Credit by Validation

The South Dakota Board of Regents and its universities encourage students to take advantage of opportunities available to them to earn college credit. (BOR Policy 2.2.2.1) These opportunities can reduce the cost of a college education by reducing the number of courses a student must take to complete a degree. Nationally recognized exams include AP (Advanced Placement Program), CLEP (College Level Examination Program), DANTES, and IB (International Baccalaureate). Other options include Institutional Exam, prior learning portfolios, and Placement Credit for Foreign Languages. Credits earned through validation methods other than nationally recognized examinations are not allowed:

1. To exceed 30 credits for baccalaureate degrees
2. To exceed 15 credits for associate degrees

Credit by Validation is not allowed:

1. If the student previously visited or is currently registered for the class
2. For any graduate level courses
3. If the student previously completed the course for collegiate credit (may repeat “w” grades only)

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Entering freshman students who have completed an advanced placement course in high school and who have taken and successfully passed appropriate College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement test with a score of three (3), four (4), or five (5) may receive course credit. Request that official score reports are mailed to Northern State University for evaluation. South Dakota Board of Regents policy on specific courses for which credit is given and other requirements are found at advanced placement guidelines. If the student successfully completes the examination, the permanent record will show “Credit by Examination” with a grade of “EX”. No entry will be made on a permanent record if the examination is failed.

Contact the Testing Center for information about the testing program, test dates and fees. Phone (605)-626-2029.

NOTE: “No Credit” indicates that the South Dakota public university system does Not grant college credit for student performance on this examination. South Dakota public university system will only accept Advanced Placements scores recorded within five years from the time a student seeks credit by examination. Advanced Placement examinations do Not meet the globalization or writing intensive requirements.

^A Retroactive credits for 101, 102, and 201may be earned if an appropriate upper-division course is completed with a grade of “C” or above.

^* Only LATI 101  & 102 are System General Education Requirements LATI 201 & 202 do not count as System General Education Requirements.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Board’s College Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides an opportunity to earn college credit for college level achievements without the benefit of transcripted college credit or to validate coursework or experience otherwise not acceptable as transfer. College credit is awarded for satisfactory performance on the CLEP subject examinations per the South Dakota Board of Regents policy. CLEP tests may be retaken only following a lapse of three (3) months. CLEP examinations do not meet the globalization or writing intensive requirements. South Dakota Board of Regents policy on specific courses for which credit is given and other requirements are found at CLEP guidelines. If the student successfully completes the examination, the permanent record will show “Credit by Examination” with a grade of “EX”. No entry will be made on a permanent record if the examination is failed. Contact the Testing Center for information about the testing program, test dates and fees. Phone (605)-626-2029.

CLEP exams may be taken to repeat an F grade, but F will still count in gpa.

NOTE: “No Credit” indicates that the South Dakota public university system does not grant college credit for student performance on this examination. South Dakota public university system will only accept CLEP scores recorded within five years from the time a student seeks credit by examination. CLEP examinations do not meet the writing intensive requirements.

¹ Students receiving a score of 59 or higher on the French Language exam are able to earn credit for FREN 201  & FREN 202  until the start of the Fall 2022 semester. After the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students must earn a score of 60 or higher to earn credit for FREN 201  & FREN 202 .

² Students receiving a score of 50 or higher on the History of the United States I exam are able to earn credit for HIST 151  until the start of the Fall 2022 semester. After the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students must earn a score of 60 or higher to earn credit for HIST 151 .

³ Students receiving a score of 50 or higher on the History of the United States II exam are able to earn credit for HIST 152  until the start of the Fall 2022 semester. After the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students must earn a score of 60 or higher to earn credit for HIST 152 .

⁴ Students receiving a score of 50 or higher on the Western Civilization I exam are able to earn credit for HIST 121  until the start of the Fall 2022 semester. After the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students must earn a score of 60 or higher to earn credit for HIST 121 .

5 Students receiving a score of 50 or higher on the Western Civilization II exam are able to earn credit for HIST 122  until the start of the Fall 2022 semester. After the start of the Fall 2022 semester, students must earn a score of 60 or higher to earn credit for HIST 122 .

DANTES

The DANTES/DSST (Defense Activities for Non Traditional Education Support Subject Standardized Test) program is an extensive series of examinations in college subject areas that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examinations in undergraduate courses. DANTES funds paper-based DSST testing for eligible Service members and civilian examinees at DANTES Test Centers and at national test centers (colleges and universities) offering the Internet-based (iBT) DSSTs. South Dakota Board of Regents policy on specific courses for which credit is given and other requirements are found at DANTES testing guidelines. If the student successfully completes the examination, the permanent record will show “Credit by Examination” with a grade of “EX”. No entry will be made on a permanent record if the examination is failed.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Northern State University recognizes the rigor of IB courses and the IB Diploma Program and encourages students to complete higher level courses and exams when ready. Students who complete IB courses and exams and obtain SDBOR required scores will be considered for advanced placement credit in the corresponding courses. South Dakota Board of Regents policy on specific courses for which credit is given and other requirements are found at: https://public.powerdms.com/SDRegents/documents/1677959. If earned, the permanent record will show “Credit by Examination” with a grade of “EX”. No entry will be made if minimum requirements are not met.

¹ Exam no longer offered as of 2020. Scores will no longer be accepted after 2025.

² Exam no longer offered as of 2020. Scores will no longer be accepted after 2025.

Academic Credit for Non-Traditional Learning Experiences

Educational experiences that are equivalent to coursework provided at Northern State University, but could not otherwise be accepted by the university may be evaluated by institutional exam or Prior Learning Portfolio, at the discretion of the dean in the student’s academic area of study, when nationally recognized examinations (AP, CLEP, etc.) are not available. Only students enrolled in a degree program at Northern State University are eligible for either of these options. Nontraditional learning experiences include coursework from a non-accredited institution or work experience.

Credits earned through validation methods other than nationally recognized examinations are not allowed:

To exceed 30 hours of credit for baccalaureate degrees
To exceed 15 hours of credit for associate degrees.

No Credit by Validation is allowed:

If the student previously visited or is currently registered for the class
For any graduate level courses
If the student previously completed the course for college credit.

When validation credits are accepted, equivalent courses are recorded on the student’s academic record as “Exam for Credit” with a grade of “EX”, or “Prior Learning” or “Life Experience” with a grade of “CR”. A grade of “C” or better is required to earn course credit, but neither will affect grade point average. Credit earned for non-traditional learning experience will not meet degree residency requirements. Northern State University cannot guarantee that credit earned for non-traditional learning experience at NSU will transfer to other institutions, since institutional practices/policies vary.

Institutional Course Examination

In subjects for which there is no equivalent nationally recognized examination, educational experiences may be evaluated by institutional exam at the discretion of the dean in the associated area of study. Generally, only lower division (numbered below 300) courses may be challenged.

Students discuss the proposal with the department coordinator of the department that offers the course and the dean of that academic area and obtains the “Application for Institutional Course Examination” form available through the Registrar’s Office or on the myNSU portal (https://portal.sdbor.edu/nsu-student/academics/registrar/Pages/default.aspx.)

The Registrar checks that all criteria have been met, then signs the form indicating the desired course examination is in line with University policy.

The department coordinator & dean sign the form if approved and make arrangements for administration and grading of the examination.

The student takes the form to the Finance Office and pays the fee. The Finance Office signs the form to indicate this is done. Current costs for challenge exams are noted in the university catalog under Fees and Expenses, Non-Resident Tuition, Credit by Examination.

The student takes the form to the faculty person identified on the form who administers and grades the exam. The exam results are reported on the form. The test should be arranged as soon as possible, but no more than thirty days after payment of the fee.

The signed form is returned to the Registrar’s Office. Only successful exams are noted on the student’s academic record.

If the student fails to establish credit, the examination cannot be repeated nor can the application fee be refunded.

Credit For Prior Learning/Work Experience by Portfolio

Requests for credit via prior learning/work experience must directly correspond to academic coursework offered by Northern State University. The experiential learning must be fully described and documented by the student in writing to indicate the direct correspondence or equivalence to specific university course(s). Requests should be evaluated by external supervisors, if appropriate, and by University officials in light of the student’s educational objectives. For coursework from non-accredited institutions:

Students prepare a cover memo to the appropriate Dean (of the area the courses falls in), stating the course(s) for which he/she would like to receive prior learning credit. In addition to the memo, the student’s application for prior learning should include:

• Transcript for the course(s) that includes the course prefix, number, title and date of enrollment;
• Course syllabus;
• Name & credentials of instructor;
• Any course projects that seem appropriate;
• Statement/memo from the student’s NSU advisor, indicating the student and the advisor have discussed the student’s application and the advisor agrees that prior learning credit is appropriate for this student in this major; and
• Institutional Exam Fee (per course evaluated)

In cases where the prior learning application is based on work experience (experiential learning), rather than completed coursework, the documentation should include:

• Statements from work supervisors (or the company’s human resources director) indicating job requirements and skills needed for the position held,
• Examples of work projects,
• Other appropriate proof of work experience
• Institutional Exam Fee (per course evaluated)

Student obtains “Application for Credit by Portfolio-Exam” form available through the Registrar’s office or on the myNSU port (https://portal.sdbor.edu/nsu-student/academics/registrar/Pages/default.aspx), pays fee at the Finance Office, then returns with documentation to the Registrar’s Office.

Registrar’s Office forwards application and documentation to the Dean of the appropriate school;

A faculty committee is appointed to review the application and reports its recommendation to the college dean, who forwards the recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs;

The completed form is returned to the Registrar, who notifies the student of the result and records the credit if approved.

If the student fails to establish credit, the portfolio cannot be resubmitted nor can the application fee be refunded.

Placement for Credit for Foreign Languages

Students often take foreign language classes while in high school [or due to their upbringing] and find they are capable of starting at a more advanced level NSU. Students may take a placement exam to determine the appropriate placement. Then if a grade of “C” or higher is earned in the more advanced NSU class, the student may purchase credits for previous courses in that language. For Spanish, students who place into SPAN 201  or 202  may purchase credits for SPAN 101  and 102 , if they meet the criteria. For other languages permission may be given to purchase credits for 101, 102, 201, and 202, the they are placed in a higher course and a grade of “C” or higher is earned. This opportunity is offered only to degree-seeking students at Northern, since it is probable that this credit will not be recognized by other institutions. Students fill our the Credit by Placement Form available through the Registrar’s Office or on the myNSU portal (https://portal.sdbor.edu/nsu-student/academics/registrar/Pages/default.aspx) and pay the credit by exam fee for each course.

If the intent is to enroll at another university, nationally recognized assessment (CLEP, AP, IB) may be a better route to earning credit. Students should check with their intended school for their policy.