Internship Experiences
University-sponsored internships are often an important part of an academic program. Students may apply for an internship if they have completed 60 credits and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Forty hours of supervised internship is equivalent to one academic credit hour. A maximum of 12 credits is applicable to an undergraduate degree program from internship experiences. Internships are available at a variety of venues, such as governmental agencies, businesses, foundations, and other organizations.
Students who are interested in internships must consult with their program’s academic advisor, since they may need to meet additional internship requirements specific to their program, department, or college.
In all cases, an approved agreement between the university and the external organization at which the internship will be performed must be in place before the student can be enrolled for internship credit.
Cooperative Education (Co-ops)
Some departments allow students to participate in cooperative education experiences. These experiences provide students with opportunities to gain practical work experiences related to their academic programs. These experiences may be the first contact students have working in their profession. They are often offered for zero credit and are typically unpaid.
Students may apply for co-ops if they have completed 30 credits and have at least a 2.0 GPA. They typically participate in these programs during their sophomore or junior years, often during the summer. Interested students need to consult with their academic advisors concerning the availability and requirements of co-ops within their department.
In all cases, if students decide to register for a co-op course, an approved agreement between the university and the external organization at which the co-op experience will be performed must be in place before the student can enroll in the course.
Prior Learning and Credit/Exemption Examinations
There are a variety of examinations through which students may earn college credit or exemptions. Courses for which credits or exemptions are awarded by examination will not be used in the determination of GPAs.
When a student receives credit for a course by examination, the credit will be applied to graduation requirements just as though the course had been taken. A student who passes an exemption examination will be exempt from taking that course in his/her academic program. If a student is granted exemption only (no credits) from a course, he/she may need to take another course to fulfill degree requirements.
Where examinations are not available, portfolio assessment may provide a student with the opportunity to earn university credit for college-level learning gained through work and life experience. Each department will determine the maximum number of credits to be awarded for portfolio assessment for its majors.
No more than one-half of the credits required for a student’s major may be earned through any combination of examinations or portfolio assessment, nor can these credits be applied toward university residency requirements for awarding of degrees.
Advanced Placement Examinations
Courses taken by students before college admission under the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board may be recognized by the award of college credit. Those who earn a score of 3, 4, or 5 in the Advanced Placement Examination will receive academic credit. The student’s department and academic college will decide if and how the credit can be applied to the degree program. For questions regarding the granting of Advanced Placement Examination credits, consult with the transfer counselors in the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
CLEP Examinations
Students who have had the opportunities for instruction or who have advanced in a given field may gain credit for a course through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offered through the College Board. Those who earn a qualifying score on the CLEP exam will receive academic credit. The student’s department and academic college will decide if and how the credit can be applied to the degree program. For questions regarding the granting of CLEP exam credits, consult with the transfer counselors in the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
International Baccalaureate Examinations
Courses taken by students before college admission under the International Baccalaureate Program may be recognized by the award of college credit. Those who earn a 4 or higher on a IB Higher Level (HL) exam will receive academic credit. The student’s department and academic college will decide if and how the credit can be applied to the degree program. For questions regarding the granting of IB HL exam credits, consult with the transfer counselors in the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Departmental Examinations
In some departments, students have an opportunity to gain exemption or credit through successful completion of comprehensive examinations by requesting from the academic department an exam as a substitute for completing all the usual requirements of the course.
Portfolio Assessment
Portfolio assessment may provide some students with the opportunity to present evidence of learning for evaluation by a faculty member. It is designed for those with extensive documented knowledge from work experience, travel, independent study, or other out-of-class experiences. Through portfolio assessment, these experiences are evaluated to determine their appropriateness and applicability for university credit.
Credit awarded through portfolio assessment must conform to specific course titles in the undergraduate catalog (i.e., no credits will be awarded for general areas of knowledge) and will only be awarded for undergraduate courses. All IUP applicants and active students are eligible to request portfolio assessment, and any credits awarded must be intended for use as part of a degree or certificate program. (For IUP applicants, credits will be awarded only after matriculation.)
Before portfolio assessment credits can be awarded, approval must be obtained from the chairperson of the department offering the course, the dean of the appropriate IUP college, and f the Office of Admissions. Once approved, the title of the course, the credits, and indication that credit was earned through portfolio assessment will be recorded on a student’s academic record.
If a related examination is available through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or if a departmental examination has previously been established for the course, a portfolio assessment of those credits will not be accepted.
For information about portfolio assessment fees and instructions on how to apply for portfolio assessment, please see the visiting and non-degree student link on the Office of Admissions website.
Certification/Licensure Credit Policy
Students with an earned certification or license will have that credential evaluated for credit. Once approved, conversions for future students will be processed automatically. The student must have a valid certification or license to earn university credit. If the certification/license is no longer active, the student can use the training and credential as a basis for credit under the Credit for Prior Learning Policy by submitting a portfolio.
Conversions granted must be reviewed in accordance with PA State System Program review policy and/or program accreditation. A general rule of 37.5 hours of academic, noncredit instruction should equate to no more than one-credit hour.
Students transferring in credits via certifications/licenses are not entitled to have those credits replace/substitute for degree requirements without department chairperson’s approval. Department chairpersons will determine if the certification/license should be awarded as completing a specific course in the departmental curriculum or as generalized credit. Final approval will be determined by the Dean or designee of the academic college offering the course.
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