UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

completion of a bachelor’s degree (graduate credits completed as an undergraduate student cannot be included in this total).

Lebanon Valley College recognizes the ability of highly motivated matriculated students to master specific areas of study on their initiative and provides programs to allow these students the opportunity to gain credit. Except for those seeking a second bachelor’s degree, any matriculated student may earn a maximum of 30 credits toward a bachelor’s degree through credit for prior learning. Credit will be recorded with a satisfactory (S) grade.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) POLICY

Advanced placement with credit in appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who earn scores of 4 or 5 on College Board AP examinations. The official AP College Grade Report must be submitted by the student for evaluation by the registrar. Advanced placement without credit may be granted based on the Achievement Tests of the College Board examinations or such other proficiency tests as may be determined appropriate by the registrar and department chair.

CHALLENGE EXAM POLICY

Many LVC courses can be challenged for credit by examination. Students should request challenge examinations through their academic advisors. All requests must be approved by the registrar and department chair in which the course is listed. Challenge exams are considered comprehensive examinations in the subject area. The grading criteria for challenge exams will be determined by each department. The exact nature of the examination will be determined by the faculty member and department chair involved and may include any means of evaluation normally employed by the department. There is a fee for preparation and grading of each challenge exam, and it is charged without regard to the test results. Challenge exams may not be taken by students who have received any grade in a course equivalent to or more advanced than the course for which the student is requesting credit by examination. Challenge exams may not be used to acquire credit for a course previously failed. Practicums, internships, seminars, research courses, independent study, writing-intensive courses, and courses with laboratory components are normally not subject to credit by examination. Individual departments may have additional criteria regarding challenge exams. Consult the department chair in which the course is listed for specific information.

CLEP (COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM) POLICY

Credit shall be granted to those students who score well on CLEP examinations that are approved by the College. To receive credit, a student must earn a minimum score of 50. The English composition essay is required to receive credit for English Communications with a minimum score of 64. Credit for foreign language

at the intermediate level requires a minimum score of 62 (for French), 63 (for German), and 66 (for Spanish) on Level 2 tests. A maximum of six credits shall be awarded for each examination.

DSST POLICY

Students taking DSST exams will be granted credit in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations and with approval of the registrar, the appropriate department chair, and, if seeking to fulfill a Constellation LVC requirement, approval of the director of Constellation LVC. ACE recommends credit for a minimum score of 400 on a 200–500 scale.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM POLICY

Lebanon Valley College values the IB Diploma Program and its curriculum that develops sophisticated, critical thinking, intercultural competence, and respect for diversity. We welcome applications from IB students. Credit for appropriate courses will be granted to entering students who achieve scores of 5, 6, or 7 on International Baccalaureate individual subject examinations. For each Higher-Level subject, 6–8 credits will be granted; for each StandardLevel subject, 3–4 credits will be granted. Three elective credits will also be granted for grades of C or better on the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay components. Students who complete the IB Diploma Program and achieve an overall score of 30 or better will automatically be granted 30 credits. Credit for equivalent courses will only be given for individual subject scores of 5 or better, otherwise only elective credit will be granted.

LIFE EXPERIENCE CREDIT POLICY

Lebanon Valley College provides for the awarding of undergraduate academic credit for knowledge acquired through nonacademic experience in subjects in the College curriculum. The experience should have a direct relation to the material taught in a course in the College curriculum and should extend over a sufficient period to provide substantive knowledge in the relevant area. Matriculated students who believe they qualify for such credit may petition the appropriate department through their academic advisors. This petition must be outlined on the Experiential Learning Application and: 1. detail the relevant experience in question; 2. provide appropriate supporting evidence; 3. note the equivalent College course by department and number; and 4. state the number of credit hours sought. The appropriate department will consult with the academic advisor to determine the best means (interview, examination, portfolio, etc.) for evaluating the experience. Approval of experiential credit must be made in writing over the signatures of the academic advisor, the appropriate department chair, the director of Constellation