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Course Equivalency Examinations

Course Equivalency Examinations

The University recognizes two types of course equivalency for which credit is awarded. These are 1) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, and 2) departmental examinations. Restrictions, where applicable, are noted below.

Subject to specified policies of academic departments, unusually qualified degree candidates are given the opportunity to demonstrate their special competencies and receive University credit for such competencies through established course equivalency procedures without having to fulfill classroom or faculty course requirements.

Students may demonstrate their special competencies through subject examinations of the CLEP and through departmental equivalency examinations. Credits granted through course equivalency procedures are so noted on the student’s permanent record. However, no grades for equivalency examinations are recorded and examination credit so granted is not included in grade-point averages.

The purpose of course equivalency procedures is to provide credit for existing competencies — that is, those competencies which students possess prior to their applications for equivalency credit and prior to their registration for a University course.

Students may not receive credit for a specific proficiency examination if they have registered at the University in the same course for which the examination covers, if they have previously received a University grade either for that course or a course in sequence above the course for which they wish to take an examination, or if they have previously attempted an equivalent course at another institution. Credits for CLEP Examinations are typically granted at the time of admissions. Once a student is matriculated, permission to take a CLEP Exam must be obtained by the student’s department chair or program coordinator and the student must file an academic petition to have approved CLEP credits posted to the student’s record. University departments reserve the right to refuse to grant by examination for those courses which are presented by a student for his or her major(s) and to deny recognition of previously granted credit for students who, prior to their declaration of major field, have received equivalency credit in their subsequently declared major.

Subject to the additional limitations of the college and program in which the student is enrolled, the maximum number of credits that a matriculating student may earn through course equivalency procedures is 30 semester credits. Students who have transferred to the University may not apply for equivalency credit in excess of a number determined by subtracting all course equivalency and transfer credits accepted by the University from the maximum of 90 total credits permitted for both transfer and equivalency credit. Nor may transfer students present equivalency credits in fulfillment of the major field residency requirement of 15 credits in University courses.