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Credit by Examination

Undergraduate Schools

  • Students must be in good standing.
  • Credit hours and grade are awarded on the basis of the grade earned on the examination, subject to the policy of the department awarding credit.
  • Students have the option of refusing to accept the credit hours and grade after learning the results of the examination.

Students enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in the term are not charged extra tuition for credit hours earned through credit by examination, so long as the total credits for the term do not exceed 18, including credit by examination, no-credit courses, and courses dropped after the change period. Students in this category pay a $50 fee for the cost of constructing, administering, and grading the examination.

Full-time students with a tuition load exceeding 18 credit hours and students taking fewer than 12 credit hours pay tuition at the hourly tuition rate.

Additional school-specific policies are outlined below.

Students apply for credit by examination through the Blair Office of Academic Services.

  • Students must be enrolled for at least 12 hours, be recommended by their advisers, and have the approval of the appropriate department. In addition, students must seek prior approval of their study plan through the associate dean’s office.
  • Students may attempt to earn credit by examination in no more than two courses in one semester, only once in any course in one semester, and no more than twice in the same course.
  • Students who refuse the credit hours and grade are still charged the $50 fee.

Students who wish to earn credit by departmental examination should consult the Office of Academic Services in Arts and Science concerning procedures.

  • Students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours.
  • Students must obtain the approval of the chair of the department that is to give the examination and the instructor designated by the chair.
  • Students may earn up to 18 hours of credit by any combination of credit through advanced placement examinations and credit by departmental examination.
  • Students may earn up to 8 hours of credit by examination in any one department.
  • Students may attempt to obtain credit by examination no more than twice in one semester, no more than once in one course in one semester, and no more than twice in one course.
  • Students may not repeat a course for grade replacement under the credit by examination procedures.
  • Credits earned by credit by examination may not be counted toward AXLE.
  • Students who refuse the credit hours and grade are still charged the $50 fee.

Students wanting to earn credit by departmental examination should consult the Peabody Office of Academic Services concerning procedures.

  • Students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours.
  • Students must obtain the approval of the chair of the department that is to give the examination and the instructor designated by the chair.
  • Students may earn up to 30 hours of credit by any combination of credit through advanced placement examinations and credit by departmental examination.
  • Students may earn up to 8 hours of credit by examination in any one department.
  • Students may attempt to obtain credit by examination no more than twice in one semester and no more than twice in one course.
  • Students may not repeat a course for grade replacement under the credit by examination procedures.
  • Students who refuse the credit hours and grade are still charged the $50 fee.

Students who want to earn credit by departmental examination should consult the associate dean concerning procedures.

  • Students must obtain the approval of the chair of the department that is to give the examination and of the instructor designated by the chair.
  • Students may earn up to 8 hours of credit by examination in any one department, although this limitation might be raised on petition to the Administrative Committee.
  • Students may attempt to obtain credit by examination no more than twice in one semester, no more than once in one course in one semester, and no more than twice in one course.
  • A course cannot be repeated through credit by examination.