In some cases, departments allow students to receive course credit based on demonstration of proficiency
in a particular discipline. This may be a special skill you picked up on your own or through your job.
Where departments provide this option, students typically sit for an exam or complete an assignment
which shows the level of skill in the specific area. The department may grade the work A if it is deemed
outstanding or S if it is Satisfactory.
Should the student receive special credit she or he obtains the Special Credit form from the department
awarding the credit and brings it to the Office of the Registrar. The Registrar provides information
used by the Office of the Bursar to determine if the student is required to pay for the credit and at
what amount. Once the Bursar makes this determination and the student pays any necessary fees, the
student brings the form and proof of payment (if any) back to the Office of the Registrar. The credit
will then be posted to the student's academic record. As with any change to the academic record, the
student will receive a confirmation of the change in the mail.
Any credit awarded through this option appear on the transcript with the heading "Indiana University
Special Credit" with the course information and grade. This work is not assigned to a particular
semester. The heading will be the same even if the student is enrolled in a program which will result
in a Purdue University degree or if the course is offered by one of the Purdue schools at IUPUC.
Some departments require that a student take additional, more advanced courses in the discipline before
awarding the introductory or lower level credit.
In other cases, the department may simply waive the requirement that the student take the course. This
means no credit is awarded and that the student takes some other course instead to meet the overall
requirements for the degree.
For more information, contact your school recorder.
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:
- For a beginning student within the first three semesters following matriculation*, there is no charge.
- For a first semester* transfer student, there is a nominal fee per credit hour.
- If neither of the above, the standard credit hour resident or nonresident rate will be assessed.
*The date used to determine the students status is that when the Special Credit form is processed in
the offices of the Bursar and Registrar. Current fees (as appropriate) are charged in cases where the
examination was taken in a preceding year. Special Credit forms expire six months from the data of
issue.
