Transfer Credit
The College accepts credits from regionally accredited institutions if they apply to the student's degree program. The College accepts transfer credit if the courses meet the standards of the College and if the courses were completed satisfactorily. Transfer students do not receive credit for courses with a "D" grade. If the student is seeking admission following attendance at an institution that is not regionally accredited, the Registrar considers the transfer credits on an individual basis.
In addition to credit earned at an accredited college or university, students may be given credit for certain non-collegiate learning experiences. All credit must be determined and evaluated by the Office of the Registrar on a case by case basis. The following guidelines apply in allowing credit for previous education:
- The maximum number of lower-division credits acceptable for transfer to an associate degree program is 75 percent of the program.
- Credits from institutions of collegiate level that are not regionally accredited may be rejected entirely, accepted wholly or in part, or accepted on a provisional basis to be validated by satisfactory course work in residence.
The College also accepts the following sources for credit:
1) DANTES independent study/credit-by-examination courses
2) ACT PEP: Regents College Examinations
3) Credit recommended in the National Guide to Credit Recommendations for Non-Collegiate Courses (American Council on Education [ACE]) or the Directory of the National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI).
4) Local, state and federal law enforcement training recommended by ACE or PONSI and such credit as is listed on a transcript from a regionally accredited college.
5) CLEP
CLEP College Level Examination Program
The College-Level Examination Program® or CLEP provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. CLEP examinations cover material taught in courses that most students take as requirements in the first two years of college. A college usually grants the same amount of credit to students earning satisfactory scores on the CLEP examination as it grants to students successfully completing that course. Each exam is 90 minutes long, and except for English Composition with Essay, is made up primarily of multiple-choice questions; however, some exams do have fill-ins.
Please see your admissions advisor for more information.
Students who plan to use their CLEP scores for purposes other than earning a degree at the College, such as transferring to another institution or establishing eligibility for law school admission, should take a nationally administered CLEP examination. Students can obtain a CLEP Registration Bulletin from an admissions advisor. This bulletin lists the testing dates and location of all CLEP testing centers in the U.S.
DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) demonstrate college-level learning acquired outside of the college classroom. The tests cover material usually taught in one-semester or one-year, post-secondary courses. Credit for successful completion of DSSTs can be applied toward general education, preparation for the major, or general elective credit.
DSST tests are available to military personnel through the Education Services Officer.
Advanced Placement Exams
The College awards college credit for advanced placement exams passed with a score of 3 or better.
College Credit By Examinations
Currently enrolled students can obtain credit for undergraduate courses by departmental examination when training or experience appears to provide a proficiency in the subject matter of an approved course. Only a limited number of courses are approved for credit-by-examination. Approval must be granted by the Office of the Registrar and the student must pay a $100 fee to the Student Accounts office. Students must take the examination within 30 days following the approval.
Credit from departmental examination is counted toward graduation, but no grade points are assigned or included in calculating grade point averages nor is the credit used to meet residence requirements.
Credit Granted for Military Education
To be awarded credit for courses taken at military service schools on an equivalency basis, students must submit proof of discharge (Form DD-214), an "Application for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences during Military Service" (DD-295), or a Military
SMART Transcript
Credit may also be accepted from non-collegiate courses that are specifically listed in "A Guide to Educational Programs in Non-collegiate Organizations." Students must present appropriate transcripts, certificates, or other official documents before an evaluation can be made.
Credits for military schools and non-collegiate approved courses apply directly to undergraduate work as it relates to the level and content of the particular degree program.
Course Waivers and Challenge Exams
Waiver Based on Prior Training or Experience: Occasionally, students may request to waive a course based on previous training or experience. If the student can demonstrate mastery of a subject, the department chair must submit a recommendation to the Vice President of Academics to allow the student to waive the particular course.
A course waived by the Vice President of Academics exempts a student from that course. Units are not awarded for a waived course, so the student may need to take a different course in its place in order to meet the overall unit requirement for the degree.
Challenge by Examination: Waivers for certain College courses can only be established by departmental examination. Typically, the courses that require a departmental examination to establish an exemption (waiver) are courses in computer science, mathematics, technical subjects, or those required for licensure or a credential.Procedures to challenge a course-by-examination are identical to the credit-by-examination procedures explained above, but the fee for a challenge-by-examination is $50 rather than $100. Also, no credit is awarded for a waived course.
