Gadsden State provides a mechanism for students to earn college credit for experience and knowledge attained outside the traditional classroom.
A maximum of 25% of a degree or program, as measured in credit hours, may be met by nontraditional credit.
Articulated Credit
Credit Awarded for Articulation Students completing courses in the approved Statewide Career and Technical Education Articulation Agreement will receive articulated credit to Gadsden State Community College offering the corresponding program of study. Performance or knowledge testing of secondary program graduates is not required as part of the articulation process. For more information, view the Statewide Articulation Procedural Guide.
Awarding Credit Through Prior Learning Assessment
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a means for a student to receive college-level credit for experiential learning that took place in a non-traditional learning environment, such as on-the-job training, military training, professional development seminars, volunteerism, and experience in-field. Awarding of credit through PLA relies heavily on aligning knowledge and skills gained through experience with learning outcomes found in traditional higher education courses.
- Credit for prior learning can be awarded only after the assessment of experiential learning experiences and only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses.
- Course credit earned through prior learning shall be noted on the student’s transcript as having been awarded through prior learning assessment.
- Credit for prior learning (portfolio review) may not be awarded for academic transfer courses. Credit for academic transfer courses awarded through prior learning may be awarded by examination or nationally recognized guidelines only – see Credit Awarded by Examination section of catalog.
- Before receiving credit through prior learning for a course, an individual must meet the enrollment requirements of the course.
Credit Awarded by Examination
College credit may be awarded through nationally recognized examinations such as: Advanced Placement (AP); College Level Examination Program (CLEP); United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI); Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES/DSST); or through examinations (challenge exams) developed by the college. If a student achieves the required score, college credit may be awarded for the relevant course.
For more information on the credit awarded for AP, USAF, DANTES. DSST Exams, contact admissions@gadsdenstate.edu.
For more information on credit awarded through challenge exams, contact the appropriate instructional dean.
College Level Examination Program General Examinations (CLEP) is accepted under the following conditions.
GSCC awards credit for CLEP subject examinations based on a minimum score requirement for each exam as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). CLEP credit is not granted for college-level courses previously failed, for courses in which credit for higher level course work has been earned, or for credit already earned in the subject examination’s course equivalent. Non-traditional academic work accepted by Gadsden State may or may not be accepted in transfer by other institutions at their sole discretion.
CLEP exams and scores currently accepted by Gadsden State are as follows:
| CLEP Test | GSCC Credit | ACE Score Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS | ||
| Financial Accounting | BUS 241 Principles of Accounting I | 50 |
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | CIS 146 Microcomputer Applications | 50 |
| Introductory Business Law | BUS 263 Legal and Social Environment of Business | 50 |
| COMPOSITION AND LITERATURE | ||
| American Literature | ENG 251 American Literature I | 50 |
| College Composition | ENG 101 English Composition I | 50 |
| ENG 102 English Composition II | 50 | |
| English Literature | ENG 261 English Literature I | 50 |
| Humanities | HUM 101 Introduction To Humanities I | 50 |
| WORLD LANGUAGES | ||
| Spanish Language, Level 1 | SPA 101 Introductory Spanish I | 50 |
| SPA 102 Introductory Spanish II | 50 | |
| Spanish Language, Level 2 | SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I | 63 |
| SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II | 63 | |
| German, Level 1 | GRN 101 Introductory German I | 50 |
| GRN 102 Introductory German II | 50 | |
| HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| American Government | POL 211 American National Government | 50 |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 | HIS 201 United States History I | 50 |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to Present | HIS 202 United States History II | 50 |
| Human Growth and Development | PSY 210 Human Growth and Development | 50 |
| Introductory Psychology | PSY 200 General Psychology | 50 |
| Introductory Sociology | SOC 200 Introduction to Sociology | 50 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ECO 231 Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ECO 232 Principles of Microeconomics | 50 |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | HIS 101 Western Civilization I | 50 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present | HIS 102 Western Civilization II | 50 |
| SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS | ||
| Biology | BIO 103 Principles of Biology I | 50 |
| Calculus | MTH 125 Calculus I | 50 |
| Chemistry | CHM 111 College Chemistry I | 50 |
| CHM 112 College Chemistry II | 50 | |
| College Algebra | MTH 100 Intermediate College Algebra | 50 |
| College Mathematics | MTH 116 Math Applications | 50 |
| Pre-Calculus | MTH 112 Pre-Calculus | 50 |
Credit Awarded for Transcripted Military Training
Gadsden State may award credit for academic and technical courses based on equivalent transcripted military training as shown on an Ace Joint Service Transcript or an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force. Military transcripts should be submitted to Gadsden State for evaluation during the admissions process.