Credit By Examination (CBE)

Credit By Examination (CBE) 

 

Students enrolled at SF State may obtain credit by examination for specific courses taught at SFSU as determined by each department and approved by the course instructor and department chair. 

 

Credit be examination is not allowed for courses for which students have previously been awarded credit, been enrolled in or withdrawn from at SFSU or an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution. The CBE process applies to campus-originated exams and is separate from the use of standardized exams (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and College Level Entrance Program examinations) to award academic credit. 

 

Credit by examination can not be used for a course that is a prerequisite for a course that the student has enrolled in or completed, or if a student has enrolled in or completed a more advanced course. Students should meet with an advisor about completing prerequisites or identifying substitute courses in these situations. Credit by exam can not be used to avoid repeating a course previously taken or enrolled in. 

 

Credit awarded through CBE does not count towards residence unit requirements. CBE units count towards the total units registered for a given semester and appropriate tuition and fees must be paid. 

 

Departments can exclude laboratory, activity, studio, performance, internship, and/or supervision courses from courses available for credit by exam.

 

Interested students should inquire with Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning (ADM 447) about the credit by examination process with the subject of credit by exam.

Student Eligibility for Credit by Examination

  • The student must be a current, matriculated student in a state-support or self-support academic program and enrolled in at least one course other then the course they are challenging.
  • Students must not be enrolled in or registered as a auditor in the course they wish to receive credit for by examination. 
  • Students must not have ever been enrolled in or withdrawn from the course they are seeking credit for at SFSU or an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution.
  • Students must meet the prerequisites for the course as defined in the course catalog in the bulletin.
  • The student must request credit by examination for a course approved for this process with the department that offers the course. Departments can exclude laboratory, activity, studio, performance, internship and/or supervision courses from the CBE process. 
  • The student must not have previously requested or completed a credit by exam process for the course.
  • Students are responsible for paying any tuition or fees as a result of enrollment at SF State related to CBE courses. Units awarded through CBE do not count for financial aid reporting.

Timeline and Process

  • Students should initiate requests for CBE with the department within the first three weeks of the semester. The Credit by Exam form should be completed and forwarded to the Associate Dean of Academic Planning to verify eligibility before scheduling the exam.
  • CBE requests can only be made during the academic year (fall and spring).
  • The department is responsible for providing a comprehensive and searching examination. Department faculty grade the exam and determine if credit is to be awarded and the grade for the course. Department faculty complete the CBE form and return it to the Associate Dean of Academic Planning who will forward it to the Registrar’s Office.

Award of CBE credit

  • Students will be enrolled in the appropriate CBE course by the Registrar’s office as an end of term addition once the CBE form has been received. Units awarded by CBE process will be documented on transcripts, including the course the CBE satisfies.
  • If enrollment in CBE courses require additional tuition or fees, payment must be made before credit can be awarded. Students should contact the Bursar’s office about payment.
  • The Registrar’s office will award credit for the appropriate course on a student’s DPR as approved on the CBE Form.
  • If the course being challenged meets a general education requirement, the CBE will also be used to meet the GE requirement in the student’s record.