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Programs > Alternative Credit

In some instances academic credit may be awarded for work done in a format other than a college course. Credits earned in this way are recorded on the transcript with a grade of P. Such credits may not be used in repeating a course and may not be awarded for work equivalent to a course that is a prerequisite to a course already taken for credit. No more than 45 semester hours of alternative credit may be applied toward a degree. Interested individuals may call Regina McFadden, Academic Programs and Policy at (205) 934-9708 or email rhmcfadden@uab.edu.

New Start Option
Individually Designed Major/Minor

Opportunities for earning credit outside the normal course format include:

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)—The CLEP General Examination must be taken before 15 semester hours of college work have been completed. The subject-area examinations are assigned credit as listed in the UAB CLEP Policy statement.

2. Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)—The DSST, prepared by the Chauncey Group, is a nationally recognized credit-by-examination program that awards college credit for courses taken by examination. DSST Examinations are scheduled individually, by appointment.

3. Advanced Placement (AP)—The amount of credit awarded and the examination score required are stated in the UAB Advanced Placement brochure. Consult the UAB Testing Center for further information. Telephone (205) 934-3704.

4. International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)—Academic credit may be awarded for scores of five or higher on IB higher-level examinations. No credit is awarded for subsidiary-level examinations.

5. Credit by Examination (CBE)—A degree-seeking student may petition to obtain credit for a course by taking an examination; however, not all programs will accept CBE. It is the student's responsibility to verify the applicability of CBE courses for major/minor requirements. The relevant department must agree to create and grade the examination. If a student takes CBE in a course that he/she has already taken for credit, the grade for CBE will not replace the grade for the previous course.

6. Credit by Portfolio—A degree-seeking student may petition to receive credit for a course on the basis of a portfolio of information documenting knowledge of the course material. The chair of the appropriate department and dean of the school make the final decision on acceptability of the materials for credit.

7. Noncollegiate Courses—Credit may be awarded for noncollegiate courses in accordance with American Council on Education recommendations and approval of the appropriate department chair and dean.

8. Credit for Military Experiences—UAB evaluates military service and educational experiences completed by active-duty military service and Coast Guard personnel. UAB is an institutional member of Servicemembers’ Opportunity Colleges.

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New Start Option

The New Start Option serves the student who previously accumulated a poor academic record, but who has demonstrated the ability to succeed in college-level work at UAB. The option enables the student to void all work prior to that point, beginning anew with work from that point forward. One example in which this option might be employed is that of a student returning from suspension, who proceeds to do at least C-level work; another example is the student with a history of unsuccessful college work elsewhere who enters UAB as a non-degree student and performs at least at the C level over a period of time. To be eligible, a person must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student or eligible for degree-seeking status under the New Start option at UAB. The policy does not apply to college graduates or to admission policies in the Schools of Nursing or Health Related Professions.

To apply for the New Start Option, the student must obtain the written approval of an academic advisor. The application must be filed prior to graduation and must specify a date, called the New Start date, prior to which all grades and notations are voided. The application will not be considered until the student’s transcript contains at least 24 semester hours of course work applicable to a degree (i.e. hours earned, but not necessarily to a particular major) at UAB, posted after the New Start date. In addition, the Higher Education GPA on all work taken after the requested New Start date, as well as the UAB GPA, must be at least 2.0.

Policies governing the New Start Option are as follows:

1. Upon approval of the application, all grades (including passing grades) and notations listed on the transcript prior to the New Start date are placed in a separate listing on the transcript and are voided for purposes of satisfying UAB degree requirements and computing GPA. The transcript carries the notation “Approved for New Start (date); work prior to this date is not calculated in GPA or applied toward a degree.”

2. All work completed after the New Start date is counted toward completion of a degree, in accordance with policies of the catalog in effect at the New Start date. The repeated course policy applies only to courses taken after the New Start date.

3. A course completed before the New Start date, and which is a prerequisite for a course to be taken later, must be taken again even if successfully completed before the New Start date, unless explicit exception is made by the chair of the department in which the course is taught.

4. The student may employ alternative credit to replace some voided courses taken prior to the New Start date.

5. A student may not use the New Start Option to graduate with honors.

6. The New Start Option may be granted only once during the student’s academic career at UAB and is irrevocable.

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Individually Designed Major/Minor

Students with specific career goals or with unique intellectual objectives may propose majors and minors designed to meet their individual academic needs. The Individually Designed Major requires a minimum of 40 semester hours in the major, of which at least 20 semester hours must be in courses numbered at or above 300 and approved for use towards a major, with a minimum of a C average. In addition, students must prepare a rationale for a nonstandard major-level course of study, complete Core Curriculum requirements, and complete any additional requirements set by the school in which the degree will be awarded. The Individually Designed Minor requires completion of 21 semester hours, of which nine semester hours must be in courses numbered at or above 300, with a minimum of a C average. The Individually Designed Major or Minor must be reviewed and approved by the departments involved, by the dean of the school in which the degree will be awarded, and by the Office of Academic Programs and Policy.

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