Board of Regents Policy Undergraduate Credit Requirement Policy (COSC)

Effective Fall 2027, Charter Oak State College requires students to complete a minimum number of undergraduate credits through Charter Oak coursework in order to be awarded an undergraduate associate or bachelor’s degree. These requirements, often referred to as academic residency requirements, help ensure that the degree provides a complete and well-organized education by offering both breadth across subject areas and depth within the major, with coursework designed to build upon prior learning and support student progression throughout their time at Charter Oak.

A. Bachelor's Degree Undergraduate Credit Requirement

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum of 30 credits through Charter Oak State College. The following additional conditions apply:  

• At least 12 of the 30 credits must be upper-level (300- or 400-level) coursework completed within the student’s declared major. Certain courses may be required or recommended as determined by each program.
  • The Bachelor of Science with a major in General Studies is exempt from this requirement; students must take the required 3 credit Capstone in the major in residence (in addition to the IDS 101 course that meets the Information Literacy general education requirement).
• Certain majors may require additional Charter Oak undergraduate credits to meet discipline-specific program accreditation standards. 

B. Associate Degree Undergraduate Credit Requirement

Students pursuing an associate degree must complete a minimum of 15 undergraduate credits through Charter Oak State College.  

• The Associate of  Science with a major in General Studies is exempt from this change in requirements; the existing 3-credit IDS 101 Cornerstone course residency requirement will remain in effect
• Associate degrees with Majors other than General Studies may require additional Charter Oak undergraduate credits if necessary to meet discipline-specific accreditation standards.

C. Credit Eligibility

The following types of Charter Oak credit will be applied toward the undergraduate credit requirement:  

• Courses and training completed through the Credit Assessment Program (CAP)
• Credit earned via faculty-reviewed credential evaluations (CAP)
• Portfolio credit awarded through Charter Oak faculty review process
• Charter Oak State College Exams (Pathways, etc.)
• Charter Oak State College courses
• Courses taken through Financial Aid consortium (Credit type: CC)

The following types of credit do not count towards the undergraduate credit requirement:  

• Transfer credits from other regionally accredited Colleges and Universities, regardless of affiliation to Charter Oak.
• Standardized examination credit, including but not limited to CLEP, DANTES/DSST, and Advanced Placement (AP)
• Any external Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) not reviewed and approved through Charter Oak’s CAP, credential, or portfolio evaluation processes  
• Military Credit
• Credits earned via non-collegiate course provider agreements
• ACE reviewed credit for exams, certifications, credentials, training, or coursework

D. Policy Review and Oversight

This policy is maintained by the Office of the Provost with ultimate approval by the Connecticut Board of Regents. This policy will be reviewed periodically in consultation with the Academic Governance to ensure alignment with institutional goals, evolving best practices, and regulatory and accreditation requirements.