The University provides a variety of alternatives to the traditional classroom.  These alternatives serve a number of purposes.  Some alternatives allow students to accelerate their progress toward their baccalaureate degree.  Other alternatives may permit the student to earn baccalaureate credit for experience or study completed prior to matriculation at CSUB.  Several permit the student to earn academic credit for career-related employment or community service.

Currently, the University offers the following alternatives: (1) Advanced Placement (AP) Program, (2) International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, (3) College Level Examination Program (CLEP), (4) credit for courses by challenge examination; (5) credit for the passage of externally developed tests; (6) credit for prior experiential learning; (7) service learning, (8) Human Corps program, (9) community service program, (10) discipline-based internships, (11) Cooperative Education, (12) directed research, and (13) several kinds of independent study.  Each of these alternatives is described below.  Students are urged to explore with their advisors the different programs.

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Advanced Placement (AP) Program - The University grants credit toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of examinations for the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. Students who present scores of 3 or higher will be granted up to six (6) semester units (nine (9) quarter units) of college credit.

Students will receive credit for CSUB coursework most nearly equivalent to the material covered in the AP examination.  The courses credited will be displayed on the Transfer Evaluation.  Questions about AP credit should be directed to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (EDUC 242, 654-3420).

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma - The University recognizes the high scholastic quality of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.  High school students holding the IB diploma (not certificate) are eligible for admission and will receive 5 quarter units of General Education credit for each higher level examination passed with a minimum score of 4.0.  Application of credit to a major or minor is at departmental discretion.

Applicants who plan to enroll at CSUB should submit a copy of their official IB transcript to the Office of Admissions for evaluation.  The courses credited will be displayed on the Transfer Evaluation.  Questions about IB credit should be directed to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (EDUC 242, 654-3420).

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College Level Examination Program (CLEP) - The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) enables students who have reached the university level of education outside the classroom and before matriculation to demonstrate their knowledge and to earn baccalaureate credit.  Students interested in CLEP should contact the Testing Office (654-3373).

There are four CLEP General Examinations for which credit is awarded: Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.  These General Examinations provide a comprehensive measure of undergraduate achievement in these basic areas of the liberal arts.  Students who successfully pass one or more of these examinations earn credit that applies to CSUB’s General Education Program.  The application of the Credit is displayed on the Transfer Evaluation.

There are also approximately 30 Subject Examinations.  These differ from the General Examinations in that they are more closely tied to course content and are intended to cover material that is typical of university courses in these subjects.  Before taking a Subject Examination, students should consult with the relevant department.  If the department approves, the students may earn credit for specific university courses by passing a Subject Examination.

A student who has taken CLEP examinations should request that scores be sent to the Office of Admissions.

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Credit by Challenge Examination - Students may challenge lower-division courses by taking examinations developed by the CSUB faculty.  Credit for the lower-division course shall be awarded if these examinations are successfully passed.

A student interested in challenging a CSUB lower-division course must first contact the Department Chair of the program that offers the course to determine whether it is eligible for challenge.  If the course is eligible, the student then discusses the challenge examination with a faculty member who teaches the course.  That faculty member then may develop an appropriate challenge examination.  The student is required to pay a $2.00 fee, payable to the CSUB Accounting Office, for each challenge examination; the student submits the receipt to the department prior to taking the examination.

There are several restrictions on Credit by Challenge Examination:

a.   Credit shall not be awarded when degree credit has already been granted through regular course work, credit by evaluation, credit through externally developed diagnostic tests, or other instructional processes, such as correspondence;

b.   Credit shall not be awarded when credit has already been granted at a level more advanced than that represented by the examination;

c.   Credit by Challenge Examination shall not count as resident credit and shall be awarded only on a credit, no-credit basis;

d.   Application of the Credit by Challenge Examination units to major or minor requirements shall be determined by the department responsible for the student’s baccalaureate degree program; and

e.   A student may earn no more than 20 quarter units through Credit by Challenge Examination.

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Credit by Externally Developed Tests - The University awards credit for the successful passage of certain externally developed tests described below.  By taking advantage of these tests, students may speed their progress through the University and receive credit for the college-level knowledge they have acquired prior to formal matriculation. Students may earn up to a maximum of 45 quarter units through such tests.

There are several restrictions on receiving Credit for Passage of Externally Developed Tests:

a.   Credit shall not be awarded when equivalent credit has been granted for regular course work, credit by evaluation, or other instructional processes, such as correspondence;

b.   Credit shall not be awarded when credit has been granted at a level more advanced than that represented by the examination in question;

c.   Credit shall not be awarded for passage of different tests that assessed the same knowledge; and

d.   Credit earned through passage of diagnostic tests may apply to major and minor requirements only with the approval of the department responsible for the degree and to general education requirements only with the approval of the General Education Advisory Committee.

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Credit for Prior Experiential Learning - The University grants units of credit for learning, knowledge, or skills-based experience that has been documented and evaluated according to campus policy. Students should be aware, however, that policies for earning credit for prior experiential learning vary from campus to campus in the CSU.

The amount of credit for experiential learning is determined only after self and faculty assessment of the scope and quality of the learning.  Evaluation of experiential learning takes varied forms, including written examinations, portfolios, personal interviews, and demonstrations.  Frequently, complementary academic study will be required prior to the awarding of credit.

There are several restrictions on Credit for Prior Experiential Learning:

a.   Students shall not be awarded Credit for Prior Experiential Learning until they have completed 30 quarter units in residence.

b.   Credit for Prior Experiential Learning shall not count as resident credit and shall be awarded only on a credit, no-credit basis;

c.   Credit for Prior Experiential Learning shall not exceed 20 quarter units;

d.   Only undergraduates are eligible to receive Credit for Prior Experiential Learning, and the credit may not count for post-baccalaureate credit;

Students interested in pursuing this option should consult with the appropriate school dean or department chair.  Forms are available from the Office of Undergraduate Studies (EDUC 242, 654-3420).

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Service Learning - Many faculty at CSUB have developed service learning components that are integrated into their courses.  Students enrolled in such courses have the opportunity to be placed with a community organization in the private, public, or non-profit sector. The Community Partnerships and Service Learning Center (CP/SLC) works cooperatively with these faculty to facilitate the placement of students so that they can receive “hands-on” experience in the real world.  Students gain professional knowledge and skills and develop valuable relationships in the community through service learning while completing academic courses.

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Human Corps Program - The Human Corps Program provides students an opportunity to receive university credit for volunteer community service experience.  Qualified students must work with the Community Partnerships & Service Learning Center (CP/SLC, MB2 302, 654-2100) to arrange for 30 hours of volunteer service experience with nonprofit, governmental, educational, or community-based service organizations.  Placements are designed to provide direct experience with appropriate professionals, while improving the quality of life in the community.

To receive university credit, students enroll in a General Studies course, HCOR 396, or a departmental Human Corps course, and must complete at least 30 hours of service per quarter.  One unit of Human Corps credit may be earned each quarter, and no more than 12 units of credit may be counted toward the baccalaureate.

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Community Service Program - The Community Service Program includes a series of General Studies courses GST 207A, B, and C in which students receive 2 units of credit for 40 hours of community service per quarter, with a total of 6 units available through the three courses. Most of the “class activities” for GST 207A, B, and C, will be completed online via WebCT.  Students in “good academic standing” must work with the Community Partnerships & Service Learning Center (CP/SLC, MB2 302, 654-2100) to arrange for 40 hours of community service with nonprofit, governmental, educational, or community-based service organizations.  Placements are designed to provide direct experience with appropriate professionals, while improving the quality of life in the community.

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Discipline-Based Internship Program - Under the Internship Program, students can receive academic credit for paid employment or non-paid service that is directly related to their academic discipline.  Community Partnerships & Service Learning (CP/SLC, MB2 302, 654-2100) works cooperatively with the faculty sponsor to place qualified students in an internship site or to develop a partnership with their current employer. Students register for their internship credit in a discipline-based course with the units based on the number of hours being worked.  The faculty sponsor in the student’s major field of study is the instructor of record for the internship course.

For more information, students should contact their faculty advisor, Department Chair, and/or the Community Service Programs office at 654-2100. Students can also access information about these programs online at www.csub.edu/csp.

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Cooperative Education - Cooperative Education is a type of educational experience that integrates a students’ university academic study with related work experience in a business, government, or nonprofit agency.  Students participate in part-time employment with concurrent attendance or alternate periods of attendance with periods of employment.

All students who are in good academic standing are eligible to apply for Cooperative Education.  Academic credit, on a credit, no-credit basis, is awarded through enrollment in either General Studies or discipline-based Cooperative Education courses.

Students interested in this program should contact the Community Partners & Service Learning Center (CP/SLC, MB2 302, 654-2100).

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Directed Research - Faculty involved in research projects may engage students with their research.  Students so engaged may earn 1 to 5 units per quarter.  In addition, students may engage in “independent” research under the sponsorship of a faculty member.  Students so engaged may earn 1 to 5 units per quarter.  Students interested in working on research projects should contact their faculty advisor or the Department Chair of their major. 

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Independent Study - A major goal of the University is the inculcation in its students of a commitment to continuing self-education.  Many CSUB students will reach a point during their undergraduate or graduate years at which they will have the knowledge, skills, ability, and discipline necessary to carry out independent projects under the sponsorship of a faculty member.

Undergraduate or graduate students may enroll in independent study courses for 1 to 5 units of credit.  Students may apply a maximum of 20 quarter units of independent study credit toward their undergraduate degree but no more than 10 units toward their major.  Graduate degree requirements vary by program.  The department responsible for the degree determines the application of the independent study units toward specific requirements.

Students wishing to engage in independent study must file a petition.  This petition, available in the school deans’ office, requires the signatures of the supervising faculty member, the department chair, and the school dean.  After securing the required signatures, the student follows the registration procedures required for traditional courses.

The University offers several different types of independent study courses, with the two most common being Individual Study and Individual Course.  Students should discuss with their faculty advisor the alternatives offered by their department.

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Individual Study - The individual study course, normally numbered 499, 599 or 699, allows the student to explore in-depth a topic of interest or to engage in an original creative project selected by the student.  The student must identify a faculty member willing to supervise the course.  The University strongly recommends that students wishing to enroll in an independent study course have earned a CSUB GPA of 3.00 or higher and have completed at least 30 units in residence.  Grading may be by letter grade or be on a credit, no-credit basis, depending upon the nature of the independent study.

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Individual Course - When a student requires a regular course for graduation or other special purposes and the course is unavailable, the department may allow a student to enroll in that course as an independent study.  A faculty member must agree to conduct this course as an independent study.  The content of the course will remain the same as the regular course, with some adjustments made by the faculty member to accommodate the independent study mode.  Students will earn the same number of units as the regular course.  Grading will be based upon the same standards as the regular course.