Non Traditional Evaluation and Awarding of Credit

• Transfer Credit Evaluation

• Nontraditional Credit

  • Articulated Credit for LSCO Continuing Education Coursework

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    • ACT Exams

    • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

    • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

    • Departmental Credit By Exam

    • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program

  • Military or Workplace Training

  • National or Statewide Licensure; Industry Certification

• Nontraditional Credit Evaluation Fees

• Nontraditional Credit Evaluation Process

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Transfer credit is defined as credit earned at other accredited institutions of higher education.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Policies

Credit earned at other accredited institutions may be considered for credit by Lamar State College Orange according to the following policies:

1. Official transcripts reflecting all completed coursework must be sent directly to Lamar State College Orange Admissions and Records Office from the issuing institution or in a sealed envelope from issuing institution.
2. Courses will be transferred as credit only; however, a transfer credit GPA will be maintained.
3. “D” grades earned at other institutions are transferable, but departments may refuse to count them toward degrees.
4. Transfer credit evaluations can be viewed on the unofficial academic transcript by logging into Gator Self Service via www.lsco.edu/MyGator. This information will be available no later than the end of the first academic term in which they are enrolled.

Correspondence Course Credit

The following regulations will apply to work completed through correspondence:

• Lamar State College Orange does not offer correspondence courses but will accept for transfer and application toward an associate degree of up to nine (9) semester credit hours of correspondence courses which have been satisfactorily completed in a correspondence division of an accredited college or university.
• Students who desire to earn credit by correspondence and apply the credit toward a degree or certificate at LSCO must secure the approval of their dean and the division or program director.  Forms for this purpose may be obtained in the Office of Admission and Records.
• All correspondence work in which a student is enrolled during a given semester will count as a part of the student’s maximum load permitted for that semester.  A student will not be given permission to exceed the maximum load by enrolling in correspondence courses, and any correspondence work which is completed without approval will not be accepted for transfer to Lamar State College Orange.
• Correspondence work must be completed, and an official transcript showing the grades and credits earned must be filed in the Office of Admission and Records at LSCO no later than 14 days before the date of graduation.  If credit is filed after this period, the student’s graduation may be deferred to the following semester or summer.  It is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript sent to the Office of Admission and Records at LSCO from the Registrar’s Office where the correspondence work was completed.
• Correspondence courses will not be approved for students who are ineligible to enroll at LSCO, for those students who may be on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension and/or for beginning freshmen prior to registration at LSCO.
• Correspondence courses may not be used to repeat courses.

The correspondence work should be in general education, minor, or elective areas.   Correspondence work cannot be used to satisfy major field requirements for the associate’s degree.

Nontraditional Credit Evaluation

Nontraditional academic credit may be granted for education obtained through a variety of nontraditional methods, including continuing education, non-accredited private and technical college course work, military training, licensures or certifications, and credit by examination. Students planning to transfer from LSCO to other institutions are advised to confer with the institutions to which they plan to transfer regarding the acceptance of nontraditional credit awarded by LSCO.

Nontraditional Credit Evaluation Policies

LSCO’s policy on evaluating nontraditional education is based upon the guidelines of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Credit may be awarded based on recommendations contained in the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs, published by the American Council on Education found online.

Nontraditional credit will be evaluated and approved by the program director/dean of the subject area for which the credit is being requested, using the following guidelines:

• At least 25 percent of the certificate or degree must be completed through enrollment in LSCO credit courses.
• Nontraditional credit will not be counted toward the residence requirement for graduation.
• Texas Success Initiative requirements, including course pre/co-requisites, must be met prior to the award of nontraditional credit.
• Nontraditional credit may be awarded to an LSCO matriculated student after 3 semester credit hours have been completed at LSCO.
• Credit is noted as nontraditional on the transcript and will receive a grade of “S” (satisfactory), with the exception of LSCO departmental credit by exam, which is shown with a letter grade of “A” or “B”.

The fees for the award of nontraditional credit are charged according to the type of credit being requested.

Nontraditional credit may be awarded through either the articulation of non-credit courses containing learning outcomes that align with those of an LSCO credit course or through demonstration of prior learning.

Articulated Credit for LSCO Continuing Education Overlay Courses

An overlay (mirror) course is a course offered for continuing education units rather than college credit by the LSCO Community and Workforce Education Department.  The learning outcomes in the overlay courses mirror the compatible college credit courses.

Students enrolling in overlay classes with a known intent to request conversion to academic credit should take the classes for academic credit.

Circumstances may occur that would benefit the student’s having CE units converted to college credit after completing the course. The process and details related to articulating the CE units earned at LSCO to college credit are as follows:

• Students should complete the nontraditional evaluation form (include LINK TO THE FORM) and submit to the Admissions and Records Office.
• A grade of “S” (satisfactory) will be assigned on the credit transcript and will NOT be included in GPA calculations.
• At least 25 percent of the certificate or degree must be completed through enrollment and completion of LSCO credit courses, excluding any non-traditional credit evaluation.
• The articulation fee is waived.

Credit for Prior Learning

Learning that occurs outside of the traditional academic environment may be used to demonstrate competencies that align with college credit. LSCO evaluates the college-level knowledge and skills students gain outside of the classroom through:

• Credit by Exam
  • ACT
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • Departmental Exam
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)
• Military or Workplace Training
• National or Statewide Licensures or Industry Certifications

This evaluation is called credit for prior learning (CPL), but it may also be referred to as prior learning assessment or experiential learning. 

Credit by Exam

ACT Exams

Students with outstanding high school records or who have participated in accelerated programs are encouraged to take the College Entrance Examination Board’s Subject Tests in available academic areas.  The results of those tests may allow the student to bypass introductory level courses.  Students scoring at or above college standards on the ACT are awarded credit according to the following chart. ACT Tests are given on most of the regularly scheduled ACT test dates.  Registration bulletins are available from area high schools.

ACT credit must be reviewed and applied before enrollment in the course for which credit is being sought. ACT credit may only be awarded to fully admitted and currently registered students who have not previously attempted the courses at LSCO by either enrollment or examination.