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Establishing Credit

UMUC is unlike any other institution of higher education in the world in its combination of access with academic quality. It opens doors to learning by taking education to students wherever they may be. Because UMUC understands the importance of life-long learning, it has established academic policies that encourage the appropriate use of transfer credit from other institutions. Recognizing that adult students bring to the university not only a willingness to learn but also an educational history informed by experiential learning, it incorporates the assessment of nontraditional learning (i.e., learning gained outside the classroom) into the evaluation of students.

Classroom, Online, and Individualized Learning

Students take UMUC Europe courses in classrooms at over 80 sites in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Students can also “attend class” worldwide in UMUC’s online courses or in Individualized Learning (IL) courses. In on-site classes, there are 16 contact hours for each unit of credit. Therefore a 3-credit course delivered in an on-site format meets for 48 contact hours, usually over an eight-week term. In online classes, students are linked to faculty and classmates via the Internet. In Individualized Learning (IL) classes, course material is presented on a CD; the student proceeds at his or her own pace over a period of 15 weeks. UMUC courses meet the same standards of quality regardless of delivery format. Any given course has the same objectives and requirements, awards the identical amount of academic credit, and may be applied toward the same undergraduate degrees whether it is delivered in a stateside classroom, overseas, or via the Internet or CD.

Ways of Earning Credit

Summary of Credit Sources
Credit Sources	18 credit Certificate	Associate’s	Bachelor’s
A. Maximum number of credits transferred from regionally accredited institutions:	9	45	90
B. Maximum number of credits transferred from American Council on Education (ACE) recommended military training and experience:	9	30	60
C. Maximum number of credits transferred through AP, DLPT, USAFI, DANTES, CLEP (General and Subject), and Excelsior College examinations:	9	30	60
D. Maximum number of vocational/technical credits transferred from accredited institutions and military sources:	3	12	21
E. Maximum number of transfer credits from a regionally accredited junior or community college:	9	45	70
F. Total non-instructional credits transferred from exam credit (CLEP, DANTES, etc. plus UMUC course-challenge and UMUC Europe foreign language exams), EXCEL, and ACE-recommended military/civilian credits:	9	30	60
H. Maximum number of credits for a combination of portfolio assessment (e.g., EXCEL), course challenge and UMUC Europe foreign language examinations, or military occupational specialities (e.g., MOS, NER):	6	15	30
H. TOTAL credits transferred from any combination of the above sources not to exceed:	9	45	90

 

Learning Gained through Experience

Learning acquired outside the college classroom may be assessed for credit toward a degree with UMUC. There are two ways students can make use of life experience for possible college credit: Prior Learning and Cooperative Education. Details on each method follow. Academic advisors can help in determining the best route to use in fulfilling any academic plan.

Prior Learning

Students may earn credit for college-level learning acquired outside the classroom through course-challenge examinations, EXCEL, and UMUC Europe foreign language examinations. Credit earned may be used toward either a first or second degree. However, no more than half the credits required for an undergraduate major or minor may be earned through Prior Learning.

Course-Challenge Examinations

UMUC credit can be earned for any undergraduate course for which UMUC can prepare and administer a suitable examination (called a course-challenge examination). Degree students at UMUC who have received an official evaluation of transfer credit and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in UMUC coursework may contact a UMUC Europe academic advisor to begin the process and learn how to apply for these examinations.

Course-challenge exams are not intended as a substitute for independent study. Students may be required to show evidence of prior learning before being authorized to take a course-challenge exam. Credit may be applied toward a first or second bachelor’s degree. No exam may be taken more than twice, and course-challenge examinations may not be taken for courses for which the student has previously enrolled. Only one course in a sequence may be tested at one time and students may not take an exam for a course that is a prerequisite for a higher-level course they have already taken.

Credit earned by course-challenge examination results in a letter grade, according to the exam score, that is computed in the grade point average. However, this credit may not be applied to the requirement for graded coursework in the student's major.

Exams may only be canceled before the student receives the exam. Refunds are given only if a suitable exam cannot be prepared. More information on course-challenge examinations is available by contacting the UMUC Europe Student Affairs Office in Heidelberg.

UMUC Europe Foreign Language Examinations

UMUC Europe Foreign Language Examinations are for students completing degree requirements, not for those seeking to determine their level of foreign language mastery. Thus, to be eligible for a Maryland Foreign Language Examination, the student must have an Official Evaluation. A student who has attended elementary or secondary school where English was not the language of instruction can establish credit in that language only for certain courses. A native speaker of a foreign language may not earn lower-level credit or conversational course credit in that language. To determine the courses in which he or she may be examined, the student will be required to submit a Summary of Educational Experiences Form (PDF 39.27 KB) and translated transcripts from those schools. UMUC reserves the right to determine the native language of a student and the level of exam to be taken.

The examination fee is the current cost of tuition for each semester hour of credit the student is seeking to establish. A check or money order for the correct, full amount should be mailed with the Application to Establish Credit by Examination in a Foreign Language (PDF 400 KB) to:

University of Maryland University College Europe
Office of Evaluations
Unit 29216
APO AE 09102

Students can contact the Office of Evaluations for more information.

EXCEL Through Experiential Learning

EXCEL Through Experiential Learning is a unique way for students to demonstrate and earn credit for college-level learning they have gained from work, community or political involvement, or other noncollegiate experiences. Students interested in learning more about EXCEL or wanting to apply should contact an academic advisor in Heidelberg.

To be eligible for EXCEL students must:

• Complete an EXCEL application
• Complete an orientation (available online)
• Meet basic standards in writing (either by having taken a college writing course or by qualifying for ENGL 101 on the English placement test)
• Be in good academic standing at UMUC (not on academic warning or probation)
• Have submitted all transcripts, exam scores, and military occupational specialty (MOS) scores to the Office of Evaluations for an official evaluation

Enrollment in EXCL 301 Learning Analysis and Planning is required. In this 3-credit course, the student prepares a portfolio describing and documenting college-level learning gained from past experiences. Because EXCL 301 is a demanding and complex course, students should not register for other courses while they are enrolled in EXCL 301. After receiving credit once for EXCL 301, students may not enroll in the class again.

EXCL 301 is graded on an S/D/F basis. If the quality of work in the portfolio merits a grade of C or higher, a grade of S is awarded and the portfolio is forwarded for credit evaluation. Faculty members from the appropriate disciplines assess the portfolio and recommend whether to award credit. Credit earned as a result of portfolio evaluation also earns a grade of S. The S grade is not computed in the grade point average and is not applicable toward honors.

Experiential-learning credits may be awarded at both the upper and lower levels. Although a maximum of 30 credits may be earned through EXCEL, the average award is between 15 and 18 credits. These credits are considered UMUC resident credit. However, they do not fulfill requirements for graded coursework and so may not exceed half the total credits for a major, minor, or certificate.

Credit for EXCL 301 is charged at the current tuition rate. Fees are also charged for enrollment in the program, portfolio evaluation, any additional evaluations, and credits awarded. Students receiving financial aid must pay all EXCEL fees.

Students should carefully review the requirements, rules, and procedures for EXCEL. More information may be obtained by contacting an academic advisor in Heidelberg.

Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education (Co-op) extends education beyond the traditional classroom experience by taking “theory-to-practice” in the workplace. Co-op offers an opportunity for students to gain experience and develop new knowledge and skill in their chosen discipline, while earning upper-level college credit. Students may, therefore, accelerate achievement of their career goals while earning upper-level college credit to complete their bachelor’s degree.
To be eligible for Co-op, students must:

• Be seeking a degree from UMUC
• Have completed 30 credits, including transfer credit,  toward a degree
• Have completed at least 9 credits in the discipline in which they plan to do their Co-op project
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or better at UMUC
• Be working in a job or internship that provides an opportunity to apply classroom theory to practical projects incorporating significant analysis and problem solving directly related to the student’s academic discipline. (The work experience may be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time.)

Students interested in pursuing a Cooperative Education experience must first develop a learning proposal that identifies several project tasks representing the new learning to be acquired as a result of the work experience; a faculty member in the appropriate discipline must then approve the learning proposal to ensure that it constitutes upper-level college learning. Once the learning proposal is approved, the student is given permission to register for Co-op. The learning proposal is then developed into a three-way learning contract among the employer, the student, and the faculty mentor.

Throughout the Co-op experience, students work under the supervision of the employer on completion of several of the identified project tasks and the faculty mentor on the completion of academic assignments required to earn college credit for their work experience. The project tasks for the employer constitute the course content, which is augmented by the reflective academic assignments for review by the faculty mentor. Students are required to communicate regularly with their faculty mentor throughout the Co-op term, which typically lasts 15 weeks.

Students may earn either 3 or 6 credits during the Co-op term. To earn 3 credits, students must devote at least 12 hours per week to tasks providing new learning (for a total of 120 hours during the Co-op term) and complete a minimum of four project tasks identified in the learning contract. To earn 6 credits, students must devote at least 20 hours per week to project tasks (for a total of 300 hours during the Co-op term) and complete five to eight project tasks identified in the learning contract.

Co-op projects may be developed in all undergraduate disciplines. Courses are listed with the designator of the discipline and numbered 486A (for 3 credits) or 486B (for 6 credits). For example, a 3-credit Co-op in business and management would be listed as BMGT 486A, a 6-credit as BMGT 486B. Tuition for the Co-op course is charged at the current rate per credit, and an administrative fee is charged each time the student enrolls.

Students may apply up to 15 Co-op credits to their bachelor’s degree. Co-op courses may not be used to satisfy general education requirements or required academic coursework in the major. However, Co-op credits may be applied to electives as well as to upper-level supplemental courses in the major or minor. A standard letter grade is awarded for successful completion of Co-op courses. It is strongly recommended that students consult with a UMUC advisor to determine how Co-op credits may help them fulfill degree requirements.

For more information, students should review the information, policies, and procedures detailed online at http://www.umuc.edu/coop/coop_home.shtml and/or contact an academic advisor in Heidelberg.

External Sources of College Credit

(Further details and regulations are given in Appendix A and Appendix B of the catalog.)

UMUC will not award credit for courses that repeat work done elsewhere. Students who have earned credit at other colleges or universities are responsible for determining whether courses they plan to take at UMUC would duplicate any previously earned credit. Students who are in doubt should consult a UMUC Europe academic advisor before registering. For more information, students can consult the UMUC Europe online Articulation Guide, which lists articulations for many colleges and universities along with exams and scores that are accepted for credit with UMUC.

One UMUC - Europe, Stateside, and Asia

A student who has done satisfactory work in UMUC Europe is encouraged to enroll in any of the regularly scheduled terms elsewhere within UMUC without having to be readmitted.

Because faculty and courses in UMUC Europe and UMUC Asia meet the same academic standards as those for UMUC Stateside, courses offered overseas carry resident credit identical to that earned on the home campus.

A student may earn resident credit toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree entirely through study with UMUC Europe or in a combination of study with UMUC Asia and/or UMUC Stateside. When departing Europe, students may request to have their records transferred to UMUC Stateside by using the online Relocation Request Form.

Credit by Transfer

Credit toward a UMUC degree may be assigned for work completed through the kinds of institutions described in the following sections. As many as 9 credit hours (c.h.) of transfer credit may be counted toward an 18-credit -hour certificate, as many as 45 credit hours of transfer credits may be counted toward an associate degree, and as many as 90 credit hours of transfer credit may be counted toward a bachelor's degree. A student who wants to transfer credit from other institutions to UMUC should request an official evaluation/SOC Agreement. No transfer credit will be accepted without official transcripts.

Credits earned at other institutions during a period of disciplinary suspension or dismissal from UMUC will not be accepted in transfer.

Credit from Other Colleges and Universities

When the grade earned was at least C, credit from regionally accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities may be awarded for courses that apply to the student's curriculum that do not duplicate other courses for which credit has been awarded. Transfer credit for another institution’s course-challenge examinations and prior learning may be accepted if it is listed on the transcript with a passing grade of C or better.

Credit from Junior Colleges and Community Colleges

A total of 60 credits from two-year institutions (junior colleges or community colleges) may be applied toward a bachelor's degree at UMUC. A student who has already completed 70 credit hours may not apply further credit from a junior college or a community college to a degree from UMUC.

A student who initially enrolled in any public community college of Maryland will be admitted to UMUC in conformance with the policy developed and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Additional information is presented in the section on transfer policies in Appendix A and Appendix B of the Catalog.

Credit through Correspondence Study

UMUC does not offer correspondence courses. However, UMUC will accept correspondence credit earned through regionally accredited colleges and universities, provided a grade of C or better has been earned and the course applies to the student's curriculum. A student planning to enroll in correspondence study should consult a UMUC Europe academic advisor to determine if the course is appropriate.

Vocational and Technical Credit

Vocational and technical credit from regionally accredited institutions or American Council on Education-approved organizations, when applicable, may be accepted as elective credit only in UMUC programs. Vocational and technical credit may not be used to satisfy degree requirements such as general education or major/minor requirements. This credit may be applied toward a degree at UMUC, up to the following limits:

• 18-credit certificate: A maximum of 3 credits.
• Associate’s degree: A maximum of 12 credits.
• Bachelor’s degree: A maximum of 21 credits of coherently related work.

Noncollegiate Courses

UMUC will accept for credit professional (not technical) noncollegiate courses applicable to the student’s curriculum that have been evaluated by either (1) ACE (if the courses are listed in the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs) or (2) the University of the State of New York National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (if listed in its College Credit Recommendations).

Transfer to Other Institutions

A UMUC student planning to transfer to another college or university should seek guidance directly from that institution. The institution receiving the credit will supply the most accurate information about its requirements and whether specific UMUC courses will fit its curricula.

Educational Experiences in the Armed Services

UMUC grants credit for study completed in service schools and experience in Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) and Navy Ratings (NERs) on the basis of the recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) in Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Such credit is granted only if it is applicable to the student's chosen UMUC curriculum. UMUC generally accepts recommendations of ACE for lower-level and upper-level credit. Recommendations made by ACE for vocational or technical credit are considered on the same basis as, and with the same limitations as, those placed on nonmilitary sources of credit.

Servicemembers Opportunity College

As a designated four-year Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC), UMUC provides opportunities for men and women in the military services to complete educational programs through various modes of instruction scheduled at times appropriate to their duty assignments. The SOC institutions have also developed a series of degree networks that correspond to Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard career specialties and lead to associate degrees (SOCAD-2, SOCNAV-2, SOCMAR 2, and SOCCOAST-2 programs) and bachelor's degrees (SOCAD-4, SOCNAV-4, SOCMAR-4, and SOCCOAST-4 programs). The SOC concept itself was developed jointly by educational representatives from each of the military services, from the U.S. Department of Defense, and from 13 of the nation's leading associations of higher education.

Army, Navy, and Marine Training

When available, an Army/ACE Registry Transcript (AARTS) should be submitted for evaluation of Service Schools and Military Occupational Specialties for Army training or a Sailor-Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART) for Navy or Marine training and enlisted ratings. AARTS/SMART transcripts are the most effective means of documenting the learning servicemembers have acquired through their military experiences. Individuals who have been or are enlisted with the Regular Army are eligible for an AARTS transcript. Individuals with previous training in the U.S. Navy since 1975 or in the U.S. Marine Corps since 1990 are eligible to request an official SMART transcript.

Students who submit the AARTS/SMART transcript do not need to submit DD Form 2-1 or DD Form 295. UMUC recommends, however, that soldiers request a transcript copy for themselves to ensure that all their military courses have been included. Students seeking credit for work not documented on the AARTS/SMART transcript should submit a DD Form 2-1, DD Form 295 or other documentation to verify their experiences. Students who submit an AARTS/SMART transcript do not need any other documentation to verify the following items listed on an AARTS/SMART transcript: SQT or SDT results, scores on CLEP and DANTES exams, and DLI coursework or proficiency tests (DLPT). For example, if all CLEP and DANTES tests are included on the AARTS/SMART transcript, students do not need to submit a DANTES transcript as well.

For work not covered by AARTS/SMART transcripts, other documentation must be submitted. For DLI, the National Cryptologic Institute, and ALMC, official transcripts must be requested directly from the issuing institution. If documentation originates from other sources, "true" copies (certified by the personnel officer, legal officer, or commander) must be submitted to UMUC Europe. The documents listed below, in conjunction with an ACE credit recommendation, can lead to the assignment of credit applicable to a student's UMUC Europe degree program:

• Army and Navy Service Schools: DD Form 2-1 or DD Form 295 (retired and former military use DD Form 214) or NAVPERS 1070-604.
• Army MOS Credit-Enlisted (E-6 to E-9): NCOER or Form 2166-5A (one or more) which covers no less than 12 consecutive months in a single MOS. To be considered for MOS credit before 1994, other ranks may submit documentation of SQT or SDT examinations.
• Warrant Officers: OER covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months for MOS credit and an ORB for service school training.

Retired and Former Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard

Former military who are unable to secure an AARTS/SMART transcript, need to submit certified true copies of documents shown below. Those seeking VA benefits MUST submit appropriate documents. Students should begin the process as soon as possible.

Army
DD Form 214 or MOS documentation listed in the previous paragraphs. Microfiche records are available from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132. Web: www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records.html

Navy
DD Form 214 or NAVPERS 1070-604 for Enlisted or NAVPERS 601-4 and 1611/1 for Warrant Officers and LDOs

Marine Corps
DD Form 214
Marine Corps Institute Transcript (submit request at www.mci.usmc.mil/newmci/default.asp)

Coast Guard
DD Form 214
Coast Guard Institute Transcript; Web: www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/military_experience.html

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

UMUC awards credit for study at service schools of the 
U.S. Air Force in accordance with recommendations from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Credits must be applicable to the student’s chosen curriculum at UMUC, must meet other UMUC requirements for transfer credit, and are subject to the same limitations as those placed on nonmilitary credit. In addition:

• All credit from the CCAF is lower-level credit and is applicable only to freshman and sophomore requirements
• Since the CCAF records satisfactorily completed courses as S (satisfactory) and specifies that S equals a grade of C or better, credit may be applied wherever appropriate in the UMUC curriculum. Courses that are vocational or technical may be used only as electives, up to a maximum of 21 credits

Credit by Examination

UMUC may award as many as 30 credits toward the associate degree and 60 credits by examination toward the bachelor’s degree, provided that

1. there is no duplication of other academic credit and
2. the scores presented meet UMUC’s standards.

Examinations may include the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations administered by the College Board; those from the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP); Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examinations; and Excelsior College Examinations (ECEP - formerly RCEP and ACT/PEP). UMUC also accepts credit for professional examinations listed in the ACE Guide to Educational Credit by Examination. As many as 30 credits of examination credit awarded by other regionally accredited institutions will be accepted for courses that appear on an official transcript with a grade of C or better. Students who have questions about credit by examination are encouraged to consult a UMUC Europe academic advisor.

Application of Credit by Examination
CLEP General Examination	Credit	ACE Recommended Score	Duplication of UMUC Courses	GER Application
English
Composition	6	50*	None	Communications
Social Sciences and History
Social Science	3	50*	None	Social Sciences
History	3	50*	None	Humanities
Natural Science	6	50*	None	Science
Mathematics	6	50*	MATH 105	Mathematics**
Humanities	6	50*
Fine Arts			ARTH 100	Arts and Humanities
Literature			None	Arts and Humanities
* For exams taken prior to March 31, 2005 the minimum passing score is 500. For CLEP English Composition examinations taken between August 1979 and May 1986 (ETS) or October 1986 (DANTES), the minimum passing score is 594. After these 1986 dates and continuing through 30 June 1993, the minimum passing score was 494. A maximum of 3 credits by examination can be awarded for English writing.
** CLEP General Mathematics examination must have been taken after 1 August 1985. No credit will be awarded for exams taken after credit has been assigned for MATH 107 or a higher level math course.

Advanced Placement

Advanced placement and college credit may be granted to students on the basis of scores on a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination. These examinations are normally administered to eligible high school seniors during the May preceding matriculation in college.

A student intending to transfer AP credit that was awarded at another college or similar institution must have a transcript of those scores sent directly to UMUC Europe in Heidelberg from the College Board. When those scores have been received, an academic advisor will determine whether they meet the standards established at UMUC for granting AP credit and how much credit may be awarded.

Credit earned by advanced placement may be used to complete majors or minors or electives and the General Education Requirements.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Up to 30 credits may be awarded for general examinations in the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). The scores must meet UMUC standards. UMUC may award 6 credits each for the English examination and the mathematics examination, and 6 semester hours for the examinations in natural sciences, social sciences and history, and humanities.

Successful completion of certain subject-area examinations is another way of earning college credit. Generally, all CLEP subject examinations yield only lower-level credit. Academic advisors can furnish details.

DANTES Examinations

Credit may be awarded for successfully completing certain Subject Standardized Tests of DANTES (formerly known as USAFI). Academic advisors have information on which tests are acceptable.

Excelsior College Examinations (ECEP—Formerly RCEP and ACT/PEP)

Students may earn credit for successfully completing subject tests offered by Excelsior College. Tests are available in various areas of the arts and sciences, as well as in business. Scores must meet UMUC standards. Academic advisors can furnish details.

Institutional Exam Codes for UMUC Europe To have your official exam results sent to Heidelberg, use the proper code:
AP	7213
CLEP	7417 or 0113 (if taken Stateside)
DANTES	9939
ECEP	01052

Graduate Work By UMUC - Europe Seniors

Undergraduate students enrolled with UMUC Europe who have reached senior-level status (90 credits or more) may register for graduate-level courses with the Bowie State University graduate programs in Europe if the following requirements/conditions are met:

• The graduate courses are in the excess of the credits required for the bachelor’s degree;
• English proficiency has been successfully established;
• The student’s grade point average is 3.0 or better;
• Permission has been secured from the appropriate Program Director, Graduate Programs; and
• The UMUC Europe Seniors’ Application for Graduate Admission (PDF 120 KB) has been filed.

Permission to take courses while a senior does not constitute regular admission to the Graduate School. Graduate coursework may not be taken to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Students interested in taking graduate courses should contact Graduate Programs in Heidelberg by phone or by e-mailing edgradprog@ed.umuc.edu.

Information based on the 2006/2007 Catalog.

Last updated: 3 March 2008