Credit by Other Means

If credit in a course is to be awarded by more than one of the sources indicated below and/or subsequent re-enrollment in the course itself, the credit for that course will only be awarded once. The source of credit and grade will be posted, but no hours earned will be recorded.

A. Credit Examinations

A student may apply to the appropriate academic dean to take a credit examination for skills-based and knowledge-based courses at the 100-200 level in which no term paper is required and class participation in discussion is not a central component for the course. In addition, certain 300 or 400-level courses may be appropriate for credit by examination. Academic departments will determine courses appropriate for individual credit examinations. The academic dean of each college should maintain a list of courses in the college that have been determined by academic departments to be appropriate for credit by examination. The university permits only regularly enrolled students to take credit examinations.

1. The University permits only regularly enrolled students to take credit examinations.
2. Only students who claim special competence gained through practical experience, extensive training, or completion of courses in non-accredited institutions may apply for a credit examination.
3. A student must initiate the application for credit examinations in the office of his or her academic dean. Credit examinations may not be administered without the approval of the student’s academic dean and the dean and department head having jurisdiction over the specific course for which credit is sought.
4. Credit is awarded only for examination performance of “C” quality or better. Such credit must be certified by the examining instructor. In the case of successful completion of the credit examination the grade of S and the appropriate credit are recorded by the Registrar upon the student’s permanent record. Unsuccessful attempts are also reported to the Registrar but are not recorded.
5. Credit by examination may not be used to reduce the University’s residence requirements.
6. Credits earned by examination are not included in the number of credit hours required for the maintenance of scholarships and financial aid.
7. A student transferring from an unaccredited institution may apply to the appropriate academic dean for permission to take a credit examination for any course taken at an unaccredited institution.
8. With the exception noted in item 7 above, students may not schedule examinations on work completed in regular high school courses or in university courses in which they have registered or which they have audited or failed.
9. Credit examinations once failed may not be repeated.
10. No student may take a credit examination in a course which is a prerequisite for an advanced course in the same subject for which s/he has already earned credit.
11. International students with native proficiency in a language taught in the Department of Modern Languages may, upon approval of the Department Head, be permitted to take credit examinations in 300-400 level courses in that language.
12. Credit earned through correspondence study and other non-traditional credit, earned in any way other than residence study, is awarded according to University policy as stated in Section VIII (Credit by Other Means) regardless of the policy of the sending institution. Credit earned by departmental or institutional examinations at other regionally accredited colleges and universities and listed on an official transcript is accepted in the same way that residence credit earned in those institutions is accepted.
13. The maximum credit which may be obtained by examination in any one field is determined by the academic department concerned.
14. A non-refundable fee of $50.00 per credit hour is assessed each student requesting a credit examination.

B. Military Service

1. The University recognizes the validity of the recommendation in the current edition of “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” and will grant credit for certain military schools subject to the approval of the University Registrar and the student’s academic dean.

C. College Entrance Examination Board “Advanced Placement Program”

1. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers advanced placement credit to highly qualified high school students who take college level courses in high school simultaneously with their other high school courses. Each year in May, the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examinations are administered to participants in this program. The following is a list of credits the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will award for the various scores for each of these examinations.

2. The grade of “S” is awarded and credits earned in this program are counted as hours earned and may be applicable toward a degree. These credits do not affect either the student’s semester average or his or her cumulative average.
3. Students who plan to enter the University under this program should arrange to have their Advanced Placement Examination records sent to the Director of Admissions.
4. See IX.F  for additional limitations.

D. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Advance Credit Examination Program

1. First-time freshmen who have special competence in biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, computer science, English, human resources, mathematics, modern languages, music, physics or visual arts may participate in the University’s Advance Credit Examination Program and may qualify for advanced placement and course credit as indicated below. ACT scores serve as a guide to determine which students are eligible to take advance credit exams.
2. Advance credit exam policy applies to first-time freshmen and to transfer students who have not enrolled in any college level English and/or Math course. Examinations are administered only at specific periods.
3. The grade of “S” is awarded for any course in which advance credit is earned. Credits earned in this program are counted as hours earned and may be applicable toward a degree. These credits do not affect either the student’s semester or cumulative average.
4. See IX.F  for additional limitations.
5. Credits earned by advance credit examination are not included in the number of credit hours required for the maintenance of scholarships and financial aid.

E. Other Advanced Placement Programs

1. Students who have participated in the College Entrance Examinations Board’s “College Level Examination Program” (CLEP), the College Level GED program, the American College Test’s Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) or some other recognized advanced placement program are invited to submit transcripts of these examinations to the Office of Admissions for evaluation and possible credit.
2. Credits will be granted in accordance with current University policy which considers both the recommendations of the testing agencies and the educational levels and achievement of each applicant.
3. Approval of each request for credit must be obtained from the academic dean and department head having jurisdiction over the specific course for which credit is sought.
4. Students may not obtain credit under this program for courses in which they have been registered or which they have audited or failed.
5. Students may not obtain credit under this program for a course which is a prerequisite stated or implied, for an advanced course in the same subject for which they have already received credit. See IX.D.1  for additional limitations.

F. Correspondence Courses

Correspondence courses will be subject to the regular transfer credit policies of the University.

G. Prior Learning Assessment

The University abides by the Lousiana Board of Regents Prior Learning Assessment, policy 2.23 Prior Learning Assessment.