Transfer Credit

Time to completion is determined by the Registrar’s Office based on the total number of transfer credits and results from placement exams taken during Orientation just before classes begin each semester. 

The anticipated time to completion will be conveyed in terms of the number of semesters remaining. This determination is based upon the student’s academic standing and will reflect the impact of required course sequences that must be completed in a prescribed order. As a result, the projected timeline may vary in accordance with the student’s academic and artistic progression and the sequencing of required coursework. The total, accepted number of transfer credits can be mapped to class standing as follows:  

• Freshman: 0–31 credits

• Sophomore: 32–62 credits

• Junior: 63–93 credits

• Senior: 93+ credits

SFCM will consider transfer credit for music-related classes with a grade of C or better, under the following conditions:

• Core Musicianship and Theory (Theory, Dictation, Sightsinging, Musicianship): Placement exams are required for all undergraduate and graduate students. If a student has prior coursework in these areas and successfully tests out, equivalent transfer credit will be applied toward the degree requirement.
• Music History: Applicants interested in Music History transfer credit are required to submit a course description, syllabus, and grade earned for prior coursework to SFCM’s Music History department chair. Submissions will be assessed for possible transfer credit for equivalent SFCM offerings. Samples of work completed at the student's prior institution may be requested as well.
• “Every semester” requirements, including Applied Lessons: Courses that are required every semester (Applied Lessons, Large Ensemble, Performance Classes, etc.) will be waived relative to estimated time to completion provided by the Registrar. For example, if a transfer student has five semesters left to completion, three semesters of “every semester” requirements will be waived.
• Specialized Music Courses (e.g., Vocal Pedagogy, Diction, Conducting, etc.): Transfer credit with a grade of C or better in other specialized or “major” coursework may be transferred upon syllabi review. Placement exams may be required for some courses to determine placement. 

AP/IB classes will be considered but are not guaranteed to be accepted. All accepted transfer credits are up to Registrar's Office based on what is appropriate. In order to receive credit, an official AP and IB score report must be sent to SFCM. 

• Music Theory: AP credit for Music Theory follows the same transfer policy as “Core Musicianship and Theory,” described below. First-time freshmen can earn college credit for their AP Music Theory scores with the successful completion of a theory placement exam, which is taken at Orientation just before classes begin in the fall.
• English Language Composition and Literature: AP English, including AP English Language Composition and AP English Literature Composition, can substitute for HMS 110-111 College Writing. Passing one of these with a 4 or higher will substitute for HMS 110; passing both will substitute for HMS 110 and 111. IB scores of 5 or higher will also be accepted, according to the policies described above. 
• Other subjects: AP scores of 3 or above, and IB scores of 5 and above can also be accepted to receive credit for other Humanities and Sciences courses. 

Undergraduate students can receive transfer credit for courses in the Humanities and Sciences (HMS) and Professional Development (PDV) area, provided the student received a grade of C or better and the course is ruled an appropriate substitute for a SFCM course, as determined by the chair of the relevant department. 

Credit from completed Associate's (A.A.) degrees can be applied, following the guidelines described above.

Credit from completed Bachelor's degrees cannot be applied as transfer credit. 

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Music from SFCM and are admitted into a Master of Music degree program may receive course waivers for credits taken during their previous degree if the course is identical to a degree requirement in the new program and they earned a C or better. This excludes ensemble requirements, PRF 352 (Piano Forum), PRF 402 (Composition Seminar), PRF 462 (Vocal Performance Lab), PRF 200 (Woodwind Recital Attendance), and PRF 202/212/222/232 (Bassoon/Clarinet/Flute/Oboe Class). Any other exceptions may be approved by submitting a petition to the Academic Affairs Committee.

BM Brass example

Total credits required for degree: 131

Minimum required for completion at SFCM: 65.5

Total transferable credits (subject to change): XX

Estimated time to completion (subject to change): X semesters *

Provisional class level (subject to change): [freshman, sophomore, etc.]
 

• PVL: 32
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• PRF: 6
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• ENS: 30
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• MMT: 20 **
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• MHL: 12
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• HMS: 24
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• PDV: 4
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX
• Electives: 3
  • Transfer credits accepted: XX

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* Actual time to completion depends on academic and artistic progress.

** Courses in this category must be taken sequentially. For the core curriculum (MMT 102-107 and MMT 112-115), even-numbered courses are offered in the fall; odd-numbered courses are offered in the spring. Based on time of admittance, students may need to wait one semester before beginning their MMT sequence.