Credits & Grades

The regulations published in the Undergraduate Catalog are a digest of the rules of the institution. Changes may be made in the regulations at any time to promote the best interests of the university and its students. Students are responsible for knowing the published regulations, policies, and standards of the university and of their college or school.

Credit by Examination

A student may be granted college level credit for the following types of learning, examinations, or experiences. The total number of hours one may earn through credit-by-examination (Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge International, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate, Advanced Standing Exams, and military credit) is no more than half of the total hours required for the degree program. The grade of Z is granted for these courses which count as transfer credit. The credits will be posted to a student’s academic record upon enrollment.

• Advanced Placement
• Cambridge International
• College Level Examination Program
• International Baccalaureate
• Seal of Biliteracy
• Advanced Standing Exams
• Military Credit

Advanced Placement (AP)

Students who participate in the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Program and earn appropriate scores on the AP examination will receive the following academic credit:

Cambridge International

Students who participate in the Cambridge Assessment International Education program and earn appropriate scores on the exam will receive the following academic credit:

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Receiving CLEP credit in a specific degree program requires the approval of the dean and department chair concerned prior to taking the examination.

Students who earn appropriate scores on selected CLEP examinations will receive the following academic credit:

* Credit is granted in chemistry only if the student also submits a passing score on the American Chemical Society Test administered by the university’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. No credit is granted for chemistry lab courses.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

Students who participate in the International Baccalaureate program and earn appropriate scores on the exam will receive the following academic credit:

As students present transcripts for other International Baccalaureate courses taken at the Higher Level (HL), then the appropriate department will review the course/exam and decide the appropriate University of Mississippi credit.

Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. The UM Department of Modern Languages provides the following course credit or requires a placement exam to determine any final credit.

*Some languages may provide an examination for student placement in a more advanced course. In these instances, the student would receive credit through the placement exam. Students need approval from the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages, who will arrange the exam.

†Depending upon what is taught.

Advanced Standing Examination

An advanced standing examination is taken by a student who has had the equivalent of a UM course content. A student enrolled in the advanced course who is approved to take an examination for credit should be given the examination prior to the beginning of the semester or no later than the last day to add classes as published in the academic calendar during the term in which the student enrolls. Students who previously completed the same course at UM are not eligible for this credit. Students may attempt an advanced standing examination in a given course only one time and there is no appeal process.

An Application for Advanced Standing Examination form, provided by the registrar, must be approved by the instructor and department chair of the course, the dean of the course, and the student’s academic dean (if different). A fee is assessed for an advanced standing examination.

Placement Examination

Some departments may provide an examination for student placement in a more advanced course. In these instances, the student would not receive credit through the placement examination. Students need approval from the departmental chairperson who will arrange the examination.

Credit for Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces

Credit toward a degree may be granted to those students who submit to the Office of the Registrar a certified copy of either D.D. Form 295 or D.D. Form 214, which indicates an honorable discharge and a period of continuous active duty for at least 90 days. Four semester hours in one of the university ROTC programs, or as physical education or elective credit, will be granted for basic training or its equivalent. Upon successful completion of 18 months with the Army National Guard/Active Army Reserve, an additional 6 hours will be awarded in the Army ROTC program. An additional 12 semester hours of credit in one of the ROTC programs may be granted to students who earned a commission while in service.

Credit for training in formal service schools will be granted on the basis of recommendations published in A GUIDE TO THE EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE ARMED SERVICES or the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences to the extent that the recommended credit can be evaluated as equivalent to a specific university course. Additional credit may be granted for military training and experience. Academic departments determine equivalencies for courses that the department teaches by using the IHL Guidebook for Evaluating Military Learning for Academic Credit. The maximum credit allowed from these sources is 40 semester hours.

Credit also may be granted for correspondence courses completed through a United States Armed Forces Institute program up to the maximum of 33 semester hours for credit from all correspondence courses. Credit is not granted for correspondence courses administered by the armed services.