Credit for Prior Learning/Experiential Credit
Credit for prior learning includes any mechanism in which a currently enrolled UTS student may be granted college-level credit in non-credit or experiential settings. This includes the granting of credit for nationally recognized examination programs (College Level Examination Program [CLEP], Advanced Placement [AP], DANTES Subject Standardized Tests [DSST], American Council on Education endorsed examinations, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning [CAEL]); state approved certification programs combined with appropriate work experience; course-specific examinations (challenge or by-pass) designed by faculty; or portfolio review, candidate interview, performance assessment, or a combination of these methods documenting competence.
Credit will only be awarded for comparable courses awarded at The University of Tennessee Southern. Students seeking credit for prior learning experience should direct initial inquiries to the Provost, who will confer with appropriate faculty to determine if the student has met requirements necessary to apply for review for prior experience credit. If approved, the student must complete an Application for Credit for Prior Learning, and meet with the designated faculty to determine the method to be followed in seeking the credit. This group will also review the student’s performance or documentation of competence and will determine if credit is to be granted. Faculty then notify the Registrar via the form. Documentation remains with the faculty member recommending the credit.
A student may earn up to 30 hours of prior or experiential learning.
Course credit earned for prior learning experience will be recorded on the student’s transcript with the grade of “P.”
Students may not seek prior learning experience credits for courses that they have previously enrolled in and dropped, or for courses that they have failed.
A fee of $100 per credit hour is charged for successful completion of a challenge examination or for credit through a portfolio. There is no charge to sit for a challenge exam.
Advanced Placement
Students may be granted credit on the Advanced Placement examinations administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Program. All official scores should be sent to the Registrar’s Office. Hours apply toward the total hours required for graduation. Grades of satisfactory (P) will be assigned. Credit will be awarded in the various subject areas as follows:
| AP Exam |
AP Score |
Hours Credit |
Course Equivalency |
| American History |
4 or higher |
6 |
HIS 201, 202 |
| Art History |
3 or higher |
3 |
ART 121 |
| Art 2D Design |
3 or higher |
3 |
ART 111 |
| Biology |
4 or higher |
8 |
BIO 111, 112 |
| Calculus AB |
4 or higher |
4 |
MAT 142 |
| Calculus BC |
4 or higher |
4 |
MAT 241 |
| Chemistry |
4 or higher |
4 |
CHE 111 |
| Computer Science A |
3 or higher |
3 |
CS 110 |
| Computer Science Principles |
3 or higher |
3 |
CS 110 |
| English/Language & Composition |
4 or higher |
6 |
ENG 101, 102 |
| English/Literature & Composition |
4 or higher |
6 |
ENG 201, 202 |
| Environmental Science |
4 or higher |
4 |
Science 100-level |
| European History |
4 or higher |
6 |
HIS 111, 112 |
| French, Spanish, German |
4 or higher |
6 |
FLG 100 level |
| Macroeconomics |
3 or higher |
3 |
BUS 201 |
| Microeconomic |
3 or higher |
3 |
BUS 202 |
| Music Theory |
4 or higher |
3 |
MUS 10 |
| Physics C: Mechanics |
4 or higher |
4 |
PHY 251 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
4 or higher |
4 |
PHY 252 |
| Psychology |
3 or higher |
3 |
PSY 113 |
| Statistics |
4 or higher |
3 |
MAT 231 |
| US Government and Politics |
4 or higher |
3 |
HIS 221 |
| World History |
4 or higher |
6 |
HIS 111, 112 |
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Credit may be awarded for acceptable scores on certain subject area examinations of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board. These examinations may be taken at any of several testing centers in the surrounding area. Fees are set by CLEP, and the student is responsible for scheduling such examinations. Interested students should check with the Provost and the appropriate school chairperson before arranging to take such an examination. Credit will be given only in those areas in which comparable courses are offered at The University of Tennessee Southern. Transfer students must have copies of CLEP scores sent by the CLEP Testing Center to the Registrar’s Office at The University of Tennessee Southern for evaluation. For subject exams, a minimum score of 50 is required; in some areas a written essay is required in addition to the subject examination.
By-Pass or Challenge Examinations
Departmental examinations are available to students who qualify to attempt to by-pass courses. Requests to by- pass a course will be considered for students who document prior experiences that would justify a by-pass attempt. Up to six hours may be earned in this manner. A grade of “P” is entered on the transcript when credit is earned. Interested students must petition the appropriate faculty member to request the examination(s). The student also must have approval of the School Chair and the Provost before such a test may be given. The student must earn a grade designated by the program area or better on the examination(s) to receive credit. Students may not take a by-pass examination for a course which they are currently enrolled or for a course which they have failed. Students must furnish evidence of laboratory or field experiences if required. A fee of $100 per credit hour applies if a challenge exam is successful (see Credit for Prior Learning).
Experiential Learning
Students who have had work or life experiences that may qualify for course credit should discuss these with the appropriate faculty member. The student must furnish evidence, usually in the form of certificates or portfolio, that document learning competencies and outcomes. The faculty member must approve the credit, with approval also needed by the School Chair and Provost. (See Credit for Prior Learning.)
Credit for Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces
All veterans must submit a copy of the D.D. Form 214 and their American Council on Education transcript as part of their admissions process in order for credit to be awarded. Additional credit for training in formal service schools will be granted on the basis of recommendations in “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” or the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences, as it is equivalent to a specific University of Tennessee Southern courses.
International Baccalaureate Credit
Credit may be awarded for acceptable scores on certain subject area examinations in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. A score of 5 or above is required for college credit.
Consortium Credit
In addition to its regular online offerings, The University of Tennessee Southern is a member of Regis University's Higher Learning Partners Consortium. This partnership allows UTS students to enroll in select online courses, found through the Taawun Platform. Designated consortial courses are taken at other schools, but transcribed on the student’s UTS transcript as UTS credit.
Credit hours through the consortium accrue an additional fee in addition to tuition. Students who enroll in a course offered through the consortium should pay close attention to important dates, which may NOT follow the normal Tuition Refund Policy. The dates for the consortium course may be DIFFERENT from other courses at UTS. The student assumes responsibility for following these consortium course dates.