Credit towards a graduate degree does not transfer automatically. In general, however, graduate work completed at another institution in a program accredited at the graduate level may be accepted in a graduate degree program at the University, with the following provisions. (1) These courses have not been used to earn a previous degree. (2) They relate to the content of the graduate program and/or are comparable to those offered at the University. (3) They do not exceed time limitations set for master's and doctoral programs.

Credit previously earned at another institution must be presented for evaluation no later than the end of the student's second semester of enrollment. Forms are available on-line or from the Graduate School Academic Advisor at mstout@memphis.edu. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official.

Approved transfer credit may be accepted for not more than 12 semester hours of course credit toward a master's or EdS degree. Individual academic units may set more stringent limitations.  For students completing a graduate certificate program, no more than one-third of the total number of hours required for the certificate will be accepted for transfer.

Credit will be transferred to apply toward a doctoral program upon approval of the student's advisory committee; however, the last thirty semester hours of credit for the doctoral degree must be earned at the University of Memphis. Only the number of dissertation hours accepted by the program toward the degree will be accepted as part of the last 30 hours.

Courses proposed for transfer credit must meet the following two requirements. (1) The Tennessee Board of Regents requires a minimum of 750 contact minutes for each semester credit (2250 for a 3-hour course). (2) The Tennessee Conference of Graduate Schools requires a minimum of 3 hours of class work per week for 3 hours of credit.

Grades earned at another institution will not be computed in the University cumulative grade point average, nor will they be accepted for transfer, unless they are "B" (3.0) or better. No credit will be transferred unless it meets with the approval of the major advisor or program graduate coordinator.

Maximum Combined Credit Hours to Fulfill Degree Requirements

For Master’s students, the maximum amount of combined hours of transfer credit, credit by examination, course validation and experiential learning that can be used to fulfill degree requirements is twelve hours or one-third the number of hours required for the degree, whichever is greater.

For doctoral students, the maximum amount of combined hours of transfer credit, credit-by-examination, course validation and experiential learning that can be used to fulfill degree requirements is one-third the number of hours required for the degree.