Students may earn credit without formal enrollment in courses, subject to availability of this option in specific departments. Courses must be approved by the Associate Dean for the program of the student’s major and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Departments may require laboratory projects, written reports, evidence of satisfactory skilled performance, etc., in lieu of, or in addition to, examination performance.
Procedure: To apply for credit by examination for a course, a student registered at College of Saint Mary must submit an Alternatives for College Credit Form, obtain approval from her academic advisor and the Program Director of the program offering the course, pay the required charge, and obtain the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Upon receipt of an approved request, the chairperson of the department offering the course will be responsible for the following:
- Establishing the procedure and standards for granting course credit by examinations without enrollment in the course.
- Providing for the administration of the examination, usually through the Achievement Center.
- Notifying the Registrar of the appropriate grade when a student has earned course credit by examination (Alternatives for College Credit Form to be used).
A student may not receive credit by examination for a course that is a prerequisite for a course already taken or for an equivalent college course already taken. Students should plan to take credit by examination early in their college careers, preferably during the first year of matriculation at the University.