Undergraduate Catalog

Transfer Students

General Requirements

Applicants who have earned 24 or more semester hours (36 or more quarter hours) of college work will be considered for admission on the basis of college performance only. A combined 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for all hours attempted from all institutions attended and good standing at the last college/university attended are required for admission.

Applicants who have earned fewer than 24 semester hours (36 or fewer quarter hours) of college work must meet the freshman admission standards, have a combined C average for all hours attempted from all institutions attended, and be in good standing at the last college/university attended. In addition, transfer students with fewer than 24 semester hours (36 or fewer quarter hours) must meet the freshman admission standards.

Students who have earned fewer than 24 semester hours (36 or fewer quarter hours) of college work and who meet freshmen admission standards, but who are not in good standing at the last college/university attended, may be considered for admission by the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS).

Transcripts from each college and university attended must be sent directly from the institution(s) attended to Undergraduate Admissions at Western Illinois University. The recommended application deadline for students applying for Fall semester is August 1, and January 1 for Spring semester. Failure to report any previous college work may result in dismissal from the University. Transcripts received from other colleges and universities are utilized for admission purposes only and are not returnable or transferable.

Transfer credits may be accepted from another college or university of recognized standing. If the applicant is not from a regionally accredited school, credits may be accepted only after examination or by validation through satisfactory work at WIU. WIU will not accept for transfer credit a course equivalent to ENG 180 or 280 in which below C level work was recorded at a previous institution. This provision does not apply to students entering under the Community College Compact Agreement or the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.

To earn a baccalaureate degree, a transfer student must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit, of which 60 semester hours must be completed at Western Illinois University or another accredited four-year institution. Exceptions may be made for courses that are required for a student’s major, and when the course is not offered at the WIU campus for which the student is enrolled, nor is there distance education access through WIU. A minimum of 42 semester hours credit must be earned in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 or above) from Western Illinois University or another accredited four-year institution. The student must also fulfill the University’s General Education requirements (please see University General Education Curriculum) and meet graduation requirements for a degree from WIU (please see Graduation Requirements).

New transfer students who appeal and are accepted on probation are required to earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average by the end of their first term of enrollment.

Partner Schools (2+2 Degree Plans)

Western Illinois University is committed to facilitating the best transfer experience possible. 2+2 Degree Plans are designed to facilitate conversations between students and their academic advisor at the community college. For more information, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at (309) 298-3157 or by email at transfer@wiu.edu. For the most up-to-date list of WIU’s partner schools, please see wiu.edu/2plus2.

Illinois Statewide Articulated Baccalaureate-Oriented Associate Degrees

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Art and Science Degree Graduates—Compact Agreement

Completion of an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program (A.A., A.S., or A.A.S.) at an accredited institution (and selected other colleges) provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing, and (b) be considered to have completed the General Education requirements (University General Education Curriculum) at Western Illinois University. The associate’s degree must include the equivalent of 60 semester hours with at least a C average. Western Illinois University will also honor the community college commitment if Western Illinois University credit is used to complete the associate’s degree.

Exceptions: An A.A. or A.S. degree graduate from an accredited Illinois two-year college (and other selected colleges) who is a candidate for a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences may be required to complete additional semester hours of coursework at WIU to satisfy college curriculum requirements.

Associate of Arts in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Special Education) Degree Graduates

Western Illinois University is a participant in four statewide articulated Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree programs—Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Special Education. Completion of an A.A.T. degree must be in one of four fields (Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Special Education) and will only be accepted for transfer into a Teacher Education program in that same field. Students transferring into Western Illinois University with an A.A.T. must meet cumulative GPA requirements for being accepted into WIU’s Teacher Education Program. Those completing the A.A.T. in Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Special Education must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 from the community college at which they completed their program; and those completing the A.A.T. in Early Childhood Education must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Early Childhood/Mathematics/Special Education: Completion of an approved statewide articulated A.A.T. degree in Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, and Special Education at an accredited Illinois two-year institution provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing, and (b) be considered to have completed the General Education (University General Education Curriculum) requirements at Western Illinois University.

Science Education: Completion of an approved statewide articulated A.A.T. degree in Science Education at an accredited Illinois two-year institution provides that the student will be accepted with junior standing. Students must fulfill the University’s lower-division General Education requirements by completing: (1) the 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, or (2) the 37 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum.

Associate of Applied Science Degree Graduates

Early Childhood AAS: Completion of an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education from any Illinois community college provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing, and (b) be considered to have completed the General Education (University General Education Curriculum) requirements at Western Illinois University.

Associate of Engineering Science or Associate of Fine Arts (Art, Art Education, Music, or Music Education) Degree Graduates

Completion of an approved statewide articulated Associate of Engineering Science (A.E.S.) or an Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Art or Music degree at an accredited Illinois two-year institution provides that the student will be accepted with junior standing. Students must fulfill the University’s lower-division General Education requirements by completing: (1) the 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, or (2) the 37 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum.

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)

Western Illinois University is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Completion of the transferable General Education Core Curriculum at any participating college or university in Illinois assures transferring students that lower-division General Education requirements for a bachelor’s degree have been satisfied. WIU will award transfer credit for Illinois General Education Core Curriculum courses taken at other institutions of higher education in accordance with the evaluation of transfer credit policy provided below. The following codes identify qualifying General Education courses: IAI C (Communication), IAI F (Fine Arts), IAI H (Humanities), IAI L (Life Sciences), IAI M (Mathematics), IAI P (Physical Sciences), and IAI S (Social/Behavioral Sciences). The appropriate IAI code follows the course descriptions of matching WIU courses in the Academic Departments, Programs, and Courses section of the catalog. View a complete listing of the WIU courses that match IAI General Education Core Curriculum course descriptions as of July 1, 2024.

Evaluation of Transferable General Education Credit

The following guidelines will govern the evaluation of transfer credit for the University General Education Curriculum.*

  • Courses taken at other accredited Illinois institutions. Western Illinois University will accept for credit toward completion of the University General Education Curriculum courses taken at other accredited Illinois institutions of higher education. Students who have completed courses equivalent to those in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum or WIU General Education Curriculum will be granted credit toward fulfilling WIU’s General Education Curriculum requirement. Students may also be eligible to receive credit toward WIU’s General Education requirement for completion of transfer coursework viewable at transferology.com.
  • Students who have completed an associate’s degree. Transfer students who complete an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program (that meets general education requirements) at an accredited two-year institution (and selected other colleges) will: (a) be accepted with junior standing at Western Illinois University, and (b) be considered to have completed the University General Education Curriculum. The associate’s degree must include the equivalent of at least 60 s.h. with at least a C average. Students who have completed the Associate of Arts in Teaching in Science Education, the Associate in Engineering Science, or the Associate in Fine Arts in Art or Music must fulfill the University’s lower-division General Education requirements by completing: (1) the 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, or (2) the 37 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum.
  • Students who have completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum but have not earned an associate’s degree. Transfer students from accredited Illinois institutions of higher education who have not earned an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program but have completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum will be considered to have completed the University General Education Curriculum. Western Illinois University will honor the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum if Western Illinois University credit is used to complete the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum.
  • Students who have not completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum or an associate’s degree. Transfer students from accredited Illinois institutions of higher education who have not earned an associate’s degree or completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, but have been granted at least 30 semester hours of transfer credit by Western Illinois University, must complete one of the following: (1) the 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, or (2) the 37 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum. If fewer than 30 semester hours of transfer credit are granted, the student must complete one of the following: (1) the 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum plus an additional 6 s.h. from any approved IAI or WIU General Education course, or (2) the 37 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum. Students who have satisfactorily completed courses within the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum will be granted credit towards fulfilling comparable lower-division General Education requirements at WIU.
  • Non-accredited institutions. Individuals who have earned credits at non-accredited institutions will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
  • Students with quarter-system credits. The University will waive a fraction of a semester hour of the minimum hours required from a specific area of the University General Education Curriculum for students with quarter-system credits.
  • Students who utilized grade replacement options. For courses that have been repeated, WIU follows the rule of the credit-granting school for that credit. If the school grants credit for the course both times the course is taken, WIU will take the first grade if it was a passing grade.

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*1. In addition to the General Education Curriculum, students must complete major, minor, college-specific, and other requirements to earn the baccalaureate degree.

*2. Coursework completed at community colleges and lower-division coursework completed at four-year institutions will transfer to WIU as lower-division credit, even if the equivalent WIU course is offered as an upper-division course. Lower-division transfer coursework will satisfy General Education requirements even though the equivalent WIU course is upper-division.

*3. To satisfy the Communication Skills writing requirement, transfer students must have earned a grade of C or better in each of the courses noted as equivalent to ENG 180 and ENG 280 unless waived by the Community College Compact Agreement or the IAI Transferable General Education Core Curriculum.

Evaluation of Baccalaureate Major Transfer Credit

The following guidelines will govern the evaluation of transfer credit for the baccalaureate major.**

  • Western Illinois University may accept for credit toward completion of a baccalaureate major courses taken at other accredited institutions of higher education. Transfer students who have completed courses in a transferable IAI baccalaureate major program that are equivalent to courses required for the appropriate WIU major will be granted direct equivalent credit toward completion of the WIU major. Students may also be eligible to receive credit toward major requirements for the completion of transfer coursework included at itransfer.org.
  • Suggested coursework in a transferable IAI baccalaureate major that is determined not to have a WIU equivalent will be accepted as a Department Elective. Electives may apply towards completing the minimum 120 s.h. requirement for the baccalaureate degree. The major department will determine if such courses may apply toward completing specific requirements for the major.
  • Individuals who have earned credits at non-accredited or foreign institutions will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
  • Students who utilized grade replacement options. For courses that have been repeated, WIU follows the rule of the credit-granting school for that credit. If the school grants credit for the course both times the course is taken, WIU will take the first grade if it was a passing grade.

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** Coursework completed at community colleges and lower-division coursework completed at four-year institutions will transfer to WIU as lower-division credit, even if the equivalent WIU course is offered as an upper-division course.

Reverse Transfer Credit

Pursuant to the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act [110 ILCS 150], Reverse Transfer is a program designed for students who transferred from an Illinois public community college to WIU, but without earning their associate’s degree prior to transfer. Transfer students with at least 15 transferrable credit hours from a public community college in Illinois are eligible for reverse transfer consideration upon achieving junior standing (60 hours earned). Through reverse transfer, eligible students may transfer WIU courses back to the community college in order to determine if an associate’s degree may be awarded, while pursuing their baccalaureate degree. To opt-in to the Reverse Transfer program, visit wiu.edu/registrar/revtransfer.php.