Ch4c

Chapter IV

Curricular Policies

Guidelines for Approval of Credit and Noncredit Courses, Certificates, and Degrees to be offered through the College of Professional and Global Education

(Senate: 10/3/79, 2/6/90, 5/24/16; President: 10/25/79, 3/13/90, 8/17/16; Editorial Amendment: 9/99, 9/00, 8/01)

The categories of courses offered through the College of Professional and Global Education (PaGE) and the criteria they meet are described in the guidelines below.

  1. Courses for Special Sessions Credit (Courses for degree credit). Special sessions courses which carry credit can be used in meeting requirements for university degrees. Self-supporting special sessions shall not supplant regular course offerings available on a non-self-supporting basis during the regular academic year (Cal. Educ. Code 89708). A maximum of 24 semester special sessions course credits taken by a non-matriculated student may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree, and a maximum of 9 semester special sessions course credits taken by a non-matriculated student may be applied toward the master’s degree.  This maximum applies to special sessions course credits earned through self-support course offerings, as well as     to state-support offerings in which credits are earned through Open University (Title 5 Section 40407.1).  Generally, the following types of degree-credit courses are available, with appropriate approval, through PaGE:

    1. Regular university courses listed in the General Catalog
    2. Special Topics courses (e.g., 4540, 4900, or 4910) which usually consist of subject matter of a transitory nature and
    3. Undergraduate Directed Study (4990) and Graduate Directed Study (5980), used for faculty-sponsored independent study.

    4. Sub-collegiate level courses (which do not offer degree credit) and those that are offered by community colleges, while not generally offered through PaGE, may be offered when need is evident.

  2. Courses for Extension Credit. Extension credit courses, which bear 7000 and 8000 series numbers, are highly specialized and have general acceptability for professional advancement. One extension credit unit is equivalent to the same number of contact hours and the same number of non-contact hours required for one unit of degree credit. An academic department may allow up to a maximum of 24 semester units of extension credit to be applied toward degree requirements (Title 5 Section 40407).

  3. Courses for Continuing Education Unit Credit (CEU). The CEU is a nationally recognized unit of measurement for any variety of programs that may apply to relicensure (e.g. – nurses, pharmacists, accountants, psychologists, social workers, etc.), promotion, or career advancement.  These units are not approved for academic degree credit and may not be used to fulfill degree program requirements. One CEU is equivalent to 10 hours of participation in an organized extended education course under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.  CEUs shall not be converted to units of academic credit (EO 1099).

  4. Noncredit Courses (0 Units).  Non-credit courses serve professional, personal, and recreational needs.  No academic credit, extension credit or CEUs are awarded for participation in non-credit courses.  Non-credit courses do not grant credit for degrees or for standardized purposes specified in sections 2 and 3 above. For such offerings the university is not required to maintain a permanent record of attendance or grading, except in some instances as a convenience to those who are using the courses for such purposes as establishing eligibility for relicensure.

The following procedures apply to the offering and development of courses under these guidelines:

  1. Courses for Special Sessions Credit (Courses for degree credit). Requests for approval of the offering of existing courses which grant credit shall ordinarily be initiated by faculty members or the Dean of PaGE. All proposals for offering existing courses through PaGE must be approved by the appropriate department/division chair(s) or school director(s) and college dean(s) prior to each instructional period that the course is being offered. The criteria for approval or disapproval of an offering shall include the credentials of the instructor and demonstrated need to offer these courses through PaGE.
    All proposals for offering new special sessions courses through PaGE must follow the established curriculum review process for courses bearing academic credit.

  2. Courses for Extension Credit. Requests for approval of these courses may be initiated by community members who are subject matter experts, faculty members, college deans, or the Dean of PaGE. Proposals for courses for extension credit (7000 and 8000-level) to be offered through PaGE shall be approved first by the Dean of PaGE.  All courses will be submitted to the other colleges for consultation.  The consultation period will be five working days.  The Dean of PaGE will forward the record of consultation and a recommendation to University EPC.  EPC will then either approve it, reject it or determine the appropriate course of action for further review.  For proposals requiring immediate attention during the summer term, this review will be handled by the Academic Senate Executive Committee.
     
  3. Courses for Continuing Education Units. Requests for approval of these courses may be initiated by community members who are subject matter experts, faculty members or college deans.  Proposals for courses for continuing education units to be offered through PaGE shall be submitted to the Dean of PaGE.
    If a course or program proposal coincides with an existing university academic department (e.g. – Accounting, Social Work, Nursing, etc.), and the Dean of PaGE is interested in offering the course the proposed course or program shall be submitted to said department for review and recommendation.  Given the need to respond to community and partner course and program proposals in a timely fashion, departments/schools/colleges shall respond to such requests within 5 working days. In reviewing CEU course proposals, the department/division chairs shall consider the quality of the course content, whether there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, and the credentials of the instructor. The Dean of PaGE will review department
    recommendations and make a final decision on whether to approve the course.  The Dean of PaGE will forward the decision and record of consultation to University EPC.
    If a course or program proposal does not coincide with an existing university academic department, the proposed course or program will be reviewed and approved by the Dean of PaGE. The Dean of PaGE shall consider the quality of course content and whether or not there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, as well as the credentials of the instructor(s).
    At the end of each academic year, the Dean of PaGE shall submit a report of courses and programs offered for CEU credit to the EPC.
     
  4. Non-Credit Courses. Requests for approval of these courses may be initiated by community members who are subject matter experts, faculty members or college deans.  Proposals for non-credit courses to be offered through PaGE shall be submitted to the Dean of PaGE.
    If a course or program proposal coincides with an existing university academic department (e.g. – Accounting, Social Work, Nursing, etc.), and the Dean of PaGE is interested in offering the course the proposed course or program shall be submitted to said department for review and recommendation. Given the need to respond to community and partner course and program proposals in a timely fashion, departments/schools/colleges shall respond to such requests within 5 working days. In reviewing CEU course proposal, the department/division chairs shall consider the quality of the course content, whether there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, and the credentials of the instructor. The Dean of PaGE will review department recommendations and make a final decision on whether to approve the course.  The Dean of PaGE will forward the decision and record of consultation to University EPC.

    If a course or program proposal does not coincide with an existing university academic department, the proposed course or program will be reviewed and approved by the Dean of PaGE.  The Dean of PaGE shall consider the quality of course content and whether or not there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, as well as the credentials of the instructor(s).

    At the end of each academic year, the Dean of PaGE shall submit a report of courses and programs offered for non-credit to the EPC.

Certificate Programs.  The categories of certificate programs that may be offered through PaGE are special sessions certificate, extension credit certificate, and non-credit certificate programs.  Certificate programs may be offered through PaGE subsequent to securing all regularly required campus approvals; however, no Chancellor’s Office approval is required (E.O. 1099).  These programs and the criteria they meet are described below.

Special Sessions Certificate Programs: Academic certificate programs offered through PaGE are called Special Sessions Certificate Programs. Courses for Special Sessions Certificate Programs may be offered any term.

  1. Special Sessions Certificate Programs are composed of university courses that offer academic credit that may count toward a degree. The minimum number of units in a special sessions certificate program shall be 15 semester units for undergraduate programs and 12 semester units for post-baccalaureate programs. Normally, courses in the program, except for prerequisites, are those at the 3000, 4000, or 5000 level. For enrollment in 5000-level courses, consent of the instructor is required. If there are prerequisites in addition to those required by the courses in the program, they must be clearly stated. No more than one quarter of the total units required for the certificate may be transferred from other colleges. A maximum of one quarter of the units in the program may be devoted to internships or independent study, or any combination thereof. The minimum grade point average required for completion of an undergraduate certificate program is 2.0. For post-baccalaureate academic certificates, a minimum gpa of 3.0 is required for completion of the program.
     
  2. Extension Credit Certificate Programs are composed of courses at the 7000 and 8000-level that offer professional credit towards certification.
     
  3. Non-credit Certificate Programs are composed of non-credit courses. Some non-credit certificates may award continuing education units (CEUs).

Procedural Guidelines for Certificate Programs are Described Below.
A proposed Special Sessions or Extension Credit Certificate Program must not infringe upon existing degree, minor, credential, or other certificate programs. In addition to the above, the following information must be furnished for all certificate proposals: purposes of the program, need for the program, availability of faculty and/or subject matter experts, availability of other resources, and evidence of appropriate consultations and approvals.

  1. Special Sessions Certificate Programs.
  1. Proposals ordinarily are initiated by faculty members.
     

  2. Proposals must be submitted using a standard form, the general pattern of which is similar to that used for new program proposals. They are processed in accordance with established university curricular procedures. Proposals for new undergraduate and graduate academic certificate programs are forwarded by the program/department/division/school to the College Curriculum Committee for approval. All proposals shall be submitted to the other colleges for a consultation period of 10 working days before they are reviewed by the College Curriculum Committee.  If approved by the college committee and the respective college dean, as well as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies, they are then forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Studies for referral to the appropriate curriculum subcommittee. If the proposed program is approved by the subcommittee and if there are no subsequent objections by the Educational Policy Committee, the proposal shall be submitted to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval.

  3. The program/department/division/school or interdisciplinary area that initiated the program proposal is required to designate an appropriate faculty member as coordinator of the certificate program.

  4. Approved descriptions of Special Sessions Certificate Programs currently being offered are included in the University Catalog. Programs that are likely not to be repeated will not be included in the University Catalog.

  5. Upon application by a Special Sessions Certificate Program student, a review is initiated in the Registrar's Office/Graduation unit. When all of the requirements have been met, the Registrar's Office/Graduation unit enters an appropriate designation on the student's permanent record and certifies completion.

  6. Certificates are designed in a standard form for all programs, bear the seal of the university and the signature of the President, and are issued by the Registrar's Office/Graduation unit.

  7. Annually, the Registrar's Office is required to report to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee the number of certificates awarded in each approved program.

  8. Each certificate program is reviewed along with other departmental/divisional/school or interdisciplinary programs in the course of the normal review cycle carried out by the Program Review Subcommittee of the Educational Policy Committee.

  9. Special Sessions Certificate Program modifications must undergo the same approval process as new Special Sessions Certificate Programs.

  1. Extension Credit Certificate Programs.

  1. Proposals for Extension Credit Certificate Programs may be initiated by community members who are subject matter experts, individual faculty members, programs, departments/divisions/schools, colleges, or PaGE.
    Proposals for extension credit certificates shall be approved first by the Dean of PaGE. All Extension Credit Certificate Programs will be submitted to the other colleges for consultation.  The consultation period will be five working days.  The Dean of PaGE will forward the record of consultation and a recommendation to University EPC.  EPC will then either approve it, reject it or determine the appropriate course of action for further review.  For proposals requiring immediate attention during the summer term, this review will be handled by the Academic Senate Executive Committee.
    The proposal format is the same as for academic certificate programs.

  2. The Dean of PaGE will annually report on Extension Credit Certificate Programs to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Educational Policy Committee.  This report will include enrollments and course completion rates.

  3. Descriptions of approved Extension Credit Certificate Programs may appear in the general University Catalog.

  4. Administration of Extension Credit Certificate Programs is carried out under the supervision of the Dean of PaGE. When substantive matters of concern to a specific department/division/school/college are involved e.g., appointment of a coordinator or key instructors, consultation with such interested departments/divisions/schools/colleges is required.

  5. All informational materials to be published and circulated in connection with an Extension Credit Certificate Program must have the prior approval of the Dean of PaGE.

  6. Upon request by a certificate program student, submitted prior to registration for the last term of the program, a review of the student's records is initiated in the College of PaGE. When all of the requirements have been met, the Dean of PaGE or designee enters an appropriate designation on PaGE records maintained for the student.

  7. Certificates are designed in a standard form for all programs, bear the seal of the university and the signature of the Dean of PaGE, and are issued by the College of PaGE.

  8. Each Extension Credit Certificate Program is reviewed every fifth year after its implementation by the Dean of PaGE or designee and the co-sponsoring department(s)/division(s)/school(s) and college(s). The review findings and recommendations are made available to the Educational Policy Committee.

  9. Extension Credit Certificate Program modifications must undergo the same approval process as new Extension Credit Certificate Programs.

  1. Non-credit Certificate Programs

  1. Proposals for non-credit certificate programs may be initiated by community members who are subject matter experts, individual faculty members, departments/divisions/schools, colleges, or by the College of PaGE.
    Proposals for non-credit certificates shall be submitted to the Dean of PaGE.  If a non-credit certificate program proposal coincides with an existing university academic department (e.g. Accounting, Social Work, Nursing, etc.), the proposed certificate program shall be submitted to said department for review and recommendation. Given the need to respond to community and partner course and program proposals in a timely fashion, departments/schools/colleges shall respond to such requests within 5 working days. In reviewing non-credit course proposals, the department/division chairs shall consider the quality of the course content, whether there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, and the credentials of the instructor.
    The Dean of PaGE will review department recommendations and make a final decision on whether to approve the program.  The Dean of PaGE will forward the decision and record of consultation to University EPC.
    If a non-credit certificate program proposal does not coincide with an existing university academic department, the proposed program will be reviewed and approved by the Dean of PaGE.  The Dean of PaGE shall consider the quality of course content and whether or not there is a demonstrated need to offer the course through PaGE, as well as the credentials of the instructor(s).

  2. The Dean of PaGE will annually report on non-credit certificate programs to the Curriculum Subcommittee, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Educational Policy Committee. This report will include enrollments and course completion rates.

  3. Descriptions of approved non-credit certificate programs shall not appear in the University Catalog.

  4. Administration of this type of program is carried out under the supervision of the Dean of PaGE. When substantive matters of concern to a specific department/division/school are involved e.g., appointment of coordinator or key instructors, consultation with such interested departments/divisions/schools is required.

  5. All informational materials to be published and circulated in connection with a non-credit certificate program must have the prior approval of the Dean of PaGE.

  6. Upon completion of the program, a review of the student's records is initiated in the College of PaGE. When all requirements have been met, the Dean of PaGE or designee enters an appropriate designation on PaGE records and issues the certificate to the student.

  7. Certificates are designed in a standard form for all programs, bear the seal of the university and the signature of the Dean of PaGE, and are issued by PaGE.

  8. Each non-credit certificate program is reviewed every fifth year after its implementation by the Dean of PaGE or designee and the co-sponsoring department(s)/division(s)/school(s) and college(s), if any,  the review findings and recommendations are made available to the Educational Policy Committee for its consideration.

Degree Programs. Degree programs may be offered through the College of Professional and Global Education.

New Degree Programs. New degree programs may be offered through PaGE subsequent to securing all regularly required campus and Chancellor’s Office approvals (E.O. 1099). All proposals for offering new degree programs through PaGE must follow the established curriculum review process for programs bearing academic credit.

Subsequent to obtaining requisite Chancellor’s Office approvals, a campus may operate degree programs in state-support mode, self-support mode, or both, subject to the prohibition against supplanting. (E.O. 1099).

Implementing a Self-Support Version of an Existing State Support Degree Program.  Before implementing a self-support version of a previously approved state-supported degree program, Chancellor’s Office approval is required. (E.O. 1099).

Changing from Self-Support Mode to State-Support Mode. Chancellor’s Office approval is required in order to change a degree program’s support mode from self-support to state support (E.O. 1099).

Change of Geographic Location.  Before implementing a previously approved degree program in a different geographical location, Chancellor’s Office approval is required if WASC substantive change approval is required or if the program would be offered in another CSU campus’ traditional service area. (E.O. 1099).

Out of State and Out of Country Operations.  Chancellor’s Office approval is required prior to offering degree programs out of the state or out of the country.  Campuses shall comply with all existing requirements of WASC, as well as with CSU policies and procedures (E.O. 1099).

Programs Other Than Certificates
The Dean of the College of Professional and Global Education may issue a certificate for one or more academic, professional or non-credit PaGE course offerings. Examples include a certificate of completion, of attendance, or of participation.

Academic Certificate Programs

(Senate: 8/14/74, 7/11/78, 8/18/82, 2/6/90, 4/23/14 [EA], 5/14/16; President: 8/29/74, 7/13/78, 9/10/82, 3/13/90, 6/26/14, 8/16/16; Editorial Amendment: 9/99, 9/00, 8/01, 9/03, 6/11)

Academic certificate programs are composed of University courses that offer academic credit that may count toward a degree. The minimum number of units in an academic certificate program shall be 15 semester units for undergraduate programs and 12 semester units for post-baccalaureate programs. Normally, courses in the program, except for prerequisites, are those at the 3000, 4000, OR 5000 level. For enrollment in 5000-level courses, consent of the instructor is required. If there are prerequisites in addition to those required by the courses in the program, they must be clearly stated. At least seventy-five percent of the total units required for the certificate must be completed in residence. A maximum of twenty-five percent of the units in the program may be devoted to internships or independent study, or any combination thereof. The minimum grade point average required for completion of an undergraduate certificate program is 2.0. For post-baccalaureate academic certificates, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for completion of the program.
 

Procedural Guidelines for Proposing New Academic Certificate Programs are:

A proposed certificate program must not infringe upon existing degree, minor, credential, or other certificate programs. In addition to the above, the following information must be furnished for all certificate proposals: purposes of the program, need for the program, availability of faculty, availability of other resources, and evidence of appropriate consultations and approvals.

Academic Certificate Programs.

  1. Proposals ordinarily are initiated by faculty members.
  2. Proposals must be submitted using a standard form, the general pattern of which is similar to that used for new program proposals. They are processed in accordance with established university curricular procedures. Proposals for new undergraduate and graduate academic certificate programs are forwarded by the program/department/division/school to the college curriculum committee for approval.  All proposals shall be submitted to the other colleges for consultation before they are reviewed by the college curriculum committee.  If approved by the college committee and the respective Dean of Graduate Studies, they are then forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Studies for referral to the appropriate curriculum subcommittee. If the proposed program is approved by the subcommittee and if there are no subsequent objections by the Educational Policy Committee, the proposal shall be submitted to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval.
  3. The program/department/division/school or interdisciplinary area that initiated the program proposal is required to designate an appropriate faculty member as coordinator of the certificate program.
  4. Approved descriptions of academic certificate programs currently being offered are included in the University Catalog. Programs that are likely not to be repeated will not be included in the University Catalog.
  5. Upon application by an academic certificate program student, a review is initiated in the Registrar's Office/Graduation Unit. When all of the requirements have been met, the Registrar's Office/Graduation Unit enters an appropriate designation on the student's transcripts and certifies completion.
  6. Certificates are designed in a standard form for all programs, bear the seal of the University and the signature of the President, and are issued by the Registrar's Office/Graduation Unit.
  7. Annually, the Registrar's Office is required to report to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee the number of certificates awarded in each approved program.
  8. Each certificate program is reviewed along with other departmental/divisional/school or interdisciplinary programs in the course of the normal review cycle carried out by the Program Review Subcommittee of the Educational Policy Committee.
  9. Academic certificate program modifications must undergo the same approval process as new academic certificate programs.

International Student Exchanges

(Senate: 4/12/94; President: 5/26/94)

Upon recommendation of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and approval of the President agreements may be established with foreign institutions of higher education, government agencies, or nonprofit corporations or associations in order to enhance international goodwill and understanding through the exchange of students.

In specified cases such an agreement may include waiver of nonresident tuition if:

  1. The foreign institution, agency, corporation, or organization is domiciled in and organized under laws of a foreign country;
  2. Any student receiving a waiver of tuition under such an agreement is a citizen and resident of a foreign country and not a citizen of the United States; and
  3. The agreement provides that comparable expenses are met or waived by or on behalf of the foreign entity entering into the agreement. Comparable expenses may be provided in the form of matching tuition waivers at a foreign educational institution, provision of services, or a combination thereof.

Each year the President will establish the maximum number of waivers that may be awarded for this purpose. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will review and approve individual student applications for nonresident tuition fee waivers from students in approved programs.

Waiver of Tuition for Nonresident Students

(Senate: 4/12/94; President: 5/26/94, 9/03)

For all nonresident students who are not participating in an international student exchange program, all or part of nonresident tuition fees may be waived for one year. Students may reapply for the waiver. Waivers may be granted to students who display exceptional scholastic ability and prior scholastic achievement if any of the following sets of requirements are met:

  1. The student is a citizen and resident of a foreign country and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in a course of study of no fewer than ten semester or quarter units. (Education Code 89706)
  2. The student is enrolled as a graduate student in a course of study of no fewer than ten semester or quarter units. (Education Code 89707)
  3. The student is enrolled as a graduate student and is employed by a state university less than full time but at least 20 hours per week (Education Code 89707)

Each year the President will set the maximum number of waivers that may be awarded for graduate and undergraduate students. These numbers shall not exceed 7.5% of the undergraduate students at CSLA who are citizens and residents of foreign countries, or 25% of the graduate students at CSLA who are not residents of California. Undergraduate and graduate student applications for nonresident tuition fee waivers will be considered by the Curriculum Subcommittee.

Credit for Transfer Work

(Senate: 4/12/94; President: 5/25/94; Editorial Amendment: 8/01, 1/21/15)

To receive credit toward a master's degree for acceptable post-baccalaureate work taken at other colleges or universities, students must have official transcripts forwarded to the Admissions Office, and must file a "Request for Records" (form GS1A) with their major department/division/school. Cal State L.A. will allow credit for work taken at another college or university only when it appears on the student's official transcript from that institution, is acceptable for master's degree credit at the offering institution, and is deemed appropriate to the student's master's degree program by the major department/division/school at Cal State L.A. See limitations and exclusions below:

  • For master's degrees requiring 30 total units, no more than 9 semester units of acceptable transfer, extension and/or special session courses may be included on a master's degree program. For master's degrees requiring more than 30 semester units, up to 30% of the total required units may consist of acceptable transfer, extension and/or special session courses, providing such action is approved by the appropriate graduate department/division/school advisor.
  • No master's degree credit is allowed for directed teaching, 700 or 800-level courses, courses numbered below 400, or courses taken at another accredited institution that would not be accepted toward a master's degree at that institution.
  • Six semester units of 5000-level or other graduate courses taken through extension are eligible for master's degree credit.

Credit for Examinations

(Senate: 5/20/65, 4/21/66, 10/9/96, 2/8/11, 2/16/17; President: 5/27/65, 4/28/66, 11/21/96, 9/27/11; Editorial Amendment: 8/01, 1/21/15, 2/23/17; Governing Document: Executive Order 1036)

Campus-Originated Challenge Examinations

Students who pass campus-originated challenge examinations (as differentiated from placement examinations) shall earn credit toward the degree and/or toward satisfying the requirement for admission to a class or program.  Students currently enrolled in the University are eligible for campus-originated challenge examinations at the discretion of individual departments/divisions/schools.

Approval to receive credit by examination is to be granted at the discretion of the appropriate university authorities and under the following conditions:

  1. Students must be matriculated at the University and must be in good standing (not on probation), be registered in at least one other course at the time credit by examination is authorized, and pay for additional units if the cost exceeds fees already paid.
  2. Prior to taking the examination, approval of the chair of the department/division chair or school director concerned and the instructor of the course, is required. Forms for approval may be obtained from the departments/divisions/schools. One copy of the approval to take the examination must be filed with the Records Office, prior to the eighth week of the semester in which the examination is taken.
  3. Credit by examination is restricted to regular undergraduate and graduate courses listed in the General Catalog; while there is no limit to the number of courses that can be taken as credit by examination, these units do not count as residence credit.
  4. Credit by examination is not treated as part of the student's work load and is not considered by the Veterans Administration in the application of their regulations.
  5. Whatever grade the student receives for the examination must be entered on the student's official transcript and counted toward the grade point average. It shall be designated as "credit by examination" on the student's official transcript.
  6. The examination is to be interpreted broadly to include whatever activity, test, or demonstration the instructor deems appropriate in order to evaluate the student's understanding, skills, or knowledge as required by the objectives of the course.

Standardized External Examinations and System-wide Examinations

The University shall award baccalaureate credit to be applied toward the degree and/or admission eligibility to students who pass either of the following (or both):

  1. Standardized external examinations, such as Advanced Placement (AP) tests, International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Entrance Program (CLEP); or
  2. System-wide examinations that have been developed and approved by established CSU policy and procedures.

For standardized external examinations and system-wide examinations, the passing score and the minimum amount of credit awarded for the calculation of admission eligibility and toward the baccalaureate shall be in accordance with the scores and minimum amount of credit established by the Chancellor's Office and as is specified in the University General Catalog.

Credit for passage of standardized external examinations or system-wide examinations shall not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been granted for regular coursework, credit by examination, or other instructional processes.

Credit for passage of standardized external examinations or system-wide examinations shall not be awarded when credit has been granted at a level more advanced than the content in the examination.

Care shall be taken not to award duplicate credit because of overlapping tests, college-level courses, or both.  Where there is partial overlap, the amount of examination credit shall be reduced accordingly.

A maximum of 30 semester (45 quarter) total units of credit may be applied to the calculation of admission eligibility or to the baccalaureate degree on the basis of passing externally developed tests.  Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate are excluded from this limit.

Credit for Knowledge or Skills Acquired through Experience

(Senate: 11/28/78, 2/8/11, 2/16/17; President: 12/11/78, 9/27/11; Editorial Amendment: 1/21/15, 2/23/17)

A maximum of 6 semester units of undergraduate nonresident credit may be granted for knowledge or skills acquired through experience consistent with the academic standards of Cal State L.A.  The experience must be verified through written or oral examinations, portfolios, demonstrations, and/or other appropriate means of documentation and must be evaluated in accord with legitimate academic standards by CSULA faculty who are competent in the appropriate disciplines. To qualify, students enroll in a course that helps them to describe and document the knowledge or skills acquired through the prior learning, in relation to their degree objectives and educational plans. Supporting information supplied by a field supervisor and/or employer may be required.  Grades are recorded as credit/no credit.  In order to register for the course, students must be matriculated and have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 30 resident units, be registered in at least one other course and have obtained approval from the faculty sponsor, the department/division chair or school director, and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.  Units may be applied as major, minor, general education, or elective credit.  The awarding of academic credit requires approval from the faculty sponsor, the department division chair or school director, and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Students and faculty are advised to consult the Dean of Undergraduate Studies for detailed information.

Credit for Military Service

(Senate: 11/6/2012; President: 1/18/12/13; Editorial Amendment: 1/21/15)

Students are granted six semester units of lower division elective credit and/or GE Block E credit, upon admission, for one year or more of regular active duty in U.S. military service with an honorable discharge, including completion of basic or recruit training.  For six months to one full year of military service, including six-month reserve training, and an honorable discharge, three semester units of lower division elective credit and/or GE Block E credit are granted upon admission.

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