Prior Credit Evaluation Policy
Transfer Credit
As a college that serves the adult learner, American College of Education is committed to the acceptance of prior postsecondary education credits from other institutions, and from a student’s prior enrollment(s) at ACE. The college evaluates and awards credit transfer requests using the Prior Credit Considerations Grid. Any deviation from the grid or this policy requires approval of the Provost (or their designee).
Transfer credits must be from an accredited postsecondary higher education institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
ACE will evaluate transfer credit from these institutions using a course-for-course equivalency review process. Students with a conferred master’s degree from ACE can apply any completed ACE coursework to an “alumni elective track” for pathway or Ed.D. programs, not to exceed what has been outlined in Prior Credit Consideration Grid. The college may grant transfer credit or credit fulfillment for any ACE course except for dedicated first courses, capstone courses, student teaching or field experience courses, and dissertation chapter courses. If a student leaves ACE for any reason, a new evaluation of credit transfers may be required to ensure compliance with the policy upon the student’s return.
ACE reserves the right to deny credit for courses that are not compatible with those offered in its degree programs. Specific exclusions are specified in the Prior Credit Considerations Grid. Some general categories of courses never receive transfer credit or, in some instances, receive credit on a restricted basis. Examples include:
- Courses considered below college level (usually numbered below 100)
- Repeated courses or courses with duplicate subject content
- Coursework earned at an institution that did not hold at least candidacy status with its regional accrediting association when the coursework was taken
- Courses that provide instruction in a particular religious doctrine
- Mathematics courses considered below college level, including basic math, business math, and beginning and intermediate algebra
- Remedial English (e.g., reading, vocabulary development, grammar, speed reading, or any courses that are preparatory to an institution’s first Freshman Composition course)
- Courses providing instruction in English as a Second Language (100-level or above)
- Self-guided courses on how to implement software or digital tools
- Remedial courses in any academic discipline (100-level and above)
Nontraditional Credit
American College of Education (ACE) recognizes that students may have acquired college-level knowledge through expertise developed outside the classroom. An ACE student or applicant can request the college to review all nontraditional credit for consideration. At ACE, nontraditional credit takes many forms, including:
- Recognized, standardized national examinations (e.g., AP, CLEP, IB, Dantes, etc.)
- Evaluation of military service transcripts (JST, CCAF, etc.)
- Prior learning assessment (PLA) of a non-credit course, program, or certificate offered by an organization
- Prior learning assessment (PLA) of a professional certification/licensure through passing national exam
- Prior learning assessment (PLA) of a non-credit course, program, or certificate obtained by an individual student.
The college will award academic credit to a student based on the standards listed on the Prior Credit Considerations Grid.
Prior Credit Considerations Grid
Doctoral
| Type of Program |
Required Credit Hours |
Minimum Number Credits to Complete at ACE 3
|
Minimum Number Major Credits to Complete at ACE 6 |
Maximum Number of External Transfer Credits 1, 2
(all sources) |
Maximum Number of
Nontraditional Credits1
|
Maximum Number of
PLA Credits 1 |
Maximum Number of Internal Credits Permitted |
Grade or GPA Requirements |
Transfer Time Consideration |
|
Ed.D. Programs
(Non-Pathway)
|
64 |
43 |
43 |
21
see note 9
|
0 |
0 |
29
see note 10
|
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4,5 |
|
Ed.D. Programs
(Pathway Option)
|
64
|
37 |
37 |
27
see note 12
|
0 |
0 |
27 |
B or better |
No expiration |
|
Ed.S. Programs
|
34 |
25 |
25 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4,5 |
Master
| Type of Program |
Required Credit Hours |
Minimum Number Credits to Complete at ACE 3
|
Minimum Number Major Credits to Complete at ACE 6 |
Maximum Number of External Transfer Credits 1, 2
(all sources) |
Maximum Number of
Nontraditional Credits1
|
Maximum Number of
PLA Credits 1 |
Maximum Number of Internal Credits Permitted |
Grade or GPA Requirements |
Transfer Time Consideration |
|
Master Program
(Non-Licensure)
M.Ed., M.H.A., M.S., M.B.A., M.P.H.
|
31-34 |
22-25 |
22-25 |
9
see note 7 |
9 |
9 |
see note 13
|
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Master Program
(Licensure)
Master of Arts in Elementary Education
Master of Arts in Secondary Education
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
|
34
|
31 |
31 |
3
see note 8, 11
|
0 |
0 |
see note 13 |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
BSN to MSN
|
31
|
22 |
22 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3 |
|
RN to MSN
|
151 |
61 |
61 |
90 |
60 |
45 |
No limit |
C or better |
No expiration |
Bachelor
| Type of Program |
Required Credit Hours |
Minimum Number Credits to Complete at ACE 3
|
Minimum Number Major Credits to Complete at ACE 6 |
Maximum Number of External Transfer Credits 1, 2
(all sources) |
Maximum Number of
Nontraditional Credits1
|
Maximum Number of
PLA Credits 1 |
Maximum Number of Internal Credits Permitted |
Grade or GPA Requirements |
Transfer Time Consideration |
|
Bachelor of Science
(Completion Program)
|
120 |
30 |
15 |
90 |
60 |
45 |
No limit |
C or better |
None |
|
Bachelor of Arts
(Completion Program)
|
120
|
30 |
15 |
90 |
60 |
45 |
No limit |
C or better |
None |
|
RN to BSN
|
120
|
30 |
15 |
90 |
60 |
45 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3 |
Certificate
| Type of Program |
Required Credit Hours |
Minimum Number Credits to Complete at ACE 3
|
Minimum Number Major Credits to Complete at ACE 6 |
Maximum Number of External Transfer Credits 1, 2
(all sources) |
Maximum Number of
Nontraditional Credits1
|
Maximum Number of
PLA Credits 1 |
Maximum Number of Internal Credits Permitted |
Grade or GPA Requirements |
Transfer Time Consideration |
|
Certificate Programs
(Licensure)
Principal Preparation
T2T Elementary Education
T2T Secondary Education
Teaching English Learners
Texas Educational Leadership
|
18-21 |
18-21 |
18-21 |
see note 11 |
0 |
0 |
No limit |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
30
|
24 |
24 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
24 |
18 |
18 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
22 |
16 |
16 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
21 |
15 |
15 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
18 |
15 |
15 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
15 |
12 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Certificate Programs
(Non-licensure)
|
9
|
6 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
Micro-Credential
| Type of Program |
Required Credit Hours |
Minimum Number Credits to Complete at ACE 3
|
Minimum Number Major Credits to Complete at ACE 6 |
Maximum Number of External Transfer Credits 1, 2
(all sources) |
Maximum Number of
Nontraditional Credits1
|
Maximum Number of
PLA Credits 1 |
Maximum Number of Internal Credits Permitted |
Grade or GPA Requirements |
Transfer Time Consideration |
|
Micro-Credential Programs
|
12 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
|
Micro-Credential Programs
|
9 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
No limit |
B or better |
10 years
see note 3,4 |
1 Awarding of external credit is by ACE’s “Prior Credit Evaluation Policy” and awarding of nontraditional credit is by ACE’s “Nontraditional Credit Policy.” Any exceptions require written approval from the Provost (or their designee).
2 Courses not eligible for transfer include:
- Dissertation sequence courses
- First Courses - Any dedicated first course in a degree program excluding LETRS courses (specified in an articulation agreement)
- Prerequisite Courses - These include: DL5733, DL5773
- Clinical/Field Experience Courses (student teaching, internship, practicum). These include: EDTT5022, EDTT5032, EL5983, ELAZ5983, ELFL5983, ELIL5983, ELIN5983, ELOH5983, ELX5983, HLTH5693
- Healthcare Administration Courses with Embedded Benchmarks and/or Lean Healthcare Modules. These include: HLTH5603, HLTH5613, HLTH5623, HLTH5633
3 External transfer courses have a ten (10) years transfer limit from course end to term start at ACE.
4 Master-level internal transfer courses have a ten (10) year transfer limit from course end to term start for the following (excluding alumni track):
- All ACE courses that start with DL prefix
- All ACE courses that start with EL prefix or their equivalent
- All ACE courses that start with ELX prefix or their equivalent
- All ACE courses that start with ET prefix
- ACE course - HLTH5443: Technology, Leadership, and Health Informatics
- ACE course - LEAD5103: Law, Compliance, and Governance in Higher Education
- ACE course - LIT5243: Leading Literacy Improvement
- ACE course - RES5173: Research Methods for Educational Leaders
5 Doctoral-level internal transfer courses have a ten (10) year transfer limit from course end to term start for the following:
- All ACE courses that start with TECH prefix
- All ACE courses that start with RES prefix
- ACE course - ORG6213: Emerging Technology in Organizations
- ACE course - HLTH6443: Systems, Policy and Leadership in Health Informatics
- ACE course - LEAD6153: Policy and Governance
- ACE course - HE6103: Law, Compliance, and Governance in Higher Education
6 In general, a student must complete at least 50% of the major credits for an undergraduate degree.
7 M.Ed. in STEM Education students will have 6 credits transferred from the NISE certificate, and are limited to 3 additional credits from other external institutions.
8 Transfer credits are limited to equivalent research courses in lieu of RES5153 or RES5173.
9 Eligible Focus of Study courses, aligned to ACE courses, may be transferred using master’s or doctoral-level credits. Other transferred courses must be at the doctoral-level.
10 Previously completed coursework must align with the new program.
11 For a student who is currently working as a teacher, professional experience can be used in lieu of student teaching courses (EDTT5022, EDTT5032) for the Master of Arts in Elementary Teaching, Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching, and the Transition to Teaching (T2T) Certificates.
12 A maximum of six (6) credits of the 27 can be for research courses.
13 ACE graduates of other master’s programs can transfer no more than 50% of their credits to additional master’s degree(s), including external credits (exception for Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and Master of Science in Sustainable Management multiple pathway options).
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