Advanced Placement (AP)

Students entering from high school may apply for college credit by taking examinations given by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students who have taken any of these examinations should arrange to have the results forwarded to the University by the College Board. As determined by the University, credits will be awarded for AP scores of 3 or higher and awarded credits may count toward the major program or general education requirements. The University will determine satisfactory AP scores and how they will be applied to the degree. Credit awarded for particular tests is posted on the University website. Questions regarding credit equivalencies should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Cambridge Examinations

Students may earn course credit for satisfactory scores on eligible Cambridge A-Level and A/S Level examinations as determined by the University. Credits awarded may count toward the major program or general education requirements. Students who have taken these exams should forward their scores to the University. Credit awarded for particular tests is posted on the University website. Questions regarding credit equivalencies should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Credit Through Standardized Testing (CLEP and DANTES)

Students may earn college credit through College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) or Defense Activity for Non-Tradition Education Support (DANTES). Examinations must have been taken before the student has been granted B.A./B.S./BSEd degree-seeking status at UMW. B.A./B.S./BSEd students cannot receive CLEP credit for exams taken after matriculation at UMW. BLS and BSN degree candidates are eligible for CLEP or DANTES credit any time before earning 30 credits in alternative credit testing and before earning 90 transfer credits toward the degree. CLEP and DANTES are designed for the student who has gained knowledge in a subject area through means other than formal academic course work. The University grants CLEP credit for selected Subject Examinations if predetermined satisfactory scores are achieved. B.A./B.S/BSEd credit is not granted for any of the General Examinations. The BLS and BSN programs award credit for all the General Examinations and appropriate Subject Examinations when the scores earned are in the 50th percentile or higher (the TOTAL score must be reflected as 50 or higher). A maximum of 30 credits can be earned by examination toward a BLS or BSN degree. Credits earned through CLEP or DANTES can count toward the major program or general education requirements, or can be scored as elective credits. Credit awarded for particular tests is posted on the University website. CLEP and DANTES credits do not fulfill Writing or Speaking Intensive requirements unless specified on the Office of the Registrar's website. Questions regarding credit equivalencies should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The University awards academic credit for test scores of four (4) or higher on individual higher-level IB courses and for scores of five (5) or higher on individual standard-level IB course. Credit is also provided for the completion of the IB Diploma. A minimum of 15 credits will be awarded for the completed IB Diploma. If the IB Diploma student’s test scores results do not result in at least 15 credits, the difference will be awarded as elective credit (to add up to a minimum of 15 credits). Credit is awarded at the time of matriculation and is based on the scores earned on the IB examinations. All credit awarded will be recorded on the student’s permanent record and will be included in the credit total toward degree requirements. Credit will be awarded for 100-and 200-level course work (upper level credit can be awarded in some language areas). Credits awarded may count toward the major program or general education requirements. Credit awarded for particular tests is posted on the University website. Questions regarding credit equivalencies should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Guidelines Covering the Application and/or Deletion of Transfer Credits

The following provisions apply to all forms of examination-based transfer credit (AP, Cambridge, IB, CLEP, DANTES).

  1. Transfer credits will be forfeited and removed from the record if the equivalent course or courses are completed at UMW or another institution (and transferred into UMW for credit).
  2. Transfer credits are counted as completed credits toward graduation, and thus affect all decisions regarding probation, suspension, and
  3. A student may request the permanent deletion of transfer credits from their record at any time except after academic dismissal

Credit Through Examination at UMW

An enrolled, degree-seeking student may request a special examination in any course offered by an academic department other than a seminar, individual study, studio, or laboratory courses. The department must agree that an examination is appropriate in the requested course. If the student passes the examination, the course and a grade of CR will be recorded on the student’s permanent record to indicate credits earned. No quality points are awarded. Credits earned via credit-through-examination may count towards major requirements, general education requirements, or as general electives. If a student fails the examination, a grade of CI will be recorded. The student must then enroll in the course in the next semester in which it is offered. The student’s earned grade and attendant quality points will replace the grade of CI. Should the student not enroll, the CI is converted to a grade of F. There is a charge for each examination.