BASW Transfer Credit is defined as the awarding of academic credit toward the BASW degree for course work or practicum work completed at an accredited academic institution when such work is evaluated by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work’s BASW Program as entirely comparable. Potential students applying to the BASW major at the University of Pittsburgh who have earned college-level credit at another accredited undergraduate social work program prior to entering the BASW major may be eligible to have those credits counted toward completion of the BASW degree.
An official transcript of all courses taken at other schools must be submitted at the time of application, whether or not it is intended that such courses be counted toward a degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, the School of Social Work's BASW Program does not grant transfer credits or exemptions for prior life or employment experience.
Policies and Procedures
Transfer credits are subject to the following guidelines and limitations:
- Credits earned by the student at another accredited institution will be accepted if the quality of the credits earned is at least a “C” grade or better, per University of Pittsburgh Transfer Credit Policy
- Academic credit for practicum will be awarded only for practicum completed at an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education when such work is evaluated as entirely comparable.
- Courses for which credit is sought must correspond with those offered by the University of Pittsburgh in objectives and content, as described in the University of Pittsburgh’s CCAC/Pitt Connection Transfer Guide.
- The number of credits reduced or granted for a given course can neither exceed the number on the official transcript from the School where they were earned, nor the number earned in the corresponding course at the University of Pittsburgh.
- No transfer credits can be part of the final thirty (30) credits required for the BASW degree. The final thirty (30) credits must be earned in residence at the University of Pittsburgh.
- All transfer credits are subject to re-evaluation if and when the student transfers from one school to another within the University of Pittsburgh.
- No more than 90 credits can be transferred from four-year schools and no more than 60 credits can be transferred from two-year schools. This decision is made on the basis of the last school attended, according to the University of Pittsburgh Transfer Credit Policy.
- If a course for which transfer credit has been awarded is repeated, the transfer credit is cancelled and the student must enroll in another course to make-up those transfer credits.
- Transfer credits awarded by the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will be accepted consistent with University of Pittsburgh policy.
- Transfer credits awarded by the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Arts and Sciences for Advanced Placement will be accepted consistent with the aforementioned policies.
- Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, the BASW Program does not grant course or practicum credit, transfer credit, or exemptions for prior life, volunteer, or employment experience.
- Transfer credits for liberal arts courses in which the student has received a C grade or better do not have a statute of limitations, though the BASW program reserves the right not to accept liberal arts courses for transfer if the content is deemed outdated.
- Transfer credit for social work courses in which the student has received a C grade or better must have been completed within the previous seven academic calendar years at a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education when such work is evaluated as entirely comparable.
- Transfer credits will be calculated by the administrative Support Staff person assigned to the BASW Program and included in the student’s permanent record prior to registration for the Spring Term following the student’s matriculation into the BASW Program.
- A student may appeal a negative ruling regarding transfer credits to the Academic and Professional Behavior Committee, following the procedures described in this handbook for filing student grievances.
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Transfer Students
The BASW program encourages community college transfer students to complete their associate degree in social work then begin our program in the fall. In order to provide every opportunity for transfer students to complete credits more conveniently and cost-effectively, Pitt School of Social Work participates in the cross-college and cross-university registration program designed to provide enriched educational opportunities for undergraduates in many of the participating Pittsburgh-area institutions. The Pitt BASW program is highly ranked and is a more cost-effective choice than many other four-year universities. With that in mind, we would also like to highlight the financial opportunities created for your students:
- Pitt2Pitt Scholarship: Students who complete the Pitt BASW program with a 3.2 or higher are automatically eligible for the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship: $5,000 annually or $2,500 per term while they complete their MSW.
- Successful completion of the BASW program allows students to be considered as advanced standing students so that they can complete their MSW degree in just 12 months (Pitt-to-Pitt scholarship money will be available to them each term, fall, spring, and summer).
- All community college students are eligible to compete for a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship from the Henrietta T. Campbell Fund, designated specifically for an outstanding community college student (junior).
- A Summer Research Fellowship opportunity of a minimum of $1,000 is specifically for an outstanding community college rising senior student to conduct funded research with a School of Social Work professor.
- Students are encouraged to apply to our Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB) fellowship program (stipend, tuition funding for the senior year of the BASW program, and job placement are granted to those accepted in the CWEB program).
View the CCAC Associates Degree in Social Work Foundation Course of Study to Pitt Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (PDF)
