Most of the time, students earn credit and meet requirements by taking courses. However, there are a variety of other ways that you might be able to earn credit and accelerate your progress to completing your degree. If you already have knowledge about a subject that is the equivalent of a college course, you may be able to take an exam or provide other evidence of your learning that will enable you to meet a requirement or earn credit. There are also a number of national testing programs that provide a way to earn credit and, in some cases, meet specific degree requirements.

Some of the options are:

National testing programs, such as the CLEP and DANTES programs, provide tests that anyone can take for a fee. Students who score high enough may receive college credits.

Local tests: Individual colleges and departments may offer credit or non-credit exams that can be used to satisfy course equivalence and graduation requirements.

Evaluation of prior learning: Metropolitan State University and partner institutions provide mechanisms to ask faculty to evaluate your prior learning in a subject area and determine whether you can get credit for that learning. (Note that credit is not awarded solely based on a student’s previous experience, but rather based on the learning that the student gained through the experience). Each institution has its own procedures for evaluation of prior learning or evaluation of competency based education.

Independent study: Sometimes it is possible to complete a course working independently with a faculty member rather than taking a traditional course. It may also be possible to arrange for independent study with a faculty member, for a subject not taught as a regular course.

For more detailed information, follow these links for information about opportunities available through each college.

Learn about alternative ways to earn credit at Metropolitan State University.

Learn about alternative ways to earn credit at partner insitutions.

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