1. Will my Butler credits transfer to other schools?
2. Do I have to get an associate degree before transferring?
3. How do I get a transcript sent to another school?
1. The quick answer to this question is, "yes! " Butler is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Kansas State Board of Education. However, there are several other considerations which come into play in transferring credits to other schools.
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The first thing to realize is that, just because a course is transferable to another college or university doesn't mean it will count toward a major or program. Course equivalencies for most of the Kansas public universities are available on their web sites, but it is also important to be familiar with course catalogs and other materials published by the transfer school relevant to the student's major and to consult with advising staff both here at Butler and at the transfer school. Only then will the student be assured that the classes he takes at Butler will both transfer and count toward his chosen major or program.
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The most readily accepted credits at four-year colleges and universities are academic in nature. Those classes that are remedial, vocational/technical, continuing education, and personal interest courses are not as readily accepted as either transferable or countable at most four-year colleges and universities.
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If a student transfers to a Kansas public university with an Associate of Art or Associate of Science degree from Butler and takes the 45 credit hour distribution of courses listed in the Kansas Board of Regents Articulation Agreement, he will have satisfied the general education requirements for the Kansas public university of his choice. However, many majors have specific general education requirements. Consequently, even though a student completed an Associate of Art or Associate of Science degree at Butler and followed the distribution requirements of the Articulation Agreement, if he didn't take those major-specific general education requirements, he may find that he has additional general education courses to take when he arrives at the university.
The bottom line is that it is very important for students transferring from Butler to another college or university to make the decision as to his major and transfer school early and then consult with advisors at both schools in order to select courses which will be both transferable and countable for his major.
2. No. However, there are several reasons why you may wish to complete your associate degree. First, four-year colleges and universities will accept you as a junior and may waive additional general education requirements (see note above regarding the Articulation Agreement). Second, an associate degree shows employers that you've met a set of requirements toward a specific degree plan and haven't merely taken random courses. Third, obtaining your associate degree can give you a feeling of accomplishment and the sense that you are halfway to obtaining a bachelor's degree!
3. You can request an official transcript in person by going to any of our sites, completing a Transcript Request Form, and paying the fee. If you wish to request an official transcript by mail, print the form, complete it, and mail it and the fee payment to the address on the form. The fee for mailing an official transcript is $5.00. A faxed transcript is $20.00. For advising purposes only, a student may access and print an unofficial transcript through Pipeline.
