If you are a student that follows a different catalog year, see your department chair or the Office of Academic Records.

ALTERNATIVE CREDIT-EARNING OPTIONS

Alternative credit-earning options provide the student with unique opportunities to earn academic credit without participating in formal instruction via a regular classroom setting.

All credits earned through alternative credit-earning options, will be given pass/fail (S/U) grades.

Note: A maximum of only 30 semester credits with pass/fail (S/U) grades may be used to meet graduation requirements.
NOTE: BEFORE TRANSCRIPTING CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF EARNING ACADEMIC CREDIT, A STUDENT MUST HAVE EARNED A MINIMUM OF TWELVE (12) SEMESTER HOURS OF CREDIT FROM DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY AND MUST HAVE A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 1.60:
            Armed Services Credit
            Attached Learning Credit
            Experiential Learning Credit
            Service Learning Credit

Challenge Examinations
Dickinson State University has a limited number of academic areas that offer challenge examinations for specific classes.

Experiential Learning
Credit may be awarded for past work experience, which can be directly related to a specific, existing course in the University catalog. Credit will be awarded at the discretion of the appropriate department chair. Amount of credit will match the designated course in the catalog. Note: Credit cannot be designated and transcripted under Special Topics 299/499.

Service Learning
Credit may be awarded for extra-curricular university or community service activities (on-campus or off-campus), which were completed within the current semester of enrollment and can be tied to an existing course in the University catalog.  Previous service activities cannot be used. Service learning experiences will be arranged through the appropriate department chair and credit will be awarded at the chair’s discretion. The amount of credit will vary. Note: Credit cannot be designated and transcripted under Special Topics 299/499.

Armed Service Training and Experience
Dickinson State University may grant up to a maximum of 10 semester hours of academic credit to students who have competed specific courses of instruction while on active duty in the armed services. Credit will be granted based upon the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s publications: “Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.”  One physical education activity credit will be waived. All credits will be posted in the term in which the credits were granted.

Attached Credit
Credit may be awarded for educational workshops and/or training which has a direct correlation between the content of the training received and the general curriculum of a specific department within the University. Credit will be awarded at the discretion of the appropriate department chair. The amount of credit will vary based upon a number of factors, which may include the academic rigor of the training and/or the length of the training or workshop. Generally, one semester hour of credit is awarded for each 16 hours of seat time. (Note: All attached credit will be designated under special topics 299/499.)

For additional information regarding alternative credit-earning options, contact either the Director of Admissions and Academic Records in May Hall, room 111 or the Director of Extended Campus (701-483-2166).

CLEP
Advanced Placement Examinations
Dickinson State University does accept certain CLEP and Advanced Placement Examinations for credit. A maximum of 15 semester hours of this type of credit may be applied to a four-year degree, and eight semester hours may be applied to a two-year degree.  All recorded CLEP credits will be recorded as “S” and will not affect the student’s GPA.

(NOTE: Students must score a minimum of three on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations and, as is the case with CLEP test scores, students must also pay a recording fee.)

CLEP
Dickinson State does accept subject area CLEP tests as approved by the University. (NOTE: Dickinson State University does not accept General Education CLEP tests.)

CLEP subject examinations may not be taken to establish credit for a course in which a student has earned credit in a higher level sequential course, or in a subject the student has previously failed.

CLEP tests not on the approved list may be taken for credit if the student has the written approval of the college dean or department chair of the particular subject area. CLEP tests are all computer based.

The minimum passing score for CLEP tests is 50. Some CLEP tests require a response in the form of essay questions. No essay will be evaluated or graded unless the minimum passing score is obtained on the subjective portion of the test.

Procedure for CLEP testing:
1.         CLEP tests may be scheduled through Student Support Services.
2.         $50 is charged for the test, payable upon taking the test.
3.         $15 is charged for the administration of the test. (NOTE: This fee will be deposited in the Dickinson State University institutional collections and not to the person administering the test.)

NDUS CLEP Subject Area Tests and Scores

Subject Area Tests
American Government
History of U.S. I  
History of U.S. II 
West Civilization I 
West Civilization II 
Mathematics
 
 
 
Freshman College Comp.
English Lit 
 
American Lit (Essay)

 

Spanish
 
General Biology

 
General Chemistry 

 
German 

Intro Psychology 
Educational Psychology
Human Growth and Development
Principles of Accounting
 

Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of  Macroeconomics
Principles of Management
 
Principles of Marketing
Intro Sociology
Computer Applications

Dickinson State University Course
POLS 115 – American Government
HIST 103 – United States to 1877
HIST 104 – United States Since 1877
HIST 211 – World Civilizations to 1500
HIST 212 – World Civilizations Since 1500
MATH 103 – College Algebra
MATH 105 – College Trigonometry
MATH 107 – Pre-Calculus
MATH 146 – Applied Calculus I 
ENGL 110 – College Composition I 
ENGL 251 – British Literature I 
ENGL 252 – British Literature II 
ENGL 261 – American Literature I 
ENGL 262 – American Literature II
ENGL 271 – Literary Analysis I 
ENGL 272 – Literary Analysis II 
SPAN 101 – 1st Year Spanish I
SPAN 102 – 2nd Year Spanish II
BIOL 111, 111L – Concepts of Biology I and Lab
BIOL 150 – General Biology I
BIOL 151 – General Biology Lab
CHEM 115, 115L – Introductory Chemistry I and Lab
CHEM 121 – General Chemistry I 
CHEM 122 – General Chemistry II 
GERM 101 – 1st Year German I 
GERM 102 – 2nd Year German II
PSYC 111 – Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 230 – Educational Psychology
PSYC 250 – Developmental Psychology
ACCT 200 – Elements of Accounting I
ACCT 215 – Business Law I
(NOTE: Accounting CLEP may not be used for majors)
ECON 201 – Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 202 – Principles of Macroeconomics
BADM 202 – Principles of Management
BADM 302 – Principles of Management
MRKT 301 – Principles of Marketing
SOC 110 – Introduction to Sociology
CSCI 101 – Introduction to Computers

Semester Hrs
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
4
3
3
5
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
1
4
3
1
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
 
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

Minimum Score
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
66
66
50
50
50
50
50
50
63
63
50
50
50
50
50
 
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

NOTE: Students taking advanced placement tests for approved Dickinson State University courses must achieve a score of three or more in order to receive college credit and provide official documentation.