Transferring Credits to CCS

CCS is the only college of art and design and the only college in Michigan to have been awarded the Phi Theta Kappa’s ‘Transfer Honor Roll’ for four consecutive years (2019-2022.) These accolades signify our institution’s commitment to the support of transfer students. We’ll help you get a clear picture of what your previous college-level experience will earn you at CCS and get you customized details about financing, credit placement, and a graduation timeline by completing our free application for admission. This step will ensure that you receive a concise, accurate, customized account of exactly how CCS can work for you- and it may be easier than you think.

Transfer Credit Process

CCS makes every effort to ensure you get credit for your past college-level work. All previously earned credit will be evaluated for relevance to the College’s programs and Transfer Credit Policy. This can include:

Courses taken at another college
College-level courses taken while in high school (i.e. Dual Enrollment or Early College credit)
Credit earned by AP examination
Credit earned by IB examination

Our Admissions office will review all credit earned to date for incoming students. Applicants seeking credit via any of the methods outlined here must submit copies of all transcripts and test exams to the Admissions office during the application process.

Incoming students are encouraged to communicate all potential Credit by Examination (CBE) and Dual Enrollment history upon admission and submit all needed documentation prior to enrolling to maximize their potential transferable credit and avoid any delays in registration. Placement of all transfer credit, test credit and Dual Enrollment credit must be finalized before the end of a student’s first week at CCS or it will be forfeited.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Newly admitted transfer students will be sent a potential Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) and curriculum chart via email shortly after being admitted. The TCE outlines which courses have been accepted for transfer credit and how they apply toward your CCS degree.

If you have taken any art or design courses, we will need work examples to complete this important step. If we need additional artwork for review, we will note this on your TCE. Additional action required may include submission of syllabus/ detailed course descriptions, and official, updated or final transcripts.

Any college credit earned but not verified with receipt of required documentation, work examples, or transcript by the end of the student’s first week of classes will not be eligible for transfer credit

For faster service, request your transcripts be sent to us electronically through Parchment.

Record and Documentation Deadlines

All official documents of transferable credit (college transcripts, test scores, etc.), and any requested work examples requested for the TCE process, must be submitted to CCS by the following deadlines:

July 15 (for Fall start term)
December 10 (for Winter start term)

Official transcripts, test scores, certificates, etc. must be sent directly to CCS from issuing institution or agency.

Transfer Credit Policy

Placement of any college-level credit is subject to the CCS Transfer Credit Policy unless otherwise specified. Upon Admission, courses are evaluated as either General Education (aka. Liberal Arts) Credit or Studio Credit.

General Education Credits

BFA degrees at CCS require 42 credits in General Education. Courses in English, Science, Math, Humanities, Social Science, Psychology, etc. are considered general education studies at CCS. Art History and Visual Culture also fall under this department.

The BFA degree is considered a professional degree. Accordingly, our curriculum focuses on portfolio development and requires only 42 general education credits to graduate. Students planning transfer should meet early with a CCS admissions representative for advising and for the most up-to-date curriculum requirements and equivalencies.

CCS requires 4-5 courses (12-15 credit hours) in Art History and Visual Culture studies depending on the student’s intended major. Transfer of major specific and/or upper-level studies in this department may require a review of course syllabus or work examples.

Applicants who have previously earned a [4 year] Bachelor’s Degree will be exempt from all general education credits with the exception of Business Practices and Art History and Visual Culture Studies.

For students who have not yet earned a 4 year degree, any previously earned General Education courses that meet the requirements outlined in our Transfer Credit Policy may be applied to general education requirements. General Education courses without established equivalency in the form of an articulation or transfer guide published by the college must be reviewed to ensure they meet the standards required by our accrediting bodies.

Studio Credit

Transfer credit for any art (studio) course is awarded based on an ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of the skills you would have gained had you completed the equivalent course at CCS. We recommend organizing work examples from any Studio Course (including AP, IB, and College Level art and design) you wish to have considered for transfer credit.

Key Steps for Submission of Studio Credit

Unlike your admissions portfolio, the general rule for organizing your studio credit support work is “more is better.” What you share will help us understand what you learned in a given course, so we can make an accurate course-to-course match. You can and should include work that is tutorial in nature as well as finalized projects (and everything in between).
Any software used in the creation of digitally produced or enhanced images or video should be noted.
Identify any appropriated (borrowed) or sampled imagery and if submitting collaborative projects, detail your role on each project.

For specific details on what we need you to include for your studio credit transfer evaluation (by course type) please reference pages 2 and 3 of your TCE or contact your admissions counselor.