Undergraduate Course Placement and Transfer Credits
Students need to have UAF-approved placement test scores prior to registering for their first-semester classes. Students place into classes in the following ways: standardized test scores (ACT Plus Writing, SAT, ASSET, or ACCUPLACER), advanced placement credits, transfer credits or prerequisite coursework. Placement tests are available at every UAF community campus as well as Testing Services, the Academic Advising Center, Community and Technical College, Rural Student Services, e-Learning and Distance Education, and Northern Military Programs at Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base and Delta Career Advancement Center.
Students who meet basic skills standards in reading, writing and mathematics may enroll in the appropriate 100-level or above courses. Those whose scores place below these standards are required to enroll in the appropriate developmental education courses. Once these students have satisfactorily met the criteria for these courses, they may register for 100-level courses.
Students need English placement at ENGL F111X or above (including reading) in order to enroll in Perspectives on the Human Condition core courses. Students need mathematics placement at DEVM F105 or above, and ENGL F111X placement (including reading), to register for science courses.
Placement exams must be taken within two calendar years prior to the start of a course; mathematics placement exams must be taken within one calendar year prior. Students enrolling in developmental or lower division core courses must have completed any prerequisite courses within two calendar years of their enrollment. Academic advisors will assist with proper course placement for incoming and continuing students.
Students who enroll in a developmental or core course without meeting placement or prerequisite requirements may be withdrawn from the course through the faculty-initiated withdrawal process.
Placement into English or developmental English courses requires a scored writing sample: SAT, ACT Writing, ASSET, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, or a UAF-generated writing sample. Minimum scores for placement into English and developmental English courses are listed in this table (ACT/SAT) and this table (ACCUPLACER/ASSET/COMPASS). A student will be placed in English F111X if the student's ACT writing test score is 7 or above, the ACT English score is 18 or above, or the ACT reading score is 22 or above (or the student's SAT writing score is 430 or above, the SAT critical reading score is 510 or above, or the score on another university-approved placement test is equivalent). However, if the student's standardized test scores are below these minimums and the high school cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher, the student may enroll in English F111X with permission of the director of composition or community campus English/humanities faculty.
On the basis of test scores, students may be required to take developmental English and/or developmental studies courses. These courses help students gain competencies necessary for success in college-level courses. Students who earn a C- or higher in DEVE F070 or DEVE F109 place into English F111X automatically and do not have to re-test.
Mathematics
Mathematics course placement varies according to the type of degree the student is planning to pursue and the corresponding math course(s) needed. (See the degree program requirements for more detail.) ACT Plus Writing, SAT, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS test scores are used to determine math placement. Minimum test scores for placement into math and developmental math courses are listed in this table.
Foreign Language
Students may not register for foreign language classes higher than F101 unless they have received credit through CLEP, AP, transfer or another UAF-approved test for the prior levels. Students may enroll in the level of a language at which they are competent, based on prior experience.
Course prerequisites indicate what previous preparation is needed to enroll in a course. An instructor has the right to drop any student from the course if he or she does not meet the prerequisite or has not received a grade of C (2.0) or better in all prerequisite courses.
Credit accepted at UAF that has been earned from other regionally accredited institutions, through military educational experiences or credit accepted by special approval is considered transfer credit. Where possible, transfer credit is equated with UAF courses. See a list of substitutions within the University of Alaska System and for substitutions from non-UA institutions. UAF is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges network. For additional information about the SOC program, contact the Office of Admissions and the Registrar.
UAF's transfer credit resource website at http://alaska.edu/uaonline shows most courses previously evaluated by UAF and is an unofficial reference for undergraduate students who are considering transferring to UAF. An official evaluation of transfer credits will be provided after formal application and admission to a degree program at UAF.
The following regulations apply to transfer of credit:
- Students are eligible for transfer of credit if they have been admitted to an undergraduate degree or certificate program.
- The applicability of transfer credit to a student's major and/or minor requirements is subject to approval by the major and/or minor department. Transfer students must fulfill the UAF graduation and residency requirements, including those specific to their programs.
- Undergraduate credits earned at the 100-level or above with a C- grade or higher at institutions accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies will be considered for transfer. Transfer credit is not granted for courses with doctrinal religious content or for graduate courses (for undergraduate programs).
- Transfer credit is awarded for courses in which the student received grades of C- or better. Instructor permission may be required for purposes of registration if the transfer credit courses have not satisfied the prerequisite requirements.
- Any student who has completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution will be considered to have completed the equivalent of the baccalaureate core and the associate of arts core when officially accepted to a baccalaureate degree program or associate of arts program at UAF. These students will also be considered to have completed the equivalent of the communication, computation and human relations requirements for the associate of applied science and the certificate.
- Any student who has completed an associate of arts or an associate of science degree from a regionally accredited institution will be considered as having satisfied the 100- and 200-level UAF general education (core) requirements.
- Any transfer student who has completed the baccalaureate general education requirements at any regionally accredited four-year institution is considered to have completed the baccalaureate core requirements (excluding oral intensive and writing intensive) at UAF. The student is responsible for providing an official statement and documentation certifying GER completion at the previous institution.
- Transfer credit is not included in computation of the UAF GPA, except to determine eligibility for graduation with honors.
- Class standing (e.g., freshman, sophomore, etc.) is based on the number of college credits accepted in transfer by UAF, combined with any courses completed in residence at UAF.
- Credits may be awarded for formal service schooling and military occupational specialties (MOS) based on recommendations in the "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services," published by the American Council on Education. Credit completed through the Community College of the Air Force or Department of Defense courses is included in the category of military experience.
- A student will be awarded credit for currently valid government and professional certifications that have been reviewed and approved for designated course equivalencies at UAF. A list of these programs is available in the Office of Admissions and the Registrar.
- Credit may also be awarded for satisfactory completion of training programs, based on recommendations of the American Council on Education and the National Program on non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction. The award of credit is subject to review and approval of appropriate UAF faculty.
Transferring Credits within the UA System
In general, undergraduate credits earned at the 100-level or above at a University of Alaska institution will transfer to UAF. In addition, in order to serve students who transfer among the three institutions that make up the University of Alaska system, UAF, UAA and UAS have identified fully transferable general education requirements for baccalaureate degrees.
Credit for course work successfully completed at one UA institution which applies to general education requirements will fulfill the same categories at all other UA institutions. This applies even if there is no directly matching course work at the institution to which the student transfers.
Transfer students from UAA or UAS who have completed all general education requirements in the baccalaureate program prior to transferring to UAF will have completed all requirements for the UAF baccalaureate core. Courses taken to complete the general education requirements at UAA or UAS will meet UAF baccalaureate core requirements according to the current UA table of substitutions. Students should notify the UAF Office of Admissions and the Registrar if they completed the general education requirements at UAA or UAS prior to enrollment in a major program of study at UAF.
Completion of the 35-credit lower-division requirements (100- and 200-level courses) of the UAF baccalaureate core meets the general education requirements at UAA and UAS.
For more information about transfer credit visit www.uaf.edu/admissions/undergrad/transfer/.
- English
Students with appropriate test scores may receive local advanced placement credit in English. Students with an SAT Writing score of 640 or higher, an ACT English score of 29 or higher, or an ACT Plus Writing score of 10 or higher, may receive credit for ENGL F111X upon completion of ENGL F211X or F213X with a C grade or better.
Students who have received transfer credit for ENGL F211X, F213X or F2X, with a C grade or better, who meet the SAT or ACT test score requirement, may also receive credit for ENGL F111X. To receive this credit, students must submit the application form for ENGL F111X credit to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar once ENGL F211X or 213X has successfully been completed. The form is available at the Office of Admissions and the Registrar. - Alaska Native Language
After completing a course in which the student was placed (above 101) and earning a B grade or higher, the student may ask to receive credit for the two immediately preceding prerequisite courses, if any. However, credit cannot be awarded for such courses if university credit has already been granted. Credit will not be awarded for special topics courses, individual study courses, literature or culture courses, conversation courses, or any course taught in English. - Mathematics
Students placed in an advanced math course who have completed MATH F201X, 202X or 302 at UAF with a C grade or better may receive credit for any prerequisite calculus course(s). Students should contact the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for more information.
There are several ways to earn college credit by receiving a passing score on an exam. For any of the following credit by exam options, grades are not computed in the UAF GPA. Credit by exam is not considered UAF residence credit and is not considered to be part of the semester course load for classification as a full-time student. Credit by exam is awarded to current or previously enrolled degree-seeking students at UAF. The credit by exam options are briefly outlined here. For more information contact the UAF Office of Testing Services, 211 Gruening, 907-474-5277, email uaf-testing-dept@alaska.edu, or www.uaf.edu/testing/.
- College Level Examination Program
CLEP is a national testing program that awards college credit for some introductory courses. The exams cost $105 each (costs subject to change) and are administered daily.
See a list of CLEP exams accepted at UAF. To register for a CLEP exam or for more information, contact UAF Testing Services at 907-474-5277. The following criteria apply to CLEP exams:
- If the student has already earned (from any source) 6 semester credits in the subject areas of humanities, social sciences/history, natural sciences or college mathematics, no credit will be awarded for successfully completing the general exam (identified as receiving elective credit only) in any of the subject areas listed above. For example, if the student has already earned 6 credits of humanities and he or she takes a CLEP general humanities exam, he or she will not receive any credit; if the student has only earned 3 humanities credits, he or she can be awarded an additional 3 credits for successfully completing the CLEP exam.
- Students may not duplicate a course for which credit has already been earned or in which the student is currently enrolled.
- Students must wait at least one year after the end of an audited course before taking the CLEP exam for that course.
- The minimum passing score for approved CLEP exams is 50 with the exception of the following listed foreign languages scores: French semester I and II, minimum 50, semesters III and IV, minimum 59; German semester I minimum 39, semester II minimum 50, semester III minimum 55, semester IV minimum 60; Spanish semester I minimum 39, semester II minimum 50, semester III minimum 57 and semester IV minimum 63.
- College Board Advanced Placement Exams
UAF grants advanced credit, with waiver of fees, for exam results of three or higher on the College Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Tests. These exams are normally taken during the junior or senior year in high school.
To receive CEEB advanced placement credit, request that an official report of the exam results be sent to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar from the College Board. Credits may be earned for more than one advanced placement exam. - Credit for Language Testing
UAF accepts successful test results from Brigham Young University or other national testing programs (subject to Foreign Language Department approval) in languages for which no CLEP test is available, for a maximum of 12 credits. The first 10 credits may be applied to the core curriculum language requirement and any additional credits will be awarded general humanities credit. Results must be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar by the testing agency. For more information on foreign language testing opportunities, call UAF Testing Services at 907-474-5277, or email uaf-testing-dept@alaska.edu.
Students who are speakers of non-English languages transferring from foreign partner universities to UAF are exempted from taking a foreign language test to demonstrate fluency in that language. Complete the language exemption/core credit waiver form and file it with the Office of Admissions and the Registrar. Upon approval, 6 credits of core Perspectives on the Human Condition coursework will be waived. This applies only to students participating in formalized articulation agreements established between UAF and partner institutions. - DANTES-DSST (Standardized Subject Tests)
DSST is a national testing program that offers exams in traditional academic, vocational/technical and business subject areas. Credit is awarded for successfully completing DSST tests as recommended by the American Council on Education. Acceptance of the DSST exam for a specific catalog course or as a major/minor requirement is subject to departmental approval. DSST exams cost $105 each (costs subject to change). To register for a DSST exam, call UAF Testing Services at 907-474-5277, or email uaf-testing-dept@alaska.edu about the availability of DSST testing. - International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a two-year curriculum for students aged 16 to 19 and is similar to the final year of secondary school in Europe. UAF grants advanced credit, with a waiver of fees, for IB higher-level and some standard-level exams on which students have earned a score of 4 or better, or a score of 5 or better for mathematics (see table). To receive IB credit, students should submit an official copy of their IB exam results to the Office of Admissions and the Registrar. - UAF Credit by Exam
Credit by exam can be earned at UAF by students who are currently enrolled. Most courses are available for credit by exam, except those with numbers ending -90 through -99 (193, 292, 497, etc.). A course challenged for credit cannot duplicate a course for which credit has already been granted or in which the student is currently enrolled. It is up to the discretion of the department and instructor to decide which courses can be challenged, the testing method and grading procedures. Credit by exam may not be requested for audited courses until one year has passed since the end of the semester in which the course was audited.
Credit by examination forms may be obtained online at www.uaf.edu/testing/, under UAF-Specific Tests, or at the Office of Testing Services in 211 Gruening. For more information on challenging a course call Testing Services at 907-474-5277. - Testing Services
As a national test center, UAF Testing Services administers paper-and-pencil and computer-based exams. The office advises UAF students, prospective students and the community on national testing matters for college admissions and placement and for career and professional certification. Testing Services also coordinates credit by examination for local tests and for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The office also does private proctoring. For more information and registration materials, visit Testing Services in 211 Gruening Building, call 907-474-5277, email uaf-testing-dept@alaska.edu, or visit www.uaf.edu/testing/.
The Academic Advising Center administers the credit for prior learning program, wherein students may earn credit based on learning they have obtained outside the classroom. Students can document the university-level learning they have gained through employment, volunteer service or other life experiences with a portfolio or copies of licenses and certificates earned. Certificate, associate or bachelor's degree students may earn up to 25 percent of total program requirements through the credit for prior learning program.
Credentials for admitted degree students who are currently enrolled are reviewed by faculty from participating departments who determine if this process is appropriate and make recommendations for awarding prior learning credit. Review is based on equivalency to courses listed in this catalog. Credit received for prior learning does not affect your GPA and is not considered residence credit. The university will award transfer credit for specified national and state authorizations, certificates, credentials and/or examinations (see Transferring Credits) that do not need credit for prior learning review. For further information or assistance, contact the Academic Advising Center, 509 Gruening Building, 907-474-6396 or uaf.advising@alaska.edu. To access the credit for prior learning student handbook online, go to www.uaf.edu/advising/cpl/.
Students with appropriate background experience may address two components of the UAF Core Curriculum via competency testing. Credit by exam is not available.
- Library Competency Exam
The Library Competency Exam, administered by UAF Testing Services, is offered to fulfill the core curriculum requirement for LS F101X and LS F100X. The LCE, offered daily in Testing Services for $25, is designed to test or verify a student's existing knowledge of standard library functions, services and organization. While no credit is awarded for passing this exam, a score of at least 85 percent will fulfill the core curriculum requirement for LS F101X and LS F100X. Please contact Testing Services at 474-5277 or 211 Gruening Building for more information. - Computer Skills Placement Exam
The Computer Skills Placement Exam, administered by UAF Testing Services, is offered to fulfill the degree requirement for AIS F101, required by students seeking a BBA degree at UAF. The CSP, offered daily in Testing Services for $25, is designed to test or verify a student's existing knowledge of information technology and file management procedures; word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), databases (Access) and presentation (Powerpoint) software; and information and communication skills. While no credit is awarded for passing this exam, a score of at least 70 percent will fulfill the degree requirement for AIS F101. Please contact Testing Services at 474-5277 or 211 Gruening Building for more information. - Oral Communication Competency Exam
Requests for competency testing for COMM F141X--Fundamentals of Oral Communication, Public Context, will be considered only if, in the opinion of a member of the Communication Department faculty, a student presents evidence of substantive prior experience in formal public speaking situations (competency testing is not available for COMM F131X). Neither prior oral intensive coursework, nor COMM F442--Professional Public Speaking, are considered evidence of substantive prior experience. If the prior experience is sufficient, the individual will be asked either: a) to provide a video (not audio) recording of a formal public speaking presentation at least 10 minutes in length, or b) to present a 10 minute persuasive speech before a live audience, with at least one member of the Communication Department faculty present. This process may be attempted only once. The date for live speeches will be established each semester, at a single time during the fourth to sixth week of classes. While no credit is awarded for passing this exam, a grade of at least a B (3.0) for either type of presentation will fulfill the core curriculum requirement for COMM F141X. For more information and an application for competency testing, contact the Department of Communication at 474-6591 or 503 Gruening.
E-Learning, administered by UAF eLearning and Distance Education, offers an alternative for people who seek a college education but cannot attend classes. The unique advantage of e-learning, also known as online learning, is its flexibility. Students select their own hours of study and work in surroundings they choose. E-learning offers the freedom to structure a personal academic schedule and continue educational progress, even when personal circumstances make it impossible to attend scheduled classes.
For UAF students, e-learning courses count as residence credit. When a student enrolls in an EDE course during the regular semester enrollment period and completes the course during the same semester, the course may be used to determine full-time/part-time status and eligibility for financial aid and scholastic action. The grade will average in your semester and cumulative GPAs.
When students enroll in an e-learning course at other times of the year, the credit and grade will not affect the credit load or semester GPA for any other semester enrollments but will be counted in cumulative totals. It's important to realize that enrollment in these year-based courses does not count toward the current semester's credit load, and therefore is not included in determining full-time or part-time student status. The student's status (full- or part-time) can affect things like financial aid or athletics eligibility.
The Department of eLearning and Distance Education maintains a comprehensive website at http://distance.uaf.edu where policies regarding enrollment, transfer, withdrawal, fees, materials and course descriptions may be found. A printed listing of courses and EDE policies may also be requested. For more information contact eLearning and Distance Education at 2175 University Avenue South in Fairbanks, phone: 800-277-8060 or 907-479-3444, fax: 907-479-3443, email: distance@uaf.edu or online at http://distance.uaf.edu.
The University of Alaska provides many possibilities for students to take distance-delivered courses. The campuses at Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, along with their community college networks, offer hundreds of courses using a variety of delivery modes. Opportunities for students who prefer distance-delivered courses can be found at the University of Alaska Distance Learning website at http://distance.alaska.edu.