Departmental Exams for Proficiency or Credit: Undergraduate Students
Effective: November 22, 2011
Version History: Original policy - Exams for Credit or Proficiency approved by EPC October 12, 2011, and approved by Campus Assembly November 22, 2011; revised by EPC 10-31-12, and approved by Campus Assembly May 14, 2013. Policy revised to include only department exam language from the 2013 policy and renamed Departmental Exams for Proficiency or Credit confirmed by UCC April 23, 2024, approved by EVCAA June 26, 2024
Policy Owner: Academic Affairs
Policy Contact: Jennifer Mencl, Undergraduate Education; Tracey Bolen, Registrar
Academic departments have the discretion to offer any currently-enrolled, undergraduate degree-seeking student an exam to either demonstrate proficiency or earn course credit. Departments may establish eligibility criteria for an exam for proficiency or credit. The format of these exams is at the department’s discretion (e.g., final examination, oral tests, written papers or projects). A student may not take an exam for credit for a course in which they are currently enrolled or one already completed for any grade basis (i.e., A-F, S-N, or AUD status). No department is required to offer exams for proficiency or credit.
1. Exam to earn course credit
A departmental exam for credit may be used to earn credit for a course. Credit(s) earned by departmental exam do not earn GPA points and are reflected only within the student’s cumulative credit totals on the transcript (not within the term in which the student completed the exam). Credits earned through examination are not considered as regular, residence, or transfer credits.
The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for credit. Students are required to pay the credit by special examination fee for exams to earn course credit.
Work of “C-“ quality or better will earn credit with a ‘T’ posted on the transcript to indicate credit by exam. If the work on the examination is below this level, no notation is made on the transcript. Only credits, not grades, are granted upon successful completion.
Electronic form for Credit by Examination Request.
2. Exam to demonstrate proficiency
A departmental exam for proficiency may be used to fulfill prerequisites for advanced courses or satisfy other requirements. An exam for proficiency does not yield any course credit or grade. The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for proficiency. Courses satisfied through proficiency examination do not reduce the total credit requirements for graduation or in the major field.
If proficiency is demonstrated, a notation is made on the student’s transcript that reads, “Course X satisfied by proficiency examination.”
The department determines whether there is a fee for proficiency testing and administers the fee.