Transfer Credits
UH West Oʻahu recognizes undergraduate coursework successfully completed at regionally accredited colleges and universities (e.g. WSCUC) or which is recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education in a foreign country that is equivalent to the academic content of the University. Accreditation must have been active at the time the course was completed. In determining equivalencies and transferability, each course is carefully reviewed based on the scope of topics covered, rigor, contact hours, etc.
To facilitate the graduation path of transfer students, review the below steps:
Transfer Credit Evaluation
Previously earned credits are automatically evaluated upon acceptance to a UH West Oʻahu degree-seeking program and the submission of the accepted students’ online Intent to Enroll Form.
Prospective students who have not yet been admitted to UH West O’ahu may contact Admissions at uhwo.admissions@hawaii.edu for information on how their credits may transfer.
STAR is your guided pathway to graduation. GPS Registration is a registration system based on your individual academic plan. The Academic Essentials tab allows you to see your progress towards your degree program in a glance.
Transfer students can view their credits of previously completed classes online via STAR. Revisions to a student’s record will only be revised if an error has been made or approval is granted by the Chair of the Department.
A course syllabi may be required to determine course equivalency. Send file to: uhwo.transfercredit@hawaii.edu
Make an appointment with your college success advisor to review program requirements and obtain assistance in selecting classes.
Students are assigned a specific day and time based on their class standing and classification at the time of registration. Students may register anytime on or after their registration start date; early registration is encouraged. Prior to the registration period, students are highly encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor or college success advisor to review program requirements and obtain assistance in selecting classes.
Prepare for registration
Registration timetable
STAR GPS Registration
Resources
The Course Transfer Database allows you to search course equivalencies or evaluations for UH campuses as well as those for other colleges and universities. Course transferability and equivalents are subject to change. The transferability of a course is not guaranteed until an official transfer credit evaluation has been completed. Additional schools and courses will be added to the Course Transfer Database as they become available.
What if Journey
The What If Journey takes the student’s current courses and applies it to the degree program selected to portray the progress the student would have if they changed their degree program.
Guidelines
Although grades are transferred into your student record, your GPA from previous institutions does not transfer to UH West Oʻahu. Your GPA is based on your UH West Oʻahu coursework.
What will be considered:
- Courses completed at baccalaureate level (i.e., in the UH system, courses numbered at the 100 level or above).
- If a lower-division course is equivalent to an upper-division UH West O’ahu course, it will substitute for the specified course and will not count as upper division. Therefore, additional upper-division hours may be required for graduation.
- Courses completed with a minimum grade of “D” (not “D-”)
- Courses completed with a grade of “CR” (credit), “P” (passing) or “CE” (credit by exam) may be transferable. No more than 40 credits of “CR”, “P” and “CE” courses can be applied towards meeting degree requirements. The CR/NC grade option is limited to elective courses only; CR is not allowed to fulfill general education or major/certificate requirements.
- Correspondence, occupational, vocational and technical courses may be considered although they may not be applicable to the student’s chosen program of study.
- Students who are requesting an evaluation based on standardized exam results or military coursework must do so within their first semester of enrollment at UH West Oʻahu.
- Students requesting credit by examination (Challenge Exams) must do so within their first year of enrollment.
What will not be considered:
- Courses from unaccredited institutions: Coursework taken at any institution not fully accredited by a regional U.S. accrediting association.
- Courses below college level (remedial or developmental): At UH campuses courses include those numbered below 100.
- Repeated or duplicate courses: Transfer credit is generally not awarded for a repeated course that covers the same material/content in which a passing grade was previously earned, nor for more than one version of a cross-listed course.
- Vocational or technical courses
If there is a question as to the equivalence of courses, the Transfer Credit Evaluator will contact the appropriate Division Chair for guidance about the UH West Oʻahu course equivalency. The Division Chair will determine whether any transfer course fulfills a major or certificate requirement. The General Education Chair will determine whether any transfer course meets a general education requirement. A course syllabi may be required to determine course equivalency.
If a course does not have an equivalent course that exists at UH West Oʻahu, the course will be designated as “ELEC” lower division or “UDEL” upper division. If GE credit designation is awarded, the course will be designated with the foundation or diversification designation.
Students who transfer to UH West Oʻahu with an earned Associate of Arts (AA) degree or previous Bachelors of Arts Degree (BA) from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have fulfilled all general education Foundations and Diversification requirements.
General Education Core and Focus Requirements
Students admitted to UH West Oʻahu are required to complete the General Education and Focus requirements. The General Education requirements consist of two components: foundations and diversification requirements. Focus requirements are university/graduation requirements required of all students.
Transfer from within the UH system:
- Any course from within the University of Hawaiʻi System that has been certified for a Foundations or Diversification designation, Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (HAP), Oral Communication (OC), Contemporary Ethical Issues (ETH), and Writing-Intensive (WI) at the upper division level at the originating UH campus will satisfy the same requirements at UH West O’ahu.
Transfer from outside of the UH system:
- A course which transfers as a specific UH West Oʻahu course will earn all GE requirements the UH West Oʻahu course satisfies.
- Courses that do not correspond to a UH WestOʻahu course, but for which the course fulfills a General Education Foundation or Diversification requirement will be awarded the appropriate GE credit.
- Courses that meet the HAP, ETH, and OC focus outcomes may satisfy those requirements.
- Course work completed at an institution that has a quarter system will be converted to semester hours.
Foundation requirements: 12 credits
- Written Communication: (FW) 3 credits – Courses that transfer to UH West O’ahu as Freshman Composition (ENG 100, ENG 100T, ESL 100,) will satisfy the FW: Written Communication requirement.
- Quantitative Reasoning (FQ) 3 credits – Courses that transfer to UH West Oʻahu as College Algebra will satisfy the FQ: Quantitative Reasoning requirement
- Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG) 6 credits, from two different groups – Course content that indicates they focus on Global and/or Multicultural materials or issues (such as World Religions, Survey of World Music, World History, Performance Across Culture, etc.) will satisfy the FG Global and Multicultural Perspectives.
Diversification requirements: 19 credits
- Arts, Humanities and Literature (DA, DH, DL) 6 credits from two different subject areas – Courses that transfer to UH West O’ahu as Arts, Humanities, or Literature will satisfy the DA, DH, DL: Arts, Humanities, Literature requirement.
- Social Sciences (DS) 6 credits from two different areas – Courses that transfer to UH West O’ahu as Social Science courses will satisfy the DS: Social Sciences requirement.
- Natural Sciences (DB, DP, DY) 7 credits with 3 credits each from biological and physical sciences and 1 credit of laboratory – Courses that transfer to UH West O’ahu as as Biology or Human Biology or equivalent course will satisfy DB, Physical natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Environmental Science) or equivalent course will satisfy DP, and any lab course from either category (DB, DP) can be used to satisfy the DY requirement.
Focus Requirements
- Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (HAP): 1 class
- Oral Communication (OC): 1 class
- Contemporary Ethical Issues (ETH): 1 class
- Writing-Intensive (WI): 3 classes at the upper division level. A minimum of two classes must come from course work outside of the capstone class.
Abbreviation Key
Fulfills a General Education Diversification Requirement.
- (ELEC) Elective credit
- (DA) Diversification Arts
- (DL) Diversification Literatures
- (DB) Diversification Biological Science
- (DP) Diversification Physical Science
- (DY) Diversification Science Laboratory
- (DS) Diversification Social Science
- (FQ) Quantitative Reasoning
To receive test results and/or request official transcripts, visit the CollegeBoard. Subject to change without prior notice
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations will be considered for transfer credit and/or meeting course prerequisites for registration purposes. The UH West O‘ahu School Code is 1042.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will be considered for transfer credit and/or meeting course prerequisites for registration purposes. The UH West O‘ahu School Code is 4959.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has been in existence for more than fifty years. IB maintains a presence in 150 countries, including the United States. Its diploma (high school) is extremely rigorous and targets the most advanced and ambitious students in the American school system.
Military Service
Coursework taken through military schools will be considered for transfer credit and/or meeting course prerequisites for registration purposes.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Credit by Exam
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is an American-based non-profit organization focusing on applied learning experiences in STEM disciplines at the K-12 levels. PLTW serves millions of students across all fifty states through its 11,500 partner schools.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Credit by Exam will be considered for transfer credit and/or meeting course pre-requisites for registration purposes.
Credits earned by the equivalency methods (e.g., AP Exams, CLEP, military training, and credit for prior learning) may not be used to satisfy the college residency requirements for graduation.
Interstate Passport
UH West O‘ahu participates in the Interstate Passport, a program sponsored by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The Interstate Passport is a program that facilitates the transfer of student learning between participating institutions. As a participating member, UH West O‘ahu will recognize the passport credential awarded to students from one of these institutions. Please visit the WICHE website for more information.