& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs 13
Credit for Business and Industry Training
Transfer credits for business and industry training courses are made via
recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). These
credits may be used for general electives. Credits from business and
industry training do not apply toward the 62 regionally accredited
college/university credits required for graduation.
Credit from Vocational or Technical Colleges
or Institutes
If a vocational or technical college is regionally accredited, the credits
are transferred on a course-by-course basis and count toward the
minimum of 62 credits students must earn from regionally accredited
institutions. If the institution is not regionally accredited, a maximum of
38 credits may be transferred into Saint Mary’s University bachelor
completion programs. The transfer award is determined by the number of
hours in the program in which the student earned a grade resulting in
credit, according to the following formula:
• 2,000 or more hours = 38 credits
• Less than 2,000 hours — pro-rated based on the formula 2,000
hours = 38 credits (number of hours X .019 credits)
Military Credits
Credits for military education are awarded via recommendations of the
American Council on Education (ACE). These credits may be used for
general electives. To receive an evaluation of courses taken through the
Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, a student must request that the
official transcript be mailed to Saint Mary’s University. Please see the
Minnesota Veterans Licensure Certification website,
www.mncertifiedvets.us/acronym.htm. These credits do not apply toward
the 62 credits required from a regionally accredited institution.
To receive an evaluation of courses taken through the Air Force,
students must request a transcript from the Community College of the
Air Force. Military credits from the Community College of the Air Force
do apply toward the 62 credits required from a regionally accredited
institution.
Standardized Examinations
Students may receive up to 60 credits for successful completion of
standardized college-level examinations taken through the CLEP and
DSST programs. Credit awards for specific examinations are made via
recommendations of ACE and the College Board. Examination credits
may be used to fulfill general education competency areas, or to meet
general elective requirements. CLEP and DSST examination credits do
not apply toward the 62 accredited college/university credits required for
graduation. Previously completed CLEP and DSST examination credits
may be transferred when students enter the university’s undergraduate
program. Examinations may also be taken concurrently with
undergraduate coursework. Credits cannot be awarded if the test subject
area duplicates previously earned credit or major core content.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students may earn semester credits through the CLEP. The CLEP
general examinations measure college-level knowledge in the basic
areas of the liberal arts and the subject examinations measure
knowledge in specific content areas. CLEP tests are given in computerbased
format, and scores are reported upon completion of the test. A
test administration fee is payable to CLEP at the time of testing. If a test
is not passed, a waiting period of six months is required before re-testing
in the same subject. Examination information, including study guides and
practice tests, are available online at the CLEP website:
www.collegeboard.com/clep.
Dantes Subject Standardized Tests
(DSST)
Students may earn semester credits through the DSST examination
program, formerly DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional
Educational Support). The DSST exams are similar to the CLEP exams,
but cover additional subject areas. DSST tests are paper exams, and
scores are reported three to five weeks after the test is completed. A test
administration fee is payable to DSST at the time of testing. Nonstudents
pay a testing fee to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in
addition to the DSST fee at the time of testing. If the test is not passed, a
six month waiting period is required before re-testing in the same
subject. Examination information, including a list of test subject areas,
fact sheets, and practice tests, are available online at the DSST website,
www.getcollegecredit.com.
Master Degree Programs
A maximum of six semester credits earned prior to matriculation at the
university may be accepted in transfer upon the recommendation of the
program director and with the approval of the dean as fulfilling program
requirements or as electives.
To be considered for transfer, credits must meet the following criteria in
addition to the criteria listed under the type of program:
1. Credits must be listed on an official transcript. (An official transcript is
one that is sent or carried to the university in an envelope sealed by
the granting university.)
2. Credits must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution.
3. Credits must be clearly designated as graduate credits.
4. Credits may not have been used as part of a conferred
undergraduate or graduate degree.
5. Grade earned must be a Pass or ‘B-’ or higher.
6. Credits must be applicable in content to the Saint Mary’s University
of Minnesota program. The recommendation on appropriateness will
be made by the program director and approved by the dean.
Credit from Non-Regionally Accredited
Institutions
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Schools of Graduate and
Professional Programs (SGPP) may accept degrees and courses from
non-regionally accredited institutions that are approved by an internal
review process. In order to be considered, non-regionally accredited
institutions must have specialty accreditation for the programs under
consideration. These degrees may be accepted for admission or courses
may be transfered into selected programs. This policy does not
represent an overall acceptance of credits or degrees from nonregionally
accredited institutions.