Special Credit / Credit by Examination

Academic departments at IUPUI on a case-by-case basis, may grant students course credit based on demonstration of proficiency in a particular discipline. A personal skill, talent, job experience or other experiential based proficiency may be considered in the evaluation process.

Each department establishes the appropriate academic standards and methods of evaluation. In general, students may be required to sit for an exam, complete an assignment, audition or provide a portfolio to establish their level of skill. Some departments also may require that a student take additional, typically more advanced, courses in the discipline before awarding the introductory or lower level credit.

In other cases, instead of processing as special credit, the department may simply waive the requirement that the student take that specific course. However, overall degree requirements (total hours) remain and students complete another course in order to satisfy the overall requirements. For more information, contact your school Recorder.

Departments generally grade the work S for Satisfactory or choose not to award special credit. In exceptional circumstances, an A may be awarded if it is deemed outstanding.

If special credit is to be awarded, students must complete a Special Credit form with the department awarding the credit. The department will forward the form to the Office of the Registrar. The credit is posted to the student’s academic record by the Registrar’s Office and a copy of the Special Credit form is sent to the Office of the Bursar to determine the required fee per credit and the total amount to be billed. Once the Bursar makes this determination, they will post the charge to the student’s account. Check OneStart to verify the posting of the grade, the account charges and your addresses.

Special Credit appears on the transcript for the semester it was awarded. The heading "Indiana University Special Credit" accompanies the course information and grade. The transcript heading will be the same regardless of the student’s IU or Purdue degree program and regardless of the Purdue or IU affiliation of the department awarding the academic credit.

Assessment of fees

If the credit is awarded as a result of credentials or experience, the fee will be assessed at the nominal rate per credit hour, not to exceed the 5 hour rate.

If the credit is awarded as the result of an examination and the application is:

1. For a beginning student within the first three semesters following matriculation*, there is no charge.
2. For a first semester* transfer student, there is a nominal fee per credit hour.
3. If neither of the above, the standard credit hour resident or nonresident rate will be assessed.

*The date used to determine the student’s status is that when the Special Credit form is processed in the offices of the Registrar and Bursar. Current fees (as appropriate) are charged in cases where the examination was taken in a preceding year.

Expiration

Unprocessed Special Credit forms expire six months from the date of issue.