Graduate courses completed at other institutions may be accepted for credit toward a doctorate at the university if they meet three conditions. First, they normally must form part of the student's field of concentration. Second, the student must have been registered in these courses within the preceding six years. In some instances, however, the dean can waive this requirement if the student can show he or she has kept abreast of the subject matter in question. Finally, the student must have earned a grade of B or better in these courses. Graduate credit may not be transferred until 12 credits of graduate courses with grades of B or better have been completed in the Graduate School–New Brunswick as a matriculated student. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 50 percent of the total number of course credits in his or her program, exclusive of research. In no case, however, may this total exceed 24 credits. The faculty of a graduate program may recommend the transfer of credits earned at a professional or graduate school elsewhere toward a Ph.D. in the Graduate School–New Brunswick. No credit may be transferred for thesis-related research work, coursework done as independent study, or coursework that was not graded with an A or B. Other letter or numerical grades are eligible for transfer if the student earned the equivalent grade of B or better and if he or she submits a letter from the instructor of the course testifying to that equivalence. See the Academic Policies and Procedures chapter for additional information.