Academic Credit

Awarding Credit

The standard for academic course credit, as identified by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, is that one credit be awarded for three hours of student work per week during a 15-week semester.

At Casper College, a “period” is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes.

Credit Formulas

• 1 lecture credit equals 1 period with 2 hours of outside preparation.
• 1 laboratory credit equals 2 to 4 periods.
• 1 music studio credit equals 30 minutes of applied instruction plus three hours of practice per week.

An equivalent amount of work is expected for internships, practica, studio work, clinicals, independent study, compressed courses, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Transfer Credit

Casper College accepts credit earned in other institutions of higher education if the institution is accredited by a regional accrediting agency.

If a student presents a transcript from an institution of higher education which is not accredited by a regional association, the college accepts credit which is generally accepted by the accrediting authority listed in the “Annual Report on Transfer Credit Practices of Selected Educational Institutions,” published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.

Military Service Credit

“The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services,” published by the American Council of Education (ACE), is used to determine credit for military training and experience.

“The National Guide to Credit Recommendations for Noncollegiate Courses,” also published by ACE, is used to determine credit in exceptional cases.

The college reserves the right to make an independent determination of equivalency of courses or to require departmental examinations and evaluations in all cases.

Credit for one semester of the physical education requirement for graduation will be granted to a student who presents to the Registrar’s office a Report of Discharge (DD Form 214) establishing active duty of 181 days or more, but less than one year and one day. Credit for two semesters of the physical education requirement for graduation will be granted to a student who presents such evidence of active duty of more than one year.

Credit by Examination

General Policy

Each academic department will identify those courses, if any, for which credit may be earned by examination. The challenge examinations in those courses identified may be conducted under either of the following testing programs: departmental examination, CEEB-AP or CLEP programs.

To qualify for a credit by examination option, the student must be registered as a certificate or degree candidate at Casper College during the semester in which credit is to be awarded.

Students may not earn credit by examination in a course if they have earned credit previously in a higher level course in the subject area. A student may not challenge a course to remove a failure or to raise a passing grade already received in the course.

A student may only select one credit by examination option and may only attempt that option once for any specific course for which he is attempting to earn credit. However, credit by examination is recommended as a means to obtain credit for courses previously taken at institutions from which credit is not transferable.

For further information see the Director of Student Success Services or the Student Success Specialist, Gateway Building, Rm. 347 or 339.

Departmental Examination

For department exams, adhere to the following four statements:

1. The student will file an Intent to Challenge a Course form with the Registrar and the appropriate department head which identifies the specific course for which credit by examination is sought, and pay any required fee.
2. Courses may only be challenged during a semester in which they are being taught and must be taken prior to mid-term.
3. The student must arrange for the departmental examination with the appropriate department head.
4. The instructor assigned to the course will report the appropriate grade for the challenge exam, S or U, to the registrar and the appropriate department head.

Advanced Placement Program Policy

Students showing proficiency by passing the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination will receive Casper College credit and a grade of S. Casper College awards credit for CEEB Advanced Placement Program Examinations as follows:

College Level Examination Program

Casper College is a testing center for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). All available tests are administered via computer in the Academic Testing Center on campus to interested students.

Whether a student takes general or subject matter examinations or a combination of the two, there is a cost that will be paid online during the testing appointment for each test. There will also be a $15 administrative fee charged which must be paid prior to testing. The student may select the institution where the results of the examination are to be sent. After talking with the Student Success Center (268-2255 or 268-3315), students will need to call the Academic Testing Center (BU120) at 268-3850 to schedule a testing appointment.

Although the college allows credit for both subject and general examinations, the uncertainty of transferability dictates that only the subject examinations be recommended for students in transfer programs. The general examinations (with a scaled score of at least 50) are acceptable toward requirements for the Associate of Applied Science degree only.

International Baccalaureate

 *Does not fulfill Wyoming Constitution requirements

*Must have official transcript from International Baccalaureate Program