Transfer into a Graduate Degree

Advanced Standing Status Based on Prior Medical Education

Applicants who have completed professional programs may be considered for advanced standing status. Those applicants who graduated from accredited chiropractic, medical or osteopathic colleges may be eligible for advanced standing in the Bastyr University naturopathic medicine program. All advanced standing students must complete at least two-thirds of the program and do all of their clinical work at Bastyr University. They are eligible for a maximum of 103 credits toward advanced standing.

In those instances where the maximum number of advanced standing transfer credits is granted, it will take a minimum of three years (11 quarters) to complete the program. Placement depends upon the amount of coursework completed in the original program, similarity of the course content and credits, age of the courses and performance in these courses. A student must provide documentation which shows the competencies of the Bastyr University course have been met. Course waivers and/or credit transfers are considered only for those courses in which applicants demonstrate a grade of achieved competence, a C or above, or a 2.0 or above. An exam to determine competency may also be required. Advanced standing applicants must complete all of the course and credit requirements in effect at the time of their enrollment in the Bastyr University naturopathic medicine program. Final waiver and/or transfer credit decisions rest with the dean of the school in which the curriculum is taught.

Advanced standing is determined on a case by case basis and depends on the type of degree program completed, the courses taken and the number of years in practice.

Naturopathic Medicine applicants who are eligible for advanced standing must submit a $150 advanced standing evaluation fee.
Midwifery, Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine applicants who are eligible for advanced standing must submit a $100 advanced standing evaluation fee.

Applicants must submit a catalog of course descriptions for the years they attended their professional program and should be prepared to submit additional documentation to support a thorough evaluation. If an advanced standing student is found to be deficient in some areas of study, he/she may be required to complete additional courses. For more information on advanced standing status admission policies and procedures, contact the admissions office.

Transfer into the Naturopathic Doctor Program

Bastyr University accepts transfer students from naturopathic (ND), medical, osteopathic and chiropractic schools and other accredited professional programs on a space-available basis. For transfer consideration, credits must be earned from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency or from an institution accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). Transfer students are considered for admission in accordance with the following general guidelines:

Applicants must meet the same entrance requirements as candidates for the first-year class.
Applicants who wish to transfer credits from prior coursework must demonstrate satisfactory completion of courses that are equivalent in content and quality to courses given at the University. Satisfactory completion equals a grade of achieved competency, a C or above, or a 2.0 or above.
Applicants must provide an official transcript from the college or program from which the transfer is being requested, demonstrating that they are leaving in good academic standing and should be prepared to submit additional documentation to support a thorough evaluation.
Transfer applicants must submit a $150 transfer evaluation fee.

Transfer into a Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Degree

Students who wish to transfer from other acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs are accepted on a space-available basis and must meet the same entrance requirements at the class level they seek to enter. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis following completion of the application process.

Transfer applicants must submit a $100 transfer evaluation fee.

Transfer Into the Midwifery Degree Program

Students who wish to transfer from other MEAC accredited programs are accepted on a space-available basis and must meet the same entrance requirements as new students. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis following completion of the application process. Students will need to submit official transcripts, course descriptions, and syllabi for all coursework completed. Students must still complete two-thirds of their program at Bastyr, including all clinical requirements. Due to the sequential structure of the midwifery curriculum that includes many co-requisites, advanced standing and/or transfer students will still need to attend the program for all 3 years though some quarter may only be part-time.

Transfer applicants must submit a $100 transfer evaluation fee.