credit – Course Catalog

Assigning Academic Credit

At CCS, one credit hour represents an average of at least three hours of work each week for a period of 15 or 16 weeks. Most classes offered award three credit hours upon successful completion, hence an average of at least nine hours per week of classroom and outside work, totaling 135 hours in a 15-week semester is expected.

For studio courses, three credit hours represents six hours of class time with an average of at least three hours of work outside of class each week.
For lecture classes, including Liberal Arts, three credit hours represents three hours of class time with an average of at least six hours of work outside of class each week.
Workloads may vary from class to class, depending upon the period during the semester, but students should expect to commit to an average of at least nine hours of classroom and outside work per week for every three credit hour class taken.

During a 15 or 16-week semester students enrolled in a three credit hour independent study or a three credit fully online course are expected to commit to at least nine hours of work per week or 135 hours. Summer courses that are offered in a condensed term are scheduled to have the same number of classroom hours as a lecture or studio class of equal credit would have over a 15-week semester. Likewise, the weekly expectation of outside of class work is adjusted so that the classroom and outside work totals at least 135 hours.

Students in the undergraduate program may complete more than 3 hours of effort per credit during an elective internship, a CCS travel class or Directed Teaching.

Areas of Emphasis and Minors

Emphasis

An emphasis is a required focused area of study within a major and is part of the 60 credits required for the major courses within an undergraduate program. Enrolled students are required to meet the current emphasis credit requirements, which range from 12 to 30 credits depending on the major and emphasis.

The following undergraduate departments have a required area of emphasis:

Major	Emphasis Area Options
Advertising Design	Advertising or Copywriting
Craft & Material Studies	Ceramics, Glass, Fiber & Textiles or Metalsmithing/Jewelry
Fashion	Fashion Design or Fashion Accessories
Entertainment Arts	Animation, Concept Design, or Game

The emphasis appears on the final official transcript but does not appear on the diploma.

Minors

Liberal Arts and Studio minor options are available to undergraduate level students. A Studio Minor is an area of study outside the major that provides students the ability to customize their studies by gaining knowledge and proficiency in a different discipline. A Liberal Arts Minor is a focused area of study within the Liberal Arts subjects.

Studio and Liberal Arts minors require 15.0 credits to complete. A list of available minor options is published on the CCS Website and provided with the associated form (see the Liberal Arts Minor Declaration Form and/or Studio Minor Declaration Form) that can be found on the Campus Offices site under the Academic Advising and Registration Office. Students must consult with the Department Chair of the minor for detailed information and minor expectations. Some minors are customized based on students’ interest and/or skill. Designated major departments will allow a minor within the same major if the minor’s emphasis (or specialized area of focus) is “different” from emphasis outlined in the major. Example: Transportation Design major can minor in Automotive Clay Modeling; Crafts/Ceramics major can minor in Crafts/Glass; Entertainment Arts/Animation major can minor in Entertainment Arts/Game, etc.

Declaring a minor is not required to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Minors can only be attempted while pursuing a BFA and cannot be attempted post graduation.
Once a minor is added to the student’s record, all requirements for the existing minor must be satisfied in order to graduate (along with the general degree requirements).
Adjustments to minor requirements are based on department approval.
Adding a minor may extend the expected graduation timeline and students should consult with an Academic Advisor to review degree timeline details.
Some limitations or restrictions may apply when choosing a minor within the same major department.
Minors appear on the final official transcript but do not appear on the diploma.

Transfer Credits for a Minor

A maximum of six (6.0) transfer credit earned from an accredited institution may be applied to a minor in any area of study. Students may be asked to submit documentation or work samples for transfer credit requests in question. See Transfer Credits – Undergraduate policy for additional details.

Credit Sharing

No more than nine (9) credits between the general degree requirements and the minor can be shared. Credit sharing is not automatic and should be discussed with an Academic Advisor to confirm steps and/or requirements for placement. Department Chair approval may be required for courses that are not pre-approved for placement. Credit sharing can be applied to General Electives without Department Chair approval. See section on “Adding Multiple Minors” for policy on credit sharing with more than one minor.*

Adding a Minor

Students must sign and submit the appropriate minor form to the Department Chair of the minor. A Liberal Arts Minor Declaration form must be signed by the Liberal Arts Department Chair. A Studio Minor Declaration form must be signed by the Department Chair of the studio minor. Completed forms must be submitted to the Academic Advising & Registration Office for processing and to officially add the minor to degree requirements. Once a minor is added to a student’s degree program, all major and minor credits must be satisfied in order to graduate. It is the student’s responsibility to 1) complete all required minor credits or 2) initiate a request to remove the minor if no longer planning to attempt the credits.

Students close to graduation must have all minor forms completed and submitted before applying for graduation (see Academic Calendar for deadlines).

Adding Multiple Minors

Students may choose to minor in multiple Studio/Major Departments or Liberal Arts subject areas (or a combination of both). A minor form is required for each intended minor. “Credits Sharing” and “Transfer Credit for Minors” will apply to each minor separately (as outlined in above policies). Additionally, up to 9.0 credit hours can be shared “between minors”, if applicable or due to “like” courses.

Credit Sharing with More than One Minor:

Share max of 9.0 credits between minors is allowed
- up to 9.0 credit hours can be applied/shared from the 1st minor with the 2nd minor, if courses are applicable.
- Up to 9.0 credit hours can be shared with the major/general degree requirements.
- Remaining credits for the minor(s) must be fulfilled with courses different from any attempted credits within the major/general degree requirements and cannot be shared.

Removing or Changing a Minor

A minor may be removed at any time if a student no longer wishes to pursue the minor or satisfy the requirements. Students must indicate their intent to drop the minor on the appropriate Minor Declaration Form. Department Chair signature (of the removed minor) is not required on the form.

If a student wishes to switch to a different minor, the Department Chair of the new minor will evaluate the student’s course work for placement or transferability of any courses previously taken or in-progress. The new minor should be indicted on the Minor Declaration form and the Department Chair of the new minor must sign the form to change the minor. The completed form must be submitted to the Academic Advising & Registration Office to have the minor removed.

If credits were taken/completed towards the “removed” minor, students should meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss courses that no longer apply to degree requirements.

Students who are graduating and intend to remove (or add) a minor, must do so prior to submitting the application for graduation (see the Academic Calendar for deadlines).

Transfer Credits – Undergraduate

All transfer credits are evaluated for relevance to the College’s programs and policies. Grades earned at another institution are not factored into the calculation of cumulative grade point average at CCS. The College makes every effort to ensure you get credit for your past college-level work, subject to the following conditions:

Coursework must have been completed at a college or university accredited by one of the following regional associations of schools and colleges—Middle States (MASAC), New England (NEASC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Northwest (NWCCU), Southern (SASAC), Western (WASC)—or by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). International programs and institutions with non-regional accreditation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
For coursework completed outside of the United States, College for Creative Studies requires all transfer students to obtain a professional course-by-course evaluation of all college or university-level work from a professional credential evaluation service like National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) membership.
Courses noted on a transcript as transferred from prior institutions will not be applicable for transfer credit. An official transcript must be submitted to CCS from any institution(s) attended or by the examination agency (for credit by examination) before transfer credit can be awarded.
Coursework must meet the majority of the learning outcomes required by the equivalent course at CCS to be approved.
CCS reserves the right to limit the transfer of credit to courses completed within the past ten years.
Credit will not be awarded for remedial coursework.
Courses awarded transfer credit are recorded in permanent academic records. Grades of approved courses are not factored into the calculation of a student’s cumulative grade point average at CCS.
Only courses completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better will be accepted for transfer credit. If the courses were taken on a Pass/Fail basis, a grade of Pass must be equivalent to a “C” or better.
Students may transfer up to 72 credit hours – approximately 605 of their BFA degree requirements from another college or university. On occasion, students transferring to CCS utilizing an: established and current articulation agreement, transfer pathway, or matriculating from a similar program at another AICAD institution, may be eligible for additional credit.
Students may be awarded up to 30 credits through Prior Learning. This includes any and all combinations of Credit by Examination: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A-Levels, as well as Military Credit.
Courses taken at an institution on a quarter or term academic calendar are converted to semester hours before being applied to CCS course requirements.
CCS must receive all official final transcripts, test scores or work examples that students wish to have considered for transfer credit
– before the end of the student’s 1st week of classes (for new/incoming students)
– within a month of completing the course(s) intended for transfer (for current students)

Frequently Asked Transfer Questions

How Can I Ensure I am Getting the Most Transfer Credit Possible?

Our transfer team works hard to evaluate each student’s experience individually- however- this is a manual and human process. Your involvement is key to ensuring you receive the highest possible transfer credit award possible. Here are a few steps you can take:

Plan your transfer with the CCS transfer team. We have lots of tools and resources available for students and counselors but the very best one is a personal coach to guide you through this process and is an expert on what you need to do on the receiving end to make a smooth transition. Once you know CCS is your destination (or in your top 5), contact our transfer team to let them know so we can help you prepare.
If you are taking studio courses- snap photos of everything you complete (and maybe some progress photos). Save them in a folder under your course code name. For more on this see our transfer resources page.
When you receive your transfer credit evaluation- read it front to back. If there are additional items needed, be sure to follow up on these (often a missing or final transcript or perhaps work examples not included in your admissions portfolio). If you feel you are not getting enough credit- express your concerns to your CCS admissions counselor so they can make certain everything has been considered and explain any questions you may have.

What is an Official Transcript?

Only transcripts mailed directly from your previous institution(s) to CCS, as well as transcripts sent directly to you and forwarded to CCS in the original sealed envelope, are considered official. Transcripts received by CCS from a certified digital document service such as Parchment or Clearinghouse are all considered official

How Do I Transfer my Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment, or Early College Credits?

If you have completed any college-level coursework while pursuing your high school diploma or equivalent credential, it is important that you request your official transcript from the institution or credit-granting authority directly and have it sent to the CCS Admissions Office. While grades, credit, or scores indicated on your high school transcript may be helpful in estimating potential transfer credit, only transcripts that are mailed directly from your previous institution(s) to CCS can ensure that you receive these credits towards your undergraduate degree.

Please note that students who have completed Dual Enrollment courses with CCS, including Precollege Summer Experience courses, are not required to do anything extra. This coursework is already recorded in their academic history and will be applied towards their program requirements.

Credit placement and Course placement… why don’t my numbers match up?

A ‘credit hour’ is a unit of measurement for educational credit earned in college. It is typically determined by the number of ‘contact hours’ (or hours spent meeting in class) per week throughout a term. Almost all CCS courses are three credit hours (the only exceptions being two major studio courses not eligible for Transfer Credit). Students who have taken a 4 credit course at another institution may note a loss in credits accrued upon transfer even if every course they have completed was accepted.

What if my previous college was on quarter hours?

Colleges operating on a Quarter hour academic calendar have 3-4 main terms spanning 10 to 11 weeks per year (as opposed to the two fifteen-week long terms typical of colleges operating on a ‘semester’ calendar year). Because quarter hour terms are shorter, a ‘credit hour’ will have fewer ‘contact hours’. For this reason, students seeking transfer credit from intuitions that operate on a quarter hour calendar may have their courses combined to equal the instruction time and learning outcomes required in the equivalent CCS course. Generally speaking- a 5 credit (or unit) quarter hour course will be equivalent to a 3 credit semester hour course. This can vary with studio (art and design) class types though. Be sure to talk to your admissions counselor if you have questions.

What’s the Difference Between a Transfer Pathway and an Articulation Agreement for CCS?

Transfer Pathways or Guides- like the Michigan Transfer Agreement or Ohio Transfer Module provide opportunities for exploration and a structured listing of courses that have been pre-approved for transfer to a range of undergraduate programs. Some guides- like the or MiTransfer Pathway for Studio Art- can also include courses that support students seeking opportunities to build a portfolio. Students who are undecided on their undergraduate program or institution can follow these to explore studio interests and earn potential credit toward their program at CCS. It is important to note that, though the use of transfer guides may reduce the number of credits required upon transfer this does not guarantee an accelerated path to degree completion.

Articulation Agreements are more formal, structured agreements between two institutions and may also be termed ‘Transfer Guides’. They outline specific courses at CCS and at the partner institution to create a more seamless transfer process and can even reduce the time required to complete a CCS degree. Instructions for fulfillment of the agreement can be very specific and usually include completion of an associate degree along with selection of specific (CCS recommended) electives- so read and follow them carefully. If seeking admission and transfer through articulation, we recommend establishing contact with the CCS admissions and transfer team no less than one year prior to your intended start.

How long will it take to complete my degree?

Art and Design colleges like CCS are going to offer more niche areas of study and expertise than most university programs. Take some time to discover where your passions may fit into our offerings (our online and on campus events are great for this). Many of our single discipline programs have a sequentially structured set of major studio classes, tailored for each of our career-focused majors. Only completion of, or placement out of required major studio courses can shorten the time required to complete a CCS degree. Therefore, the amount of credit awarded upon admission is not indicative of advanced standing (i.e., Sophomore or Junior). Though the number of credits transferred may not affect the number of semesters required to complete a student’s degree, it can lighten the course load.

New students seeking clarification on time required to complete their degree at CCS should follow up with their admissions counselor after receiving their TCE. Current students should meet with their Academic Adviser to review their degree audit for an understanding of remaining requirements and time required to complete them.

Does CCS consider life experience?

The college does not grant life or experiential credit. Students with professional experience may petition the appropriate Department Chair for advanced standing. Students granted advanced standing will not be awarded transfer credit or see a reduction in the number of credits required to complete the degree upon transfer; rather, the Department Chair will substitute the required sequence of courses with approved studio courses.

What If I want to change majors or add Art Education Certification?

Due to the specific coursework required for Art Education students to receive their Teacher Certification, new students wishing to pursue this program as a combined degree at CCS will have restricted requirements for elective and general education credit. This can be limiting when transferring credits. Applicants are encouraged to discuss this with an admissions counselor early.

What happens to my transfer credit if I change my major or Add a Minor Later In My Program? ?

Whenever possible, students will want to ensure that they convey a desire for a change in major before committing to attend. This will allow admissions to re-assess all potential transfer credit for application to the student’s updated major prior to enrolling.

Should a current student change majors at CCS, all applicable courses earned at CCS and those granted transfer credit upon enrollment will be applied toward the student’s updated degree requirements. Courses previously transferred to CCS that no longer fulfill graduation requirements will default to ‘general elective’ credit, remaining in the student’s academic record but not counting towards degree completion. The college does not re-evaluate previously earned credits when current students change majors. If students feel they have previously completed coursework that should be considered after declaring a change of major, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate this review and provide any required documentation or work examples to support the placement of credit.

A maximum of 2 courses (6 credits) may be transferred from an outside source toward a student’s minor. Students who add a minor and want transfer credit or prior learning credit applied toward that minor, must declare this wish to their academic advisor when submitting their minor declaration form.

First Year Experience

The First Year Experience is a comprehensive transitional 1 credit hour course that begins the week prior to classes and continues throughout the first semester. It explores topics and issues that are pertinent to the success of students at CCS as well as building social interaction with faculty, staff and upper class students.

Passing this course is required for all freshmen (excluding transfer students with more than 12 transferable credit hours from an accredited U.S. institution) in order to move on to sophomore level classes.

Course Overload

A class schedule containing more than 18 credit hours in one semester is considered a course overload. Students who wish to register for an overload must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and must be in good academic standing. Permission to take above 18 credit hours in one semester is granted by the academic advisor.

Class Level

Undergraduate Students

Class level is determined at the time of admission and at the end of each subsequent semester during which the student is enrolled based on the number of credits earned. Degree-seeking students are classified as follows:

For students following the 2024/2025 catalog year (or later):

Freshmen up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
Sophomores 30 – 59.5 credits completed or in progress
Juniors 60 – 89.5 credits completed or in progress
Seniors 90 or more credits completed or in progress

For students following the 2023/2024 catalog year (or prior):

Freshmen up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
Sophomores 30 – 62.5 credits completed or in progress
Juniors 63 – 92.5 credits completed or in progress
Seniors 93 or more credits completed or in progress

All students, regardless of catalog year, will be eligible for assigned priority registration following the class levels defined for the 2024/2025 guidelines.

Financial Aid eligibility will factor in a student’s current assigned catalog year to determine class level.

Graduate Students

First Year up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
Second Year 30 – 60 credits completed or in progress

Credit Hours

College for Creative Studies uses credit hours as a general measure of academic work and progress toward degrees at both the Undergraduate and Graduate level. The College’s use of credit hours complies with standards established by our accrediting bodies and is consistent with generally accepted practices of peer institutions across the nation. At CCS, one credit hour represents an average of at least three hours of work each week for a period of 15 or 16 weeks. Most classes offered at CCS award three credit hours upon successful completion, hence an average of at least nine hours per week of classroom and outside work, totaling 135 hours in a 15 week semester is expected. For studio courses, three credit hours represents six hours of class time with an average of at least three hours of work outside of class each week. For lecture classes, including Liberal Arts, three credit hours represents three hours of class time with an average of at least six hours of work outside of class each week. Workloads may vary from class to class, depending upon the period during the semester, but students should expect to commit to an average of at least nine hours of classroom and outside work per week for every three credit hour class taken.

During a 15 or 16 week semester students enrolled in a three credit hour independent study or a three credit fully online course are expected to commit to at least nine hours of work per week or 135 hours. Summer courses that are offered in a condensed term are scheduled to have the same number of classroom hours as a lecture or studio class of equal credit would have over a 15 week semester. Likewise the weekly expectation of outside of class work is adjusted so that the classroom and outside work totals at least 135 hours.

Students in the undergraduate program may complete more than 3 hours of effort per credit during an elective internship, a CCS travel class or Directed Teaching.

Class Audit

Students, graduates and visitors may audit a class on a space-available basis. No academic credit is awarded for audited courses. Those wishing to audit a course may register by adhering to the policy and following the procedures and guidelines listed below:

Matriculating (B.F.A.) and nonmatriculating (e.g., visitors, CCS graduates) students who wish to audit a class must elect to do so at the time of registration by submitting a completed Audit Registration form, available in the Academic Advising and Registration Office.
Students electing to audit a class may not register for that class until the first week of class for the semester. Students may not register for a class after the first week of any semester.
Once the election has been made to audit a class, the student may not change the registration to receive credit for the class.
Audited courses carry no credit and do not satisfy degree requirements. Upon completion of the course, the audit grade of X will appear on the student’s transcript. (The grade of X is not used in the calculation of cumulative grade point average or course completion rate.)
Regular tuition rates are charged for audited courses. The refund policy for audited and credit courses is the same and is outlined in the Course Schedule.
Matriculating (B.F.A.) students are permitted to audit one course each semester during their B.F.A. tenure at CCS, with a staff advisor’s approval.
Nonmatriculating students (visitors, CCS graduates) are limited to three classes per semester.