Alternative Credit

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is a national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction.
 
Credit will be awarded for ACTFL assessment results toward satisfaction of foreign language requirements as designated below. Students wishing to earn language proficiency credits through the ACTFL should take the assessment as early as possible but no earlier than two years prior to matriculation to Biola. English language proficiency through ACTFL does not meet the Core English or Writing Competency Requirements (WCR). Biola University reserves the right to determine the score at which credits will be released and the amount of credit awarded.
 
A student may take the ACTFL foreign language exam without pre-approval from the Office of the Registrar. To obtain credit, the student must seek a higher level of language than previously awarded language credits. A maximum of 32 credits can be awarded for all forms of advanced credit (AP, CLEP, IB, ACTFL, STAMP 4S, etc.). If the same course is taken at the college level, elective credits cannot be given for the equivalent ACTFL exam.
 
Specific ACTFL tests in any language would receive credit as follows:

• Intermediate Low on OPI (or OPIc) and WPT covers LANGUAGE 100 (4 credits)
• Intermediate Mid or above on OPI (or OPIc), WPT, and LPT covers LANGUAGE 100 & 200 (8 credits)

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Biola University, as a member of the College Entrance Examination Board, recognizes the merits of the Advanced Placement Program and will grant credit for Advanced Placement exams taken in high school. Credit will be given when the Advanced Placement examination grade is 3 or better.

A maximum of 32 credits can be awarded for all forms of advanced credit (AP, CLEP, IB, ACTFL, STAMP 4S, etc.). Torrey students: Math and/or science credits are needed for Core Curriculum credit. All other AP credits will count as elective credits toward graduation.

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Many medical schools do not accept AP credit in lieu of college-level course credit to fulfill admission requirements.

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Chemistry, biochemistry, physics, engineering physics, and engineering majors receive credit as follows:

• 5 on Calc AB can cover MATH 150. 
• 4 on Calc BC can cover MATH 150 only.
• 5 on Calc BC covers both MATH 150 and MATH 151.

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A maximum of 8 credits may be counted for Calculus AB/BC.

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Math and Computer Science majors must have a score of 4 or 5 for MATH 150 credit. 

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Math and Computer Science majors must have a score of 4 or 5 for MATH 150 and MATH 151 credit. 

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Psychology majors must have a score of 4 or 5.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Biola University recognizes the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students should take CLEP exams as early as possible in their college program to receive their maximum value.

Biola University reserves the right to determine the score at which credits will be released and the amount of credit awarded.

Students are not permitted to take English composition through CLEP for credit. English composition through CLEP does not meet the English Composition requirement.

To obtain credit for a foreign language CLEP exam, the student must seek a higher level of language than previously completed in high school or through college.

Students who withdraw during the term to take CLEP will be refunded according to the tuition refund schedule and will not be eligible for a full refund. 

A maximum of 32 credits can be awarded for all forms of advanced credit (AP, CLEP, IB, ACTFL, STAMP 4S, etc.). If the same course is taken at the college level, elective credits cannot be given for the CLEP exam. Biola accepts a minimum credit-granting score of 50 or higher (a higher score required where designated, see below).

Please contact the Office of the Registrar with further questions.

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Nursing majors may not use the General Chemistry exam to meet the organic/biochemistry requirement.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)/Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Biola University follows the guidelines developed by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) to award credit or advanced standing for documented and experiential learning. CPL/PLA is designed to assist adult learners in attaining academic and career goals by validating college-level experiential learning through demonstrating mastery of course-level learning outcomes. 

• PLA methods at Biola consist of challenge exams and portfolio. 
• Select courses may be fulfilled by CPL/PLA. Visit the PLA website and contact the Office of Educational Effectiveness for details.
• Undergraduate Degrees - A maximum of 25% of an undergraduate degree may be fulfilled through all forms of PLA (excluding external standardized examinations such as AP, CLEP, IB, STAMP 4S, etc.). The process for PLA credit must be completed prior to the beginning of the student’s last semester required for degree completion.
• Graduate Degrees - Graduate degrees require a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at Biola University in the degree program. Credit for prior learning may be awarded above and beyond the minimum 24 credits. 

In order to be eligible for credit through PLA, students must:

1. Be fully admitted into a Biola degree program.
2. Have discussed PLA options with an academic advisor, success coach, and/or department chair.
3. Apply and be approved to participate in PLA.
4. For PLA portfolios, students must successfully complete the Biola LEARN course Designing Your Experiential Learning Portfolio.
5. Enroll in the appropriate challenge exam or portfolio course and pay the assessment fee.

PLA Portfolio Appeals Process

Students who have been denied credit or waiver of course requirement based on their original portfolio submission may appeal within 30 days of the decision. To appeal a student must complete the following steps: 

1. Students must complete the PLA Appeals Form. 
2. Upon approval of the PLA Appeals Form, students must submit their PLA portfolio with clarification in the learning narrative and/or additional supplemental documentation.
3. Students are required to pay a fee for resubmission of the PLA portfolio. 

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

Biola University will grant credit for IB exams taken in high school. We accept only the higher level exams when the grade is 5 or better. A maximum of 32 credits can be awarded for all forms of advanced credit (AP, CLEP, IB, ACTFL, STAMP 4S, etc.).

STAMP 4S (Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency)

Avant STAMP 4S is a general language proficiency assessment of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Biola University will grant credit for the following STAMP 4S exam. A maximum of 32 credits can be awarded for all forms of advanced credit (AP, CLEP, IB, ACTFL, STAMP 4S, etc.).