Alternative Credit and Transfer Policy

Alternative Credit Programs

Study Away

Belmont International Studies Abroad

Through a wide variety of Studies Abroad Programs, Belmont offers students the opportunity to broaden and deepen their education while earning credit hours toward their degrees. These programs, which range in duration from two weeks to a full year, can be taken for core, major, and/or elective credit at the undergraduate and graduate level. Hours earned in these programs are not affected by transfer and off-campus credit hour restrictions. All such Belmont Study Abroad qualify for financial aid for eligible students; scholarship money is also available for a limited number of students yearly. See Belmont’s International Study Abroad page for more details.

Belmont East & Belmont West

Administered by the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, Belmont University offers students the opportunity to broaden their education while earning credit hours toward graduation. Juniors and seniors may apply for the Belmont East or West programs through which students gain exposure to internship opportunities in the New York and Los Angeles areas respectively. Each year, students are selected on a competitive basis to attend Belmont East and/or Belmont West. Students enroll in a full course load and an internship. Belmont East or West programs are open to all Belmont University students who meet the requirements of his/her respective program.

Washington Center Program

Belmont University affiliates with The Washington Center, a Washington, D.C. organization that provides academic and intern programs to students across the United States. Participants spend a semester in our nation’s capital working with governmental agencies, corporations, the media, or other uniquely Washington organizations for academic credits. Intern possibilities exist for students from generally any academic background. While in the program, participants perform intern responsibilities and attend seminars/lectures taught or presented by representatives of major governmental agencies, interest groups, media, and corporations.

To be considered for participation in this program, a student must possess a grade point average of at least 2.5 and junior or senior standing. All applications must be approved by the department granting credits and the university’s campus liaison. Each department decides whether it wishes to participate in the program and also determines the amount and type of credit it will grant. Any student attending these internships shall be considered a full-time Belmont student and will be responsible for tuition charges accordingly. However, since program fees are paid by the university, the total cost of the program to students may be comparable to a normal semester as a Belmont resident.

Students who successfully complete the fall or spring semester internship programs shall receive twelve (12) hours or credit from Belmont University. Students who complete the summer term shall be granted nine (9) hours of credit. Departments who participate in the program shall be responsible for determining how many of these hours may apply toward a major or minor in that particular program. Hours above this number up to the nine or twelve hours shall be granted as PSC 2010  which will count only as general elective hours. Major/minor hours shall be evaluated by the specific department’s representative. PSC 2010  hours will be evaluated by the campus liaison. All hours will be evaluated on a “Pass/Fail” basis, unless the department pre-approves an alternative method. PSC 2010  hours will always be granted “Pass/Fail.” A “Pass” grade shall require an evaluation of “C” (70%) or above.

For additional information concerning the program, contact the Department of Political Science.

Honors Program

The Honors Program at Belmont University was created to provide an enrichment opportunity for students who have potential for superior academic performance, and who seek added challenge and breadth in their studies. The program is designed to allow students to advance as fast as their ability permits, and yet to encourage in their study a range and depth of learning in keeping with the faculty’s expectations of excellence for Honors students.

Students are offered a creative curriculum, flexibility and individualization in the formation of their degree plans, the collegiality of like-minded and equally dedicated peers, and academic and personal support from a private tutor, who is also a distinguished honors faculty member.

Participation in the Honors Program supplements, but does not replace, a baccalaureate major. The Honors Program has an alternative General Education Curriculum core which substitutes for the regular B.A.; B.B.A; B.F.A.; B.M.; B.S.; B.S.N.; or B.S.W. General Education core shown elsewhere in the catalog.

The Honors Program is administered by the Honors Council composed of one Honors faculty member from each of the university’s colleges, the Director of the Honors Program, and one student representative from each Honors Program class.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Belmont may grant Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to individuals participating in a continuing education program who make application for such credit prior to enrolling in the course and is approved by the department in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar. One CEU may be awarded for each 10 hours of participation. CEUs are typically not offered as an option in normal (catalog based) courses, which also means that the CEUs are not part of official university records or are recorded on a Belmont transcript. Departments may elect to award a certificate of completion in CEUs for student records at the time of completion.

University credit may be received by registering for a Special Studies course in the academic discipline. These are regular credit bearing university courses. The approval of the dean of their major area and the dean of the school offering the course is required.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Belmont University participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board, and gives advanced placement and appropriate hours of university credit to qualified entering students. Advanced placement is awarded automatically through the Registrar’s Office upon receipt of an official grade report sent directly from the College Board for the courses listed below to students who receive the scores indicated.

University credit is awarded in the amount carried by the course for which the student is receiving advanced placement. This credit is recorded as “P” and is not used in calculating overall grade point average.

A maximum total of 24 hours of credit may be earned through Advanced Placement, I.B., and / or CLEP combined. The AP tests accepted by Belmont University are listed as follows.

* See English Department for a full explanation of AP credit in English
**Pending results of Theory Placement Test for music majors and minors.

CLEP

Students may earn up to 24 hours credit through the CLEP program. See the Transfer section of the catalog for students that may be combining additional hours in IB, AP, and / or other pre-university courses. No more than a total of 24 credit hours may be awarded in IB, AP, and or CLEP combined.

Belmont University will not grant CLEP credits for any tests not listed above. Students attempting to transfer credit earned through a CLEP test accepted at another institution must provide an original CLEP transcript, and it must be one of the Belmont accepted tests listed above. Official score reports must be submitted to the Office of Admissions at the time of application to the university.

The list of accepted CLEP exams is subject to review and change each year. The current catalog is always used to determine what CLEP exams are eligible to count at Belmont. Students should not use a past catalog (including their catalog of entry) to select CLEP exams.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Students who have been awarded the IB diploma, upon receipt of official confirmation of this fact from the IBO, will be awarded 24 hours of university credit. Distribution of this credit will first be based on departmental policies regarding specific IB exams and scores, as articulated below, with the difference between that total (if any) and 24 hours being awarded as free elective, which counts as hours towards graduation but does not fulfill general education, major, or minor credit. No additional credits may be added to this total from AP credits, though satisfactory AP scores which do not duplicate IB credit may be used to replace general elective credit where applicable. Students who have been awarded the IB diploma will also be exempted from the Linked Cohort requirement in the Bell Core, though they will still have to take GND 1015 First Year Seminar.

No more than a total of 24 credit hours may be awarded in IB, AP, and or CLEP combined.

Students who have taken IB courses, but were not awarded the diploma, will be awarded individual Belmont credit based upon the matrix below.

Credit by Challenge Examination

Belmont University grants university credit in select courses to students who pass a comprehensive challenge examination. Credit by prepared examination is available. Academic departments and schools decide which of the courses they teach are available for credit by challenge examinations.

Students wishing to earn credit by challenge examination must complete the Credit by Challenge Examination Form which is available at Belmont Central. In completing the form, the student must secure permission to take a challenge examination from the appropriate department first and then from the dean of the school in which the credit is sought.

The fee for the examination is one-third the cost of the regular tuition for the course.

Distance Education

Belmont University will accept Distance Education courses up to a maximum of twelve semester hours outside of Belmont provided:

1. the work is done through a regionally accredited institution;
2. grades are “C” or above;
3. a comparable course is offered at Belmont University;
4. prior to enrolling students must obtain approval from the Office of the Registrar; and
5. no more than one-fourth of any degree may be taken by distance education / extension.

Extension Work

A maximum of 18 hours of credit toward a degree may be permitted by the Provost for extension work done in other universities which are regionally accredited. Exceptional cases may be given consideration beyond this in granting additional hours for extension work. No credit is given for work done at other colleges or universities while a student is enrolled at Belmont University except by written permission of the Provost prior to enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the advisor regarding the applicability of extension work to the Belmont degree program prior to enrollment at another institution.

ROTC Officer Education Courses

*Basic Courses taken freshman and sophomore years.
**Advanced Courses taken junior and senior years.

Obligation

There is absolutely no obligation for freshmen and sophomores who enroll in the ROTC courses. Junior and senior cadets, as well as all cadets who are on scholarship, have an obligation to serve in the United States Army. After graduation, service options include part-time career as an Army Reserve or National Guard officer with a unit near where they live and work or a full-time tour of active duty, one of the best starts to their future as a leader and involved citizen.

Contact Information

For more information contact the enrollment office at the Vanderbilt Army ROTC department at (615) 322-8550, toll free at 1-800-288-ROTC, or look on the web at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/army.

Military Science Minor

In addition to taking and receiving credit for Army ROTC through Vanderbilt University, Belmont students can elect to minor in military science through the Army ROTC programs at Vanderbilt University. Army ROTC cadets do not require additional courses be taken at Belmont. Students may receive the minor after earning 18 credit hours. Belmont students may elect to use the ROTC courses as elective credits rather than a minor.

Belmont students may declare a minor in Military Science by notifying the Office of the Registrar or their academic advisor plus taking the following six hours at Belmont:

• 3 additional hours in the student’s major
• 3 additional hours from the College of Arts and Sciences
  (already recommended PHI 1510 Critical Thinking)

Students who participate in the Army ROTC program under the provisions of cross-town agreements receive all benefits, privileges, and compete for scholarships on the same basis as full-time students enrolled at Vanderbilt University.

Relationships with Other Schools and Agencies

Belmont Continuing Studies

Through Belmont Continuing Studies programs, the university seeks to meet the needs of the broader community by offering courses on topics of current interest. Many of the courses are planned for the business segment, dealing with management issues of the time. 

The university as an entity does not grant Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to individuals participating in continuing education programs. CEUs may be given by individual divisions (such as executive business programs), but those CEU units awards are given and maintained by that division and not by the university’s Records Office. Student seeking CEUs should verify with that division offering the course in continuing education if it will carry a CEU award. In cases were the CEU is available the student should be in communication about the award prior to the course beginning. One CEU may be awarded for each 10 hours of participation.

University credit may be received by registering for a Special Studies course in the academic discipline. The approval of the dean of their major area and the dean of the school offering the course is required.

ROTC

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Officer Education Program

Belmont students may take and receive credit for Army ROTC through Vanderbilt University. In addition, Belmont students can elect to minor in military science through the Army ROTC programs at Vanderbilt University. Students may receive the minor after earning 18 credit hours. Belmont students may elect to use the ROTC hours as elective credits rather than a minor.

Belmont students not in the cadet program but making arrangements to be admitted and attend ROTC courses may declare a minor in Military Science by notifying the Office of the Registrar or their academic advisor plus taking the following and additional six hours at Belmont: 3 additional hours in the student’s major and 3 additional hours from a course in the School of Humanities.

Students who participate in the Army ROTC program under the provisions of cross-town agreements receive all benefits, privileges, and compete for scholarships on the same basis as full-time students enrolled at Vanderbilt University.

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) provides pre-commission training for college-educated men and women who desire to serve as commissioned officers in the active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. As the Army’s largest commissioning source, it fulfills a vital role in providing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technological Army. Admission is open to both men and women who meet mental, moral, and physical qualifications.

Training goes beyond the typical college classroom and is designed to build individual confidence and self-discipline, instill values and ethics, develop leadership skills, and increase physical endurance. The course load consists of one course per semester. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and will enter active duty within sixty days. Educational delays may be granted for graduates who desire to pursue advanced degrees prior to entry on active duty. All University students in the Nashville area may participate in the Army ROTC Program at Vanderbilt University. While Vanderbilt serves as the host University, students at partnership schools are not charged additional tuition to take Army ROTC. Grades are transferred back to Belmont University and added to the students’ transcripts.

Scholarship students receive full tuition scholarships each year, an annual $1200 book allowance, all uniforms, and a monthly tax-free stipend beginning at $300 for freshmen and increasing to $500 for seniors. All students enrolled in the Army ROTC program are provided textbooks and uniforms at no expense. Contracted non-scholarship students also receive the monthly stipend from $300 to $500 depending on the MS level.

Scholarships. Students can earn merit scholarships in several ways. High school seniors and graduates compete for four-year scholarships that are determined by local competition among Vanderbilt applicants. Although determined locally, the application process is centrally managed. For more information, see theWeb site at www.armyrotc.com. College sophomores not enrolled in military science may enter the program by attending four weeks of summer training after their sophomore year at Fort Knox, Kentucky. These students are then eligible to compete at the national level for two-year scholarships. Enlisted members of the U.S.Army are eligible for Green-to-Gold scholarships that are determined by national competition or by the commanding generals of Army divisions and corps. Enlisted members of the Army Reserve or Army National Guard or outstanding students who are interested in joining the Army Reserve or Army National Guard may be eligible for two-year scholarships. They must have successfully completed two years of college to apply.

Summer training. The five-week leadership exercise at Fort Lewis,Washington, is a commissioning requirement. This is normally done between the junior and senior years. Travel, room, and board are provided free, and cadets are paid approximately $700. Other training opportunities exist for qualified applicants who volunteer.

Service Obligations. After the freshman year, scholarship students incur a service obligation of four years active duty and four years in the Inactive Ready Reserve. There are also opportunities to serve all eight years in the Guard or Reserves.

Information. Inquiries regarding enrollment in the Army ROTC program should be made to the Army ROTC Admissions Officer at (615) 322-8550 or (800) 288-7682 (1-800-VUROTC).Also see www.vanderbilt.edu/army. COMMANDING OFFICER - James R Wilburn.

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC)

The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) unit at Vanderbilt conducts the Naval Officer Education program which includes a Cross-Town Agreement with Belmont University School of Nursing. Only students who are pursuing a degree in Nursing at Belmont are eligible for an NROTC scholarship.

Challenging academic courses and experience-building events prepare a select group of highly accomplished students for the opportunity to serve their country as Navy Nurses and receive an education. The primary focus of the NROTC Nurse program is to develop the best leaders possible by building upon the academic strength of Belmont and providing essential military and leadership education. Students participate in the NROTC unit in the scholarship program, the college program, or the naval science program. Scholarship students take the prescribed naval science courses during their freshman and sophomore years, participate weekly in naval science lab, and engage in a four-week, summer training program after each academic year. The college program is identical to the scholarship program except for tuition financial benefit and that students only participate in summer training upon completion of their junior academic year. Scholarship students receive tuition, fees, $375 per semester for textbooks, uniforms, and a monthly stipend beginning at $250 for freshmen and increasing to $400 for seniors. College program students are provided with uniforms, textbooks for naval science courses, and, upon commencement of their junior year, a monthly stipend of $350. 

Scholarships. Students can earn scholarships in several ways. Four-year scholarships are determined by national competition among high school seniors and graduates. Based on the national ranking, students may be awarded a scholarship that covers full tuition. The application process begins as early as the spring semester of the student’s junior year of high school, but no later than early January of the year prior to admission. College program students can be nominated for three- and two-year scholarships by the NROTC unit. These nominations are based on the students’ academic and military performance at the college level. Sophomores not enrolled in the college program are eligible to apply for-the two-year NROTC scholarship program. This is a national competition and application is made through the NROTC unit. Those selected will attend a six-week naval science program during the summer prior to joining the NROTC unit in their junior year.

Service obligation. At the beginning of their sophomore year, should they choose to continue with the NROTC program, scholarship students incur a service obligation of four years active duty and four years inactive reserve to be served upon graduation or withdrawal from the program. College program students incur a three-year active duty and five-year inactive reserve commitment upon graduation or withdrawal from the program. If a scholarship student withdraws from the program or is found medically unqualified after the start of their sophomore year, they will be required to either refund the tuition costs incurred or serve on active enlisted service (AES) for 3 years.

Summer training. Summer training of about four weeks is conducted aboard naval vessels and naval shore stations after the freshman and junior academic years. Scholarship students are normally required to participate each year. All scholarship and college program midshipmen are required to participate in summer training prior to their final academic year. Course credit. During the four-year program, NROTC Nursing students are required to complete a maximum of four courses (12hours) of naval science. 

Information. Inquiries regarding enrollment in the Naval ROTC program should be made to the Naval ROTC unit recruiting officer at (615)322-2671or (800)288-0118. COMMANDING OFFICER - Mark S. Laughton; EXECUTIVE OFFICER - Brian M. Allen

Admission to the program is open to both men and women. Physical qualification to Naval Service standards is required. The Navy Physical Fitness test consists of running (1.5 miles), push-ups, and sit-ups.

Air Force Reserve Officer Training (AFROTC)

Currently there is no charge for tuition to take Air Force ROTC. The grade and credit can transfer back for graduation.
The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) provides pre-commission training for college men and women who desire to serve as commissioned officers in the United States Air Force. When combined with the academic disciplines offered at the college level, the program provides the student a broad-based knowledge of management, leadership, and technical skills required for a commission and subsequent active-duty service in the Air Force. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and will enter active duty. The main objectives of producing officers through the AFROTC program are (1) to procure officers with a broad educational base; (2) to provide a basic military education for college students; (3) to teach fundamentals and techniques of leadership, management, and decision making; and (4) to develop, in conjunction with other academic disciplines, individual character and attributes required of a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force.

AFROTC Program/Scholarships

Enrolling in AFROTC

For application deadlines go to www.tnstate.edu/afrotc. Students may participate in the Air Force ROTC program in cooperation with Tennessee State University. Call Detachment 790, (615) 963-5980, and ask for a Cross-Town Application. The program provides training and education that will develop skills and attitudes vital to the professional Air Force officer. In this program students are eligible to compete for scholarships (2.5+ GPA) that cover the cost of tuition and textbooks, and provide scholarship cadets with a monthly stipend.

Curriculum

The General Military Course (GMC) is 1 credit hour and is composed of the first four semesters of aerospace studies and is for freshmen and sophomores. The Professional Officer Course (POC) is 3 credit hours and constitutes the final four semesters of AFROTC study for juniors and seniors. The Leadership Lab is also 1 credit hour. Students who participate in Air Force ROTC are jointly enrolled as a TSU student and participate in Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC) at TSU. For more information, contact the unit admissions officer at (615) 963-5931/5979 or check our website at www.tnstate.edu/afrotc.

General Benefits

All students enrolled in the AFROTC program are provided textbooks and uniforms at no expense. Professional Officer Course (POC) students (juniors and seniors) and all scholarship students receive a monthly subsistence allowance of up to $500 tax-free.

Sponsored Activities

• · Arnold Air Society is a national society of AFROTC cadets who excel in character and academics and exhibit interest in the study of aerospace technology. The group meets at TSU.
• · Professional Development Training is provided during the summers to cadets interested in enhancing their knowledge of Air Force leadership and management opportunities, increasing their cultural awareness, and learning about specific career specialties.
• · AFROTC Flight Orientation Program is designed to allow all cadets, regardless of intended career field, the chance to fly in Civil Air Patrol aircraft. Everyone can experience the joy of flight.

For a list of current courses please contact AFROTC

Veterans and Military Personnel Degree Completion

Sources of University Credit

1. Belmont University accepts work completed at accredited institutions on campus or through extension divisions. Work is acceptable in transfer as total hours passed, provided the course grade is “C” or above. (No more than 64 semester hours from a junior college.)
2. Credit for military service is awarded (based on 2 years active duty).
   NOTE: Students must present documentation (DD214) to the Records Office for the credits to be posted as follows:

* Students have met Physical Education Gen Ed requirement.

1. Service schools, as recommended by the American Council of Education in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces. Credit subjects should be those acceptable in the university curriculum. It is not necessary that there be a comparable course at Belmont University.
2. At least 32 semester hours must be taken in residence at Belmont University.
3. A maximum of 25 semester hours may be awarded for USAFI subject examinations, for example, end-of-course tests or subjects standardized tests. CLEP subject exams (CEEB) are also in this category. Minimum percentile scores as recommended by ACE and USAFI are applicable.
4. Correspondence credit from civilian colleges and universities is also accepted with a maximum of 12 semester hours.
5. General Educational Development (GED) examinations of College Level Examination Program (CLEP):
   1. Six semester hours of credit will be granted for each of the five parts of the CLEP provided the individual attains a score equivalent to a “C” or above in each test.
   2. Six semester hours of credit will be granted for each of the four parts of the College-Level GED tests provided the individual attains the following minimum standard scores for each test:
      • Where one or more parts of each of these two types of tests are taken, credit will be granted as applicable. Credit will not be duplicated if tests have been taken in the same subject area. In the event of duplicate courses, only the higher grade will be accepted.
      • Test No. 1-55; Test No. 2-60; Test No. 3-61; Test No. 4-57; or an overall average of 60 on all four tests.

Transfer Credit

A student transferring from another accredited university must submit evidence of honorable dismissal from the university last attended. Transferred grades of “D+” or lower may not be used for major, minor, or general education requirements. An official transcript of all past records is required. A transferring student must satisfy all entrance requirements at Belmont.

Transfer credit offered for advanced standing is evaluated in accordance with requirements for graduation at Belmont University. Belmont will accept no more than 64 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter hours) earned at an accredited junior college / community college. Further, all hours accepted for direct transfer credit from a community college must be in courses normally offered at Belmont as lower division work, i.e. 1000 and 2000 level courses (formerly listed as 100 and 200 level courses). Students with more than 64 junior college / community college hours must still take 64 hours from senior colleges and universities before graduation, including the senior residence requirement (32 semester hours) explained under “Graduation Requirements / General Degree Requirements” for Bachelor Degrees.

All grades / credit hours are posted for students transferring to Belmont from other accredited colleges or universities according to the “Transfer Policy” section below. The following applies to all transfer work meeting transfer eligibility:

• An official transcript must be sent directly to Belmont from the home institution or testing service that offered the courses.
• Outside exams (e.g. AP, IB CEEB, CLEP, etc.) will not be taken off a high school / college / university’s transcript. The student must order an original transcript with scores from the applicable testing service and have it sent to Belmont.
• “Transfer” courses listed on a transcript will not be taken off another college / university’s transcript. The student must order an original transcript from institution that offered the courses.
• Transfer grades and credit hours are posted as they appear on the originating college / university’s transcript.
• Transfer credits are posted as semester hours.
• Some transfer courses are automatically excluded completely in transfer. Such courses include but not limited to: remedial courses, orientation courses, proctored exams, and courses that a home institution deviates from their standard transcript entry on a course, such that a transfer determination to Belmont can’t be made.
• Only Belmont work is considered in figuring a student’s standing regarding retention, probation, suspension, and good standing.
• All grades from all institutions will be used when determining the cumulative grade point average and counted for eligibility for graduation with honors. To be eligible for graduation the student must have a 2.0 average in major and minor course work (including transfer courses) and 2.0 cumulative GPA based on all cumulative course work. (see Graduation Requirements for a complete list).
• A student intending to “repeat” a course with a low grade with the intention to “replace” the lower grade must repeat that course at the institution where the course was taken. For example to repeat and replace (in the GPA) a Belmont course, the course must be taken at Belmont.
• A maximum of 24 semester hours credit combined may be earned in IB, AP, CLEP, etc.

Transfer Policy

Belmont University accepts credit issued by institutions academically accredited through the Southern, Western, Northwest, New England, North Central, or Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

For colleges with a different institutional accreditation, the university seeks to research and understand the transferring college’s academic standards at the institutional level and at the course level to ensure course content and academic rigor similar to Belmont’s. To be eligible for transfer review, the following three items must be initially confirmed:

• The institution was accredited during the period of the student’s enrollment by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Verification that the student and courses were part of an academic degree program. Courses in diploma / certificate programs or vocationally focused degree programs are not eligible for transfer.
• The courses were taught in a standard academic term period and clearly represented on an official transcript as semester or quarter hours. Clock hour courses are not accepted.

If the above three items are confirmed, the student may be asked to provide the following during Belmont’s final review of transfer eligibility to determine academic equivalency:

• A letter from the chief academic officer describing the transferring college’s academic standards and any current articulation agreements with other colleges / universities.
• Course descriptions and syllabi for courses intended for transfer.
• Academic credentials of the instructor in each of those courses.

Art or music studio courses may be reviewed by the department in coordination with the Registrar upon request of the student. The department will use a portfolio or competency based evaluation and may recommend acceptance or denial of specific credits or waive designated Belmont courses.

Transfer Policy for International (Study Abroad) credits

Students wishing to have an international study abroad educational experience are strongly encouraged to enroll in a Belmont Study Abroad course to ensure direct acceptance of the course work and credit. Students choosing to use an international study abroad vendor / provider, (outside of Belmont’s Study Abroad) should be aware that transfer of those credits are not guaranteed regardless of promises made by that international education provider or other American universities that may accept those credits. All students still electing to use a non-Belmont study abroad program must have those course / credits evaluated after completion by an approved third party expert international credit evaluation company. 

All applicants with college level coursework from a foreign institution, must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluation organization, such as World Education Services (WES) or Joseph Silny and Associates or an evaluation service currently listed as a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); (see http://www.naces.org). Other evaluation services will not be accepted.The transcript results of that approved third party professional evaluation (course, credit and grade), sent directly from the evaluator to Belmont is what is used officially by the University Registrar for credit transfer and recorded on the student’s Belmont transcript. Any transcript information received that does not provide course(s), credit hours earned, and an interpretable grade to the Belmont grade scale will not be posted on the Belmont University transcript.

The International Education Office does maintain a current list of acceptable third party international education providers, which includes groups that have proven to provide students with high quality travel and educational experiences. This list is maintained as a service to students who may wish to pursue an international experience outside of the Belmont Study Abroad courses. Students using a service from this list (or any other provider) are still required to have an approved third party evaluation (see the above paragraph for approved foreign credential evaluation organization) in order to have the credits transfer back to Belmont. The International Education Office also maintains a list of foreign universities in which Belmont has a formal articulation agreement for credit transfer. If Belmont has a formal transfer articulation agreement with such a university, Belmont will accept credits directly from that institution’s transcript provided that the transcript is sent in English and formatted clearly showing courses, credit hours and grades.

Concurrent Enrollment

Degree-seeking students currently enrolled in courses at Belmont University (full-time or part-time status) seeking to take additional credits (of any type including distance education courses) at another college or university, must gain approval for “concurrent enrollment” from the Office of the Registrar prior to registration. Any credit hours taken without prior approval may not be accepted in transfer.

Allowance for concurrent enrollment is based upon the following:

1. Signed approval for concurrent enrollment using the Concurrent Enrollment Request Form, available on the Registrar’s web link from the university homepage.
2. Once a student has started / matriculated to Belmont, s/he may not take more than a total of 18 credit hours at another college or university. Exceptions to this provision include Belmont approved programs on other campuses and approved study abroad programs. These exceptions do not count toward the 18 hour limit.
3. Students may not take more than a total of 19 credit hours in any single semester (16 in summer) inclusive of Belmont credit hours and all attempted credit hours at other institutions. Standard exceptions to 19 maximum hours must be approved in advance by the Registrar and Dean using the existing policy / form for “exceeding maximum credit hours.”
4. A student readmitted to Belmont will have a concurrent enrollment request individually reviewed by the University Registrar in light of number of transferred hours, remaining hours toward degree and course availability at Belmont.
5. Concurrent enrollment is not allowed in the last 32 credit hours of a degree program without waiver of the Senior Residency requirement (see below).
6. Requests that exceed the above provisions must be of an unusual or emergency nature to be granted.

Senior Residency and Waiver

All degree seeking students are required to take their last 32 credit hours in their degree / program at Belmont University. Prior to registration for the course(s), students seeking to take courses outside of Belmont must request a waiver of the senior residency requirement. Any credit hours taken without prior approval will not be accepted in transfer.

Senior Residence Waiver is based upon the following:

1. Signed approval by the University Registrar using the Senior Residency Waiver Form.
2. An appropriately signed Change of Program (“Substitution”) Form must be attached with the Senior Residency Waiver Form.
3. Waiver must be based upon demonstrated emergency or exceptional necessity, which requires the student to provide a written explanation.
4. The senior residency waiver may not violate requirements 2 and 3 listed in the concurrent enrollment provisions.
5. The student must be in “good standing” status with Belmont. Any exception must be demonstrated to be an emergency or exceptional necessity and approved by the University Registrar.
6. A student may not take a course at another institution if that course (or its equivalency) is offered at Belmont and offered during the term of request. It should be noted that any exception to this is extremely rare.
7. Requests that exceed the above provisions must be of an unusual or emergency nature to be granted and approved by the university Provost.

The senior residency provision does not apply to students participating in formal Belmont consortia, cross-town or credit articulation agreements; however, students in such approved programs should still complete a Senior Residency Waiver Form if they are taking courses elsewhere during the last 32 hours in order to properly notify the Registrar’s Office of attendance at another institution. Students enrolled in Belmont study abroad courses (any prefix _950 course) do not need to fill out a Senior Residency Waiver Form.