Transfer of Credit

Students may receive credit for academic courses taken at postsecondary institutions that were regionally accredited at the time the courses were taken. Courses accepted for transfer credit must parallel courses offered at Drake University or otherwise be appropriate for college-level credit. Other details include:

  • Students must have earned a grade of "C-" or better in the transfer course. Non-letter grades such as a "P," "S," or "CR" may be granted if the policy of the institution equates those grades to work completed at C- grade or better.
  • Courses that are considered vocational or technical (career-specific) will be reviewed by the appropriate college/school dean's office for applicability.
  • Students must have the college or university send Drake a transcript directly to the appropriate office on campus. Transcripts issued to the student or delivered by the student will not be accepted.
  • Credit will not be granted for courses that provide developmental or support topics, ESL courses, professional development certifications, test outs, or experiential learning granted by other institutions.
  • For undergraduate students
    • A maximum of 16 semester hours of vocational-technical credit may be granted at the discretion of the Drake college or school in which you enroll.
    • A cumulative total of 66 semester hours of credit from all two-year institutions attended may be applied to a degree.
    • An overall maximum of 94 hours may be applied toward a Drake degree (181 hours for Pharmacy).
    • A minimum of 30 hours must be completed at Drake.
    • The last 30 credits must be taken at Drake or a waiver must be approved by Drake college or school

AP, IB, CLEP Credit

Drake University awards advanced standing credit through several programs. In consultation with faculty advisors, all credits accepted are applied toward completion of Drake Curriculum, major, or elective requirements. Course equivalencies shown are used as guidelines in the process and are subject to change.

During orientation and registration, students are encouraged to register for classes according to the guidelines for advanced credit and the scores they expect to achieve. If actual scores are different from those anticipated, class schedules may be adjusted accordingly after arrival on campus. Official transcripts must be provided to the Office of Student Records and Academic Information directly from the issuing organizations prior to the beginning of a student's first semester at Drake.

Advanced Credit Limitations

Duplication: Credit will not be granted for any AP, IB, or CLEP exam for which college credit has already been earned. Students will not be granted credit for a lower-level course in a sequence of courses after credit in a higher-level course has been earned.

Science Majors: Students majoring in a science, a pre-professional science-related field, or pharmacy should contact the appropriate department or college to verify how science credits earned through these programs will be applied to the major.

See text below the following tables for limitations on certain exams/courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

Faculty advisors will determine whether acceptable AP coursework will be applied toward Drake Curriculum, major, or elective requirements. Credit for other AP examinations will be reviewed as needed.

AP Exam Required Score Credits Earned Drake Equivalent
African American Studies (Coming Fall 2024) 4 3 WLC 151
Art History 4 3 ART 075
Art: Drawing 4 3 ART Elective
Art: 2-D Art and Design 4 3 ART 013
Art: 3-D Art and Design 4 3 ART 014
Biology 4 48 BIO 001, BIO 001L, BIO Elective
Calculus AB1 4 6 MATH 050, MATH 070
Calculus AB subgrade 4 6 MATH 050, MATH 070
Calculus BC1 4 8 MATH 050, MATH 070
Capstone Research 4 3 General Elective
Seminar 4 3 General Elective
Chemistry2 4 8 CHEM 001, CHEM 002, CHEM 003, CHEM 004
Chinese Lang & Culture 4 6 CHIN 001, CHIN 002
Comparative Gov’t & Politics 4 3 POLS 065
Computer Science A 4 3 CS 065
Computer Science Principles 4 3 CS 010
Economics: Macro 4 3 ECON 010
Economics: Micro 4 3 ECON 002
English Language & Composition3 4 6 ENG Elective
English Literature & Composition3 4 6 ENG Elective
Environmental Science 4 3 ENSS 035
European History 4 6 HIST Elective
French Lang4 4 6 FREN 001, FREN 002
French Literature5 4 9 FREN 001, FREN 002, FREN 003
German Lang4 4 6 GERM 001, GERM 002
Human Geography 4 3 SCSG Elective
Italian Language & Culture4 4 6 General Elective
Japanese Language & Culture4 4 6 JAPN 001, JAPN 002
Latin Literature 4 6 General Elective
Latin: Vergil 4 6 General Elective
Music Theory 4 4 Evaluated on an Individual Basis
Physics 1 4 4 PHY 011
Physics 2 4 4 PHY 012
Physics B 4 8 PHY 011, PHY 012
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism 4 4 PHY 002
Physics C: Mechanics 4 4 PHY 001
Precalculus (Coming Fall 2024) 4 5 MATH 020, MATH Elective
Psychology 4 4 PSY 001
Spanish Lang4 4 6 SPAN 001, SPAN 002
Spanish Literature5 4 9 SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN 003
Statistics 4 3 STAT 071
U.S. Government & Politics 4 3 POLS 001
U.S. History 4 6 HIST 075, HIST 076
World History 4 6 HIST 011, HIST 012
1

Not more than 8 semester hours of Advanced Placement credit for Calculus will be granted.

2

Students who opt to take CHEM 001 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I, CHEM 002 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II, CHEM 003 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB and CHEM 004 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LAB at Drake will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN, CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB, and CHEM Elective credit. Pharmacy students will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN, CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB, and CHEM Elective credit.

3

Not more than a total of 6 semester hours of Advanced Placement English credit will be granted.

4

Students who wish to minor in a world language cannot count transfer credits towards their minor. Students will have to take a placement exam before enrolling in the language of their choosing.

5

Students who complete both Language and Literature classes in French and Spanish will receive only 3 additional credits for the Literature exam.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

Faculty advisers will determine how IB coursework will be applied toward Drake Curriculum, major or elective requirements. Credit for other IB examinations will be reviewed as needed.

IB Coursework Required Score Credits Earned Drake Equivalent
Arabic Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 ARAB 001, ARAB 002
Arabic Language (A1)1 Higher Level 5 6 ARAB 001, ARAB 002, ARAB 003
Arabic Language (A1)1 Standard Level 5 6 ARAB 001, ARAB 002
Arabic Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 ARAB 001, ARAB 002, ARAB 003, ARAB 004
Arabic Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 ARAB 001, ARAB 002, ARAB 003
Art Higher Level 5 3 ART Elective
Art Standard Level 5 4 Elective
Biology Higher Level 5 8 BIO 001, BIO 001L, BIO Elective
Biology Standard Level 5 4 BIO 001, BIO 001L
Business & Management Higher Level 4 6 BUS Elective
Business & Management Standard Level 4 3 BUS Elective
Cantonese Language (AB) Standard Level 5 6 General
Cantonese Language (B) Higher Level 5 12 General Elective
Cantonese Language (B) Standard Level 5 9 General Elective
Chemistry2 Higher Level 4 8 CHEM 001, CHEM 002, CHEM 003, CHEM 004
Chemistry3 Standard Level 5 6 CHEM 001, CHEM 003
Chinese Language (AB) Standard Level 5 6 CHIN 001, CHIN 002
Chinese Language (A1) Higher Level 5 9 CHIN 001, CHIN 002, CHIN 003
Chinese Language (A1) Standard Level 5 6 CHIN 001, CHIN 002
Computer Science Higher Level 4 6 CS 065, CS Elective
Computer Science Standard Level 5 3 CS 065
Dance Higher Level 4 6 THEA Elective
Dance Standard Level 4 3 THEA Elective
Design Technology Higher Level 4 7 PHSC 001, PHSC Lab, PHSC Elective
Design Technology Standard Level 4 3 PHSC 001, PHSC Lab
Economics Higher Level 5 6 ECON 002, ECON 010
Economics Standard Level 5 3 ECON 010
English Language (A): Literature Higher Level 5 6 ENG Elective
English Language (A): Literature Standard Level 5 3 ENG Elective
English Language (A): Lang and Lit Higher Level 5 6 ENG Elective
English Language (A): Lang and Lit Standard Level 5 3 ENG Elective
English Literature & Performance Standard Level 5 3 ENG Elective
Env and Soc Standard Level 5 3 ENSS 061
Film Higher Level 5 3 ENG 041
Film Standard Level 4 3 ENG 030
French Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 FREN 001, FREN 002
French Language (A1)1 Higher Level 5 9 FREN 001, FREN 002, FREN 003
French Language (A1)1 Standard Level 5 6 FREN 001, FREN 002
French Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 FREN 001, FREN 002, FREN 003, FREN 004
French Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 FREN 001, FREN 002, FREN 003
Geography Higher Level 4 8 SCSG Elective
Geography Standard Level 5 3 SCSG Elective
German Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 GERM 001, GERM 002
German Language (A1)1 Higher Level 5 9 GERM 001, GERM 002, GERM 003
German Language (A1)1 Standard Level 5 6 GERM 001, GERM 002
German Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 GERM 001, GERM 002, GERM 003, GERM 004
German Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 GERM 001, GERM 002, GERM 003
Global Politics Higher Level 4 3 POLS 075
Global Politics Standard Level 4 3 POLS 075
Hebrew Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 General Elective
Hebrew Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 General Elective
Hebrew Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 General Elective
Hindi Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 General Elective
Hindi Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 General Elective
Hindi Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 General Elective
History Higher Level (including subcategories) 5 3 HIST Elective
History Standard Level 5 3 HIST Elective
Information Technology Higher Level 4 3 IS Elective
Information Technology Standard Level No credit
Islamic History Higher Level 4 3 HIST Elective
Islamic History Standard Level 4 3 HIST Elective
Japanese Language (AB)1 Higher Level 5 9 JAPN 001, JAPN 002, JAPN 003
Japanese Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 JAPN 001, JAPN 002
Latin Language Higher Level 4 6 General Elective
Latin Language Standard Level 5 3 General Elective
Mandarin Language (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 General Elective
Mandarin Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 General Elective
Mandarin Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 General Elective
Advanced Math Standard Level 5 4 MATH 054
Mathematics Higher Level 4 9 MATH 050, MATH Elective
Mathematics Standard Level 5 3 MATH 050
Math Methods Standard Level 5 4 MATH 020
Math Studies Standard Level 5 4 MATH 020
Math Analysis & Approaches Higher Level 5 15 MATH 020, MATH 050, MATH 070, STAT 071, Math Elective
Math Analysis & Approaches Standard Level 4 9 MATH 050, MATH 070, STAT 071
Math Applications & Interpretation Higher Level 5 9 MATH 050, STAT 071, MATH Elective
Math Applications & Interpretation Standard Level 4 6 MATH 020, STAT 071
Music Higher Level 4 3 MUS Elective
Music Standard Level (including subcategories) 4 3 MUS Elective
Philosophy Higher Level 4 3 PHIL Elective
Philosophy Standard Level 4 3 PHIL Elective
Physics Higher Level 4 8 PHY 011, PHY Elective
Physics Standard Level 4 4 PHY 011
Psychology Higher Level 4 4 PSY 001
Psychology Standard Level 4 3 PSY 001
Social Anthropology Higher Level 4 6 SCSA 002, SCSA Elective
Social Anthropology Standard Level 5 3 SCSA 002
Spanish A: Lang & Lit Higher Level 5 12 SPAN Upper Elective
Spanish A: Lang & Lit Standard Level 5 9 SPAN Upper Elective
Spanish Lang (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 SPAN 001, SPAN 002
Spanish Language (A1)1 Higher Level 5 9 SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN 003
Spanish Language (A1)1 Standard Level 5 6 SPAN 001, SPAN 002
Spanish Language (B)1 Higher Level 5 12 SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN 003, SPAN 004
Spanish Language (B)1 Standard Level 5 9 SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN 003
Sports Exercise Science Higher Level 4 6 BIO Elective
Sports Exercise Science Standard Level 4 3 BIO Elective
Swahili (AB)1 Standard Level 5 6 General Elective
Swahili (A)1 Higher Level 5 9 General Elective
Swahili (A)1 Standard Level 5 6 General Elective
Theatre Higher Level 4 4 THEA Elective
Theatre Standard Level 4 3 THEA Elective
Visual Arts Higher Level 5 3 ART Elective
Visual Arts Standard Level 5 3 ART Elective
World Religions Standard Level 5 3 REL Elective
1

Students who wish to minor in a world language cannot count transfer credits towards their minor. Students will have to take a placement exam before enrolling in the language of their choosing

2

Students who opt to take CHEM 001 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I, CHEM 002 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II, CHEM 003 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB and CHEM 004 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LAB at Drake will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN, CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB, and CHEM elective credit.  Pharmacy students will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN, CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB, and CHEM elective credit.

3

Students who opt to take CHEM 001 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and CHEM 003 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB at Drake will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN and CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB.  Pharmacy students will receive credit for CHEM 006 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN and CHEM 007 CHEMISTRY FOR THE INFORMED CITIZEN LAB.

College-Level Education Program (CLEP)

Any undergraduate student may qualify to earn credit toward graduation through the CLEP subject examinations listed below. The subject exams are essentially end-of-term tests designed to measure achievement in specific college courses.

For any subject exam, the required score may change from year to year. Students are not eligible to earn credit through an examination if they have withdrawn from an equivalent course after the midpoint of the semester. Students who have taken either semester of introductory accounting are not eligible to earn credit by exam for the remaining semester. The maximum possible credit granted through CLEP is 39 hours.

Students with strong backgrounds in any of the following subjects are advised to take the corresponding subject examination. Students must achieve the Drake required score to earn credit in the subject area.

CLEP Exam Required Score ACE Standard Credits Earned Drake Equivalent
American Government 65 50 3 POLS 001
Analyzing and Interpreting Lit 51 50 3 ENG elective
Biology1 50 50 4 BIO 001, BIO 001L
Business Law 50 50 3 BLAW 060
Calculus with Elementary Functions 61 50 3 MATH 050
College Mathematics 61 50 3 MATH 017
Financial Accounting 50 50 3 ACCT 041
History of the United States I 50 50 3 HIST 075
History of the United States II 50 50 3 HIST 076
Human Growth & Development 50 50 3 EDUC 108
Macroeconomics, Principles 50 50 3 ECON 010
Microeconomics, Principles 50 50 3 ECON 002
Precalculus 61 50 4 MATH 020
Psychology, Intro 59 50 3 PSY 001
Social Sciences and History 50 50 6 General Elective
Sociology, Intro 56 50 3 SCSS 001
Spanish Language 50 50 9 SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN Elective
Western Civilization I 50 50 3 HIST elective
Western Civilization II 50 50 3 HIST elective
1

None of these apply to the 32 BIO credits and 6 BIO lab courses required for the BIO major. For BIO majors CLEP can count towards the 124 credits required for graduation. BIO 001 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FOR NON-MAJORS and BIO 001L BIOLOGY LABORATORY fulfills the life science AOI with lab.

Credit will not be granted for the following exams: Chemistry, College Composition, College Composition Modular, Information Systems, Algebra/Trigonometry, Trigonometry, College Algebra, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, and Intro to Educational Psychology.

General Certificate of Education (GCE)

Faculty advisors will determine whether acceptable GCE coursework will be applied toward Drake Curriculum, major, or elective requirements. Credit for other GCE examinations will be reviewed as needed.

GCE Name Required Score Hours Earned Drake Equivalent
Accounting C 6 ACCT ELECTIVE
Accounting (CAPE) 4 Varies ACCT ELECTIVE
Afrikaans C 9 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Arabic C 12 ARAB ELECTIVE
Art & Design C 6 ART ELECTIVE
Biblical Studies C 3 REL ELECTIVE
Biology C 8 BIO ELECTIVE, LIFE SCI AOI
Biology 4 Varies BIO ELECTIVE, LIFE SCI AOI
Business C 6 BUS ELECTIVE
Caribbean Studies (CAPE) 4 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Chemistry C 6 CHEM 001, 002, & CHEM ELECTIVE, PHYSICAL AOI
Chemistry 4 Varies CHEM
Chinese C 9 CHIN ELECTIVE
Classical Studies C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Communication Studies (CAPE) 4 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Computer Science C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Design & Technology C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Digital Media & Design C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Divinity C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Drama C 6 THEA ELECTIVE
Economics C 6 ECON 002 & ECON 010
English 1A C 6 ENG ELECTIVE
English Abitur 6 MATH ELECTIVE, QUAN AOI
English Language C 3 ENG ELECTIVE, WRIT AOI
English Language & Literature C 6 ENG ELECTIVE
Eng Literature C 6 ENG ELECTIVE
Entrepreneurship (CAPE) 4 Varies ENTR ELECTIVE
French C 6 FREN ELECTIVE
Further Math C 6 MATH ELECTIVE, QUAN AOI
General Paper (AS Level Only) C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Geography C 8 SCSG ELECTIVE, GLOB AOI
German C 6 GERM ELECTIVE
Global Perspectives & Research C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Government C 6 POLS ELECTIVE
Govt/Politics C 6 POLS ELECTIVE
Greek C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Hindi C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
History Arbitur 6 HIST
Hist E. Asia C 3 HIST 021, HISTORICAL & GLOBE AOI
History C 6 HIST ELECTIVE, HISTORCIAL AOI
Information Technology C 6 IS UPPER LEVEL ELECTIVE
Islamic Studies C 3 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Japanese (AS level) C 3 JAPN ELECTIVE
Language C Varies GENERAL ELECTIVE
Law C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Literature C Varies ENG ELECTIVE
Literature in English C Varies ENG ELECTIVE
Management of Business (CAPE) 4 Varies MGMT ELECTIVE
Marine Science C Varies ENSS ELECTIVE
Mathematic Arbitur 8 MATH ELECTIVE
Maths C C Varies MATH ELECTIVE, QUAN AOI
Mathematics C 8 MATH ELECTIVE, QUAN AOI
Media Studies C 6 JMC ELECTIVE
Music C 6 MUSIC ELECTIVE
Management of Business C 6 BUS ELECTIVE
MGMT of Business (CAPE) C Varies BUS ELECTIVE
Physical Education C 4 GENERAL ELECTIVEG
Physics Arbitur 8 PHY ELECTIVE
Physics C 8 PHY ELECTIVE, PHYSICAL SCI AOI
Physics (CAPE) 4 Varies PHY 011, PHY 012, PHYSICAL SCI AOI- if both1 & 2 units are taken
Portuguese C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Psychology C 4 PSY ELECTIVE, LIFE AOI
Pure Math (CAPE) Unit 1 4 OR LOWER Varoes MATH 050, QUAN AOI
Pure Math (CAPE) Unit 2 4 OR LOWER Varies MATH ELECTIVE, QUAN AOI
Religion C 6 RELIGION ELECTIVE
Social Science Arbitur 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Social Studies C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Sociology C 6 SCSS ELECTIVE
Spanish Lang & Lit C Varies SPAN ELECTIVE
Spanish C 6 SPAN ELECTIVE
Sport & Physical Ed C Varies GENERAL ELECTIVE
Statistics C 6 STAT ELECTIVE
Tamil C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Thinking Skills C Varies GENERAL ELECTIVE
Travel & Tourism C 3 CAREER TECH
Urdu-Pakistan Only C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE
Urdu C 6 GENERAL ELECTIVE

If students take AS levels instead of A-levels credits are half of A-Levels.

Credit for Educational Experiences in the Armed Services 

Drake University follows the recommendations for baccalaureate credit in the Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services of the Office on Educational Credit of the American Council on Education. Credit is allowed as specified in the upper-division baccalaureate category and the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category.  

Drake University will review a Service member’s military transcript and where appropriate, recognize, accept and award credit if the military training and experience is applicable to fulfill academic requirements. ACE recommendations are provided to assist an institution in assessing the applicability of military learning experiences to an education program. If appropriate the credit may be applied to a student’s program in various ways:  (1) applied to the major to replace a required course, (2) applied to an optional course within the major, (3) applied as a general elective, (4) applied to meet basic degree requirements.  Credit granted by Drake must comply with institutional policies and degree requirements. 

General Education Articulation Agreement

Admitted students who have met the criteria outlined below will enter Drake University having fulfilled the Drake Curriculum general education requirements (Areas of Inquiry), with the exception of the Senior Capstone requirement in the student's major(s) area of study. Students within one year of high school graduation are required to complete a First Year Seminar.

Criteria

  • Minimum 60 semester credits acceptable for transfer.
  • Minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average in transfer coursework.
  • One of the following degrees from a regionally accredited institution:
    • Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from a community college in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, or Missouri or Drake University's Bright College.
    • Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from a community college in Iowa.
    • Bachelor's degree from any regionally accredited institution.

Students are required to submit a final transcript with proof of their degree prior to the beginning of their second term (excluding summer or J-term) of enrollment.  Students who fail to provide the appropriate documentation will be required to complete the general education requirements.

Students who do not meet the criteria above will have their credits evaluated on a course-by-course basis.