International Transfer Credit

Postsecondary coursework completed at foreign institutions that is formally recognized and authorized by their national governments, usually through a ministry of education, is generally eligible for transfer credit; however, transfer credit is not guaranteed. 

Please see the appropriate section for detailed transfer credit policies.

Graduate programs are offered at the Providence Campus.

Applicants with transfer credit should submit official college transcripts from any colleges and universities previously attended prior to enrolling at the university. It is the responsibility of those candidates who are currently attending other colleges to have their updated official transcripts sent to Johnson & Wales University as soon as final grades become available and no later than the first semester of enrollment. In some cases, an official course outline or syllabus will be required for evaluation. Students who have completed military service must submit a Joint Services Transcript (JST) for evaluation. Credit for military service is awarded based on recommendations provided by the American Council on Education (ACE) in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.

Candidates with postsecondary coursework from an institution outside the United States must submit to Johnson & Wales University all official documentation and must request a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services Inc. (WES) or another NACES approved international credential evaluation service. Note that all non-English documents must be accompanied by certified word-for-word English translations. In certain circumstances we may require course descriptions and/or syllabi (subject details, module descriptors or content outline). Those with coursework in progress must submit final updated official documentation as soon as it becomes available.

In order to be eligible for transfer credit, courses must be similar in level, content and duration to JWU courses in the student’s intended program of study. Additionally, only courses with earned grades of C or higher (2.00 GPA) or equivalent will be accepted. Courses that carry grades of “Pass” (P) are also acceptable for transfer, provided credit was awarded and the grade of P carries a numeric GPA value of 2.00 or greater. As an exception, any course(s) that has earned a grade of Pass (P) or Satisfactory (S), as a result of COVID-19, will be considered for transfer credit regardless of the number of associated quality points or its numeric value. Note that due to programmatic accreditation standards, SCI1050 Nutrition, DIET2070 Lifespan Nutrition, DIET3030 Nutrition Assessment, DIET3080 Community Nutrition, DIET4030 Medical Nutrition Therapy, DIET4630 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy, BIO1011 General Biology - Cellular / BIO1016 General Biology Laboratory - Cellular, CHM1000 Foundations in Chemistry / CHM1006 Foundations in Chemistry Laboratory, BIO2041 Human Physiology / BIO2046 Human Physiology Laboratory, BIO2201 General Microbiology / BIO2206 General Microbiology Laboratory, CHM2050 Introduction to Organic Chemistry, and CHM3040 Biochemistry are excluded from this exception for students entering the Dietetics & Applied Nutrition B.S. program. Students who opted for a grade of Pass (P) or Satisfactory (S) in any of these courses will have to repeat the course and earn a standard letter grade. Credits earned in developmental and remedial, English as a Second Language courses, Portfolio Development, Challenge Examinations, or CEUs (continuing education units) are nontransferable. 

Upon completion of the transfer credit evaluation, accepted students will receive a copy of their degree audit showing the credit accepted toward their program of study. Students with domestic transfer credit wishing to review such credits must contact a transfer adviser in Student Academic Services. Those with transcripts from foreign institutions must contact International Admissions.

JWU has a number of articulation agreements and transfer credit equivalencies in place that facilitate student transfers to Johnson & Wales University. The Transfer Evaluation System provides students with information on courses (domestic only) that have previously been evaluated and accepted by Johnson & Wales University. 

The university reserves the right to substitute courses at the discretion of the department chairs, directors or deans.

The transfer of credit is not guaranteed.

Graduate program applicants with prior graduate-level coursework taken at approved colleges and universities may be eligible for transfer credit. A maximum of 20% of the program's credits can be awarded as transfer credit for courses completed with a grade of B (3.00) or better, or equivalent. For doctoral programs, only courses completed with grades equivalent to a 3.00 (3.25 for Ed.D. candidates) or higher will be accepted. Transfer credits accepted may vary based on the doctoral program. In some cases, an official course outline or syllabus will be required in order to determine if the course(s) is similar in level, content and duration to courses in the student's intended program of study at JWU. Graduate transfer credit will be approved by the dean of the respective college.

Applicants with transfer credit should submit official college transcripts from any colleges and universities previously attended prior to enrolling at the university. It is the responsibility of those candidates who are currently attending other colleges to have their updated official transcripts sent to Johnson & Wales University as soon as final grades become available and no later than the first semester of enrollment.

Candidates with post-secondary coursework from an institution outside the United States must submit to Johnson & Wales University all official documentation and must request a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services, Inc. (WES) or another  NACES approved international credential evaluation service. Note that all non-English documents must be accompanied by certified word-for-word English translations. In certain circumstances we may require course descriptions and/or syllabi (subject details, module descriptors or content outline).Those with coursework in progress must submit final updated official documentation as soon as it becomes available.

Upon submission of all of the required documents and completion of the transfer credit evaluation, accepted students will be notified that the evaluation is complete and the degree audit is available for review.  

Once enrolled in a JWU master's degree program, a student may not take courses elsewhere and apply them for transfer credit. Transfer credits should be requested prior to initial matriculation into a JWU master’s degree program.

The university reserves the right to substitute courses at the discretion of the department chairs, directors or deans.

Prerequisite and Foundation Courses

Prerequisite courses are required undergraduate classes for students who need such courses to prepare for graduate study.

Foundation courses are graduate-level courses that may be required of some students whose previous academic background does not reflect the required core business knowledge. Foundation courses with grades below a C (2.00) or equivalent will need to be repeated.

For possible exemption from prerequisite courses, candidates must ensure that all official college and university transcripts are submitted prior to enrollment at JWU. In some cases, the official course outline or syllabus will be required in order to complete the evaluation. Only courses similar in level, content and duration to JWU's prerequisite courses, and for which the student has earned a grade of C or higher (2.00) or equivalent, may be used to exempt the student from the respective prerequisite. Specific graduate degree program prerequisite and foundation requirements are listed in the catalog under each program of study.

Foundation courses may be satisfied based on previously completed course work which demonstrates the required business core knowledge and has earned grades of C or higher (2.0) or equivalent. Students without the required business core knowledge have the option to test out of either or both foundation courses by passing JWU's Graduate Knowledge Assessment Test managed by Peregrine Global Services.

Upon transcript review, domestic students may view their degree audit online in jwuLink > Tools > Academics > Grad Planning System (GPS), and will be sent a copy of their degree audit reflecting any prerequisites and/or foundation courses met as well as the remaining requirements of their program of study. International students who enroll in a JWU program can also access their degree audit online in jwuLink.

Students with domestic transcripts wishing to review transfer credit, prerequisite or foundation course credits must contact a transfer advisor. International students should contact a graduate student academic advisor upon enrollment into the graduate school major. Those with transcripts from foreign institutions may be referred to an international credentials evaluator.