Credit Information

Credit Requirements

A minimum of 130 semester credits is necessary to earn a baccalaureate degree at the College of St. Catherine. This number includes all required courses and supporting work for a major, the liberal arts core curriculum and additional nonmajor courses as needed to meet the graduation requirements. A minimum of 80 semester credits must be in disciplines outside the major field. All degree-seeking students follow the specific requirements listed in the College of St. Catherine Undergraduate Academic Catalog for the year in which they enter the college.

Residency Credit Requirements

First-year and transfer students entering with fewer than 57 semester credits must complete at least 64 semester credits in residence. Students entering with 57 or more semester credits must complete 48 semester credits in residence. In all cases, students must complete 24 of their last 32 semester credits and one-half of the total number of courses required for a major in residence. (Courses in residence are those for which students have registered through the Office of the Registrar.)

Transfer of Credit

Courses eligible for transfer credit must be earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities. Only those courses in which students earned a grade of C- (or its equivalent) or higher are transferable. Transfer credits from institutions on a quarter-credit system are converted to semester credits by multiplying transferable credits by two-thirds and rounding to the nearest whole number. Transfer course work is evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine which liberal arts core requirements have been met. To fulfill liberal arts core requirements, a course must carry a value of at least two semester credits or three quarter credits (with the exception of physical education activities). An associate's degree does not automatically exempt transfer students from any of the graduation requirements, including total credits, nonmajor credits, major credits, residency, proficiencies and liberal arts core. Entering the college with an associate degree also does not guarantee junior status.

Credit for Prior Learning

A maximum of 32 semester credits may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree through various examinations and the Credit for Academically Relevant Learning (CARL) program. The college routinely recognizes credit for tests administered under the Advanced Placement Program and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

CLEP

CLEP enables students to earn college credit by examination. Wherever or however you have learned, as long as you did not receive college credit previously, you can take CLEP tests. St. Catherine's awards credit for CLEP test scores that meet the recommendations of the American Council on Education. Upon receipt of official CLEP scores, credit can be awarded.

CARL

The CARL program provides an opportunity to earn credit for college-level learning that takes place outside the classroom. Through CARL, students develop portfolios of relevant, college-level learning experiences that are assessed by faculty evaluators. Students may apply for the program after completing a minimum of 16 semester credits at the college and after attending a CARL information session. One-half tuition will be charged for CARL credits earned.

Proficiency Examinations

Department Proficiency Examinations are another way to demonstrate mastery of specific subject matter. They are similar to trimester final examinations and can earn college credit or placement in a course of study.