About Us News & Events Meet Our Students & Alums Come Visit Undergraduate Programs Undergraduate Admission Graduate Programs Graduate Admission Continuing Education Summer Programs Courses & Curriculum Faculty

Continuing Education Academic Credit Policies


Academic Credits

In the case of studio courses, a credit is defined as a total of 30 hours of class time. Most School of Art & Design courses are studio courses (indicated by the letter S preceding the course number). In the case of academic courses, the University defines a credit as a total of 15 hours of class time. For more information on credit hours, please refer to Suffolk University's credit hour definition.

Applying Credits toward BFA or Certificate Requirements

Courses taken by Continuing Education students may later be applied toward BFA or Graphic Design certificate requirements, provided the student has applied to and been accepted into the designated program. A maximum of 30 credits can be applied toward the BFA programs and a maximum of nine credits for the Graphic Design certificate. In both cases, a tuition differential will be applied. Only credit-bearing courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned may be applied; credits awarded will be considered transfer credits.

Please note: While individuals may elect to take additional courses as Continuing Education students, credits earned beyond the above stated transfer maximums cannot be applied toward certificate or degree requirements.

Waiving Master’s Program Preparatory Requirements

Courses taken as a Continuing Education student earn undergraduate credit only and are therefore not directly applicable to graduate programs. However, undergraduate credits earned as a Continuing Education student can later be used to waive the undergraduate-equivalent preparatory coursework required in the MA programs. Please note: Students planning on matriculating into the Master’s of Interior Architecture program should not take Construction Documents (ADI S372) nor Interior Marketing and Contracts (ADI 384) as CE students.

Please note: Under no circumstances may credits taken by Continuing Education students be applied toward the course requirements (30 credits at the 700-level or above) of our master’s programs.