Transfer Admissions Process

Whether you transfer to SPU from a regionally accredited two- or four-year school, with or without an associate’s degree, SPU’s credit evaluators will ensure that your transfer work is appropriately applied toward SPU’s degree requirements. Our goal is to help you earn your bachelor’s degree as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Top

Associate Degree Transfers

If you intend to complete an associate’s degree before transferring to SPU, check out the admissions requirements and deadlines and talk to an admissions or academic counselor to make sure that you choose the right degree for you.

Community College Transfers

Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) Degrees
If you complete an approved DTA degree before you begin classes at Seattle Pacific, you will enter SPU with all Exploratory Curriculum and University Core requirements fulfilled, as well as the foreign language proficiency requirement. Generally, you will enter with 90 credits and junior standing, which exempts you from University Foundation 1000. All students entering with junior or senior standing must complete UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.

Reverse Transfer Agreement:
If you are within 20 credits of earning a DTA associate degree at a Washington state two-year school when you transfer to SPU, you may be eligible to participate in SPU’s Reverse Transfer Agreement. Students participating in this program complete their final courses at SPU and transfer them back to the community college. Once the degree at the community college is received, students receive the transfer benefits of the DTA degree. Contact your Undergraduate Academic Counselor to discuss this option.

Washington State Associate’s Degrees Designed for Specific Academic Programs

Associate of Science, Option I and II
If you complete an Option I or II* Associate of Science degree before you begin classes at Seattle Pacific, you will enter SPU with at least 15 credits applied toward arts, humanities and/or social sciences requirements. The AS-T degrees are designed to help you complete lower-division courses in your major before transferring to SPU rather than to complete all general education requirements. Exploratory Curriculum and University Core requirements will be satisfied on a course-by-course basis. All students entering with junior or senior standing must complete UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.

*The Associate of Science, Option II is highly recommended for pre-engineering transfer applicants.

Associate of Applied Science-Transfer Degree
If you complete an Associate of Applied Science-Transfer degree before you begin classes at Seattle Pacific, you are eligible to apply for the Professional Studies program. Students in this program follow an alternative General Education curriculum. General Education requirements may be satisfied through transfer classes reviewed on a course-by-course basis. You will complete an academic minor at SPU and earn a “Professional Studies” major. Generally, you will enter SPU with 90 credits and junior standing, which exempts you from University Foundations 1000. All students entering with junior or senior standing must complete UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.

Out-of-State Transfer Students

Oregon

Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree (AA/OT) or Associate of Science Oregon Transfer Degree-Business (AS/OT-B), Associate of Science Oregon Transfer Degree-Computer Science (AS/OT-CS)
If you have earned one of these degrees before you begin classes at SPU, you will enter with all your Exploratory Curriculum, University Core (UCOR), and Academic and Disciplinary (WRI) requirements fulfilled, as well as proficiency requirements in foreign language. Generally, students will enter with 90 credits and junior standing, which exempts them from University Foundation 1000, one of the three UFDN courses required for all SPU students. If you enter as a junior or senior, you still will need to complete UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.

California

Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) plus Associate of Arts or Associate of Sciences Degrees
If you complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Sciences degree before you begin classes at Seattle Pacific, as well as the IGETC track, you will enter SPU with all Exploratory Curriculum and University Core requirements fulfilled, as well as proficiency requirements in writing and foreign language. Generally, that means you will enter with 90 credits and junior standing, which exempts you from University Foundation 1000. All students entering with junior or senior standing must complete UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.

Four-Year Transfers

If you are transferring from a four-year college or university, your transcript will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Be sure to view our Transfer Equivalency Guide for your college or university.

Four-Year Transfers

Application requirements:

  1. Transfer application: Apply using either the SPU Application or the Common Application
  2. Official college transcripts* from each college attended and the final transcript from the institution that granted the baccalaureate degree, showing the granted degree.
  3. $50 application fee.

You do not need to submit a Secondary School Report (a document completed by your high school counselor).

If you are a nursing student, submit the SPU Nursing Application in lieu of either application listed above. Get all the details on what’s required from the School of Health Sciences.

*Send your transcripts to:

     Seattle Pacific University
     Office of Undergraduate Admissions
     3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 115
     Seattle, WA 98119-1922

 

Application Deadlines
April 1

Early Action Autumn Quarter Deadline

July 1

Autumn Quarter Deadline

November 15

Winter Quarter Deadline

February 1

Spring Quarter Deadline

Nursing Transfers

Interested in transferring to Seattle Pacific’s Lydia Green Nursing Program? Read on to learn about key deadlines, requirements, and upcoming information sessions.

Application Requirements

To be considered a nursing transfer student, you must have completed either a direct transfer degree or 90 transferable credits prior to the beginning of the nursing program. Students previously enrolled at SPU within the past four quarters should apply as SPU applicants. If you have questions about how your credits will transfer, see the Transfer Course Equivalency Guide or contact a SPU transfer admissions counselor.

You must have a minimum of 3.5 cumulative GPA in the prerequisite courses, with no one course less than 2.0, and no more than two repeated prerequisites due to a grade of less than 2.0. Attainment of the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission to a major, however, as the total number of admissions is limited by capacity.

Transfer students must have completed a minimum of four (4) prerequisites classes at the time of application.

  • Anatomy & Physiology – 10 quarter credits
  • General (Inorganic) Chemistry – 5 quarter credits
  • Biological (Organic) Chemistry – 5 quarter credits

With all nine of the Nursing Prerequisites completed and final transcript submitted by July 1 to enter the Autumn or Winter cohorts.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to the program, please consult the Nursing application deadlines and requirements prior to starting the process.

To begin the application process, complete the SPU Nursing application. As a part of the application, you will be asked to submit the following:

  • Official transcripts from each college or university attended
  • Course descriptions for any prerequisite course that is not listed on Transfer Equivalency Guide
  • A professional recommendation
  • Prerequisite calculator/details page
  • Background Disclosure form
  • Work and volunteer hours

You will be notified by email if you are selected for an interview. 

Acceptance is contingent on successful completion of all prerequisite courses by July 1 for Autumn and Winter cohorts. All applicants must have achieved the minimum or higher prerequisite GPA at the time the application is submitted and when all prerequisite courses are complete.

Virtual Nursing Information Sessions

Come learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Seattle Pacific University! One of our transfer admissions counselors will provide information regarding the application process, prerequisite information, and what makes the Lydia Green Nursing Program distinct. Attending one of the virtual information sessions is the best way to get you up to speed on everything you need to know prior to applying to the program.

Please note that these information sessions are specifically for transfer students who have completed college credit after graduating high school and plan to apply after completing an Associate’s Degree, 90 transferrable credits, or a Bachelor’s Degree. First-year or Running Start students should follow the Nursing application process for high school students, and may contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information.

At this time, individual counseling appointments are not available for transfer students seeking direct admission into the Nursing program. For answers to questions not listed on this website, email transfer@spu.edu.

Direct Admission to Your Major

Who’s Eligible?

The majority of SPU majors are open to incoming transfer students! This means if you are admitted to SPU, you are automatically admitted to your major of choice. A small number of majors have limited capacity, and therefore have either a direction admission process or a portfolio requirement.

Here are the requirements for limited majors that offer direction admissions. If you have not completed the required courses, you can still apply to your major once you have completed classes at SPU.

For priority review for direct admission into a major, please submit your application by the application deadline. For portfolio requirements regarding Art and Visual Communications please reach out to the admissions office at (206) 281-2021 or transfer@spu.edu. 
Direct Admission Program Requirements

Programs

Accounting

Completion of 90 college-level credits or an approved direct transfer degree with a minimum cumulative college-level GPA of 3.0 in both general coursework and prerequisites, plus completion of at least two of the courses listed below:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Statistics
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Legal Environment of Business

Business Administration

Completion of 90 college-level credits or an approved direct transfer degree with a minimum cumulative college-level GPA of 3.0 in both general coursework and prerequisites, plus completion of at least two of the courses listed below:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Statistics
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Legal Environment of Business

Economics

Completion of 90 college-level credits or an approved direct transfer degree with a minimum cumulative college-level GPA of 3.0 in both general coursework and prerequisites, plus completion of at least two of the courses listed below:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Statistics
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Legal Environment of Business

Nursing

Completion of 90 college-level credits or an approved direct transfer degree plus completion of the following nursing prerequisite courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5:

  • Anatomy and Physiology (both courses must be completed at the same school)
  • General College Chemistry
  • Organic Biochemistry
  • General Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Nutrition
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics

If you intend to apply for the Nursing major, your application to SPU and to the Nursing major will be submitted by January 15. Nursing students will apply to be admitted for Winter or Autumn quarters. Please refer to the nursing website for more information about the application process.

Visual Communication

Admission requires submission of a portfolio and completion of the following prerequisite coursework:

  • Art Foundations 1: Surface
  • Art Foundations 2: Space
  • Art Foundations 3: Time
  • Art 2102 Drawing: Perspective & Design (5) or Art 1205 (5)*

For information on portfolio requirements and deadlines, visit the program’s admissions page.

Questions?

Email transfer@spu.edu or call 206-281-2021 or call 800-366-3344.