Departmental Exams for Proficiency or Credit for Undergraduate Students: Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester

• Updated: May 2011
• Primary Contact : Suzanne Bardouche

Academic departments have the discretion to offer any currently-enrolled undergraduate degree-seeking student an exam to either demonstrate proficiency or earn course credit. Departments may establish eligibility criteria for an exam for proficiency or credit. The format of these exams is at the department's discretion (e.g., final examination, oral tests, written papers or projects). A student may not take an exam for credit for a course he or she has already completed for any grade basis (i.e., A-F, S-N, or AUD status). No department is required to offer exams for proficiency or credit.

1. Exam to demonstrate proficiency

   A departmental exam for proficiency may be used to fulfill prerequisites for advanced courses or satisfy other requirements. An exam for proficiency does not yield any course credit or grade. The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for proficiency.

2. Exam to earn course credit

   A departmental exam for credit may be used to earn credit for a course. Credit(s) earned by departmental exam have no bearing on an undergraduate student's campus-specific credit requirements. Credit(s) earned by departmental exam do not earn GPA points and are reflected only within the student's cumulative credit totals on the transcript (not within the term in which the student completed the exam). The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for credit.

   Students may be required to pay the credit by special examination fee for exams to earn course credit.

Special situations

On the Morris campus, the Scholastic Committee serves in the role of the academic department and has all related responsibilities.

Departments may wish to have a means of allowing students to demonstrate existing proficiency in a subject without requiring the student to complete coursework.

• Notating a Special Exam for Proficiency or Credit on the Transcript
• Requesting and Posting a Credit by Special Examination Fee
• Requesting Approval to Take an Exam for Proficiency or Credit

• Request for departmental examination for proficiency or credit (Twin Cities) (PDF)
• Request for special examination (Morris) (PDF)
• Request for special examinations (Crookston) (PDF)
• Request for special examination room

Academic department

The unit on campus offering course work that is the same or substantially similar to the subject area of the exam.

Currently-enrolled undergraduate degree-seeking students

Students who have been admitted to a University of Minnesota undergraduate degree program and who have matriculated.

Campus-specific credit requirements

The minimum number of credits students must complete at the campus from which they expect to graduate before a degree will be granted.

Academic departments (Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, and Rochester)

• Determine whether or not to make available to students an exam for credit or proficiency.
• Determine the format and scoring of the exam.

Colleges (Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, and Rochester)

• Determine whether or not successful completion of the exam will apply to the student's degree program.
• Request the credit by special exam fee as part of the annual budget process.

Scholastic Committee (Morris)

• Determine whether or not to make available to students an exam for credit or proficiency.
• Determine whether or not successful completion of the exam will apply to the student's degree program.

Office of the Registrar (All campuses)

• Appropriately notate on students' transcripts any successful completion of a departmental exam for proficiency or credit.

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

1. Which students are eligible to take an examination for credit or proficiency?

   Only students who have been admitted to the University of Minnesota as degree-seeking undergraduate students and have a student status of "enrolled" are eligible to take an examination for credit or proficiency. "Enrolled" does not refer to the student's registration status, but is a term used for students who have been admitted to the University and have matriculated. Students who have been admitted to the University but have not accepted an offer of enrollment are not eligible.

   PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Option) students are not eligible for these exams while they are enrolled as PSEO students.

2. Who determines whether or not to offer an examination for credit or proficiency?

   On the Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, and Rochester campuses, the decision to offer either examination is made by the academic department or unit offering the course or subject for which the student is seeking examination. On the Morris campus, the Scholastic Committee has the authority to grant an examination for credit; examinations for proficiency are granted by the academic department.

3. If a student does not pass an exam for credit or proficiency, is this notated on the student's transcript?

   No; only successful exam completions are notated on students' transcripts.

• Special Examinations on Morris Campus

Effective:

May 2011 - Replaces Senate Policy: Examinations for Credit and Proficiency. Clarifies who is eligible to take a departmental exam for proficiency or credit. Defines key terms to provide clarity for the reader.

Supercedes:

Examinations for Credit and Proficiency