CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

MANUAL OF ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

TITLE

NUMBER

PAGE

DATE OF INCEPTION

PERMISSION TO TAKE COURSES

AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION

R-18 1 of 3 June 29, 1984

Purpose: To allow students of record at Charleston Southern University to take courses at another institution for transfer back to

CSU.

Students enrolled at Charleston Southern University are expected to complete their coursework in residence. Exceptions to this

policy are considered only on a case-by-case basis. Charleston Southern University reserves the right not to accept courses for

which permission has not been granted. All students must obtain advance, written approval from the appropriate chair/program

coordinator, and dean of the department/college of each course requested, and then the University Registrar before enrolling in

classes elsewhere. Transfer credit brings in hours earned and letter grade, but not quality points. Minimum grade for

undergraduate credit is a “C”. Minimum grade for graduate credit is a “B”. Approval of a course to be taken at another institution

is NOT guaranteed. The decision on whether the course is approved (or not) is made by the appropriate chair/program director

and dean on a case by case basis. Note: Policy R 13 still applies. Additionally, deans and chair/directors are expected to consider

the requirements of Policy R-32 in all cases and to ascertain whether courses are transferable.

Fall and Spring Term

CSU engages in consortium agreements with some colleges and universities. Several institutions in the Charleston area

offer "Cross-Registration" opportunities when there are special academic needs. Forms are available in the Registrar's

Office. Agreements between CSU and other institutions may exist which apply to specific academic programs. Consult

program directors or academic department advisors for more information. The decision on whether the course is

approved (or not) is made by appropriate chair/program coordinator and dean of the department/college of each course

requested.

Note: If the requested course is offered at Charleston Southern University using any instructional delivery system (i.e.

online, on-campus, etc.), during the same (Fall or Spring) term, then the course will not be approved for transfer unless

the Vice President of Academic Affairs expressly waives this prohibition. Exceedingly accelerated courses (2-3 week

terms, so on) offered in between the Fall and Spring semester will not be approved.

Summer Semester

If a student’s permanent residence and the (non-local) institution (where the course is to be taken) are over 50 miles

away from the Charleston Southern University campus, permission must be obtained by the chair/program coordinator

for each course requested. See “Approval Process” below.

If a student wants to attend any local institution within 50 miles of Charleston Southern University’s campus (including

the College of Charleston, The Citadel or Trident Technical College), permission must be obtained from the

chair/program coordinator and dean of the department/college of each course requested. See “Approval Process”

below.

NOTE: For summer, if Charleston Southern University is offering the course requested on-campus during any

designated term May through August, then the requested course from a local institution will not be approved for transfer.

If Charleston Southern University is offering the requested course online during any designated term May through

August, then the requested course may not be taken online from any other institution. Exceedingly accelerated courses

(2-3 week terms, so on) offered in during the summer will not be approved.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

MANUAL OF ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Permission will be considered in cases where students are out of sequence in their major and CSU is not offering the necessary

course(s). Reasons NOT considered for transfer approval include – but are not limited to – the following:

Course is less expensive elsewhere.

Course is closer to home or work.

Course is offered at a more convenient time to accommodate work or personal schedules, etc.

Course may be easier at another University.

Student Responsibilities

Current students who desire to take coursework at another accredited institution must complete and receive approval by obtaining

necessary signatures on a "Request to Take Courses at Another Institution" or “Cross Registration” form. It is the student's

responsibility to obtain all necessary signatures. Failure to receive approval prior to taking courses at another institution will

result in courses not being accepted by CSU.

Approval Process

The following steps must be completed by a student to obtain approval to take coursework at another college or university.

Obtain and complete a "Request to Take Courses at Another Institution" or “Cross Registration” form including

name, CSU ID or social security number, address, phone number, institution at which course(s) are to be taken,

course(s) title, course(s) number, and credit hours. A separate form must be completed for each institution a

student desires to attend.

Take the completed form to the appropriate department/college/school for the necessary signatures.

For non-local institutions (institutions more than 50 miles from Charleston Southern University’s

campus): The student must contact the appropriate department chairperson/program coordinator for

each course requested. If a requested course is approved, the department chairperson /program

coordinator will sign the "Request to Take Courses at Another Institution” form and record how the

course will be transferred back to Charleston Southern University. In the absence of the department

chairperson or program coordinator, the appropriate academic dean may, at his/her discretion, approve

the requested course.

Local Institutions (institutions within 50 miles of Charleston Southern University’s campus): The

student must contact the appropriate department chairperson /program coordinator for each course

requested. If a requested course is approved, the department chairperson will sign the "Request to Take

Courses at Another Institution "or “Cross Registration” form and record how the course will be

transferred back to Charleston Southern University. In addition, the appropriate academic dean must

also approve the requested course and (if approval is granted) sign the aforementioned form. In the

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

MANUAL OF ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

absence of the department chairperson or program coordinator, the appropriate academic dean alone

may, at his/her discretion, approve the requested course.

Upon receiving approval from the appropriate administrators for each course requested, the student must return the

form to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office will verify the following: (1) the requestor is a student of

record at Charleston Southern University, (2) and the external institution to be attended is accredited.

If the University Registrar determines that the requisite criteria in Step 3 have been met, then the University

Registrar will sign and the student will distribute the copies as follows: (1) external institution, (2) CSU Registrar,

and (3) him/herself. It is the student's responsibility to request that an official transcript of grades be forwarded

back to CSU after completion of approved coursework.

By action of the Academic Council on June 29, 1984, revisions approved by the Provost August 23, 2000, and revisions made on

February 20, 2008, by the University Registrar to reflect Cross-Registration agreement changes approved by the local Charleston

Higher Education Consortium (which included CSU approval by the VPAA in 2007). Revised by Faculty Senate on March 8,

2011. Revised by the Dean’s’ Council April 2, 2014, November 11, 2020 and April 2023.