Earning or Transferring Credits from Another ABA-Accredited Law School

Ordinarily, it is expected that all full-time J.D. students will maintain full-time resident status during their six semesters at Penn State Dickinson Law; however, any student may apply toward their J.D. a maximum of six credits of non-required upper-level course work offered at another ABA-accredited law school upon prior written approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

In a rare case, the student may seek an Academic Dean’s approval to waive the six credit limit by demonstrating a compelling reason. Circumstances reasonably foreseeable to the student, such as the desire to seek employment elsewhere, to relocate to be closer to a significant other, or to lower the costs associated with attending the Law School, do not meet the standard. Law School-required courses typically must be completed at Penn State Dickinson Law.

Penn State Dickinson Law students attending another institution will be enrolled in LWVIS 903 by the Law School’s Registrar. LWVIS 903 provides the following benefits to the student: if applicable, financial aid can be awarded and processed, various enrollment reporting processes (i.e. health insurance, loan deferment) will report the student enrolled, and the student’s Penn State Access Account will remain active. Penn State assesses a $50 flat fee for this registration; this fee is in addition to any fees assessed by the other institution.

To receive credit for any course work completed at another law school, the student must receive a grade that corresponds to at least a “C.” Any credits earned at another law school are included on the student’s transcript by reference only, and no attempt is made to convert grades to Penn State Dickinson Law equivalents. Except for students who transfer into the second year, no credit will be awarded for a course taken on a pass-fail or similar basis when the student had the option of receiving a number or letter grade for the course.

It is the responsibility of the student to have an official transcript from the law school they attended sent to the Law School Registrar. If the transcript is not received by the law school registrar in a timely manner, the Penn State Dickinson Law course for which you registered will convert to a NG (no grade) and eventually to an “F.”

Students planning to visit away should confirm with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs that their plans comply with the Semesters-of-Residence policy.