/Institutions/North-Greenville-University/json/2024-2025/2024-2025-Undergraduate-and-Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/North-Greenville-University/json/2024-2025/2024-2025-Undergraduate-and-Graduate-Catalog.json

Credit for Prior Learning

North Greenville University recognizes that students may attain college level competencies through a variety of learning experiences outside of the college classroom. Awarding Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) follows one of the well-established methods for assessing learning. Categories of CPL credit generally fall under four groups as outlined below; standardized exams, third-party evaluations, individualized assessments/portfolios, and institution-led exams or assessments.

A. External standardized exams are established subject area proficiency tests. Examples include Advanced Placement (AP) exams, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), Excelsior College Exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, etc.

B. Third-party evaluations are based on employer, practical ministry, and military-based training sessions as well as industry certifications. Evaluations result in credit recommendations for individuals who successfully complete the training or certification. NGU determines if credit is awarded based on type of evaluation/certification and course equivalency. In some programs, crosswalks/articulation agreements/MOAs are used to match specific experiences/certifications to specific courses. Credit hour limits may apply.

C. Individualized assessments/portfolios are demonstrations of college-level learning obtained from experiential learning based on documented learning in a field of study which demonstrates achievement of all outcomes for specific courses in an approved degree program. Programs which accept experiential learning credit are limited to the NGU Online undergraduate degree programs. Up to 12 hours credit may be awarded for experiential learning. More information about experiential credit can be found on each program’s catalog page.

D. Institution-led exams or assessments, are typically written by faculty and allow students to earn course credit for which they are able to demonstrate knowledge. The department chair will notify Academic Records if a student is to be awarded course credit after successfully passing an NGU exam or assessment. Up to 12 hours credit may be awarded for credit by exam/assessment. Credit will be identified as exam credit on the student’s transcript. Credit by exam may not be obtained for any course in which a student has previously enrolled.

Generally, no more than 30 semester hours of CPL may be applied to the credit hour requirement of a bachelor’s degree. Students are not limited by the credit hour requirement for AP and IB credits. Specific categories of CPL, outlined above, may only be accepted in certain programs, and may have further credit limits as specified on the program page. CPL credits will not be accepted for graduate credit. All CPL hours, whether granted through institutional assessments or external examinations, are treated as transfer credit, and cannot be applied toward residence requirements for graduation. CPL hours are transcripted as credit (CR) or transcript equivalent (TE) depending on the type of CPL awarded. Credit will be assigned to the first term in which a student enrolls if the prior learning took place prior to enrollment. Otherwise, credit will be assigned to the term in which the prior learning is assessed. A fee is charged for CPL credits commensurate with the number and type of credits received. Refer to the fee schedule in the general expenses section. CPL credits may not be transferable to other colleges or universities. Some CPL credit types are outlined in more detail below.

Credit for Military Training
Veterans must submit a military transcript documenting the work completed during military training to Academic Records. Academic Records evaluates all military credit. The credit awarded is based on the recommendations found in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Credits are posted, and the work is identified by the same procedures used for all transfer students.

Credit for Law Enforcement Training
Students who have successfully completed state or federal Law Enforcement training, passed the applicable certification exam for Law Enforcement, and are currently or formerly a state or federal Law Enforcement Officer are eligible to receive up to 18 hours of college credit in the B.S. Criminal Justice Online program. The credits will be granted after admission to NGU on the transcript as CR, but no grade is given and there is no impact on GPA. Documentation should be submitted to the program director of the NGU B.S. Criminal Justice Online program. More information can be found on the program page.

Advanced Placement
Students who complete college-level courses in high school and take the examinations prepared by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board (AP), will receive advanced placement and university credit for such courses if they score 3, 4, or 5 on the appropriate subject area examination according to guidelines established by the College Board. Official scores must be sent directly from College Board to NGU to be evaluated. Credit ranges from three to eight semester hours per exam.

College Level Examination Program
NGU accepts CLEP credit in partnership with the College Board. Official scores must be sent directly from College Board to NGU to be evaluated. A minimum score of 50 is required.

International Baccalaureate Program
Credit will be given to any student scoring 5, 6, or 7 on the higher-level International Baccalaureate exams.

Math Placement Test
College-level math credit earned via AP, IB, or CLEP exams or transferred from another institution (including high school dual enrollment) will be accepted as an indication of math proficiency according to the specific proficiency test and as determined by a student’s major. Alternatively, incoming students without college-level math credit will take the ALEKS Math Placement Test to determine the appropriate math placement according to proficiency and as determined by a student’s major.

English Placement Test
All new students who have not already earned credit for ENGL-1310 will be required to produce a prescribed writing sample for placement in the appropriate level in English. This writing sample is administered and scored by the English faculty.

Foreign Language Placement Policy
Students must take the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (DMLL) foreign language placement test in the appropriate language before starting their study in this department. Students with a language requirement must complete four semesters (12 credit hours) in one language unless their major specifies otherwise. In general, entering freshmen with two years of high school language study in the same language will be placed into the second semester of that language during initial enrollment at North Greenville University. The placement test will be administered during the first week of class to verify the placement.

Students at NGU who believe they are proficient (or have some level of proficiency) in a language other than English can choose to be tested in that language, if there is an academic reason for this (foreign language requirement, language class placement, language credits, etc.).

Preferably with the guidance of the advisor, the student should follow the following steps (if this is not the routine pretest or placement test of a registered DMLL language class at NGU):
1. Contact the DMLL Chair and express the desire to take a language proficiency test, discuss the reasons for taking the test, and make arrangements for the test.
2. Take the test at the time and place designated by the Chair, with the proctor assigned. Information about the advisor should be given to the proctor.
3. The DMLL chair will email the advisor and the student about the results.
4. When appropriate, the Chair will send Academic Records a report about the results.
The student will pay for the credits and the test by:
Option A: Pay the fee per credit plus the test fee. Check with Student Accounts for the current rates.
Option B: Take a higher-level language class at NGU and receive back credits if the student earns a C or better in this higher-level class. In this case, there is no need to pay for the test or credits separately.

Seal of Biliteracy Credit
The Seal of Biliteracy is a certificate earned by high school graduates who demonstrate competence in a second language on a proficiency exam. Students who earn a bronze seal will be awarded credit for levels one and two of the language (1310 and 1320). Those earning a silver or gold seal will be awarded credit for three levels of the language (1310, 1320, and 2310). Students completing the exam must demonstrate skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking the foreign language. Students interested should contact the University Registrar or the DMLL Chair.

Music Theory
Any student wishing to exempt music theory must test with one of the music theory professors. If the student demonstrates sufficient elementary theoretical skills, the student may exempt MUSC-1430 or MUSC-1430 and MUSC-1440, enrolling in either MUSC-1440 or MUSC-2430. Exemptions of MUSC-1430 and MUSC-1440 receive credit but no grade.

Non-Credit to Credit
NGU partners with some churches and organizations where students gain practical ministry experience and receive some formal theological education while being taught by academically qualified instructors. NGU carefully evaluates the educational quality, learning outcomes, and faculty credentials for all such partnerships. Partnership approval is granted on a case-by-case basis after evaluation of syllabi and corresponding documentation of academic and ministry experience. NGU may officially partner with such organizations and recognize them as an unaccredited institution from which we allow new students to transfer up to 24 hours of credit to NGU at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as appropriate. Each partner’s courses and the NGU equivalent courses are outlined in a memorandum of agreement that is regularly reviewed. A fee may be charged for transcript evaluation. Non-credit to credit transfer credits can only be applied to the specific programs outlined in the MOA. NGU College of Christian Studies and the Graduate School of Ministry manage these partnerships.