When to Transfer
Students may transfer in the Fall and Spring semesters. The entry semester depends on how many studio and general education credits have been completed.
Once you decide which term to apply for you, you will need to complete an application. The Otis Online Application for Transfer can be started here.
The guidelines below can help you estimate how many credits you may need to enter in the term/level you are seeking. All placements are also contingent on having a portfolio that meets the class level of current Otis students and may require Department Chair approval.
If you are a prospective transfer student, we encourage you to sign up to attend our Virtual Transfer Info Session led by our Transfer Admissions Counselor, which reviews much of this information in detail. You can sign up here.
Fall Semester
| Class Level | Studio Credits | General Education Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Less than 18 studio credits | Any amount |
| 1st Semester Sophomore | At least 18 studio credits | At least 6 credits or more |
| Junior | At least 36 studio credits | At least 18 credits |
Spring Semester
| Class Level | Studio Credits | General Education Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Less than 18 Studio Credits | Any Amount |
| 2nd Semester Foundation | At Least 9 Studio Credits | At Least 6 Credits or More |
| 2nd Semester Sophomore | At Least 27 Studio Credits | At Least 18 Credits |
* Requires summer term to stay on track for the fall semester.
Guide for General Education Credits
| Otis College required LAS course (Foundation year) | Recommendation for Transfer |
|---|---|
| Visual Culture 1: Gateways to Art and Culture (AHCS 122) | Recommended: Prehistoric to Gothic Accepted: Introductory art history or art appreciation |
| Visual Culture 2: Unpacking Art, Power, and Modernity (AHCS 123) |
Recommended: Renaissance to Modern or Modern to Contemporary periods Accepted: Art History courses that cover art created between the 15th to 21st centuries, from any region or culture |
| Writing As Discovery: Thought Lab 1 (ENGL 108) | College Level English Composition Course |
| Thought Lab 2 (LIBS 115) |
Recommended: Humanities course with Diversity Focus Accepted: IGETC / CalGETC Areas 3, 4, 6 *excludes performing arts courses |
| Otis College required LAS course (Sophomore & Junior level) | Recommendation for Transfer |
|---|---|
| LAS Sophomore Elective (LIBS 214) |
IGETC / CalGETC Areas 1B, 1C, 3, 4, 6 *excludes performing arts courses Examples: English literature, Creative Writing, History, Philosophy, Religion, and Social Sciences. |
| Social Science (SSCI 210) |
IGETC / CalGETC Area 4 Examples: Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Political Science, History. |
| Natural Science (NSCI 307) |
IGETC / CalGETC Area 5A or 5B, Psychology courses from IGETC / CalGETC Area 4 Examples: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Physics, Physical Anthropology, Physical Geography. |
| Math (MATH 136) |
IGETC / CalGETC Area 2 Examples: College-level Algebra, Accounting, Business Math, Statistics. |
NOTE: The IGETC is the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, and the Cal-GETC is the California General Education Transfer Curriculum. Both are general education pathways for California community college students that groups courses into different transfer categories. The Cal-GETC replaces the IGETC as of Fall 2025. If you are at a California community college, your Cal-GETC should be accessible through your college's transfer center website.
Students at a California Community College looking to take summer courses may find California Virtual Campus useful for finding courses at a different CA community college without having to fill out a separate application.
Some majors have specific Liberal Arts & Sciences courses that are required for the major. The below chart specifies which of these classes are recommended to be taken at Otis. It may be possible to transfer in credits for courses in which the content matches the Otis class very closely. Contact Admissions (admissions@otis.edu) to find out.
| Otis College Major | LAS Transfer Exception |
|---|---|
| Fashion Design | Natural Science: Textile Science |
| Game and Entertainment Design |
Math: Programming/Scripting for Games Social Science: Cultural and Social Design for Games |
| Product Design | Natural Science: Human Factors in Product Design |
| Toy Design |
Social Science: Child Psychology: Development and Play Natural Science: Human Factors in Toy Design |
Capstone and Creative Action
All Otis College students take the College’s signature Creative Action and Capstone courses. These courses cannot be transferred in.
Additional Policies
Students at the freshman and sophomore levels may, with prior approval, complete coursework
at other *regionally accredited colleges and universities and transfer the credits
earned to their record at Otis College, based on the policies and procedures listed
below. Students are strongly encouraged to complete a Transfer Credit Approval Request
form available on The Dashboard and receive prior approval to ensure that the course
is equivalent and fitting for transfer to Otis College.
Courses taken at other regionally accredited institutions must be similar in contact
hours, semester system, content, purpose and standards to Otis College courses. Specifically:
- Community college courses will be accepted for transfer toward non-sequential studio electives, general education and lower division (freshman and sophomore level) Otis College credits only.
- Upper division (junior and senior level) courses may be accepted for transfer only if taken at a four-year college or university at the junior or senior level (similar in content and credits conferred).
- Only grades of C or better are transferrable.
- Junior and senior students at Otis College may not take courses at other institiutions and apply the credits earned to their Otis College transcript and degree. All courses taken at another regionally accredited institution must be approved and completed prior to the beginning of an Otis College student’s junior year. Exceptions to this policy are warranted only in cases involving unusual or extenuating circumstances that would normally not be faced by other students and require written approval from the Registrar and the Provost.
Only credit is transferred for courses taken at other accredited institutions. Transfered course grades are not applied to the student's grade point average (GPA). Off-campus study does not become part of a student's record until the Request for Approval of Transfer Credit form, along with official transcripts, are submitted and approved by the Registrar. Otis College Extension courses taken for credit may be applied to the BFA degree with department chair approval.Only credit is transferred for courses taken at other institutions. Transferred course grades are not applied to the student’s grade point average (GPA.)
*Regional accreditation is educational accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities in the United States by one of the six regional accreditors. Please visit the website of the U.S. Department of Education for more information. International institutions must be recognized by the country’s national ministry of education.
All prospective applicants should direct their questions about transfer credits to
the
Admissions Office.