When Columbus State University awards academic credit for prior learning, it documents that the credit awarded is collegiate level and comparable to the associated CSU coursework, with each evaluation being conducted by the appropriate department chair in consultation with academically qualified faculty in the subject area. When a CSU course is not housed in an academic department or school, the equivalence evaluation is overseen by the Provost’s Office, assisted by academically qualified faculty. Documentation of the credit evaluation is maintained in the Office of the Registrar and by the SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison.

Students who have served in the military, have taken standardized exams, or who wish to compile a portfolio documenting college-level learning through workforce experience may petition for the awarding of credit for prior learning.

In compliance with requirements for CSU’s institutional accreditation by SACSCOC, at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for an undergraduate degree and at least one third of the credit hours required for a graduate degree must be earned through instruction offered by CSU. This does not include course credit through prior learning, AP or CLEP credits, or transfer coursework that did not originate from CSU. These minimums cannot include course credit through prior learning, AP or CLEP credits, or transfer coursework that did not originate from CSU. Credit for prior learning may be used to satisfy degree requirements depending upon departmental policy but may not exceed 50% of the required hours in any degree program.   

Courses for which credit is awarded based on any of the prior learning assessment methods receive the grade of “K.”

Columbus State University will honor any credit awarded through an official Credit for Prior Learning policy/procedure implemented at another institution in the University System of Georgia.

Columbus State University awards credit when minimum required scores, as published at CSU, are met on nationally standardized examinations such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), Subject Standardized Tests program (DSST), and International Baccalaureate (IB).

Military and/or veteran students are eligible to receive Credit for Prior Learning. The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates workforce, military training, and experiences outside of post-secondary education that may merit college credit for college-level learning. Credit will be awarded when military and/or other training is deemed to meet the college-level competencies that contribute to academic programs at Columbus State University. The Joint Services Transcript, Community College of the Air Force, or other military transcript should be sent to Columbus State University along with the Military Transfer Credit Agreement Form located in MyCSU.

A student may hold an industry certification, professional license, or have completed another industry-sponsored training program. In these cases, the student should check the ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training to see whether the training, certification, or professional license has been evaluated. If it has, the student may petition for credit through the academic department.

Students who have completed Georgia POST training are eligible to receive Credit for Prior Learning. Students who have completed the Maneuver’s Captain Career Course at Fort Moore (formally Fort Benning), GA, are eligible to receive Credit for Prior Learning.

Columbus State University supports the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model. The purpose of this model is to facilitate the educational mobility of registered nurses who elect to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing. RN-BSN students are awarded 32 nursing credit hours after successfully passing the first nursing clinical course.