admitted students the opportunity to earn academic credit for knowledge gained through professional and life experiences.
Through this process, students develop a detailed portfolio that documents their experiential learning and demonstrates its alignment with specific program requirements. These portfolios are formally evaluated by faculty, and successful assessments can result in a student receiving credit toward their undergraduate degree.
*Please note that students must apply and be accepted into one of the college’s undergraduate programs or be currently enrolled before they can request a prior learning assessment. Currently, credit through PLA is not available for graduate studies at CCS.
If you feel you have experience that may be equivalent to college-level coursework, you are encouraged to complete our PLA self-assessment survey.
Assessment of your Potential Undergraduate Credits
Every student’s experience is unique. At CCS, every program in art and design is designed to be unique as well. To help you understand what is transferable or make recommendations on a transfer pathway, we need to start with what you have accomplished already and get an idea of what you plan to pursue here. Here is how this process works…
The Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) usually begins when we have completed your application for admission- if you’re not at this stage yet though- we have some other ways to help.
Upon receipt of transcripts* (even unofficial copies will work for initial evaluation and admission), your Admissions counselor will review all credits earned or noted as ‘in progress’ to determine how they may apply to your intended program at CCS.
You will be sent a potential Transfer Credit Evaluation and curriculum chart via email (so be sure to have a good one on file for us). These documents outline which courses have been accepted for transfer credit and how they apply toward your CCS degree.
It is your responsibility to review each page of your TCE and to submit any outstanding or additional documentation requested. Ignoring these requests may result in delayed registration or even loss of credits. Take time and review your TCE document carefully and let your counselor know if you have any questions.
BFA degrees at CCS require:
39-42 credits in General Education.
4-5 courses (12-15 credit hours) in Art History and Visual Culture studies including both a Western and Non-Western Art History core requirement.
Courses in English, Science, Math, Humanities, Social Science, Psychology, etc. are considered DLE or General Education Electives at CCS. DAH / Art History and DVC / Visual Culture may also be placed toward ‘DLE Elective’ requirements if these elective requirements have been filled.
Applicants who have previously earned a [4 year] Bachelor’s Degree will be exempt from all general education credits with the exception of core courses that are specific to an art and design education such as Art History, Visual Culture Studies, and Business Practices- a business course specific to the needs.
If you have not yet earned a 4-year degree, any previously earned General Education coursework will be assessed on an individual basis, with every effort made to apply it to your new degree when applicable.
Transfer credit for any art or design (studio) course is awarded based on your ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of the skills you would have gained had you completed the equivalent course at CCS. What you share will help us understand what you learned in a given course, so we can make an accurate course-to-course match. Some Things You Can do now to Prepare for your Studio Credit Evaluation:
Document everything you can- even if it is just a photo snapped from your phone’s camera.
If photographing images, consider taking a couple of images with various backgrounds and lighting- and if it is helpful, including objects to show scale (such as a ruler or coin)
Keep or download important class handouts like syllabi and project briefs that can help refresh your memory on assignments in case you are asked to provide details on anything
When organizing your work, be sure to include: Projects that are tutorial in nature as well as developed concepts, pieces, and compositions
Details on any software used in the creation of digitally produced or enhanced images or video
Notes on any appropriated (borrowed) or sampled imagery
Details on your role if submitting collaborative projects
Specific instructions for how to submit additional work examples, if required, will be provided by your counselor with your transfer credit evaluation.
Transferring Graduate Level Credits
CCS recognizes that students may enter graduate study with previously earned graduate-level coursework or credentials. These credits may help students in completing degree requirements toward an MA or MFA in one of our creative design programs.
Transfer credit applicability is determined by the program requirements for the intended degree and an assessment of the coursework completed.
- MFA in Interdisciplinary Design Studies- up to 30 credits
- Other MFA degrees- up to 9 credits
- MA degrees- up to 6 graduate level credits
Undergraduate students who have earned a degree from CCS and completed graduate-level coursework toward their BA or BFA at CCS may also apply up to 9 of these credits toward the Graduate Studies program upon admission.
The Chair of the graduate program will review potential graduate-level credit upon admission and receipt of an official transcript[s] from the students’ sending institution.
For more information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, see our ‘Graduate Credit Transfer Policy or schedule an appointment with Graduate Admissions.
Transfer and Academic Partnerships
Amber Thomas