Course Credit

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Matriculated students may fulfill certain requirements through Challenge Examinations. Normally, both subject and unit credit will be granted and counted toward the University’s 120 semester unit graduation requirement. Such credit is not treated as part of the student’s regular term workload and therefore does not require a petition for excess study load. Challenge Examination credit will not be counted toward fulfillment of the University’s residence requirement and may not be counted toward the completion of major, minor, and credential requirements except with the approval of the major and/or minor adviser and the department chair.

A currently or formerly enrolled student who has special preparation may only challenge courses as determined and approved by the department. A student may receive Challenge Examination credit for the following two types of courses at the University.

1.  Courses Regularly Offered by Examination. Special course sections for credit by examination may be offered in the Schedule of Classes by a department.
   Credit may be earned in these courses by:
   1. Enrolling in the course for Credit by Examination during a regular registration period;
   2. Taking the Challenge Examination at the time and place specified and passing it at the level deemed satisfactory by the department. Grades of Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) will be awarded.
2. Other Catalog Courses. A student who has special preparation may challenge selected catalog courses as determined by the department by:
   1. Securing a Request for Credit by Challenge Examination from the Enrollment Services Office, obtaining the necessary departmental approvals, paying the appropriate examination fee, and filing all copies of the completed request with the Testing Office.
   2. Taking the Challenge Examination at the time and place specified and passing it at the level deemed satisfactory by the department. Grades of Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) will be awarded.

Challenge of Subject Requirements

Certain specific subject requirements (e.g., U.S. Constitution, State and Local Government, etc.) may be passed by Challenge Examinations under the following conditions:

1. An appropriate course is not offered by the University.
2. Special arrangements must be made with the appropriate department for the preparation of the necessary examination.
3. The student must secure a Request for Credit by Challenge Examination form, secure the necessary approvals, pay an examination fee, and file all copies of the completed request with the Testing Office.
4. The student must take the Challenge Examination at the time and place specified, and pass it at a level deemed satisfactory by the department.

Subject credit only is granted for this type of Challenge Examination. An appropriate notation certifying completion of the specific requirement will be placed on the student’s permanent academic record.

College Board Advanced Placement Examination Policy

¹ Does not include California State & Local Government.
² Consult Physics Department for Lab Credit in the major.
³ Includes General Education lab credit.
⁴ If a student passes more than one AP exam in calculus or computer science, only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate.
⁵ If a student passes more than one AP exam in physics, only six units of credit may be applied to the baccalaureate, and only four units of credit may be applied to G.E. Breadth.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit Allowances

Notes:
¹ This examination does not include California State and Local Government.
² If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English (e.g., two exams in French), then only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate.

International Baccalaureate Credit

International Baccalaureate examination results must be sent directly to the Enrollment Services Office for credit consideration. Higher level International Baccalaureate courses on the UC “A-G” college preparatory lists are considered Honors courses and for admission purposes carry an extra grade point in admission eligibility calculation for A, B, or C grades. Additional honor grade points cannot be included if they raise the grade point average above a 5.00. Honors points are calculated for 11th and 12th grades, including up to two 11th grade International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), or honors courses with 11th or 12th grade course content in 10th grade, and are limited to a maximum of eight semester courses. Entering freshmen who have earned the International Baccalaureate diploma (not the certificate) will be eligible for admission regardless of other qualifications and may be eligible for sophomore standing. Ungraded advanced standing credit including General Education credit will be allowed for Higher Level Examinations with qualifying scores as indicated in the table below.

Questions about IB college credits or about the admissions process should be directed to the Admissions and Outreach Office at (209) 667-3070 or toll-free at 1-800-300-7420.

Learning Disabled Student G.E. Breadth Requirement Waiver

A student with a diagnosed learning disability or neurological disorder, which significantly impairs academic performance in a specified area, may be eligible for a waiver of a General Education-Breadth (GEB) requirement. A student desiring to pursue this option should contact the office of Disability Resource Services at (209-667-3159) and submit a copy of the documentation of his/her disability. The documentation will then be reviewed by the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional to determine if the severity of the student’s disability qualifies him/her for a waiver of a GEB requirement.

Note: Students for whom the GEB requirement is waived are required instead to complete additional coursework in a related area of the GEB program which will substitute for the requirement that has been waived.

The student’s documentation must meet the following requirements:

1. The student with a learning disability must have documentation showing deficits in the area under consideration, and these deficits must severely compromise the student’s skills in this academic area.
2. The student with a neurological disorder must have documentation that specifically states that the disorder severely compromises the student’s skills in
   the academic area under consideration.
3. Additional testing and/or documentation may be required if the submitted documentation does not meet the standards used by the California State
   University System.

The following procedures describe how a student should apply for a waiver of a GEB requirement once it has been established that the student qualifies for this academic accommodation:

1. If appropriate, the student will (a) have taken any required placement tests (e.g., Entry Level Mathematics exams) with appropriate testing accommodations and (b) have attempted any appropriate developmental course(s) (e.g., mathematics) with accommodations in both testing and instructional methods.
2. The student must be registered with the Office of Disability Resource Services.
3. The student will submit a “Student Petition for Exception to University Requirement” to the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional.
4. The student will also submit a letter to the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional that addresses the following:
   1. Type of disability
   2. Previous “good-faith” efforts made in the academic area under consideration and support services utilized in these efforts
   3. Potential for success at the University
   4. Chosen major

Note: The waiver of a GEB requirement is only allowed if the course under consideration is neither a requirement within the student’s major nor a prerequisite.

5. The Disability Resource Services professional will recommend approval of the waiver of the GEB requirement to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs or his/her designee.

Note: The course used to substitute for the GEB requirement will be determined by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (or his/her designee), in consultation with the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional.

6. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (or his/her designee), in consultation with the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional, will decide whether the substitution and/or waiver is warranted. If the waiver is approved, the Office of Enrollment Services will be notified.
7. If the student wishes to appeal the decision, a request may be submitted to the University-Wide Appeals Committee.

Note: Students who decide to pursue a teaching credential, waiver program, or licensure, will still be required to demonstrate proficiency on state-mandated tests (e.g., CBEST, PRAXIS, licensing exams) and/or in coursework in the waiver program (e.g., MATH 1030, MATH 1040).

Learning Disabled Student Course Substitutions in the Major, Minor, or Concentration

A student with a diagnosed learning disability, neurological disorder, or physical disability which significantly impairs academic performance in a specified area, may be eligible for a waiver of a requirement in the student’s major, minor, concentration, or specified prerequisites. Substitutions are only allowed if the course is not deemed by the Department to be essential to the academic integrity of the program in question. A student desiring to pursue this option should contact the Department Chair in the major or minor to inquire whether a waiver is permitted.

Note: Students for whom a requirement is waived are required instead to complete additional course work that will substitute for the requirement that has been waived.

If the Department determines that a waiver of this course is permitted, then the student must submit documentation of the disability to the office of Disability Resource Services. The documentation must meet the following requirements:

1. The student with a learning disability must have documentation showing deficits in the area under consideration, and these deficits must severely compromise the student’s skills in this academic course.
2. The student with a neurological disorder must have documentation that specifically states that the disorder severely compromises the student’s skills in the academic course under consideration.
3. The student with a physical disability must have documentation that specifically states that the student is unable to perform the physical tasks necessary in the academic course under consideration.
4. Additional testing and/or documentation may be required if the submitted documentation does not meet the standards used by the California State University System.

The following procedures describe how a student should apply for a waiver of a major, minor, concentration, or prerequisite requirement once (a) the Department has determined that a waiver is permitted and (b) Disability Resource Services has established that a student with a learning disability, neurological disorder, or physical disability qualifies for this academic accommodation:

1. The student must be registered with Disability Resource Services.
2. The student will submit a “Student Petition for Exception to University Requirement” to the Department Chair.
3. The student will also submit a letter to the Department Chair that addresses the following:
   1. Type of disability
   2. Previous “good-faith” efforts made in the academic area under consideration and support services utilized in these efforts
   3. Potential for success in this major or minor
4. The Department Chair, in consultation with the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional, shall make a decision about the appropriateness of the
   petition. If approved, then the Department Chair (a) will write a memo to Enrollment Services regarding this decision, with a copy going to Disability
   Resource Services and (b) will determine, in consultation with the appropriate Disability Resource Services professional, which course will substitute for the
   waived requirement.
5. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the Department, a request may be submitted to the University-Wide Appeals Committee.
   or
   The Department’s decision shall be considered final.

Note: If a student decides to pursue a teaching credential, waiver program, or licensure, s/he will still be required to demonstrate proficiency on state-mandated tests (e.g., CBEST, licensing exams) and/or in coursework in the waiver program (e.g., MATH 1030, MATH 1040).

Evaluation of Transfer Credit

The Enrollment Services Office will evaluate previous college work as it relates to the requirements of CSU Stanislaus. Each student seeking a degree will have access to a personalized degree audit which will serve as a basis for determining the remaining requirements for the student’s specific objective. The evaluation remains valid as long as the student matriculates for the term specified, pursues the objective declared, and remains in continuous enrollment. The student will not be obligated to meet additional graduation requirements unless such requirements become mandatory as a result of changes in the California Code of Regulations. (See Catalog Year for Graduation Requirements.)

Because of these regulations, a student should notify the Enrollment Services Office of any change in degree objective specified on their admission application. (See Declaration or Change of Degree Objectives.) While students may follow the specific catalog year academic requirements on which their transfer credit evaluation is based, they will be held responsible for complying with all changes in other regulations, policies, and procedures which may appear in subsequent catalogs and Schedule of Classes.

CSU Stanislaus grants credit to students who pass examinations approved for credit systemwide. These include Advanced Placement Examinations (no maximum unit limitation), International Baccalaureate Examinations (no maximum unit limitation), DANTES courses (24-unit maximum) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations (30-unit maximum).

Transfer of Credit from a Community College

Transferable courses are defined as those officially certified as baccalaureate level by the regionally accredited college at which the courses were taken. No upper-division credit may be allowed from a two-year college, nor may credit be allowed for professional courses in education. Transfer credit is limited to 6 units for introduction to education courses. The University accepts a maximum of 70 semester units of credit from two-year colleges. Additional lower-division courses may be taken at the University for full credit even after 70 units have been earned. Admission as an upper-division student may be allowed even if all General Education requirements have not been completed.

Credit for Noncollegiate Instruction

CSU Stanislaus grants undergraduate degree credit for successful completion of noncollegiate instruction, either military or civilian, appropriate to the baccalaureate, that has been recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education.

The number of units allowed are those recommended in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services and the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. Such credit is designated as provisional. Regular credit may be granted upon adviser recommendation, departmental endorsement, and completion of 24 semester units at CSU Stanislaus with a 2.0 (C) grade point average or better.

Distance Learning Courses

Credit is granted for all transferable credit-bearing distance learning courses (whether electronic, television-based, or print and mail-based) completed at regionally accredited postsecondary colleges and universities in the United States with the exception being the 70 semester unit limit on community college credit. Students must have official transcripts forwarded to the Enrollment Services Office. The appropriate academic departments shall determine the nature of the subject credit for degree requirements at CSU Stanislaus. Students may be required to provide additional information to assure the work offered for credit is of sufficient quality compared with the curricula and standards to meet degree requirements at CSU Stanislaus.

Extension and Correspondence Courses

The maximum credit for correspondence and extension courses which may be allowed toward the bachelor’s degree is 24 semester units.

Military Service Credit

Veterans who desire to have their military records evaluated for credit should submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (separation papers), or DD Form 295 (Application For The Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service), and transcripts of courses taken at military service schools to the Enrollment Services Office. A maximum of six semester units may be granted, fulfilling the requirement for General Education Areas E.1 and E.2 . (See Credit for Noncollegiate Instruction.)

Prior Coursework

Coursework completed ten years before enrollment at CSU Stanislaus is designated provisional credit primarily to alert the student and academic adviser that course scheduling adjustments may be warranted. Regular credit for this coursework will be allowed based on adviser recommendation after satisfactory completion of 24 units at the University.

Workshop Credit

Workshop credit does not substitute for course credit in a credential sequence and will not be applied toward the General Education, major, or minor degree requirements of the University. Such credit may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree only as elective units. Workshops (formerly numbered 4920 to 4929) at CSU Stanislaus are open to both undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students.