Narrative:  

Troy University is in compliance with this Comprehensive Standard.

Troy University employs sound and acceptable practices for determining the amount and level of credit award for courses, regardless of format or mode of delivery. Troy University courses are standardized across all campuses and locations, including the University’s offerings in Global Campus and through its eCampus classes. The amount and level of credit award are explained in the Undergraduate Catalog and Graduate Catalog, and all courses in the Troy University curriculum have clearly indicated amount and level of credit designations as noted in the Undergraduate Catalog:

College Credit Definitions

• Regular Credits
  College credits are expressed as semester hours or credit hours.
• Laboratory Credits
  Two hours of laboratory work are usually accepted as the equivalent of one hour of regular class work. The actual number of hours will be determined in order to satisfy the course objectives.
  
• Credit by Examination
  Credit is allowed for CLEP, General and Subject Examinations, the Advanced Placement program, and DANTES examinations as approved by the Academic Council and department chairs. The number of credits allowed for satisfactory performance on the general examinations may be reduced by the amount of credit the student has previously earned in the subject matter areas covered by the examinations. Some departments of the University have developed challenge examinations in areas which, with approval of the Academic Council, can be used in lieu of certain required courses. Consult the appropriate department chairs for additional information.
  
• Experiential Credit
  Troy University recognizes that learning equivalent to the college level can occur outside the formal structure of accredited colleges and universities. Policies and procedures have been established for the assessment of this learning based upon the “Principles of Good Practice in Assessing Experiential Learning” recommended by the Council for the Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). In addition, credit as recommended by the American Council on Education may be granted for learning acquired through military, industrial, or regionally accredited technical school training programs where the learning is applicable to the student’s degree program. Experiential credit is considered non-traditional credit and will be posted only after the student has satisfactorily completed 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with Troy University and has attained unconditional admission status.
  
• Transfer Credit
  Transfer credit is defined as college credit that was earned at another regionally accredited institution and is transferable and accepted for credit toward a degree program at Troy University.
  
• Transient Credit
  A currently enrolled student who wishes to study at another institution for a term should consult with the Records Office concerning procedures and required approvals. Any courses taken by a student after the initial registration with Troy University must have prior approval by the University, and transient hours must be included with the student’s semester load for load-limit purposes. If a student takes coursework at another institution without proper transient authorization, the University reserves the right to deny credit for these courses.

Course Sequences

• Advanced Courses Advanced courses are courses at the sophomore level or above.
  
• Upper level courses Upper level courses are courses at the junior level or above.

Numeric course sequencing

• 0090 sequence: Remedial credit courses (Remedial courses do not count toward degree requirements.)
  
• 1100 sequence: Freshman level (Exceptions are noted in course descriptions)
  
• 2200 sequence: Sophomore level
  
• 3300 sequence: Junior level
  
• 4400 sequence: Senior level
  
• 5500 sequence: Graduate courses (open to seniors by permission)
  
• 6600 sequence: Graduate students only

Similar information regarding course credit can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

An example of how degree programs denote the amount and level of credit of their required courses can be seen with the psychology major:

All Troy University degree programs, undergraduate and graduate, follow this same template of course level and credit hours in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs.

Troy University’s policies that determine the level and amount of credit awarded for undergraduate and graduate coursework is vested in the two major curricular-approval committees: the Undergraduate Academic Council and the Graduate Academic Council. These two councils, with elected faculty representing all colleges and University campuses, are responsible for approving all new course and program proposals. These two councils are guided by their faculty membership who employ models of best practices for determining level and amount of credit awarded for coursework. The University Registrar and members of her staff are non-voting members of these councils and provide historical perspective as well as contemporary contexts for discussions of level and amount of credit awarded. The role and function of these councils are documented in their purpose statements that are noted in the University’s Faculty Handbook:

In addition to these two internal councils, all new University program proposals must be approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). New program proposals, including all proposed courses and their level and amount of credit, are circulated for review by the chief academic officers or the graduate deans from all public four-year colleges and universities in the state. In this way, new program proposals and their proposed courses undergo a peer review process further ensuring that coursework at Troy University will be typically consistent in its level and amount of credit with other colleges and universities in the state.

As part of the merger of the Troy State University system campuses into a single organizational Troy University in 2005, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved the University’s curricula for all of its undergraduate and graduate curricula. This approval of the University’s entire curricula included level and amount of credit for all Troy University courses. Information about the policies and procedures of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in reviewing new programs (and their courses) can be found at the ACHE Web site.

Another external consideration for the University in establishing level and amount of credit awarded is the Alabama General Studies Committee and legislatively mandated articulation agreement. Through the articulation agreement, which allows for ease of transfer between two-year and four-year schools in the state, courses in the General Studies curriculum must conform to standardized levels and credit amounts.

Similarly, Troy University is guided by the recommendations of the specialized accrediting agencies for its programs which hold such accreditations. Military experience and military school transfer credit is awarded based on the American Council on Education's Guide for Credit Recommendations. Guidelines covering other nontraditional coursework such as Dantes exams, CLEP exams and Advanced Placement exams are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog and conform to similar guidelines from peer institutions. Guidelines for awarding transfer credit from unaccredited institutions are provided in the Undergraduate Catalog as well. Credit hours for all courses, regardless of delivery method, are granted as awarded by the transfer institution or by the guidelines set for exams and professional experience. Written procedures for the evaluation of credit from regionally accredited institutions are maintained by the Academic Evaluation Center, under the supervision of the University Registrar.

Summary

Troy University employs a variety of internal and external methods for determining the level and amount of credit awarded for its courses, including its own faculty-centered undergraduate and graduate academic councils as well as specialized accrediting agencies. The University relies on generally accepted best practices models as well the review and consideration of its peers. The University is also guided by the legislatively mandated Alabama General Studies Committee articulation agreements and the statewide Alabama Commission on Higher Education in establishing course levels and credit. Nontraditional coursework, such as advanced placement exams and military school transfer credit are evaluated and equated using peer as well as national guidelines. In all of its activities involving course levels and credit amounts, the University has standardized policies and procedures which are employed at all campuses and locations.

Troy University is in compliance with this Comprehensive Standard.