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Alternate Methods of Earning College Credit

To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 30 credits for an associate degree and fifteen credits for a certificate through completion of formal coursework at MWCC. A maximum of 30 credits can be transferred, including courses from other colleges, CLEP, DANTES, AP, Challenge Exams, life experience, armed services (with some exceptions), and Career Vocational Technical Education Linkages (CVTEL). Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program are not eligible for life experience, police academy, armed services or CVTEL credits and are limited to six credits total in CLEP, DANTES, and Challenge Exams.

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)

Students who pass Advanced Placement (AP) examinations and earn a score of three or higher may receive credit for the appropriate course or courses offered by the college. Official transcripts from the AP program are required.

Armed Services

Active duty military personnel are eligible to receive up to 45 transfer credits toward some associate degrees. No military credit may apply to the Criminal Justice program. An official copy of “AARTS”, “SMART”, or Community College of the Air Force transcript is required. “Certificates of completion” are only used if the official papers were previously evaluated and the student is requesting additional credit for recently completed military training. Numeric codes that signify the student’s military occupation are used in determining the award of transfer credit. The Air Force often provides official transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force.

High School Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements between the college and area secondary schools provide coordination of technical education during the last two years of high school with the first two years of post-secondary education. These agreements state the conditions and criteria that must be met by graduating high school seniors to receive advanced placement and college credit. MWCC’s CVTEL program provides students with an option of enrollment in various programs, including Early Childhood Education, Automotive Technology, Business, Computer Information Systems, Medical Assisting, Broadcasting and Electronic Media, and Computer Graphic Design.

Challenge Exams

Students may earn credit by obtaining a grade of C (73) or better on a Challenge Examination in a particular subject area. The examination is equivalent in scope and content to the final examination for the selected subject. The cost is the same as for credit courses. Financial aid and other forms of tuition waivers are not available. Please visit the testing services office at the Gardner Campus for information.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of examinations that allow the student to demonstrate his/her knowledge in a wide range of subjects. CLEP can help students earn the college credits needed to reach their career and educational goals more quickly. Students can choose from 35 subject examinations. Examinations are administered via the computer.
The examinations are approximately 90 minutes long and are administered at the Gardner Campus in the testing services office. The examinations are offered by appointment. No prerequisites are required to attempt a CLEP exam, nor are there age restrictions or degree requirements (high school or post-secondary, etc.). To be awarded credit for CLEP at any college, you must meet the specific minimum scores set by that institution. Students see their results immediately after completion of the exam, with the exception of English Composition; because essays are part of the English Composition exam, students receive results in four weeks. Final results are not valid until the student receives by mail an official report from CLEP. The minimum scores set by MWCC are available through the testing services office. Financial aid and other forms of tuition waivers are not available for CLEPs. For more information, and for a complete listing of all CLEPs available at MWCC, contact testing services at 978-630-9244.

Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support—(DANTES)

MWCC has been designated to participate in the Department of Defense’s DANTES distance learning program. As a DANTES member college, MWCC offers degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, General Studies, and Human Services. Eligible military personnel include all active-duty members, members of a reserve component, or the National Guard. Military service members worldwide are able to access these degrees and certificate programs through the Internet and complete their education regardless of where they are stationed. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), offered at the Gardner Campus through testing services, provide opportunity for students to earn college credit by demonstrating, through successful completion of a test, knowledge comparable to that learned in a college course. Some of the subject areas include: business, physical science, humanities, social science, and applied technology. Examinations are 90 minutes long and administered by pencil and paper through testing services at the Gardner Campus. Registration is required two weeks in advance and results are mailed to students within three to four weeks. Students may apply the credit to their program at MWCC provided a comparable course exists and the minimum score is met. For more information, call 978-630-9244.

Life Experience Credit

Credits may be earned, in some programs, for college-level learning acquired through work or informal educational experiences. No life experience credit may apply to the Criminal Justice program. To be eligible, students must have earned 15 credits in residence at MWCC with a minimum QPA of 2.5. Members of the faculty, in consultation with the appropriate division dean, establish the criteria for evaluation, which may include, but not be limited to, the following: relevant work experience, letters of recommendation, a detailed resume, and a three-to five-page paper. The credits are not likely to transfer to other colleges or universities. The cost is the same as for credit courses. Financial aid and other forms of tuition waivers are not available.