ALTERNATIVE COURSE CREDITS
A maximum of 45 semester hours of alternative credits may be counted toward graduation. This includes CLEP, Advanced Placement credit, credit by examination, Life Experience credit, and credit for military or corporate training. Contact the Registrar for further information.
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (ACE)
Military or corporate training that has been recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) is another avenue for earning college credit. Credit recommendations made by the American Council on Education (ACE) are advisory. Applicants may apply for more than one military learning experience. St. Thomas University reserves the right to reduce the total amount credit recommended by ACE to avoid granting duplicate credits. For further information students should contact the Registrar’s Office.
CLEP
St. Thomas University will award CLEP credit in both general and subject areas, with the understanding that none of those credits may count toward the fulfillment of a major requirement without the approval of the appropriate department chairperson. St. Thomas University will not award CLEP credit in a subject in which a student has once been enrolled at the university level. St. Thomas University awards a maximum of six (6) credits for any CLEP examination for which the student obtains the credit-granting score recommended by the American Council on Education as published by the College Board, ETS, P.O. Box 6600 Princeton , New Jersey 08541 .
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
Is granted for a matriculated student satisfactorily passing a comprehensive examination on the subject matter. The examination shall be written and administered by a professor assigned by the Department Chairperson within the appropriate division. Students wishing to earn credit by examination should obtain the appropriate form at the Registrar’s Office, then contact the appropriate Department Chairperson for permission and assistance. Departments may restrict those courses for which credit can be earned in this fashion. Credit by examination may not be attempted for the same course a second time. Students will receive a grade of ’P’ (Pass) if successful or ‘NP’ ( Not Pass ) if not successful. See Financial Information for the appropriate fee for credit by examination.
LIFE EXPERIENCE (PORTFOLIO) CREDIT
The Life Experience Portfolio Program offers adult learners the opportunity to seek college-level credit by completion of a portfolio. The portfolio is the means by which adult learners demonstrate the knowledge and learning outcomes experiences acquired outside the traditional classroom that constitute college-level learning. Adult learners must first complete the POR 300 “Adult Development and Life Assessment” course”. A maximum of twenty seven (27) additional credits may be granted through evaluation of the portfolio by members of the St. Thomas University faculty. All credits successfully achieved through the portfolio process will be recorded on the official transcript with a grade of “P”” (pass). Life Experience Portfolio Program procedures can be obtained from the Office of Continuing and Adult Education.
Life Experience Portfolio Program requirements:
1. Have at least three (3) years of full-time work experience. Adult learners who do not have three years of full-time work experience may receive permission from the Dean of Continuing and Adult Education to enter the program if they demonstrate a significant amount of community service experience.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in college-level writing by completion of ENG 101 and ENG 102 or successfully passing the CLEP examination in English with essay with a minimal score of 500.
3. Successfully complete POR 300 Adult Development Life and Assessment course.
4. Submit a completed portfolio requesting additional portfolio credits to the Continuing and Adult Education within one (1) year of completion of the POR 300 Course.
5. Students must be in good academic standing (cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all St. Thomas University course work). Adult learners who have completed 90 credits are not eligible to complete the Life Experience Portfolio Program. All credit earned by completion of the Life Experience Portfolio Program will be posted on the academic transcript after completion of twelve (12) semester hours of coursework at St. Thomas University.