Drexel University’s policy on “credit by examination” allows undergraduate students a one-time opportunity to gain course credit toward graduation by taking a comprehensive examination in a course, that is, without registering for the course or attending any classes—in fact, the student must never have attended (or currently be enrolled in) the course in which credit by examination is being sought. The grade earned in the examination is included in calculating the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Students on co-op may apply for credit by examination; however, approval will be granted only if the exam does not interfere with the student’s co-op experience. Students on academic probation are not permitted to pursue credit by examination.

Students have 30 days in which to take the examination once permission has been granted. Permission is considered granted once the “Credit by Examination” application form, available in the Student Administrative Services (SRC) Center, has been completed and returned to the SRC. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all necessary signatures. The charge for Credit by Examination is the current year’s Special Examination Fee and is payable in the Office of the Comptroller prior to the examination date. Once paid, the fee is nonrefundable.

Credit/No Credit Option—Undergraduates Only

The purpose of the Credit/No Credit grading option is to offer undergraduate students a broadened educational experience with additional flexibility in their elective choices; in particular, to encourage enrollment in elective courses not in the student's area of expertise.

• Students can elect to choose the Credit/No Credit grading option only for those courses identified by their Academic Advisor in each department for their specific major.

• A total of six courses may be scheduled with this option during the undergraduate program at the rate of one course per term.

• Students on academic probation are not eligible for this option.

The instructor will report a letter grade in the course. If a grade of "C" or better is reported, the student's grade report will indicate a "CR" (credit) for the course and the credits will count toward graduation requirements. If a grade of "D" or "F" is reported, the student's grade report will indicate "NCR" (no credit), and the credits will not count toward graduation requirements. A "CR" or "NCR" will be included on the student's academic record with a special notation indicating the course was taken under this option. Because no letter grade is recorded, courses taken under this option are not included in calculating the student's cumulative GPA.

Requesting the Credit/No Credit Option

Undergraduate students have until the end of the second week of the term to select or delete the credit/no credit option for a course for which they are registered. All students should add the Credit/No Credit option to the respective course they choose in their college via the Credit/No Credit Application Form. This form is available in SRC.