Credit Options

Classroom Study

The most common way to earn credit in the College of Arts and Sciences/School of Nursing is by registering in the semester programs of the university, attending classes under the instruction of a university professor, submitting the required work, and passing the required examinations.

Online

The College of Arts and Sciences offers online course options for undergraduate students during May and Summer Sessions. Students should talk to their advisor and check the Schedule of Classes for those terms for details.

Transfer

Students who have attended other accredited colleges or universities may transfer credit toward their education at IWU. Transcripts of all other university work must be submitted directly to the Indiana Wesleyan University Residential Academic Services office from the office of the registrar at the college or university previously attended. Transcripts delivered by hand or received from another party are not official and cannot be used for purposes of transfer work. The university registrar is responsible to approve the transferability of all credits.

To earn a degree from IWU, undergraduate students must take the last 30 semester hours of course credit needed to fulfill degree requirements at IWU. Students pursuing transfer course options toward the end of their college career should seek assistance from the Registrar's Office to ensure they are in compliance with this policy.

Credit is granted for work with a satisfactory grade (“C” or above), in a 100 level or higher course, taken at an approved college or university that are accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education (formerly the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges). If there is no applicable course at IWU or within the student's major, the credits may be applied as elective credit. Credit hours accepted in transfer are recorded, as part of the student's official academic record. All graded qualified coursework transferred and transcripted are used solely in the calculation of the honors GPA.

Credit taken by correspondence from a regionally accredited institution may be applied toward a degree at Indiana Wesleyan University, for a maximum of 12 semester hours accepted.

Credits from unaccredited schools, colleges and universities and from schools/colleges/universities not accredited by recognized accredited agencies–such as proprietary business schools, vocational/technical schools, or other single purpose institutions may be assessed individually for possible credit. The number of credits transferable from such institutions will be limited to two years (62 semester hours).

Credits earned from international institutions will be evaluated by Residential Academic Services given that the official transcripts are submitted and in English. However, should it be deemed necessary, an additional external evaluation by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) may be required. For more information about this organization, please visit their website (https://www.ece.org/).

Credit through examination (CLEP/DANTES/Advanced Placement) may only be awarded with official test scores from an official testing center and an Indiana Wesleyan University individual assessment. The maximum number of credits awarded shall be limited to a total of 40 semester hours for the baccalaureate degrees and 18 semester hours for the associate degrees, and ordinarily will not be applied to upper-division requirements in the major (junior and senior levels). It is the responsibility of the student to obtain approval from the appropriate division for the application of credits to the majors.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses to students. These are evaluated as subequivalent to university freshman-level courses and appropriate credit will be given for grades of 3 or above.

Incoming freshman who, prior to their enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University, pass the AP Spanish Language Exam with a minimum score of 4 will receive credit for SPA-237 and SPA-238. Students who pass the AP Spanish Language Exam with a minimum score of 3 will be awarded credit for SPA-117 and SPA-118. AP credit for these courses will not meet intercultural competence.

Some high schools offer International Baccalaureate courses and programs. Credit may be awarded for successful completion of some courses through the International Baccalaureate programs. Scores of 5 or higher are required for such credit to be accepted. Credit may only be awarded with official scores and an IWU individual assessment.

Achievement Examinations

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), and DANTES offer examinations of university-level achievement. CLEP examinations may be accepted for credit by the university upon admission and registration. Scores on selected examinations at a level of “C” or above will be acceptable for credit in appropriate areas. Examinations can be scheduled by The Center for Student Success after consulting with the director of records. A $25 per credit hour transcription fee will be assessed. Several CLEP examinations are recognized by the university for credit; however, the College of Arts and Sciences does not accept the College Composition CLEP test.

Assessment – Prior Learning/Portfolio

Credit from nontraditional learning by life experience may only be awarded with an Indiana Wesleyan University individual prior learning assessment. Credit will be determined through the assessment and approval process. Students with life experience education may have developed a body of information equivalent to university-level learning. This may be work experience, hours earned at nonaccredited institutions, or other nontranscripted learning. After a student has been admitted into a major and has accumulated at least 12 classroom credits, assessment of such learning may be attempted. A maximum of 40 hours may be awarded through the Prior Learning/Portfolio option. Guidelines and fees information is available in the Residential Academic Services office.

Independent Learning Contract

Occasionally, students may benefit from academic enrichment by Independent Learning. Such learning is generally intended for on campus course work in a subject not offered in the current schedule of classes. Independent Learning contracts are a privilege extended to degree-seeking junior and senior students. Undergraduate students who have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have met the university writing competency requirement, have completed all course prerequisites, and have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours may apply for Independent Learning. Undergraduate students on Academic Probation may not participate in Independent Learning. Students who wish to take an Independent Learning course should work closely with the professor of the course and Residential Academic Services to complete the specific paperwork and comply with the following:

• No more than six credit hours may be earned by Independent Learning during the student's academic career at IWU.
• No more than one Independent Learning course may be taken per semester.
• Courses with a 180 number may not be taken by Independent Learning.
• A fee of $100 per credit hour will apply to all Independent Course work.
• Students may not take an incomplete grade in an Independent Learning course.
• Independent Learning may not be used to repeat a failed course.

All coursework is expected to be completed by the end of the semester in which the course is attempted. If medical or other extenuating circumstances arise that prevent a student from completing all coursework in that semester, a professor may, at his or her discretion, award a grade of "I" (incomplete). See full incomplete policy for additional information.

Audit

A student who has been accepted into an Indiana Wesleyan University degree program or as an unclassified student may choose to audit specified courses as follows:

• Audit registration is allowed on a space available basis. Undergraduate students may not register under this category until after the first day of class and must have the approval of the class instructor.
• The current audit fee per credit hour must accompany the registration.
• Auditing a course gives one the right to attend the course. No credit or letter grade is given. The course will be indicated as an "AU" on the student's IWU transcript.
• The student auditing the course is not expected to participate in classroom or study group assignment or to complete homework, quizzes, or tests.
• The faculty for the course is under no obligation to grade any work an auditing student chooses to submit or to give feedback on progress.
• The materials required for the course are optional for auditing students.
• The student must meet course prerequisites or be approved by the appropriate administrator of the specific college/school.
• No change may be made from audit to credit, or credit to audit after registration closes.
• Forms for admission to audit classes are available in the Admissions Office.