KSU Credit for Prior Learning Policies

The following policies are published in the Kennesaw State University Undergraduate Catalog.

undergraduate catalog

Credit by Exam

There is no limit for the amount of credit by exam hours a student may receive. Credit by Exam hours are not applied toward institutional graduation residency requirements and they are not calculated in the graduation GPA. A maximum of 24 hours of IB credit is accepted. (USG Policy). 

Credit may not be granted for departmental exams if credit for the same course is available as a CLEP exam. Credit by exam may not be awarded for a course previously failed or audited.

Official score reports for AP, IB, CLEP and DSST must be sent from the testing agency to Kennesaw State University to be considered for credit.

Students are required to meet all residency requirements.

Residency Requirements

Students must earn at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for a baccalaureate degree, which includes at least 21 hours of upper-division courses (Coles College of Business requires 33 hours), through instruction offered by Kennesaw State. Credit hours earned through instruction offered by KSU do not include coursework transferred from other institutions, prior learning, credit by examination (e.g., CLEP, AP, IB), or credits earned through a consortium that did not originate from KSU (i.e., cross-registration). 

Departmental Course Examination for Advanced Standing

Academic Departments do on occasion offer course examinations for credit to students who offer satisfactory evidence. A list of available exam options may be found under Exam Options for Credit. These exam options vary by course and by the department. Requirements for the exam are determined by the academic home department and described by the Department Plans.  

If the required score for the examination is met, students will receive the credit equated with the course. These credit hours will not be included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Requests for credit by examination should be initiated with the CPL Coordinator as some departments require a paper form and others require an online application at this time. Please complete a CPL Inquiry Form to initiate the process.

Approval of these requests will be subject to the following criteria:

  • Authorization will not be given for a course under any of the following circumstances:
    • If the student has previously audited the course.
    • If the student has previously scheduled and failed the course.
    • If the student has previously scheduled the course, but has withdrawn after the first two calendar weeks from the day the semester begins.
    • If the student is currently enrolled in the course.
    • If the course is either a prerequisite or an introduction to a course already completed. (This provision does not apply to skill courses such as physical education or music, for example.)
    • If the course may be granted credit by a CLEP exam.
  • Credit earned by institutional advanced standing examination may be used neither to satisfy residency requirements nor to satisfy more than one-half of the major-field or minor-field requirements in a program of study.
  • A passing grade for an institutional advanced standing examination is a grade of 75 percent or higher for a lower-division course and a grade of 80 percent or higher for an upper-division course.
  • A fee of $60 will be assessed for each institutional advanced standing examination attempted; no course may be attempted more than once.
  • A student must be admitted to the university at the time of application for advanced standing and must be enrolled in the university to receive credit for a course by advanced standing examination.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for Advanced Standing

Students are eligible to take standardized examinations in several areas to earn credit for certain specific courses, provided a minimum score is attained on the tests. Credit earned will be recorded on the student's permanent record. For specific information concerning subject areas in which tests are available, the cost, and minimum score required for credit, please visit Academic Testing Services and review Tests Offered.

visit academic testing services

Advanced Placement (AP)

Kennesaw State University honors Advanced Placement (AP) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved. For details on the scores required and course equivalencies, please visit the Registrar's Credit By Exam.

view credit by exam

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Kennesaw State University honors International Baccalaureate (IB) credit for certain classes in which an equivalent is offered and for which the required grade is achieved. For details on the scores required and course equivalencies, please visit Transfer Services below.

transfer services