Credit by Other Means

COASTAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Policies and Procedures Manual

04.01.08 Credit by Other Means

Original Approval: 04/01/2022
Last Updated:  04/08/2024
Last Reviewed: 04/08/2024

Policy/Purpose:

It is the policy of Coastal Alabama Community College to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations as well as Alabama Community College System (ACCS) policies related to Instructional Programs and regarding the level of credit awarded for courses taught at all colleges within the ACCS, regardless of the format or mode of delivery. The ACCS requires all institutions in the System to operate on a semester system.

It is the policy of Coastal Alabama Community College to grant college credit by other approved means.

NOTE: This policy is subject to change at any time without notification. ACCS policies related to Academic Instruction supersede this policy.

The following ACCS policies are referenced in this policy:
Board Policy 705.01
ACCS Chancellor’s Procedures 705.01

Scope:

This policy applies to all Coastal Alabama Community College students and employees during any activity involving the College, including the workday. In addition, visitors, vendors, contractors, and all other non-employees are expected to recognize and comply with College policies.

Definitions:

Correspondence Education: Correspondence education is a formal educational process under which the institution provides instructional materials, by mail or electronic transmission, including examinations on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor. Interaction between the instructor and the student is limited, is not regular and substantive, and is primarily initiated by the student; courses are typically self-paced.

Credit by Non-Traditional Means: Credit awarded for prior learning from which the skills that comprise courses – terminal objectives – are mastered to an acceptable degree of proficiency.

Distance Education: Distance education at Coastal Alabama Community College is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same physical location. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. A distance education course at Coastal Alabama Community College is any course in which students may complete fifty percent (50%) or more of the requirements through the College’s learning management system. Distance education courses at Coastal Alabama Community College may be classified as Online, Hybrid Online, or HyFlex. Traditional courses are not classified as distance education courses. 

Hybrid Classroom: Courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with 50% or less of the course content requiring online interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.

Hybrid Online: Courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with more than 50% of the course content requiring online interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college's approved verification process. 

HyFlex: HyFlex courses feature highly flexible course delivery models that offer students multiple options for receiving instruction and participating in course activities. These may include a mix of face-to-face, online, virtual, and/or videoconference. Available options may vary by course and by instructor and are subject to local college policy. Students should inquire about expectations for participation/attendance before registering for a HyFlex course. Identity verification for students participating online may be required using the college's approved verification process. 
 
Online: Online courses are delivered asynchronously. There are no required face-to-face sessions within the course and no requirements for on-campus activity. Faculty interact with students through assignments, discussion posts, email, office hours and other electronic/virtual means. Identity verification will be required using the college's approved verification process..

Semester Hours: Semester hours of credit are based on the average number of hours of instruction weekly during a 15-week period, with an hour of instruction defined as not less than 50 minutes of instructor/student contact.

Semester System: A semester system is defined as a fall semester, spring semester, and a summer term.

Traditional: These courses are face-to-face on campus and web-enhanced with technology-based course resources that complement in-person class sessions without reducing the number of required class meetings.

Video Conferencing: These courses are delivered synchronously through the College’s learning management system to extend classroom lectures and course activities to students remotely in real time.

Withdrawal: The grade (W) earned when a student officially withdraws from a course or from the institution within the time designated by the institution.

Details:

1. Credit by Non-Traditional Means: In addition to earning credit hours for work that is acceptable toward a degree by traditional means, per Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board Policy–Credit Awarded through Non-traditional Means, general college credit may be awarded through non-traditional means. Specifically, credit awarded through non-traditional means for academic transfer courses may be awarded by examination, nationally recognized guidelines (AP, CLEP, ACT/PEP, DANTES, Challenge Exams, ACE PONSI/CREDIT, ACE/MILITARY) or through other statewide programs identified by the Alabama Community College System. Also, credit awarded through non-traditional means for non-academic transfer courses, such as occupational and technical courses and programs of study, may be awarded through portfolio review by faculty members, program coordinators, through statewide articulation agreement for career and technical students, or other statewide programs identified by the Alabama Community College System. However, not more than 25 percent of total credit required for any program may be awarded through non-traditional means. Also, credit awarded through non-traditional means is not applicable toward the minimum of 25 percent of semester credit hours that must be completed at the institution granting the degree as referenced in ACCS Board Policy 715.01 Graduation Requirements: Degrees and Certificates Policy and Chancellor’s Procedure 715.01.

2. Credit by Career Readiness Certification: Students enrolled in an occupational program of study at Coastal Alabama Community College may receive credit for WKO107, Workplace Skills Preparation, or WKO 106, Workplace Skills if the student holds and submits to the College a valid ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate at the Silver, Gold, or Platinum level of proficiency. The credit will be awarded at the request of the student after registration in an occupational program of study at the College. All documentation to qualify must be presented in writing to the Dean of Career Technology and approved by the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College. More information about WorkKeys® at Coastal Alabama Community College can be found under Workforce Development on the College website.

3. Credit from Advanced Placement Exams: The College will grant college credit to students who score 3, 4, or 5 on one or more of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board, not to exceed 15 hours credit. To be eligible, the student must take the examination prior to enrollment in college and must be enrolled at the College when credit is awarded. The maximum amount of AP credit hours that can be applied to a student’s degree plan is 15 hours.
   
   Coastal Alabama Community College will award credit using The American Council on Education (ACE) and the College Board recommendations as outlined on the College Board website (click here for link).
   
   The student should be aware that acceptance of AP credit by Coastal Alabama does not assure that another postsecondary institution will award advanced credit for the course. Advanced Placement scores must be received from the College Board after the student applies for admission but prior to the beginning of the term in which the student wishes the credit to be applied. It is the student’s responsibility to request forwarding of an official score report by the College Board to the College.

4. Credit for Subject Examinations: Credit for Subject Examinations will be granted provided the student has not previously been enrolled in the course for which credit is to be earned. CLEP/DANTES credit will not be granted for college level courses previously failed, for courses in which credit for higher level courses has already been earned, or for both the Subject Examination and its course equivalent.

   Credit through CLEP/DANTES examinations will not be recorded on the student’s permanent record until the student has earned a minimum of 12 semester hours at the College. Notation will be made on the student’s permanent record indicating the course for which credit was awarded with the statement “Credit by Examination” followed by the number of semester hours granted.

   The policy of granting credit through CLEP/DANTES examinations may differ from policies at other colleges and the student is cautioned to check with other colleges to obtain additional information.

   The College will award credit through selected CLEP examinations provided the student earns a minimum score or above as specified in the subject areas listed below as examples: CLEP Subject Matter Exams Minimum Score Credit Equivalent Courses
   
   For a complete listing of CLEP examinations, minimum scores, and credit awarded, contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@coastalalabama.edu.

   	Minimum Score	Credit	Equivalent Courses
   Composition & Literature Exams
   American Literature	50	3	ENG251
   College Composition	60	6	ENG101 & ENG102
   College Composition Modular	50	3	ENG101
   English Literature	50	6	ENG261
   Humanities	50	3	HUM101
   World Languages Exams
   Spanish Language: Level 1	50	4	SPA101
   Spanish Language: Level 2	60	8	SPA101 & SPA102
   Spanish with Writing: Level 1	50	4	SPA201
   Spanish with Writing: Level 2	60	8	SPA201 & SPA202
   History & Social Sciences Exams
   American Government	50	3	POL211
   History of the United States I	50	3	HIS201
   History of the United States II	50	3	HIS202
   Human Growth & Development	50	3	PSY210
   Introductory Psychology	50	3	PSY200
   Introductory Sociology	50	3	SOC200
   Principles of Macroeconomics	50	3	ECO231
   Principles of Microeconomics	50	3	ECO232
   Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648	50	3	HIS101
   Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present	50	3	HIS102
   Science & Mathematics Exams
   Biology	50	4	BIO103
   Calculus	50	4	MTH125
   College Algebra	50	3	MTH100
   College Mathematics	50	3	MTH116
   Precalculus	50	3	MTH112
   Business Exams
   Financial Accounting	50	3	BUS241
   Information Systems	50	3	CIS130
   Introductory Business Law	50	3	BUS263
   Principles of Management	50	3	BUS275
   Principles of Marketing	50	3	BUS285

5. Credit Through Selected DANTES Examinations: The College will award credit through selected DANTES examinations provided the student earns a minimum score or above as specified in the subject areas listed below as examples:

    

   DANTES Subject Matter Exams	Minimum Score	Credit	Equivalent Courses
   Business
   Introduction to Business	48	3	BUS100
   Introduction to Management	54	3	BUS275
   Principles of Financial Accounting	50	3	BUS241
   Business Law I	53	3	BUS263
   Basic Marketing	50	3	BUS285
   Principles of Economics II	54	3	ECO232
   Mathematics and Science
   College Algebra	50	3	MTH112
   College Trigonometry	54	3	MTH113
   Calculus I Linear Algebra	50	4	MTH125
   Calculus I Linear Algebra	52	3	MTH110
   College Physics II	55	4	PHY214
   General Chemistry	57	4	CHM104
   College Chemistry I	55	4	CHM111
   College Chemistry II	53	4	CHM112
   Social Science & Public Service Technologies
   History of Western Civilization to 1500	53	3	HIS101
   History of Western Civilization since 1500	50	3	HIS102
   General Anthropology	38	3	HIS201
   Intro to Law Enforcement	58	3	HIS202
   Criminology	56		CRJ208

   For a complete listing of DANTES examinations, minimum scores, and credit awarded, contact the Registrar’s Office.
    

6. Credit for Military Training Educational Experiences: The College will consider on an individual basis, military experiences as a substitute for approved courses in the student’s training and educational curriculum. It will be the responsibility of the student to apply for credits by completing the Request for Military Credit Form and by providing certified copies of the Military Service Form to the Registrar’s Office. Credits extended by the College will be applicable toward the individual’s graduation requirements, and once the credit is extended the student will be restricted from taking the course for which the substitution was made. Guidelines to be utilized in extending credit are as follows:

   1. Joint Services Transcript: Coastal Alabama Community College requires that all service members submit a Joint Services Transcript (JST) to the Registrar’s Office for articulation.

   2. United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI): Credit may be given for study or correspondence study applicable to the student’s curriculum which was taken through the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) provided the course is approved by the American Council on Education. The student must submit official evidence of satisfactory completion of the work to the Registrar’s Office.

   3. Military Service Schools: Training courses completed in the armed forces which are applicable to the student’s curriculum and approved by the American Council on Education may be accepted for credit upon submission of official documentation to the Registrar’s Office that such courses were satisfactorily completed.

   4. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Services Support (DANTES): The College will consider credit earned for college-level courses reported through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Services Support (DANTES). Credit allowed will be based upon the recommendations of the American Council on Education.

   5. Physical Education Credit: Any student who has served at least 181 days of active-duty military service may receive two (2) semester hours of physical education credit. The student must apply to the Registrar’s Office for the credit and supply the appropriate documentation to receive the credits.

7. Credit for Reverse Transfer: Reverse Transfer is for students who transfer from Coastal Alabama to another college or university prior to completing an Associate degree.
   1. Student:
      • Agree to participate and release a student’s records to Coastal Alabama from their current University/College
      • Meet eligibility requirements:
        • Minimum of 15 hours earned at Coastal Alabama toward the degree
        • Meet degree requirements for Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science Degree
      • Earn a total of 60 credits required for an associate degree. This is total combined hours (Coastal Alabama + University/College)
   2. The University/College will:
      • Send records to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama.
   3. Coastal Alabama Community College will:
      • Evaluate credits from the university/college and inform the student if they have earned an associate degree.

8. Credit for International Baccalaureate (IB): Students who have successfully completed International Baccalaureate credit are encouraged to send their IB transcript to Coastal Alabama Community College. Students must arrange to have the scores of the IB exams sent from the International Baccalaureate Organization to Coastal. There is no fee for posting this credit on a student’s transcript. Below is a list of currently accepted IB tests and scores required for credit.
   SL – Standard Level
   HL – Higher Level

   IB Exam	CACC Course Equivalent	Score Required for Credit	Credits Awarded
   Biology SL, HL	BIO103	4	4
   Business & Management SL, HL	BUS275	4	3
   Chemistry SL, HL	CHM111	5	4
   Economics SL, HL	ECO231	5	3
   French ab initio	FRN101	5	4
   Geography	GEO100	4	3
   History SL, HL	HIS201	4	3
   Language A: Language & Literature SL, HL	ENG101	4	3
   Language A: Literature SL, HL	ENG271	4	3
   Mathematics HL	MTH125	5	4
   Mathematics SL	MTH112	5	3
   Music SL, HL	MUS101	4	3
   Philosophy SL, HL	PHL106	4	3
   Physics SL, HL	PHY120	5	4
   Psychology SL, HL	PSY200	4	3
   Spanish B SL	SPA101	5	4
   Theatre Arts SL, HL	THR126	4	3
   Visual Arts	ART100	4	3
   World Religions SL	REL100	4	3

    

9. Credit for Directed Study: A student may petition an instructor to enroll in a course on a directed study basis.
   1. Instructors should refer students requesting a directed study course to the appropriate Division Chair or Instructional Director.
   2. Any directed study course must be approved in advance by the appropriate Division Chair, Instructional Director, and/or Instructional Officer.
   3. Directed study courses will be approved only under emergency conditions or in instances when a course is not offered on a regular basis but is needed for a student to graduate.
   4. A lesson plan must be submitted in advance to the Division Chair, Instructional Director, and/or Instructional Officer.
   5. For a directed study course to be approved by the Division Chair, Instructional Director, and/or the appropriate Instructional Officer, the course should contain the same lecture time, course content, and testing procedures that are included in a regularly scheduled class.
   6. Once the request has been approved, the student will be allowed to register for the course and complete the course work on a directed study basis.
   7. The student is responsible for all course work as required.
   8. All College tuition and fee costs; registration, withdrawal, drop/add, and other College deadlines; and the instructional rules and regulations apply to a class taken on a directed study basis.
   9. This privilege may be afforded the student under the condition that they have been unable to schedule the required course in any other manner.
   10. Approval is also subject to the instructor’s work load.

10. Credit for Prior Learning Assessment: Refer to ACCS Chancellor’s Procedures 706.01.

Procedure(s):

1. Students who earn credit by non-traditional means are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation for approval.
2. Approved credit will be applied by the Registrar onto the student’s transcript.

Additional Provisions/Information

Refer to Financial Aid Policy if receiving any type of financial aid regarding repetition of courses.