Credit for Prior Learning

Washburn University awards credit for Cambridge International AS and A Levels. Official transcripts must be sent to the University Registrar for evaluation. Credit is granted by academic departments on a course-by-course basis per departmental policy. The table below lists recognized courses, with additional credit possible upon request and department approval.

Students may have Advanced Placement test scores obtained in high school reported to the University for evaluation. Credit and/or advanced placement are awarded to students who have received a score of three (3), four (4), or five (5). Currently a student may be awarded college credit hours in according to the information below.

Updated: March 18, 2025

Washburn University recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program for high school juniors and seniors preparing for college. Students should obtain information and registration materials from their high school counselors. To receive credit, official transcripts must be sent to the University Registrar upon enrollment. Credit is awarded by academic departments based on exam scores and departmental policies, with only satisfactory scores recorded on the transcript.

^May count for general education credit except for Bachelor of Arts degree. This exception for the Bachelor of Arts degree does not apply to students who transfer such credit in from other regionally-accredited institutions.

*The 3 hours of CM 299 Special Topics will be Software Lifecycles.

**The 4 hours of Biology are to be selected by the Biology Department Chair and student.

~AR 103 will be awarded for nonmajors; Art Studio elective will be awarded for art majors and art history minors.

Students can earn college credit through DSST examinations by passing standardized tests in various subjects. Veterans and active military personnel are especially encouraged to participate. Credit cannot be awarded for previously attempted or completed courses at Washburn or other institutions. If a DSST exam is not passed, a 30-day waiting period is required before retesting.

DSST credit, equivalent to a grade of C or better, is considered transfer credit and may fulfill prerequisites. Unsuccessful attempts are not recorded on transcripts. Credit acceptance varies by department. To transfer DSST credit from another institution, official university or DSST transcripts must be submitted to Washburn.

Official DSST transcripts can be ordered through an online DSST transcript order service.

To schedule a DSST Examination at Washburn University, contact the Center for Prior Learning and Testing in Plass Learning Resources Center. Washburn University awards credit for the following DSST exams listed.

Washburn University allows you to test out of courses by demonstrating academic knowledge through CLEP exams, which cover material from the first two years of college. CLEP credit cannot be earned for previously attempted or completed courses. If a CLEP exam is not passed, a 90-day waiting period is required before retesting.

CLEP credit, equivalent to a grade of C or better, is considered transfer credit and may fulfill prerequisites. Unsuccessful attempts are not recorded on transcripts. Credit acceptance varies by department. To transfer CLEP credit from another institution, official university or CLEP transcripts must be submitted to Washburn.

Official CLEP scores can be ordered via the College Board website.

To schedule a CLEP Examination at Washburn University, contact the Center for Prior Learning and Testing in the Plass Learning Resources Center. Washburn University awards credit for the following CLEP exams listed.

^FL 102 (FR, GE, SP) can count as humanities general education except for the Bachelor of Arts

Updated July 23, 2024

When a student identifies a course which he or she feels qualified to "challenge" or "quiz out of," the student should contact the chair of the department offering that course to determine whether a department examination could be accepted. If the academic department gives approval for the student to quiz out of a specific course, the student obtains a Credit by Examination registration form in the University Registrar's Office. The University Registrar's Office determines that the student is either currently enrolled or a former student who is not currently enrolled in the challenged class and is free of all holds. The student completes the credit by examination registration form and obtains signatures as required on the form. The student must finalize the process by taking the credit by exam form to the Business Office where he or she pays the standard testing fee for the exam. After payment is made, the student returns a copy of the form to the University Registrar's Office. The student takes his/her copy which has been marked "paid" to the department at the scheduled time of the examination. Under no circumstances will the examination be administered prior to payment. No refunds will be given for exams not taken or not passed.

After the student has taken the exam, the department evaluates it and determines whether or not the student receives credit. If the department determines that credit is to be awarded, credit for the course is posted to the transcript. If the department determines based on the exam that credit should not be awarded, no entry is made to the transcript. If the course is taken to fulfill requirements in a major, a letter grade for the course may be determined by the department and posted on the transcript. The exam may not be repeated; a student may not take a department exam for any course more than once. Credit by department examination may not be used to repeat courses previously taken by the student. Credit given by department examination is considered residential credit.

Credit awarded for military service is based upon the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences which was appointed by the American Council on Education. Credit will be granted to all military personnel in accordance with the recommendations of the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Students should request their military transcripts. Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy, Active Duty, Reserve and Veterans are eligible to access this system.

Military credit is subject to the same limitations as regular transfer credit i.e. technical credit limits and no credit awarded for course duplications. For more information and to secure forms for making application, students should contact the Office of the University Registrar.

The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to recognize students who attain proficiency in English and at least one other language prior to their high school graduation. Washburn University will award academic credit to students who obtain the Silver or Gold Seal of Biliteracy. A student who receives the Silver Seal of Biliteracy will receive credit for SP/FR/FL 101 (4 credit hours), as appropriate. Credit for both SP/FR/FL 101 and SP/FR/FL 102 (8 credit hours total) will be awarded to students who receive the Gold Seal of Biliteracy.

Students that receive a Silver or Gold Seal of Biliteracy in American Sign Language, and are completing a program that includes a foreign language requirement, should complete a culture course in Modern Languages, taught in English, to meet the foreign language requirement.