What's changing
Four institute credits taken for CES credit can transfer to any CES college campus. These four credits may only be taken during terms when the student is not registered at their CES campus. This applies to BYU, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, and Ensign College. If a student completes more than four institute credits, those extra credits will not transfer and may need to be retaken at the college.
*Note: Institute is the religion provider for BYU–Pathway Worldwide programs. All CES-eligible courses will transfer to fulfill courses taken for their online programs (PathwayConnect, BYU–Idaho, and Ensign online degrees).
390R Institute courses will NOT qualify for CES transfer credit. These still count as institute credit, but they do not transfer for CES college credit.
We've created a video to help explain this new change. You can watch the video through the link below:
What stays the same
Institute continues to be an important part of students’ spiritual learning. Institute courses still earn institute credit, even if they don’t transfer to a CES school.
Why CES changed this policy
CES updated this policy to make things simpler and more consistent for students. When students are attending a CES institution, they should plan to take religion courses at their CES school, where those courses are part of the degree program and campus experience. At the same time, institute provides meaningful opportunities for students to continue religious education during semesters they are away from campus, such as between semesters. Together, this approach helps students stay enrolled in religion classes throughout their education, while ensuring credits are applied in the right place at the right time.
Students who intend to transfer institute credit to a CES campus should
- Enroll in an approved course that qualifies for CES transfer credit (see Institute Course Catalog).
- Tell their instructor at the start of the course they are taking it for CES credit.
- Complete all required attendance, readings, and an Elevate Learning Experience.
If these steps aren’t completed, CES transfer credit cannot be added later.
FAQ
How do I transfer my credits?
See Sending Transcripts to CES Schools
Are all institute classes eligible for CES transfer credit?
No. To be eligible, a course must:
- Be listed in the course catalog of the receiving CES institution.
- Be listed in the Institute Course Catalog as “CES Credit: Yes” (see “Institute Course Catalog”).
-
Be taught or supervised by someone with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
I took 200A (one credit). Can I earn and transfer one CES credit?
Students may earn one credit for completing 200A. However, both 200A and 200B must be completed for the two-credit course to be eligible for transfer to CES institutions.
Exception:
BYU–Pathway online programs are different from campus-based CES institutions. One-credit courses will transfer for Pathway students.
The video says “All CES-approved institute courses will count toward the religion requirements in PathwayConnect, BYU–Idaho Online, and Ensign College Online degrees." Does this mean if I am currently enrolled at BYU–Pathway, all CES-approved institute classes taken for credit can still transfer?
Yes, all CES-eligible institute courses taken for credit will transfer to the BYU–Pathway programs. The four-credit minimum does NOT apply.
How do CES schools determine which four institute credits to transfer?
Institute will send all CES eligible credits to the CES school. Through the transfer evaluation process, the receiving school will determine which four credits are accepted and applied toward degree requirements.
I earned CES credit for a 390R class last year. Will the CES schools accept that credit?
If the 390R course was taken previously and earned CES credit, it is eligible to transfer to CES schools. However, if the school does not have 390R in their course catalog, it most likely will not be accepted.
Related Article
Credit Policy for Religious Education at CES Institutions for Higher Education