Other Ways to Earn Academic Credit

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Other Ways to Earn Academic Credit

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit
UNM grants general credit for qualifying scores on CLEP General Examinations before earning 26 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree at UNM, or 12 hours toward an associate degree at UNM-Los Alamos. Policies vary for application of CLEP General credit toward degrees in individual colleges at UNM. UNM-Los Alamos allows 12 hours of CLEP general and Subject credit toward associate degrees (6 hours toward a certificate program). Additional information about these credits can be obtained by referring to the UNM Catalog or by consulting UNM-Los Alamos advisors.

2. UNM College Credit for College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement and CLEP Subject Examinations.
UNM grants credit to students who achieve satisfactory scores on a number of the CLEP Subject Examinations and the CEEB Advanced Placement Examinations. Please consult the UNM Catalog or the UNM-Los Alamos advisors for information.

3. Military Credits
Credit for service training and experience is granted on the basis of measured educational achievement in conformity with the procedures recommended by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the American Council on Education. A veteran student who is eligible for educational benefits under one of the public laws or who has served on active duty for at least one calendar year after July 26, 1946, must apply for such credit in the Office of Admissions during the first semester of enrollment in regular status at UNM-Los Alamos. Please consult the UNM Catalog or the UNM-Los Alamos advisors for information.

4. Correspondence Courses
Independent study is available through correspondence courses. Students should contact UNM’s Division of Continuing Education at 277-1604 for a current catalog. A maximum of nine semester hours may be used toward an associate degree.

5. Examination to Challenge a Course
Only students admitted to and enrolled in regular degree status may, with appropriate approval from UNM main campus or UNM-Los Alamos departments, take an examination to establish or to validate credit. These students may not have been previously enrolled or have earned a W/WP/WF grade in the course at UNM main campus or UNM-Los Alamos. Students must be registered in at least one semester credit hour at UNM-Los Alamos to be eligible to apply for challenge credit.

Students should start the process by speaking with an UNM-Los Alamos academic advisor. The student must then pay a fee of current tuition rate per credit hour for academic courses (without a 'T' suffix) or $10.00 per credit hour for technical courses. The fee is required in addition to the tuition rate for full-time status. If the student is deemed eligible the permit form will then be sent to the instructor who may then elect to administer the examination. Once the examination has been administered and graded, the instructor will complete the form and will submit it to the UNM-Los Alamos Registrar's Office.

Examination to establish credit may be taken only during the period of the week before classes begin through the ending date of the semester or summer session. Credit will be allowed and will be placed on the student’s permanent record as of the semester in which the examination is completed and will not count in the student’s grade point average prior to the completion of that semester. Only grades of C or better will be recorded as a CR (credit). If the student does not earn a grade of C or better, a secondexamination for that course will not be permitted. Credits earned by examination at UNM-Los Alamos will count toward graduation and residence requirements if the course counts in the specific degree program.

Technical Credit
Students who have earned technical credit that they believe may be applicable to their specific degree programs can request a review of that credit by the department chairperson or program director. An interview or demonstration of competence, or both, may be required before a decision regarding credit is made. Acceptance of technical credit is binding only to the specific department or program recommending the credit.
Training Credit
Credit for noncollegiate training programs is granted based on recommendations of the American Council of Education’s "National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs." Official records must be supplied to the UNM Admissions Office by the appropriate source.
Concurrent College Enrollments
Prior to enrolling concurrently in residence or by extension or correspondence in another collegiate institution, students should verify with the Admissions Office and their college advisors to ensure acceptance of the transfer credits.

Last updated August 30, 2007