Non-Traditional Credit

Credit earned through non-traditional means, including CLEP, AP, departmental test-out, retroactive credit, correspondence study, military credit, and non-collegiate instructional programs, is limited to a maximum of 45 credit hours applicable to the student's degree program. Limits have also been established within each of the areas as defined below.

AP - Advanced Placement - 30 credit hours

Talented high school students may participate in national examinations administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Credit can be earned in college-level courses when the student achieves a passing score on the exam. (See Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination.)

CLEP - College Level Examination Program - 30 credit hours

Students may earn credit by successfully passing a nationally standardized exam in a specific subject area.

Cambridge International Exams (A Level) - 30 credit hours

A limited number of A Level Exams have been evaluated for credit at UNK.

Correspondence Courses - 12 credit hours

No more than 12 credit hours of correspondence credit may be applied to a bachelors degree.

Departmental Test-Out - 15 credit hours

Students may receive credit for successfully demonstrating competency in a particular course through a proficiency exam. Academic departments assume responsibility for developing and administering such exams.

Defense Subject Standardized Test (DSST - formerly Dantes) - 30 credit hours

Exams available to military and civilan examinees.  The Department of Defense may fund exams for active duty and veteran military members.  Request score report from DSST.

International Baccalaureate (IB) credit - 30 credit hours

The University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK) cooperates with the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) in its curriculum and examinations program. The results of the IB scores are furnished to UNK at the request of the student. The number of credits a student will receive at UNK will be determined by the performance in the IB course and the score received on the exam. To earn transfer credit, a score of five (5) or higher in most exams is required. Credit will only be granted for both the Standard Level (SL) and the Higher Level (HL) scores if an IB Diploma has been earned.  HL scores for all other candidates will be awarded accordingly.

Military Credit - 15 credit hours

Students who have completed military training, including Basic Training, may receive credit for their experiences based upon the recommendations of the American Council of Education.

Retroactive Credit - 15 credit hours

Students entering UNK with a particularly high level of achievement in a given subject area, may be awarded credit upon completion of a "confirming" course at UNK. Restrictions apply.

Other forms of experiential learning will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students will be required to provide verification of content, duration, method of evaluation, etc. Credit may be granted upon recommendation of an academic department.

Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination

A student entering the University with a particularly thorough background from high school may apply for advanced placement and/or credit in one or more subjects in which their preparation is superior.

Advanced placement and/or credit may be achieved by three different methods. Each of the three methods is described as follows:

  1. Passing a proficiency examination administered by an academic department of UNK (Departmental Test-Out).

Where exceptional circumstances warrant, a student may receive credit by demonstrating a superior level of competence on a proficiency-based examination.

Assessment of a student's competence may assume a variety of formal and informal techniques as designed by the department and shall be subject to the approval of the department head and dean of the college. A fee is assessed for each course examination before credit is awarded. A student may not take an examination for credit in any course which:

  1. is a prerequisite for an already completed or currently enrolled course, or
  2. is equivalent to a course already awarded or completed.

Credit earned by examination is applicable toward degree requirements and is awarded after successfully completing 30 semester credit hours in residence. Petition to take such examinations should be submitted to the appropriate department chair.

  1. Earning a prescribed grade on an Advanced Placement (AP) Program examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board.

Recognition of special competencies by the College permits a student to receive Advanced Placement and college-level credit for satisfactory performance on subject matter proficiency tests of the College Entrance Examination Board. Credit will be granted for those College courses most nearly equivalent to the Advanced Placement tests. An applicant who has taken an Advanced Placement examination should request that their score be reported to the Office of the University Registrar.

Advanced Placement examinations are recognized in the following areas: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English, European History, French, Geography, German, Mathematics, Music Theory, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics, United States History and World History. For a complete list of Advanced Placement Test credit and scores, visit the website of the Office of the University Registrar at www.unk.edu/offices/registrar/academic_policies_handbook/Advanced_Placement_Credit_and_Scores.php.

A student may not take an examination for credit in any course which:

  1. is equivalent to a course already awarded or completed.
  1. By demonstrating proficiency in subject areas selected by successfully completing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

The University of Nebraska offers students an opportunity to earn college credit in selected areas by demonstrating proficiency in subject areas by completing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Academic departments which have approved the program will grant credit for CLEP tests to those students who pass the test at the 50th percentile or above, according to the national norms. A fee of $114.00, with $89.00 payable to CLEP and $25.00 payable to UNK, is charged for each test. For additional information regarding the CLEP examination, contact the Office of the University Registrar.

Credit may be obtained through the College Level Examination Program on courses listed below.

A student may not take an examination for credit in any course which:

  1. is a prerequisite for an already completed or currently enrolled course, or
  2. is equivalent to a course already awarded or completed.

Recording Credit for Test-Out

Students who achieve a satisfactory score on any of the following exams, CLEP, AP, Departmental Test-Out or Retroactive Credit, may have corresponding course credit recorded on their UNK transcript. When score reports are received by the Office of the University Registrar, students are notified of their options for receiving credit.