Admissions Policies

Undergraduate Admissions

Applicants wishing to enter the bachelor’s degree programs of Pacific Oaks College are required to submit a signed application, application fee, personal statement, (500-700 words), work or volunteer experience/resume, and provide acceptable proof of academic history.  Unless otherwise noted, all application materials submitted to the college are valid for one calendar year. Admission to the B.A. program is open to any person who meets entrance requirements as outlined below. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to successfully complete an undergraduate degree program. Generally, a high school cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission. However, applicants with a cumulative high school GPA below 2.0 will be considered for admission with the submission of additional required documents (see below). Applicants with college level studies will be expected to demonstrate an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. It is required that transcripts are submitted from all undergraduate schools where credit was received to support the application and request for transfer credit. (See Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy).  

Please note some undergraduate degree programs require additional admissions requirements.  See below for degree specific requirements. 

Acceptable proof of academic history may be demonstrated through submission of any of the following:

1. Official high school transcript recognized by the U.S. Department of Education showing an earned high school diploma, 2.0 GPA or higher, and date of graduation.
2. Official college transcript with 24 credits of transferable credits with a grade of C or better.
3. Official Associate degree transcript from a regionally accredited institution showing degree earned and date conferred  
4. Official college transcript from a regionally accredited institution that contains the high school name and date of graduation  
5. Official evaluation of an international diploma that contains the high school name and date of graduation from an acceptable evaluator of foreign transcripts (see list of acceptable evaluators under Undergraduate International Student Admissions)  
6. High school equivalency completed through home schooling as defined by state law  
7. Official General Educational Development (GED) document. A copy of the student’s GED Certificate, or unofficial GED score issued by the state, can be submitted with a contingency that the Official GED document will be on file prior to day 5 of the term/semester of entry. Financial aid will not be disbursed until the compliant documentation is received.  
8. Official Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) document  
9. Official High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) document  
10. Official documentation showing a passing score on a state-authorized exam that the state recognizes as equivalent to high school graduation

Applicants with less than 24 credits of transferrable college coursework who do not demonstrate three years of significant professional or life experience outlined on their Work or Volunteer Experience Summary, are required to submit additional documentation:  

• One letter of support from someone (a non-relative) familiar with your ability to be successful in this program

• An additional essay (approximately 500-750 words). In your essay, please answer the following question:  
  • What life and professional experience do you possess that would enable you to be successful in the Pacific Oaks classroom focused on application of experience to course content.  
  • Why it is important to you to study this discipline at a school that emphasizes social justice, cultural humility and respect for every individual (refer to the Mission and Vision statement of Pacific Oaks College).  

• Interview with a member of the Admissions Committee

If a student is unable to provide official proof of academic history, by the add/drop deadline, an exception may be granted.  The student has until the end of the add/drop deadline to provide one of the following:

• High school diploma dated prior to the semester the student intends to start
• A letter from the student’s high school on official letterhead that includes the date of graduation.

Students will be administratively withdrawn if they are unable to submit the documents required for an extension by the Add/Drop deadline

Students granted an exception are eligible to receive Financial Aid. This extension allows a student to submit official proof of academic history up until the end of their first semester. Students will be administratively withdrawn if they do meet the end of the first semester deadline.

Degree Specific Admissions Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

School of Cultural and Family Psychology

Bachelor of Social Work:

In addition to standard undergraduate admissions requirements:

• Faculty Interview
•  Demonstrated satisfaction of undergraduate prerequisite coursework with a minimum of three (3) semester credit hours in college-level Developmental Psychology (PSY 103), Integrated Statistics (STATS 235), and Research Methods for Social Sciences (RESM235) with a grade of “C” or better (a letter grade of C- or lower will not be accepted).
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (Professional and Academic)
• Quality of written personal statement and relevant experience as indicated in the resume submission.
• PLA and/or CLE may not be used to fulfill BSW program prerequisites or core curriculum program courses. PLA and/or CLE may only be used for the fulfillment of general electives.
• All BSW program applicants must be approved by BSW Social Work Faculty for admissions.

Pacific Oaks College BSW Program Policy for Evaluating Applications

All Applicants to the Pacific Oaks College Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program are required to submit their application materials and required documents through the college application portal at apply.pacificoaks.edu.  Acceptance of admission Pacific Oaks College does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program. Pacific Oaks College offers a rolling enrollment process for new student applicants.  Prospective students for the Bachelor of Social Work degree program have six-term start dates each academic year for which they may apply.  As such, Pacific Oaks College does not establish set application submission deadlines.  Completed applications submitted immediately before or after the start of a term may be considered for admission for the next proximate term start date.

Pacific Oaks College’s policy is to admit all qualified Bachelor of Social Work applicants who meet minimum admissions criteria for the Bachelor of Social Work degree program.

Only Director-level or higher members of the Admissions Department and BSW Program Director and Faculty may review applications for admissibility.  The Dean of the School of Cultural & Family Psychology will review any Admission appeals for exceptions to the policy.

All applications are reviewed for admissibility based upon the academic history provided by the applicant and satisfactory completion of all application requirements.  Unofficial transcripts or unofficial proof of academic history may be reviewed for admissibility.  In those instances, a contingency will be listed on the application record requiring the submission of official copies of the academic history.

Offers of admission are valid for one calendar year from the original start date listed on the application.  Once admitted, applicants to the Bachelor of Social Work degree program may defer their initial start date for up to one calendar year without submitting new or additional application materials.  Previously admitted applicants to the Bachelor of Social Work degree program who did not begin their course of study within one calendar year from their initial term start date must re-apply for admission and submit new application documents to be considered for admission to the degree program.

Applicants who do not satisfy the minimum criteria for admission to the Bachelor of Social Work degree program will not be given an offer of admission.  Applicants who are not given an offer of admission must wait a minimum of one calendar year before re-applying. After a minimum of one calendar year from the original application, previous applicants who did not receive an offer of admission must submit a new application and all application documents to be reconsidered for admission to the degree program and college.

BSW Admissions Appeals Process

Any student who is dissatisfied with a decision for admission may request an in-person review with the BSW Program Director and Admissions Committee. They can supply further verbal and written evidence regarding the actions taken by the committee within two weeks of the committee’s decision. The committee will provide a written response to the student within one week of the hearing. If the student is still in disagreement, he/she may appeal to the Dean of the School of Cultural and Family Psychology.

Pacific Oaks College BSW Program Procedures for Evaluating Applications

Evaluation Criteria

Admission decisions for the BSW program are based upon a review of academic performance, completion of (Psychology 103-Developmental Psychology, STATS 235 - Integrated Statistics, and RESM 235-Research Methods for Social Sciences) as a prerequisite with a C or better, relevant work or volunteer experience, quality of written personal statement, and relevant experience as indicated in the resume submission. A BSW program admissions rubric is used to score all personal statement letters. If needed, a student may be asked to complete a formal interview with the BSW Program Director and/or submit reference letters to support the student’s readiness for a career in social work. The admissions committee may seek additional information from social work faculty, the applicant, or other formal sources. The committee will focus on academic achievement and criteria that demonstrate a commitment to social work values, beginning understanding of the social work profession, professional behavior and attitude, and communication skills, more specifically, the ability to express oneself clearly, orally, and orally in writing.

Following review by the committee, the applicant will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision. Committee options include full admission, provisional admission with terms outlined, or denial of admission.

Procedures for review of new BSW Application Files:

1. All applications for the BSW program and corresponding application documents are entered electronically into our electronic document system: Perceptive Content.  BSW application files are sent electronically to the Office of the Registrar. All transcripts submitted are evaluated by the Transfer Specialist for transfer of credit, per the transfer of credit policy outlined in the Academic Catalog. 
2. The Registrar’s Office then formally notes the file in Perceptive Content regarding total transfer units and permissible contingencies.
3. The file is then sent to the Office of Admissions for review of completed materials.  Based upon the transfer of credit formally noted by the Office of the Registrar, applicants with less than 24 transfer units are notified by the Office of Admissions via telephone and/or email communication regarding any additional required documentation for file completion.
4. All completed application files are then routed electronically in Perceptive Content to a faculty review queue. BSW faculty are notified electronically that a new file is ready for decision review.
5. BSW faculty review each document in the applicant file.  Application files are reviewed for completion and minimum satisfaction of all admissions requirements established by the BSW faculty in the Academic Catalog. 
6. Upon completion of the review, the BSW faculty electronically note their decision of Accept or Reject on the file, along with their name and date of review, and route the file back to the Office of Admissions.
7. The Office of Admissions then routes the application file to the appropriate Accept or Reject queue for processing.
8. The Office of the Registrar enters all accepted transfer credits into the student’s enrollment record, noting all completed and/or unsatisfied general education and/or prerequisite coursework. 

Procedures for notifying of BSW Applicants of Decisions

1. Within 24 business hours of BSW faculty decision, the Office of Admissions receives electronic notification of BSW faculty decision. 
2. Within 48 business hours of BSW faculty decision, the Office of Admissions will notify the student via a formal decision letter is sent electronically via email to the applicant email address on record.  Paper copies of decision letters are mailed to the applicant’s physical addresses upon request by the applicant.  Any contingencies to the admissions offer of acceptance, along with all steps and deadlines for removal of contingencies, are outlined on the applicant’s letter of acceptance.

Contingent conditions

Policies regarding Admissions Contingencies:

As noted in the Academic Catalog, applicants to the BSW program granted an offer of admissions by the BSW faculty may be given a contingent offer of acceptance using unofficial copies of the applicant’s academic history, i.e., unofficial transcripts from regionally accredited colleges and universities previously attended.  This is the only permissible contingency for admissions decisions into the BSW program.

All admission contingencies are listed on the applicant’s admission letter, along with steps and required deadlines for contingency removal.

Accepted applicants with a contingency of receipt of official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities are permitted until the end of the add/drop period associated with their start date of enrollment to satisfy noted contingencies. 

Accepted applicants of the BSW program who fail to satisfy permissible contingencies will be administratively withdrawn from the program at the end of the add/drop period of the student’s initial term/semester start date. 

Procedures for Removal of Admissions Contingencies:

1. Newly admitted students with admissions contingencies must submit official transcripts to the Office of the Registrar before the end of the add/drop period for their term of enrollment.
2. Received official transcripts are opened by Pacific Oaks College school officials and scanned into the Office of the Registrar transcript queue in Perceptive Content.
3. The Office of the Registrar reviews each official transcript in the queue and associates the electronic transcript with the corresponding student file.
4. The Office of the Registrar removes the notation of contingency from the student record.

School of Education

Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education or Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and Special Education

In addition to standard undergraduate admissions requirements:

• For undergraduate level teaching credential preparation programs, applicants will be required to submit the following: Successfully meet the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., California Basic Education Skills Test or CBEST)  Proof of Registration for the CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers)*

*   For students transferring 40 or more credits at point of admissions

• Students wishing to pursue undergraduate level teaching credential preparation programs with less than 40 transferrable credits at point of admission may still be granted an offer of acceptance.  However, submission of official passing scores of the CBEST and proof of registration for the CSET will become a progression requirement beyond successful completion of 40 cumulative credits toward the bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate Admissions at Instructional Site Cohorts

In addition to meeting the general Undergraduate Admissions Requirements of the college, undergraduate students wishing to be admitted to an Instructional Site Cohort must also satisfy the following prerequisites for their desired degree program prior to admission:

Prerequisites for BA Instructional Site Cohort Participation by School

School of Cultural and Family Psychology

BA: Community Psychology Requirements for Instructional Site Cohorts

1. Minimum of 60 Transfer Units

2. Students will be able to transfer in up to 87 credits from another institution

3. Required Lower Division Courses

a. English Composition

b. Communication

i. Introduction to public speaking or
ii. Speech

c. Math

i. Statistics highly recommended

d. Science

i. Biological
or

ii. Physical

e. Psychology

i. Introduction
or
ii. Developmental Psychology
or
iii. Abnormal Psychology

f. Research Methods

School of Human Development

BA HD and BA ASJ: Transfer Requirements for Instructional Site Cohorts

Minimum of 60 Transfer Units (Maximum of 87)

Required Lower Division Courses:

•             English Composition

•             English Communication/Oral Speech OR English Elective

•             Math: Quantitative Reasoning

•             Statistics highly recommended

•             Biological Science with lab

•             Introduction to Psychology OR Developmental Psychology OR Introduction to Sociology

School of Education

BA ECE: Transfer Requirements for Instructional Site Cohorts:

Minimum 72 units transfer credit which includes all math, Sciences, and English/Language Arts GEs met. Outstanding units (9 maximum) may be in electives, lower division ECE coursework or in the Humanities, unless approved by the dean. Courses from a community college or 4-year institution should be equivalent to the Pacific Oaks GE requirements below:

ENG101: English Composition

COM150: English Communication / Oral Speech

ENG201: English Elective

SCIELE1: Biological Science/Life Science

Math1: Math

SCIELE2: Physical Science/ENV 100: Introduction to Environmental Science (with Lab)

SOCELE1: Social Science 1

HUMELE2: Fine Arts 2

SOCELE2: Social Science 2

SOCELE3: Social Science 3

(Electives can be lower division ECE coursework)

GENELE1: General Elective 1

GENELE2: General Elective 2

GENELE3: General Elective 3

GENELE4: General Elective 4

GENELE5: General Elective 5

GENELE6: General Elective 6

GENELE7: General Elective 7

Lower Division ECE course work equivalent to the following may be applied:

ECE 305
ECE 380
ECE 390
ECE 311
ECE 351
ECE 365
ECE 370
ECE 332
ECE 361

Undergraduate International Student Admissions

Based on U.S. Homeland Security regulations, international students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible for campus-based study in the United States under a student (F-1) visa. International applicants who wish to complete a degree online are not eligible for issuance of a student (F-1) visa.

International applicants and applicants submitting transcripts from non-U.S. academic institutions must have non-U.S. transcripts evaluated by an approved evaluation agency.  Official copies of foreign transcript evaluations may be accepted in lieu of original copies of transcripts if the transcript evaluation is received by Pacific Oaks College directly from the evaluation service or provided to Pacific Oaks College by the applicant in an unopened/sealed envelope.

The transcript evaluation must include:

1. A detailed report (course-by-course evaluation)
2. A U.S. degree equivalency
3. A U.S. Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalency

Approved transcript evaluation agencies are:

• A verifiable current member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services), or
• A verifiable current member of AICES (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.), or
• A verifiable current member of acceptable foreign transcript evaluation agencies approved by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Transcript evaluations are not required from American universities operating overseas, provided the institution is regionally accredited by a recognized U.S. regional accrediting body, with grades report on a U.S. 4-point scale.

International students are required to demonstrate final pre-requisite degree conferral. An international student who is conditionally admitted with proof of final degree conferral pending will be permitted until the start of the second term to provide required degree conferral documents.

All international applicants for whom English is a second language, with the exception of applicants who have an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or 60 transfer credits from an institution in which the language of instruction is English, must submit official scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 79 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS is required for admission. Scores must be no more than 2 years old.

Students in a non-immigrant status are not eligible for U.S. financial aid. Upon gaining acceptance to a campus-based program, accepted applicants who request sponsorship for a student visa (F-1) must submit a New Student Information Form and supporting documentation before a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant students (I-20) can be issued. For current information on minimum financial requirements and how to obtain an I-20, please visit the international admissions page of the Pacific Oaks College website.

Undergraduate Enrollment Status Requirements

Undergraduate enrollment at Pacific Oaks College is defined as follows:

Undergraduate Residency Requirement

All undergraduate students must complete at least 30 credits at Pacific Oaks College, and matriculated students will fulfill all remaining degree requirements through courses offered at the School.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy

Applicants may transfer up to 87 credits (dependent upon specific degree transfer allowances.  It is the policy of Pacific Oaks college to not accept transfer units after enrollment.   Students wishing to transfer additional coursework must seek pre-authorization by submitting a general petition and indicating anticipated school and course number and course title for the requested course.  Pacific Oaks College will review authorization requests on a case-by-case basis.

The decision to accept transfer credit resides solely with the respective School. Undergraduate transfer credit guidelines by School are:

Approved transfer credit will be posted to the student’s Pacific Oaks College (POC) transcript after s/he has registered and remained in residence through the Add/Drop deadline. All new students register during the same designated period regardless of transfer credit. Approved transfer credit will not be factored into a new student’s registration time. Transfer credit may affect registration eligibility and degree requirements in subsequent terms.

Please refer to the section on Academic Programs for additional program-specific guidelines regarding transfer credit. Transfer coursework must be approved by the School into which the credit is being transferred.

All undergraduate transfer of credit is subject to the following conditions:

1. Transferred course credit is restricted to undergraduate level, degree applicable courses from a regionally accredited degree granting institution.
2. Students without a conferred undergraduate degree seeking transfer credit from multiple institutions will need to provide the School with an official transcript from each institution. Pacific Oaks College will not accept third party evaluations on U.S. institution transcripts.  Third party transfer credits appearing on official transcripts that have been applied to a previously conferred, regionally accredited associate degree may be accepted without submission of transcripts from the original institution(s).  Unless listed by course title, third-party transfer credit previously applied to a regionally accredited associate degree will be accepted as General Elective transfer credit. 
3. Courses that cross multiple subject areas may not be split for credit.
4. Students who have completed university extension credit are not guaranteed that the courses will be transferred to Pacific Oaks.
5. Only courses with a grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 grade scale) or better will be accepted for transfer into the Bachelor’s Program. Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit courses are eligible only if the course can be verified as a C (2.0) or higher.
6. Students who have completed internships or practicums, regardless of passing grade and degree applicability, will not be awarded transfer credit for these experiences at Pacific Oaks College.
7. All courses are required to be college level, degree applicable, and not designated as developmental or remedial in nature.
8. Course-to-course equivalency matches require an 80% content match. Students must provide POC with a course syllabus for transfer of credit to be evaluated.
9. A quarter credit taken in transfer will be equated to two-thirds of a semester credit.
10. When credit through examination is awarded; it is not included in the grade-point average.
11. Students may take approved outside standardized exams (International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Exams (DSST), etc. If they do not receive passing scores, they will be required to complete the necessary course work.
12. POC does not recognize other institutions’ credit by exam, proficiency, or challenge exams. Only nationally recognized exams approved by POC and outlined below are accepted.
13. Courses completed either at Pacific Oaks or in transfer from a regionally accredited institution, that exceed the course time limits prior to the date of readmission will not be counted towards graduation requirements or completion of credential. Course time limits vary by school; please see the Course Time Limit policy for additional details. The content of these courses may no longer be current or required for a degree or credential.
14. International Student Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy:  Pacific Oaks College accepts academic credit earned at international institutions that are fully accredited by their country’s Ministry of Education, but only if the courses meet general transfer credit policies. Transcripts are considered official when they are sent directly from a college or university to the Registrar’s Office and contain an official seal and/or signature. All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English Translation and Evaluation.

• International students are subject to all transfer credit policies as Course Equivalencies: Students requesting credit for specific Pacific Oaks course equivalencies must provide:
  • Official and sealed transcript from previous institution sent directly to Pacific Oaks College, or an official evaluation from an approved foreign transcript evaluator (see approved list of agencies above) can be accepted in lieu of the official foreign transcript.
  • All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation
  • A detailed or comprehensive report that includes a course-by-course review with course titles, credit or semester hours completed and the letter grade earned for each courses, grade, and lower/under division breakdown and with U.S. degree equivalency.

Students who completed a professional degree (e.g. Bachelor-level Medical degrees) outside of the United States will need to have their transcript accompanied by certified English translation along with a comprehensive report (see criteria above) with U.S. Degree equivalency. Catalog descriptions may be required. If the course descriptions are not in English, they will need to be translated by a certified English translation. International transcripts submitted without translation and/or the detailed evaluation will not be reviewed by the Academic Evaluations Department. It is important for the student to provide complete and accurate information, following the specific directions of the respective agencies.

Any course that does not meet the specific content requirements of an existing POC course may be accepted as transfer credit as an elective if the course supports the required competencies and learning objectives of the program and meets the following conditions:

1. The course must meet all other requirements for transfer credit.
2. The course must be at the equivalent degree level.
3. Courses cannot be duplications of other requirements successfully completed.

In order for the transfer request to be processed, the student must submit an official transcript upon acceptance with Pacific Oaks College. Unofficial transcripts may be used for review prior to enrollment into Pacific Oaks College; however, this review is not considered official and no credit will be posted to the student record.

An official transcript is defined as a document that has been sent from the sending institution directly to the receiving institution or hand delivered to the Admissions office in a sealed envelope from the degree granting institution. Official transcripts sent to Pacific Oaks must be in an unopened envelope from the institution.

Appealing Transfer Credit

Students wishing to appeal their transfer credit evaluation after matriculation, may appeal in writing by completing a Transfer Credit Appeal form and must provide a course description and syllabi along with the nature of their appeal.

Nontraditional Credit Transfer Policies

Prior Learning Assessment Credits

Credit for Learning from Experience (CLE)

Life and work experience can be just as valuable as what is learned in the classroom. Experience provides a broad, dynamic understanding of theories and concepts that can only come from applying them in the real world.

Pacific Oaks College recognizes that students can obtain college level learning in a variety of ways outside the traditional classroom. Due to this thinking and understanding, Pacific Oaks College honors learning completed in a variety of different areas by offering students the opportunity to turn their real-world experience into credit towards a degree through Credit through Learning Experience (CLE).

Students admitted to the bachelors’ programs with fewer than 87 transferrable credits, enroll in GEN 289, and receive 3 credits in English/Communication. The course teaches students how to write for empowerment and persuasion and how to provide documentation of skills and abilities gained through life experiences.

Students with at least 5 years of relevant and significant experience, who wish to pursue CLE credits, then enroll in GEN 299, a zero-credit “laboratory” for creating and submitting portfolios for the Reflective Study courses. Students may continue to develop and submit portfolios while enrolled in GEN 299 (up to 4 consecutive semesters) and are required to be actively enrolled (at least half-time)  in other courses while completing portfolio development. Portfolios address the learning outcomes in each of the 8 courses included in CLE (see course listing). Faculty evaluate the portfolio, and based on the writing and documentation, will award up to 3 credits in each course.  All portfolios are reviewed by faculty and they determine the credits to be recorded. A Recording Fee is charged based on the number of credits earned.  Students may earn up to 24 credits through CLE.

Requirements

• Be admitted into a Pacific Oaks Bachelor’s Degree
• Five years of relevant, work or life experience
• Successful completion of GEN 289
• Enrollment in GEN 299
  • Assessment of portfolios for up to 24 credits

View the Fee Schedule at the bottom of the Tuition and Fees page.

AP Exams

Students who successfully pass and complete testing through Advanced Placement (AP) with scores of 3 or higher will be considered for college level credit. Students who have previously completed AP exams will need to submit official score sheets to Pacific Oaks College prior to matriculation to the institution.

CLEP Exams

Students who have successfully passed the College‐Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exams may enter into Pacific Oaks College. Exams are required to be passed with the minimum American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendation. Scores lower than the ACE Recommendation will not be considered for transfer credit. Students will need to submit an official score sheet to Pacific Oaks College prior to matriculation to the institution.

IB Exams

The International Baccalaureate Exams (IB Exams) are also considered for college level learning to Pacific Oaks College. Students who have completed testing from IB should contact the Office of the Registrar for possible acceptance of this credit. Students should provide Pacific Oaks College with an official transcript for possible credit review.

DSST Exams

Students who have successfully passed the DANTES Subject Standardized Exams may enter into Pacific Oaks College. Exams are required to be passed with the minimum American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendation. Scores lower than the ACE Recommendation will not be considered for transfer credit. Students will need to submit an official score sheet to Pacific Oaks College prior to matriculation to the institution.

Military students

Previous military experience is reviewed for college transfer credit at Pacific Oaks College. Students with previous military experience terminated under honorable conditions in any of the United States Military Branches may submit their official transcripts or a certified copy of DD‐295 to the Office of the Registrar. Credit review will be based on the American Council on Education (ACE) Credit Recommendations.

Professional Training and Certification

Professional training that is recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) can also be submitted for review. Students who have completed training will need to submit their official transcript from ACE and are required to inquire on the cost of this request. Students should submit these transcripts prior to matriculation with Pacific Oaks College. Trainings and certifications not recognized by ACE will not be reviewed for transfer credit.

Propero Courses

Prospective students needing to meet the Pacific Oaks College general education requirements may fulfill the remaining general education requirements through the successful completion of Propero online courses prior to matriculation to the institution. Propero is a 3rd party vendor that offers a variety of courses for students in general Education areas. Students will need to complete the course(s) through Propero and then submit an official transcript of the ACE Recommended Credit to Pacific Oaks College for the credit to be accepted by the institution. Students wishing to pursue this PLA option should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Straighterline.com Partnership

Prospective students needing to meet Pacific Oaks College general education requirements may fulfill the remaining general education requirements through the successful completion through the Straighterline.com Partnership prior to matriculation to the institution. Straighterline and Pacific Oaks College have established a partnership that will allow students to complete a variety of courses in select general education areas. Students will need to complete the course(s) through Straighterline and then submit an official transcript of the ACE Recommended Credit to Pacific Oaks College for the credit to be accepted by the institution. Students wishing to pursue this PLA option should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation is the process of evaluating courses to determine whether coursework completed at one institution will meet requirements for Admissions, transfer credit, general education, and/or major preparation at another institution. Articulation agreements are formal, written agreements agreed to and signed by the faculty at two colleges.

To help you transfer easily into Pacific Oaks College, we have developed articulation agreements with local colleges. However, official evaluation and awarding of the transfer credits resides with the Academic Evaluation department.

Please contact the Office of Admissions for a list of institutions with which Pacific Oaks has a signed Articulation Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding.

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) is a pathway designed for college students graduating with an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) from a California community college and wishing to transfer.  If you plan or will be completing an AA-T or AS-T degree at your community college, please make sure to indicate this on the application for admission.  In addition, ensure that you complete any requirements at your community college to receive this degree designation on your transcripts.  Once you have earned the AA-T or AS-T degree, submit a final official transcript with this degree indicated.  If you meet all the requirements of admission to Pacific Oaks College, Admission is guaranteed.  In addition to guaranteeing admission ADT students will receive a minimum of 60 credits transferred. and will start with a junior standing. 

Transfer Admissions Guarantee

Pacific Oaks College may offer a Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) to students who wish to transfer from specific community college partner schools.  For a list of community colleges with which Pacific Oaks College has implemented a TAG agreement, please visit https://www.pacificoaks.edu/community-organizational-educational-partners/.

To qualify for a TAG, prospective students must be actively enrolled at an institution with which Pacific Oaks College has a Transfer Admissions Guarantee Agreement at the time of application and meet all admissions requirements specified for applicants from that institution.  A TAG allows any currently enrolled student at the community college partner to receive a guaranteed offer of acceptance for the term in which the student applies if:

• The student meets all application deadlines specified in the TAG agreement for the term in which the student applies; and
• The student successfully completes all standard admissions requirements for the degree program to which they are applying at Pacific Oaks College; and
• The student satisfies any cumulative GPA requirements outlined in the TAG agreement.

Graduate Admissions

Application to Pacific Oaks College’s graduate programs is open to any person who has an official transcript of a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or a master’s level or higher graduate degree transcript showing date of degree conferral from a regionally accredited institution, all official transcripts from any other graduate programs from which transfer of credit is being sought, and who meets other admission requirements, as required by a specific program.

In addition to official transcripts, all applicants seeking admission to Pacific Oaks College graduate degree programs must submit a completed, signed Application for Admission, Application Fee, Personal Statement, and Work or Volunteer Experience Summary.  For degree-specific admission requirements, please see Degree-Specific Admission Requirements for Graduate Admissions.  Unless otherwise noted, all application materials submitted to the college are valid for one calendar year.

Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program requiring prerequisite coursework must provide official transcripts demonstrating satisfaction of prerequisite coursework.  Prerequisite coursework appearing as transfer credit from a third-party institution on the applicant’s conferred undergraduate transcript that is not explicitly listed by course name and/or title may be required to provide official transcripts from the third-party credit granting institution in order to demonstrate satisfaction prerequisite coursework requirements.

Official transcripts from which student received a conferred Bachelor’s degree or conferred graduate degree and graduate transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions from which transfer of credit is being sought are expected to be on file prior to the applicant’s program start.

Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements and application deadlines.

If a student is unable to provide official proof of academic history by the add/drop deadline, an exception may be granted.  The student has until the end of the add/drop deadline to provide one of the following:

• Unofficial transcript showing qualifying degree conferral dated prior to the semester the student intends to start

• A letter, on the school’s letterhead, from the qualifying degree granting institution’s Office of the Registrar that includes the conferral date, degree level, and name of the degree conferred - which must be dated prior to the program start date.

Students will be administratively withdrawn if they are unable to submit the documents required for an extension by the Add/Drop deadline.

Students granted an exception are eligible to receive Financial Aid. This extension allows a student to submit official proof of academic history up until the end of their first semester. Students will be administratively withdrawn if they do not meet the end of the first semester deadline.

Degree-Specific Admission Requirements for Graduate Admissions

School of Human Development

Master of Arts in Human Development (All Specializations)

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College

School of Cultural and Family Psychology

Master of Arts in Cultural and Family Studies

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Faculty Interview

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (All Specializations)

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Faculty Interview

Master of Social Work

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated satisfaction of undergraduate prerequisite coursework with a minimum of three (3) semester credit hours in college-level statistics with a grade of “C” or better (a Letter grade of C- or lower will not be accepted) *
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Faculty Interview
• Verified minimum of 500 hours of any paid or unpaid (volunteering or internship) work with a diverse, vulnerable population. (Example: hospitals, mental health centers, advocacy programs, universities, training departments, treatment centers, churches, care facilities, social service agencies, non-profit organizations, etc.).  May be included on resume with a letter of reference from the supervisor.

*Students who have not satisfied the college-level statistics requirement as part of their undergraduate coursework may be granted acceptance to the program with the requirement that they satisfy the statistics requirement as part of their course of study at Pacific Oaks College.
 

 Master of Social Work: Advanced Standing

• Successful completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Demonstrated satisfaction of undergraduate prerequisite coursework with a minimum of three (3) semester credit hours in college-level statistics with a grade of “C” or better (a Letter grade of C- or lower will not be accepted) *
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Faculty Interview
• Verified minimum of 500 hours of any paid or unpaid (volunteering or internship) work with a diverse, vulnerable population. (Example: hospitals, mental health centers, advocacy programs, universities, training departments, treatment centers, churches, care facilities, social service agencies, non-profit organizations, etc.).  May be included on resume with a letter of reference from the supervisor.

*Students who have not satisfied the college-level statistics requirement as part of their undergraduate coursework may be granted acceptance to the program with the requirement that they satisfy the statistics requirement as part of their course of study at Pacific Oaks College.

School of Education

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education (All Specializations)

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in Early Childhood Education or Child Development*

*Students who do not have a B.A. in either Early Childhood Education or Child Development are admitted based on completion of approved courses from a regionally accredited college/university.

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College

Please note: Prior coursework will be evaluated as part of the Admissions process.

Master of Arts in Education - Elementary Education

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., CBEST)
• Proof of registration or payment for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET: Multiple Subjects; i.e., Subtests I, II, and III) with test dates in the first six months of initial enrollment
• Letter of Recommendation required for students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.5

Master of Arts in Education - Special Education

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., CBEST)
• Proof of registration or payment for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET: Multiple Subjects; i.e., Subtests I, II, and III) with test dates in the first six months of initial enrollment
• Letter of Recommendation required for students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.5

Bilingual Authorization Spanish / Bilingual Authorization Mandarin

Admissions Requirements for Post-Credential Candidates

• Application and fee
• Transcripts
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Letters of Recommendation 
• Verification of completion of Initial Credential Requirements (Valid Preliminary or Clear California Multiple Subject Credential)
• Verification of authorization to teach English Learners
• Screen for language proficiency (CSET III)
• Assess applicant’s application for the program through an interview
• Accept or deny application

Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., CBEST)
• Proof of registration or payment for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET: Multiple Subjects; i.e., Subtests I, II, and III) with test dates in the first six months of initial enrollment
• Letter of Recommendation required for students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.5

Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
• Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (e.g., CBEST)
• Proof of registration or payment for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET: Multiple Subjects; i.e., Subtests I, II, and III) with test dates in the first six months of initial enrollment
• Letter of Recommendation required for students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.5

Interdisciplinary Studies

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Management

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College

Graduate International Student Admissions

Based on U.S. Homeland Security regulations, international students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible for campus-based study in the United States under a student (F-1) visa. International applicants who wish to complete a degree online are not eligible for issuance of a student (F-1) visa.

International applicants must have non-U.S. transcripts evaluated by an approved evaluation agency.

The transcript evaluation must include:

1. A detailed report (course-by-course evaluation)
2. A U.S. degree equivalency
3. A U.S. Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalency

Approved transcript evaluation agencies are:

• A verifiable current member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services), or
• A verifiable current member of AICES (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.), or
• A verifiable current member of acceptable foreign transcript evaluation agencies approved by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Transcript evaluations are not required from American universities operating overseas, provided the institution is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with grades reported on a U.S. 4-point scale.

International students are required to demonstrate final pre-requisite degree conferral. An international student who is conditionally admitted with proof of final degree conferral pending will be permitted until the start of the second term to provide required degree conferral documents.

All international applicants for whom English is a second language, with the exception of applicants who have an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or 60 transfer credits from an institution in which the language of instruction is English, must submit official scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 79 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS is required for admission. Scores must be no more than 2 years old.

Students in a non-immigrant status are not eligible for U.S. financial aid. Upon gaining acceptance to a campus-based program, accepted applicants who request sponsorship for a student visa (F-1) must submit a New Student Information Form and supporting documentation before a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant students (I-20) can be issued. For current information on minimum financial requirements and how to obtain an I-20, please visit the international admissions page of the Pacific Oaks website.

Graduate Enrollment Status Requirements

Graduate enrollment at Pacific Oaks College is defined as follows:

Graduate Transfer Credit Policy

Each School determines transferability of graduate level coursework. Graduate transfer credit guidelines by School are:

1. Courses must be graduate level and must have been completed at a regionally accredited graduate institution.
2. Courses must adhere to the Course Time Limit Policy and be completed within seven (7) years of the date of enrollment at Pacific Oaks College. (See Course Time Limit Policy)
   1. For the School of Cultural and Family Psychology, courses completed within ten (10) years of the date of Pacific Oaks enrollment are acceptable.
3. Courses must be graduate level and the institution must be regionally accredited.
   1. Institution must be approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences and regionally accredited for the School of Cultural and Family Psychology.
4. All official transcripts are required to be on file prior to student’s program start.
5. Courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher (3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale).
   1. Credits for courses in which the student earned a grade below B or took a non-letter grade such as a pass/fail or credit/not credit are not transferable.
6. Credits applied to meet the requirements of a previously earned degree of any type at another institution are ineligible for use as transfer credit.
7. Courses must be completed prior to entry into the POC graduate program. Courses completed while concurrently enrolled at another institution will not be accepted for transfer credit.
8. Only courses that qualify for graduate credit by the transferring institution can be transferred.
9. Courses must be graduate level and completed in regular, non‐extension formats.

Graduate Admission for Pacific Oaks B.A. Students

Pacific Oaks B.A. students applying for a Pacific Oaks master’s degree must have completed their B.A. degree or be fully admitted to the B.A. degree program and be enrolled in their final semester. The application fee requirement is waived for Pacific Oaks College alumni.

Matriculation Policies

Students admitted/readmitted for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 will be governed by this Catalog.

Applicant Notification

Pacific Oaks College reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Academic Department and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision

Re-Admission and Re-Entry Policies

Returning Students: 364 days or less since last withdrawal date (Re-Entry): Any students returning to Pacific Oaks in good academic and school standing after a lapse in enrollment of 364 days or less are considered Re-Entries. Students seeking re-entry to the College must complete a Re-Entry Form through the Registrar’s Office. Re-Entry students who completed coursework during their absence must provide the Registrar’s Office with official transcripts in a sealed envelope for transfer credit consideration. Non-satisfactory academic performance may nullify the student’s ability to reenter.

Returning Students: 365 or more days since last withdrawal date (Re-Admission): Any students returning to Pacific Oaks in good academic and school standing after a lapse in enrollment of 365 or more days are considered re-enrollments. Re-enrolling students are required to reapply for admission through the Admissions Office and submit new application documents. Re-admitted students who have completed additional coursework outside of Pacific Oaks College must submit official transcripts for review of transfer credit. Students who have been away from the college for more than five (5) years must provide official transcripts from all institutions attended.  Non-satisfactory academic performance may nullify the student’s ability to reenroll. Students being readmitted who only require thesis completion will be evaluated by the academic department to determine the current status of their work.

Returning from Dismissal or Probation Status

Students seeking to return after leaving in a probationary status must complete a Re-Admission application or Re-entry Form, as determined by their last date of attendance. Students who have been dismissed from the College for failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements may apply for re-admission for a start date that begins after 365 days from the term of dismissal.

In addition to the Re-entry or Re-Admission application, students will need to complete the following documents for enrollment consideration:

• Academic recovery plan developed with their faculty advisor,
• A student statement addressing their absence from the College and reasons for returning, and
• Official transcripts in sealed envelopes from institutions attended while separated from the College.

The Re-Admission application or Re-Entry Form, along with the student statement, academic recovery plan and official transcripts, must be submitted to the Registrar Office and will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee for determination. Favorable consideration will be based upon evaluation of the reasons for previous separation, evidence of improved academic standing, improved conduct, and increased personal maturity. Non-satisfactory academic performance may nullify the student’s ability to be readmitted. All students returning after dismissal or probation will be re-admitted on a probationary status. Students who have been dismissed from Pacific Oaks College for ethical or behavioral reasons will not be readmitted.

Readmission for Military Students

POC recognizes that military students may be temporarily unable to attend classes and/or be required to suspend their studies in order to perform their military service. Therefore, POC does not deny readmission to military members for reasons relating to their military service. Students who meet the appropriate criteria will be readmitted with the same academic status as the student had when he or she last attended the College. This policy is in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008.

Military service for the purposes of readmission is defined as service, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the Armed Forces, including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal authority, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days under a call or order to active duty of more than 30 consecutive days. The cumulative length of all absences for uniformed service (service time only) must not exceed five years.

The student must notify the college by providing written notice of such service to the Office of the Registrar as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances.  This notice does not have to indicate whether the student intends to return to POC.  No notice is required if precluded by military necessity such as service in operations that are classified or would be compromised by such notice.

Any service member in a U.S. military reserve unit should provide a copy of all training orders as far in advance as possible. In addition, any military student who did not give advance written or verbal notice of service to a college official may meet the notice requirement by submitting, at the time the student seeks readmission, an attestation and documentation that the student performed service in the uniformed services that necessitated the student’s absence from the College.

An affected service member must, upon the completion of a period of service in the uniformed services, notify POC of his or her intent to return to the college not later than three (3) years after the completion of the period of service. However, a student who is hospitalized for or convalescing from an illness or injury incurred in or aggravated during the performance of service in the uniformed services must notify a college official of his or her intent to return to POC not later than two years after the end of the period that is necessary for recovery from such illness or injury. A student who fails to apply for readmission within the required period does not automatically forfeit eligibility for readmission but is subject to all college policies and practices.

If the student is readmitted to the same program, for the first academic year in which the student returns, the student will be assessed the same tuition and fee charges that the student was or would have been assessed for the academic year during which the student left the institution.

If the student is admitted to a different program, and for subsequent academic years for a student admitted to the same program, the student will be assessed no more than the tuition and fee charges that other students in the program are assessed for that academic year.

If POC determines that the student is not prepared to resume the program, or will not be able to complete the program, the college will make reasonable efforts at no extra cost to the student to help the student become prepared or to enable the student to complete the program, including but not limited to providing refresher courses at no extra cost to the student.

Second Bachelor’s Degree with First Degree Earned at Pacific Oaks

Pacific Oaks College Bachelor’s Degree Graduates are allowed to complete a second bachelor’s degree with the institution, if it is in another discipline. A student must apply for admission to seek a second bachelor’s degree. All admitted students are held to current Catalog/degree requirements.

Enrollment in a Second Academic Program

Concurrent enrollment in two degree-seeking programs is not permitted. A student that wishes to enroll in a new academic program must complete all degree requirements in their current program and have their degree conferred to be eligible to start a new academic program. Degree conferral must occur either on or prior to the Add/Drop deadline. Students must also be in good academic, financial, and programmatic standing and must be meeting all financial obligations to the institution at the time of application and at the time of enrollment, if accepted. Students must also complete the standard admission process for the new program. Please see the Admissions Policies for more information.

A student who wishes to transfer from their current academic program to a different academic program at the same degree level must contact their Faculty Advisor and the Office of the Registrar. Students must meet all admission requirements for the new academic program and be in good academic and financial standing. Please refer to the Pacific Oaks Program Changes policy for more information.

Reapplication for Admission after Denial Decision

Applicants who previously applied to Pacific Oaks and were not accepted must wait a minimum of one (1) year after the original application to reapply. For reconsideration, applicants must submit an updated application form and new information (i.e., new recommendation letter, new entrance exam scores, additional coursework, evidence of improved writing skills, etc.). Reconsideration of applications without additional information will not be conducted.

Course Time Limit Policy

Pacific Oaks College welcomes the return of students who for a variety of reasons have not completed their degree or credential. Courses completed either at Pacific Oaks or in transfer from a regionally accredited institution that are more than the course time limits prior to the date of readmission will not be counted towards graduation requirements or completion of credential. The content of these courses may no longer be current or required for a degree or credential.

Previously earned credit will be awarded, when appropriate, to meet content distribution areas and degree-specific requirements. Time limits are in place to ensure that transfer credits meet present-day academic standards. General guidelines for time limit on transfer credit are noted below.

General Education Courses

Any courses that fulfill student’s general education requirements do not have a course time limit. Refer to General Education Requirements for course listings.

HyFlex (Synchronous/Asynchronous) Instructions is delivered through a combination of live synchronous class meetings and asynchronous class sessions via Canvas.  Students will have the option of attending synchronous meetings either on-site, remotely via web conference, or asynchronous depending on their preference. Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits, so long as students attend at least one on-site class meeting. The number of synchronous class meetings will vary depending on the section, but each section will have a minimum of one synchronous class meeting. Students should check the course syllabus for the exact schedule of class meetings.   Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits, so long as students attend at least one on-site class meeting. May not count toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders). 

School of Human Development

Pacific Oaks College will not consider credits earned more than 10 years prior to the date of enrollment. Students looking for re-admittance into the School of Human Development will also adhere to the 10-year requirement including credit completed with Pacific Oaks College. Courses completed with Pacific Oaks College 10 years or more prior to re-admittance will not be eligible for transfer and students will be required to complete new curriculum. An approved Leave of Absence does not alter the 10-year period for completion of degree requirements.

School of Cultural and Family Psychology

Cultural and Family Psychology Courses: Pacific Oaks College will not consider credits earned more than 10 years prior to the date of enrollment. Students looking for re-admittance into the School of Cultural and Family Psychology Courses will also adhere to the 10-year requirement including credit completed with Pacific Oaks College. Courses completed with Pacific Oaks College 10 years or more prior to re-admittance will not be eligible for transfer and students will be required to complete new curriculum. An approved Leave of Absence does not alter the 10-year period for completion of degree requirements.

School of Education

Pacific Oaks College School of Education will not consider credits earned more than seven (7) years prior to the date of enrollment. Students looking for re-admittance into the School of Education will also adhere to the 7-year requirement including credit completed with Pacific Oaks College. Courses completed with Pacific Oaks College 7 years or more prior to re-admittance will not be eligible for transfer and students will be required to complete new curriculum. An approved Leave of Absence does not alter the 7-year period for completion of graduate degree requirements.