In order to evaluate for equivalent coursework, DVC accepts transcripts from institutions
currently recognized by the following regional accrediting organizations: Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education; New England Association
of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools, the Higher Learning Commission; Northwest Commission on Colleges
and Universities; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges;
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community
and Junior Colleges; Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission
for Senior Colleges and Universities. DVC also follows the recommendations of the
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions and Records Officers.
The official transcript from the other college is required. Students must submit sealed
unopened transcripts in person or by mail to the Admissions and Records Office of
Diablo Valley College. Students must make a counseling appointment to review the evaluation of
their transcripts. The appointment initiates the evaluation of the transcript by admissions
and records; therefore, transcripts must be on file with admissions and records a
minimum of two weeks prior to the scheduling of the appointment. It is recommended
that students complete this process prior to or during their first term of enrollment
at DVC.
Students are advised that:
Only courses and credit from accredited institutions will be considered for transfer
to DVC.
Upper division courses may be applied to degree, certificate and transfer requirements under the following conditions:
Upper division coursework may be applied to satisfy DVC general education, major, and certificate requirements. A course substitution
request form (available online) must be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office.
Upper division coursework may be applied to Intersegmental General Education Transfer
Curriculum (IGETC) requirements under the following conditions:
When a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus has
classified a course or series as upper-division but has requested that lower-division
transfer credit be allowed because an equivalent course is taught at a community college
or because the preparation of the subject is desired prior to transfer. Current examples
include economics, organic chemistry and abnormal psychology.
When a non-California Community College (CCC) course is determined comparable to
one taught and approved for IGETC at a CCC, it may be applied to IGETC regardless
of its upper-division status.
When a CSU uses an upper-division course in its “lower-division” General Educational
pattern.
Upper-division coursework may be applied to California State University General Education
(CSU GE) requirements under the following conditions:
When an upper-division course is equivalent to a lower-division course used to satisfy
a CSU GE requirement.
When CSU uses an upper-division course in their CSU GE pattern.
Transfer credit and coursework may be applied towards the requirements of a degree or certificate program. Students are strongly encouraged to make a counseling appointment to determine
applicability of courses taken elsewhere towards their program at DVC.
When courses completed at other institutions are determined to be equivalent to DVC
courses but their unit value varies, students will not be required to “make up” missing
units for DVC GE, major and/or certificate requirements. Students are always required to complete a minimum of 18 semester units for both major and general education
requirements with three semester units in each GE area and 60 semester units for a
degree.
Transfer coursework may be used to meet prerequisites at Diablo Valley College.
Transfer credit and DVC credit together determine the student’s overall GPA when applied
to academic program requirements and financial aid and athletic eligibility. DVC will
use plus/minus grades in GPA calculation.
Transfer credit from colleges and universities with different credit systems (quarter
units) are converted to semester hours of credit.
DVC may accept Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and College
Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores to meet DVC general education and Transfer
Studies certificate of achievement requirements as well as CSU GE and IGETC requirements.
Students who wish to have AP, IB or CLEP scores evaluated by DVC must submit official
score reports for consideration.
Coursework and credits that may transfer will be determined based on an evaluation
that may include but is not limited to: course content, objectives, student learning
outcomes, units, grades, course level and applicability toward degree, certificate
or prerequisite requirements as well as CSU GE and IGETC requirements.
Foreign transfer credit may be applied toward the 60-unit requirement for the DVC
associate degree only after an evaluation by an approved credential evaluation service
(for a list see: http://www.naces. org). Students are advised to meet with a counselor
and obtain guidelines from DVC admissions and records before requesting such an evaluation.
Evaluations must include a course-by-course report with semester unit equivalencies,
distinguishing between upper- and lower-division coursework and including letter grades.
Students who wish foreign coursework to be used to meet specific course requirements
for prerequisites, DVC majors, general education, or certificate requirements must
provide detailed course descriptions. Foreign coursework cannot be used to certify
California State University General Education (CSU GE) or IGETC requirements, except
for the IGETC Language Other Than English requirement. Transfer of credit policy varies
from institution to institution. Students who intend to transfer are advised to review
the policy of the receiving institution.