Nontraditional Credit Policies

Nontraditional Credit

Academic credit may be awarded to students who demonstrate mastery of knowledge or skills that were acquired outside of an accredited college or university. Nontraditional credit evaluations are available for accepted degree-seeking UAA students. Credit is granted for coursework for which students show documented achievement of equivalent outcomes. UAA faculty have evaluated specific training programs, exams and certifications in a number of disciplines and have determined that those listed below may result in the award of academic credit. The discipline and number of credits are established by the faculty and reviewed on a regular basis. Use of nontraditional credit to complete certificate or degree requirements may be limited; students should see their academic advisor for more information.

See below for more detailed information. Some courses appearing in the UAA Equivalent column satisfy General Education Requirements. Click the course hyperlink for details. Electives do not satisfy General Education Requirements.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

Credit may be awarded for successful completion of the AP examination. Credit awarded for examinations may be elective credit. A student may work with an individual department to determine if more specific course credit may be awarded for a specific examination.

A student desiring credit for an AP examination must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar. Credit may be received for more than one AP examination.

AP Capstone Diploma Program

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Research 3 HNRS 200-level elective 3
Seminar 3 HNRS 100-level elective 3

Arts

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Art History 3 ART A261 and
ART A262
6
Music Theory 4 MUS A111 3
Studio Art 3 ART 100-level elective 4

English

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
English Language and Composition 3 WRTG A111 3
English Literature and Composition 3 ENGL A121 3

History and Social Sciences 

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Comparative Government and Politics 3 PS 100-level Social Sciences GER 3
European History 3 HIST A101 and
HIST A102
6
Human Geography 3 GEOG 100-level Social Sciences GER 3
Macroeconomics 3 ECON A102 3
Microeconomics 3 ECON A101 3
Psychology 3 PSY A111 3
United States Government and Politics 3 PS A101
3
United States History 3 HIST A131 and
HIST A132
6
World History Modern 3 HIST A102 3

Math and Computer Science

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Calculus AB 4 MATH A251 4
Calculus BC 4 MATH A251 and
MATH A252
8
Computer Science Principles 3 CSCE A101 3
Computer Science A 3 CSCE A201 4
Statistics 3 STAT A200 3

Sciences

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Biology 4 BIOL A102 and
BIOL A103 and
BIOL 100-level elective (4 cr.)
8
Biology 5 BIOL A108 6
Chemistry 3 CHEM A105 and
CHEM A105L
4
Chemistry 4 CHEM A105 and
CHEM A105L and
CHEM A106 and
CHEM A106L
8
Environmental Science 3 ENVI A211 and
ENVI 200-level Natural Sciences Lab GER
4
Physics 1 3 PHYS 100-level Natural Sciences w/ lab GER 4
Physics 2 4 PHYS 100-level Natural Sciences w/ lab GER 4
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 4 PHYS 200-level Natural Sciences w/ lab GER 4
Physics C: Mechanics 4 PHYS 200-level Natural Sciences w/ lab GER 4

World Languages and Cultures

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Chinese Language and Culture 3 LANG 100-level Humanities GER 8
French Language and Culture 4 FREN A101 and
FREN A102
8
German Language and Culture 4 GER A101 and
GER A102
8
Italian Language and Culture 4 LANG 100-level Humanities GER 8
Japanese Language and Culture 3 JPN A101 and
JPN A102
8
Latin 3 LAT 100-level Humanities GER 6
Spanish Language and Culture 4 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102
8
Spanish Literature and Culture 4 SPAN A201 and
SPAN A202
8

Certified Experience Credit

UAA may award elective or specific course credit for learning that is documented with a professional certification or completion of exams that lead to certification. These certificates indicate that individuals have met certain standards and demonstrated specific competencies. Pre-approved Certified Experience Credit can be accessed from the Certified Experience Credit Form on the Registrar's website. To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee. Students should contact departments directly with questions about specific certifications.

UAA does not accept recommendations related to massive open online courses (MOOCs) at this time.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Credit may be awarded for successful completion of the CLEP examination. Credit awarded for examinations may be elective credit. A student may work with an individual department to determine if more specific course credit may be awarded for a specific examination. 

A student desiring credit for a CLEP examination must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar. Credit may be received for more than one CLEP examination.

Composition and Literature

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
American Literature 50 ENGL 200-level Humanities GER 3
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 50 ENGL 100-level elective 3
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 58 ENGL A121 (with successfully passed UAA English Department assigned essay) 3
College Composition 50 WRTG A111 3
College Composition Modular 50 WRTG A111 (with successfully passed UAA English Department assigned essay) 3
English Literature 50 ENGL 200-level Humanities GER 3

Foreign Languages

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
French Language 55 FREN A101 and
FREN A102
8
French Language 72 FREN A101 and
FREN A102 and
FREN A201 and
FREN A202
16
German Language 55 GER A101 and
GER A102
8
German Language 72 GER A101 and
GER A102 and
GER A201 and
GER A202
16
Spanish Language 55 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102
8
Spanish Language 72 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102 and
SPAN A201 and
SPAN A202
16
Spanish with Writing 50 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102
8
Spanish with Writing 65 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102 and
SPAN A201 and
SPAN A202
16

History and Social Sciences

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
American Government 50 PS A101 3
Human Growth and Development 50 PSY A150 3
Introduction to Educational Psychology 50 EDFN A100-level elective 3
Introductory Psychology 50 PSY A111 3
Introductory Sociology 50 SOC A101 3
Principles of Microeconomics 50 ECON A101 3
Principles of Macroeconomics 50 ECON A102 3
Social Sciences and History 58 SSCI 100-level Social Science GER (3 cr. ) and
SSCI 100-level Humanities GER (3 cr.)
6

Science and Mathematics

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Biology 58 BIOL A102 and
BIOL A103
4
Calculus 50 MATH A251 4
Chemistry 50 CHEM A105 and
CHEM A105L and
CHEM A106 and
CHEM A106L lab
8
College Algebra 50 MATH A151 4
College Mathematics 50 MATH 100-level elective 6
Natural Sciences 50 BIOL A102 and
NSCI 100-level elective (3 cr.)
6
Pre-calculus 50 MATH 100-level Quantitative Skills GER 3

Business

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Financial Accounting 50 ACCT A201 3
Information Systems (formerly Information Systems and Computer Applications) 50 CIOS 100-level elective 3
Introductory Business Law 50 BA 100-level elective 3
Principles of Management 50 BA 200-level elective 3
Principles of Marketing 50 BA 200-level elective 3

Credit for Prerequisite Not Taken

An accepted degree-seeking UAA student who has completed a UAA course with a grade of C or higher may be eligible to receive credit for the prerequisite course. This applies only to specific UAA catalog courses approved in advance by the UAA program, which also determines the number and level of credits awarded. Credit for prerequisite not taken does not apply to credit earned through other nontraditional credit procedures, nor to special topics (-93) or independent study (-97) courses. To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee.

The approved UAA courses are included in the sections below.

Alaska Native Language Credit for Prerequisite Not Taken

An accepted degree-seeking UAA student who has completed AKNS A102A, AKNS A102B, AKNS A102C, AKNS A102DAKNS A102EAKNS A102F, AKNS A102H or AKNS A102I with a grade of C or higher is eligible to receive credit for the preceding course AKNS A101A, AKNS A101B, AKNS A101C, AKNS A101DAKNS A101EAKNS A101F, AKNS A101H or AKNS A101I To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee.

Language Credit for Prerequisite Not Taken

An accepted degree-seeking UAA student who has completed one of the Department of Languages UAA catalog courses (A102-A301) in residence with a grade of C or higher is eligible to receive credit for the two immediately preceding courses, if any, up to a total of 8 credits, not to exceed the level of A202. Language Credit for Prerequisite Not Taken is limited to one time per language. This policy does not apply to credit earned through Department of Languages literature or culture courses. To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee.

Writing Credit for Prerequisite Not Taken

Admitted, degree-seeking UAA students with ACT or SAT scores that place them in 200-level WRTG courses may receive credit by placement for WRTG A111 upon successful completion of WRTG A211, WRTG A212, WRTG A213 or WRTG A214 with a grade of C or better. Students who transfer in a 200-level or higher Written Communications GER course with a grade of C or higher and who have not completed the six credit Written Communications Skills GER may also receive credit for WRTG A111. To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee.

DSST Examinations

Credit may be awarded for successful completion of the DSST (formerly known as DANTES) examination. Credit awarded for examinations may be elective credit. A student may work with an individual department to determine if more specific course credit may be awarded for a specific examination. 

A student desiring credit for a DSST examination must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar. Credit may be received for more than one DSST examination.

Business

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Business Ethics and Society (475) 400 PHIL 200-level elective 3
Business Law II (534) (accepted but no longer offered by DSST) 65 BA 300-level elective 3
Business Mathematics (812) 48 or 400 MATH 100-level elective 3
Computing and Information Technology (536) 45 or 400 CIOS 100-level elective 3
Human Resource Management (530) 46 or 400 BA 200-level elective 3
Introduction to Business (543) 46 or 400 BA A151 3
Management Information Systems (551) 400 BA 200-level elective 3
Organizational Behavior (531) 48 or 400 BA 200-level elective 3
Personal Finance (550) 46 or 400 BA A131 3
Principles of Finance (524) 46 or 400 BA 100-level elective 3
Principles of Financial Accounting (525) (accepted but no longer offered by DSST) 47 or 400 ACCT A201 3
Principles of Supervision (532) 46 or 400 BA A231 3

English/Writing

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Principles of Advanced English Composition (301) 400 Placement into WRTG A211, WRTG A212, WRTG A213 or WRTG A214 (eligible to receive credit with submission of appropriate form for WRTG A111 upon completion of 200-level WRTG course with a minimum grade of C)
Technical Writing (820) 46 or 400 ENGL 100-level elective or WRTG A212 (with successfully passed UAA English Department assigned essay) 3

Humanities

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Art of the Western World (461) 48 or 400 ART A262 3
Ethics in America (474) 400 PHIL 200-level Humanities Elective or PHIL 200-level Humanities GER
(with successfully passed UAA Philosophy Department assigned essay)
3
Introduction to World Religions (496) 400 PHIL 200-level Humanities GER 3

Math

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Fundamentals of College Algebra (424) 47 or 400 MATH A105 4
Principles of Statistics (450) 48 or 400 STAT A200 3

Physical Science

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Astronomy (500) 48 or 400 ASTR 100-level Natural Sciences Lecture GER 3
Environmental Science (510) 400 ENVI A211 3
Health and Human Development (508) 400 HLTH 200-level elective 3
Physical Geology (519) (accepted but no longer offered by DSST) 46 GEOL 100-level Natural Sciences Lecture GER 3
Principles of Physical Science I (512) 47 or 400 NSCI 100-level Natural Sciences Lecture GER 3

Social Science

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Criminal Justice (498) 400 JUST 200-level elective 3
Foundations of Education (489) 46 or 400 EDFN 200-level elective 3
Fundamentals of Counseling (562) 45 or 400 PSY 200-level elective 3
General Anthropology (494) 47 or 400 ANTH A101 3
Human/Cultural Geography (470) 48 or 400 GEOG 100-level Social Sciences GER 3
Introduction to Law Enforcement (497) 45 or 400 JUST 100-level elective 3
Lifespan Development Psychology (490) 46 or 400 PSY A150 3
Substance Abuse (495) 426 HS 300-level elective 3

UExcel Examinations

Credit may be awarded for successful completion of the UExcel examination. Credit awarded for UExcel examinations is elective credit. A student may work with an individual department to determine if more specific course credit may be awarded for a specific examination. 

A student desiring credit for the UExcel examination must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar. Credit may be received for more than one UExcel examination.

UExcel: Business

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Business Ethics (BUSX-323) C BA 300-level elective 3
Business Law (BUSX-230) C BA 200-level elective 3
Financial Accounting (ACCX-211) C ACCT 200-level elective 3
Human Resource Management (BUSX-410) C BA 300-level elective 3
Introduction to Macroeconomics (ECOX-262) C ECON 200-level elective 3
Introduction to Microeconomics (ECOX-260) C ECON 200-level elective 3
Labor Relations (BUSX-360) C BA 300-level elective 3
Managerial Accounting (ACCS-212) C ACCT 200-level elective 3
Operations Management (BUSX-425) C BA 300-level elective 3
Organizational Behavior (BUSX-315) C BA 300-level elective 3
Principles of Finance (BUSX-350) C BA 300-level elective 3
Principles of Management (BUSX-240) C BA 200-level elective 3
Principles of Marketing (BUSX-250) C BA 200-level elective 3
Quantitative Analysis (BUSX-437) C BA 400-level elective 3
Workplace Communication with Computers (BUSX-220) C BA 200-level elective 3

UExcel: Humanities

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Bioethics: Philosophical Issues (HUMX-310) C PHIL 300-level elective 3
College Writing (ENGX-110) C ENGL 100-level elective 3
English Composition (ENGX-111) C ENGL 100-level elective 6
Ethics: Theory and Practice (PHIX-310) C PHIL 300-level elective 3
Introduction to Music (MUSX-101) C MUS 100-level elective 3
Introduction to Philosophy (PHIX-101) C PHIL 200-level elective 3
Interpersonal Communication (COMX-215) C COMM 200-level elective 3
Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School (EDUX-310) C EDEL 300-level elective 6
Spanish Language (SPAX-102) C SPAN 100-level elective 6

UExcel: Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Anatomy & Physiology (BIOX-210) C BIOL 200-level elective 6
Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOX-104) C BIOL A111 3
Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOX-106) C BIOL A112 3
Basic Genetics (BIOX-250) C BIOL 200-level elective 3
Calculus (MATX-150) C MATH 200-level elective 4
Contemporary Mathematics (MATX-100) C MATH 100-level elective 3
Earth Science (GEOX-101) C GEOL 100-level elective 3
Microbiology (BIOX-220) C BIOL 200-level elective 3
Pathophysiology (BIOX-410) C BIOL 400-level elective 3
Physics (PHYX-140) C PHYS 100-level elective 3
Precalculus Algebra (MATX-116) C MATH 100-level elective 3
Statistics (MATX-210) C STAT 200-level elective 3

UExcel: Nursing

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Transition to the Professional Nurse Role (NURX-108) C NURS 100-level elective 3
Foundations in Nursing Practice (NURX-109) C NURS 100-level elective 3
Reproductive Health (NURX-209) C NURS 200-level elective 3
Fundamentals of Nursing (NURX-210) C NURS 200-level elective 8
Maternal and Child Nursing (Associate) (NURX-220) C NURS 200-level elective 6
Adult Nursing (NURX-310) C NURS 300-level elective 8
Maternal and Child Nursing (Baccalaureate) (NURX-315) C NURS 300-level elective 8
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (NURX-320) C NURS 300-level elective 8

ECE: Nursing Theory

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety (NURX-104) C NURS 100-level elective 3
Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Differences (NURX-105) C NURS 100-level elective 3
Essentials of Nursing Care: Chronicity (NURX-106) C NURS 100-level elective 3
Health Differences Across the Lifespan 1 (NURX-211) C NURS 200-level elective 3
Health Differences Across the Lifespan 2 (NURX-212) C NURS 200-level elective 3
Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 (NURX-213) C NURS 200-level elective 3
Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Role (NURX-214) C NURS 200-level elective 3
Research in Nursing (NURX-430) C NURS 400-level elective 3
Community-Focused Nursing (NURX-448) C NURS 400-level elective 3

UExcel: Social Science and History

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
Abnormal Psychology (PSYX-310) C PSY 300-level elective 3
Cultural Diversity (SOCX-305) C SOC 300-level elective 3
Foundations of Gerontology (SOCX-310) C SOC 300-level elective 3
Introduction to Psychology (PSYX-101) C PSY 100-level elective 3
Introduction to Sociology (SOCX-105) C SOC 100-level elective 3
Juvenile Delinquency (SOCX-320) C JUST 300-level elective 3
Lifespan Developmental Psychology (PSYX-210) C PSY 100-level elective 3
Political Science (POLX-170) C PS 100-level elective 3
Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (PSYX-315) C PSY 300-level elective 3
Research Methods in Psychology (PSYX-365) C PSY 300-level elective 3
Social Psychology (PSYX-325) C PSY 300-level elective 3
World Conflicts Since 1900 (HISX-340) C PS 300-level elective 3
World Population (SOCX-330) C SOC 300-level elective 3

International Baccalaureate

UAA awards credit for satisfactory performance (a score of 5 or higher) on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations. To receive this credit, students must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar.

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
ART: Film Art 5 ART 100-level elective 3
BIOL: Biol 5 BIOL A108 6
ENGL: English Literature 5 WRTG A111 3
HIST: American History 5 HIST 100-level elective 3
HIST: European History 5 HIST 100-level elective 3
FREN: French B 5-6 FREN A101 and
FREN A102
8
FREN: French B 7 FREN A101 and
FREN A102 and
FREN A201
12
GER: German B 5-6 GER A101 and
GER A102
8
GER: German B 7 GER A101 and
GER A102 and
GER A201
12
PSY: Psychology 5 PSY A111 and
PSY 100-level elective (3 cr.)
6
SPAN: Spanish B 5-6 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102
8
SPAN: Spanish B 7 SPAN A101 and
SPAN A102 and
SPAN A201
12

Local Credit by Examination or Portfolio

Accepted degree- or certificate-seeking students may be awarded credit through locally developed comprehensive examinations or by student-produced portfolios that demonstrate achievement of the student learning outcomes for specific courses. However, credit by examination or portfolio is not available for all courses or programs, and students should check with their program for more information about the availability, requirements, and process. To receive this credit, students must submit the appropriate form to the Office of the Registrar and pay an administrative fee.

General criteria for local credit by examination or portfolio include:

  1. Credit by examination or portfolio applies for courses at the 100 level or higher.
  2. Using the form posted on the Curriculum website under Non-Traditional Credit Processes, departments propose a consistent process to be available to all students who are interested in this option. This proposal will be reviewed and approved by the dean and provost.
  3. Determination of which courses are available for credit by local examination or portfolio is at the discretion of the appropriate program and approved by the dean. Typically credit for independent study courses and trial courses may not be earned through local examination or portfolio.
  4. Local credit by examination or portfolio is not awarded for a course that duplicates one for which credit has already been granted.
  5. Students are awarded credit and a grade of P (pass) for credit by local examination or portfolio.
  6. If students do not pass the local examination or do not demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes identified for credit by portfolio, the course is not recorded on the student’s transcript.
  7. Grades for courses taken through local credit by examination or portfolio do not carry grade points used in calculating a student's UAA GPA.
  8. Credit awarded through local credit by examination or portfolio is considered non-resident credit.
  9. There is no institutional limit to the number of credits that may be acquired through the local credit by examination or portfolio process. However, individual programs may limit the number to 25% of the total credits toward a certificate or degree.

Military Credit

Elective credits may be awarded to students who have completed active-duty military service in accordance with ACE Guide credit use.

Additionally, credits may be granted for formal service schools and the primary MOS/rating as recommended in the Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services prepared by the American Council on Education. Students who wish to use military credit to meet degree requirements should work with an academic advisor to submit a Request for Evaluation of Military Training - JST or Request for Evaluation of CCAF Credit (Community College of the Air Force).

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) End-of-Course Exams

Credit may be awarded for successful completion of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) end-of-course assessment exams.

A student desiring credit for a PLTW examination must request that an official report of examination scores be sent to the UAA Office of the Registrar. Credit may be received for more than one PLTW examination.

Test Min. Score UAA Equivalent Credits
PLTW Computer Science Principles Accomplished or Distinguised CSCE A101 3
PLTW Computer Science A Accomplished or Distinguished CSCE A201 4