Axe ’Em, Jacks!
SFA offers several options for students to earn college credit through various placement programs and national examinations. Students can receive college credit through the College-Level Examination Program, Advanced Placement Program of the College Board, International Baccalaureate Program and various SFA departments.
Policies Governing Credit by Examination and Advanced Placement
The following are university policies and procedures that apply to all credit awarded through any advanced placement or credit-by-examination program:
- Students pay a $10 fee for each locally administered departmental advanced placement examination.
- Credit by examination may not be earned for:
a. any course (or its equivalent) in which the student is currently officially enrolled at SFA beyond the 12th class day
b. any subject area in which the student has already earned credit for a more advanced course except by permission of the dean
c. or any course for which the student has already received a grade. - To earn credit for a locally administered examination, a student must make a score equivalent to at least a C. Departments may, however, require a grade equivalent of A or B.
- Credit-by-examination courses are identified on the transcript as such to distinguish them from classroom courses. They are recorded on the transcript as a credit (P) rather than a letter grade. Unsuccessful attempts to earn credit by examination are not recorded on the transcript.
- A student may receive credit for a maximum of 32 hours of coursework in credit-by-examination programs. These hours do not count as credit earned in residence.
- Credit received by examination satisfies degree requirements in the same way as credit earned by passing courses. A student’s cumulative GPA will not be affected by receiving credit by examination.
- Credit earned by examination does not apply to SFA residence requirements and does not satisfy requirements for the provisional program or Pathways.
- The CLEP or AP policy in effect at the time the test is taken will determine the credit awarded.
- Students may not attempt credit for a CLEP examination in which a failing grade has been earned at any educational institution for the course.
Policies are subject to change.
Advanced Placement Program
Students should specify SFA’s code (6682) to have official test scores sent to the Office of Admissions. The College Board’s AP Office can be reached at (609) 771-7300 or (800) 225-5427 or by email at apexams@info.collegeboard.org.
A complete list of SFA courses and credit hours that are awarded for successful AP scores can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
College-Level Examination Program
Students may take CLEP tests at SFA or at any other location and should specify the code 6682 to have official scores sent to the Office of Admissions. Credit will be awarded based on SFA’s credit-by-exam policy in effect at the time the test was taken. Students must wait six months to retake an exam and must not currently be enrolled in the course. In addition, students may not take the same CLEP test more than twice. The College Board’s CLEP office can be reached at (800) 257-9558 or by email at clep@info.collegeboard.org to have additional score reports sent. The minimum computer-based CLEP score requirements to receive college credit at SFA can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
International Baccalaureate Program
Students who participate in the International Baccalaureate Program may receive college credit for exam scores of 4 or higher on most higher-level (HL) exams and 5 or higher on most standard-level (SL) exams. The amount of credit awarded will depend upon the exam scores and the level of the courses. In compliance with SB 111 students admitted will be granted a minimum of 24 hours of credit if they have earned the IB diploma and have no score lower than a 4 on the HL and SL exams. If qualified, credit will be awarded for a score of 4 instead of 5 on the SL exams as shown on the equivalency chart located in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Internally Administered Exams
Students already enrolled at SFA may acquire pass credit by successfully completing internally administered examinations or by a departmental advanced placement system that allows students to earn credit or bypass certain courses. Departments currently awarding either advanced placement or credit by examination are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Students interested in taking an internally administered examination should contact the appropriate department to seek approval and pre-register.