From SOC Degree Network System Handbooks
Chapter 2: SOC
Degree Network System Institutional Requirements
Guaranteed course transfer via the SOC DNS Course Category Codes enables servicemembers to make progress toward degree completion in a timely and efficient way when they are unable to take courses from their home college. This flexibility, in conjunction with the SOC Degree Network System Student Agreement, is what makes the membership of higher-education institutions in the system valuable to servicemembers.
For courses to be considered comparable and share the same SOC DNS Course Category, they do not have to be exactly the same. Depending on factors related to institutional governance and how faculty choose to teach courses, the titles, delivery methods, credit hours, textbooks, and even certain topics covered may vary between institutions. SOC understands that institutional policy may not allow for some courses to be accepted but asks that Core SOC Degree Network System institutions adhere to the following guidelines when participating in the evaluation of courses for guaranteed transferability in the SOC DNS Course Categories, if possible.
Content
Assess the comparability
of another institution’s course proposed for a SOC DNS Course Category by comparing its content, as reflected in the catalog course description provided, to the content of your institution’s course in the same category. Consider whether a student’s
overall knowledge from taking
the course would be comparable
to your own course. (If
the course description does not
provide enough information, please
ask SOC to request a
syllabus on your behalf a few
weeks prior to the deadline--see
Instructions.)
Also keep in mind that the content of two courses from the sending institution may be comparable to the content of one course at your institution. For example, Liberty University's ACCT 402 Advanced Accounting I and ACCT 403 Advanced Accounting II are categorized in AC105B Advanced Accounting, along with Campbell University's ACCT 444 Advanced Accounting. Liberty University's courses are joined by an “AND” in the Transferability Tables and are to be considered as a unit when determining comparability. This means that a student must take 2 courses at Liberty University to meet the content of Campbell University's single course in the Category.
Outcomes
Even if some of the course topics vary,
they should be considered comparable if their
learning outcomes
are the same. For example, English
Composition courses may utilize different
texts and require
papers with varying themes, but
have the same objectives of teaching students
to write
effectively at the college level,
develop research skills, think critically,
and so
on. Again, keep in mind that
it may require multiple courses to meet the
learning outcomes
of a single course.
Level
Courses do not need
to match in level (upper/lower) in order
to be accepted in guaranteed
transfer. For instance, a "lower-level" 200-numbered course may be comparable to an "upper-level" 300-numbered course. If the sending institution’s
course is comparable in content and/or learning
outcomes, the receiving institution should
accept the course as meeting the individual
course requirement. It is understood that
the student must still satisfy upper-level
graduation requirements and should be advised
accordingly. If, however, institutional policy
prohibits the acceptance of lower-level courses
for upper-level courses, or vice versa, please
indicate this reason on the circulation documents.
Credit Hours
Courses do
not need to match exactly in credit hours
to be comparable. If a course
is comparable
in content but deficient in credit
hours, the course may be accepted.
Students should
then be advised that they may
still need to make up the deficit
by taking credits
in the same academic area. If
the sending institution’s course credits
exceed your own, you may accept the course
for the same credit hours as your course.
Accreditation
SOC recognizes
that there are certain accreditation policies
and regulations that an institution
must
adhere to when transferring courses.
We do ask our institutions,
however, to endorse the "Joint Statement on Transfer and Award of Credit" and
refrain from basing transfer decisions solely on the
basis of accreditation. If a course that
you are evaluating for transfer is coming
from an institution
that does not have the appropriate institutional or programmatic
accreditation required by your institution,
please note this policy on the circulation
documents.
GPA Requirements
SOC understands GPA requirements vary by school and that
students must meet the GPA requirements for
transferring courses for them to be accepted
in guaranteed transfer. For the purpose of the Category
review, please assume
that the students taking these courses have met minimum
GPA requirements.