Reciprocity - Course Substitution

MSJC accepts coursework from the following: 

1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
3. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), formerly North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
6. Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
7. WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) 

Upper Division Coursework 

Upper division coursework will be recognized by MSJC after the 12-unit residency has been met at MSJC according to the following:

1. An awarded BA/BS degree from a U.S. Regionally Accredited institution will waive all local General Education requirements at MSJC.
   1. MSJC can accept upper division coursework completed at another institution for the purpose of fulfilling local General Education or major and/or elective requirements based on content equivalency.
      1. Coursework must be completed at a United States regionally accredited institution
      2. Students must submit official transcripts
2. MSJC will evaluate as much upper division coursework as acceptable via CSU and UC guidelines for Cal-GETC to allow for an Associates Degree or an Associates Degree for Transfer to be awarded at MSJC.
   1. Coursework must be completed at a United States regionally accredited institution
   2. Students must submit official transcripts

Foreign Transcripts

Foreign Transcripts with official evaluations from a NACES member organization will be evaluated and used to clear equivalent course content or general education requirements wherever appropriate. Students should be aware of the following: 

1. Students must provide all resources and reports regarding these transcripts in order for MSJC to evaluate and award credit.
2. Up to 30 semester units of credit, and up to 40 units may be granted by petition.

 A current list of approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies may be obtained from the NACES webpage.

Notes about Course Reciprocity and Course Substitution 

MSJC cannot grant a course waiver or course substitution that is inconsistent with Education Code or Title 5 regulations nor can it ensure that a substitution granted by the college will be accepted by another institution.

In the interest of best serving students and establishing an efficient transfer route, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) encourages colleges to apply courses successfully completed as part of an ADT aligned degree at one college for requirements within their own degrees to the greatest extent deemed possible and reasonable (See ASCCC resolution 15.01 Spring 2011). While course substitution decisions remain a matter of local control, students often earn credit at multiple colleges during the course of their academic careers. The ASCCC strongly urges community colleges to establish policies to allow and encourage acceptance of the courses students have taken at other colleges. Where the substitution does not involve deeming two courses comparable, substitution decisions must be informed by the judgment of discipline faculty.