OCS Policies

Yes. With the approval of your major adviser, students can transfer up to 8-12 credits total (depending on the major) into your Whitman degree. The total includes AP credit, other US transfer credit like Running Start, as well as OCS credits.

Whitman’s OCS Partner Programs have been carefully selected by the Off-Campus Studies Committee and Whitman faculty and are the only OCS programs during the academic year for which a Whitman student can transfer credit into their Whitman degree. Students who are interested in destinations or course offerings not available through our semester-long Partner Programs are encouraged to consider summer study abroad programs and should contact Whitman OCS for assistance.

Email offcampusstudies@whitman.edu to request approval for the new courses you wish to transfer as soon as possible. Include the course title, course description, and what type of credit you would like to receive for the course. OCS staff will consult with your major adviser and/or the Registrar on your behalf about how the credit will transfer and let you know.

Whitman College can only transfer liberal arts and sciences courses to a Whitman degree. However, effective 2024-25 the Whitman Registrar permits up to 10 credits from non-liberal arts courses to be transferred toward the 124 credits needed to graduate.

Yes. Whitman requires that students enroll in a minimum of 15 credits during OCS regardless of the minimum number required by the off-campus studies program you attend.

Yes. Whitman requires that study abroad students enroll in the local language unless they have already completed two years of that language (through the 206 level) prior to study abroad.

Yes. Whitman students can transfer up to 19 credits per semester or 38 credits for an academic year from study abroad/OCS programs. However, there are a few exceptions for programs whose duration is longer than a semester, such as the Frontiers Abroad geology program.

No. The Whitman Registrar does not permit transfer of credits for any courses taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.

Yes. You must earn a D or better grade (or equivalent) to apply the credit from your OCS courses to your Whitman degree. If you earn less than a C- in any course, you will not obtain transfer credit from Whitman for that course.

All OCS courses and the grades earned (A through F) are posted on your Whitman transcript. However, you will not receive any transfer credit for courses for which you earned a D or lower.

No. Whitman does not permit “dual enrollment” during OCS. Meaning that students may not take a Whitman course remotely or a course through another institution remotely while enrolled on their OCS program.