Many of the UW System campuses offer ways for students to earn credits for prior learning or experience. Often these credits are awarded after a student takes the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or an examination given by the department. Credits may also be awarded for military experience or other professional training. Look below for info rmation about credit for prior learning opportunities at each campus.
| Campus |
Information |
| UW Colleges |
Degree-seeking freshmen or sophomore students may earn advanced standing credit for specific UW Colleges courses. The courses to which this applies are determined by the academic departments. |
| UW-Eau Claire |
Students may take the CLEP test, a department test, and request an evaluation of their military transcript if they would like to earn credit for prior learning or experience.
A maximum of one-fourth of the credits required for graduation in the student's total degree program may be earned by any type of credit by exam. In addition, no more than one-half of the requirements for a major or minor can be fulfilled by credit by exam. |
| UW-Green Bay |
Any student who has experience and learning equivalent to college-level learning may be awarded degree credit for that learning. The Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) process requires the learning to be related to courses or programs at UW-Green Bay . Faculty members use the portfolio process and individual assessment to decide whether and how much credit an individual should receive for prior learning. The faculty does not award credit for experience; instead, the faculty awards credit for LEARNING acquired from experiences . |
| UW-La Crosse |
Students may take the CLEP test, a department test, and request an evaluation of their military transcript if they would like to earn credit for prior learning or experience.
ROTC Experience information. |
| UW-Madison |
Students may take the CLEP test and request an evaluation of their military transcript if they would like to earn credit up to six credits for prior learning. UW-Madison does not award credit for life experience. |
| UW-Milwaukee |
Credit for prior learning is limited to certain programs. Some volunteer service can bear credit as well. Specifics vary on terms of assessment, fees, etc. |
| UW-Oshkosh |
Students at UW Oshkosh may take CLEP tests, pursue or request an evaluation of their military transcript, and/or learn to develop a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning, skill and theory in the two-credit course Interdisciplinary Studies 145. They can earn up to 24 credits through portfolio documentation. |
| UW-Parkside |
Any UW-Parkside student who can demonstrate learning that is derived from experience equivalent to college level learning may be able to apply that learning toward degree credit. The Credit for Experiential Learning (CEL) process requires that the learning be related to specific courses or areas of study at UW-Parkside. The learning must be based on experience in employment, volunteer activities, workshop/seminar participation, and/or publications. Credit is given for learning acquired as a result of the experience(s), not for the experience itself. The required portfolio process takes time and effort. Experience has shown that most students spend from three to six months preparing portfolios for faculty review. |
| UW-Platteville |
Some students may be eligible to receive college credits based on their CLEP scores or 'test-outs' developed by individual departments on campus. In addition, most veterans are eligible to receive some advanced credit for their service. More information.
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration may also earn credit for prior business-related work and life experience by enrolling in a course called Portfolio Development. More information. |
| UW-River Falls |
Students may consult the appropriate UW-River Falls department about test-out or another demonstration of proficiency. At the discretion of the department, students may be awarded credit for prior learning through departmental examinations, portfolio development, individual course review or other demonstration of competence. Students may also earn credits from CLEP scores or military training. |
| UW-Stevens Point |
The Experiential Learning Program allows students to receive credit for college-level learning obtained outside the traditional academic setting. Credit is not granted simply for experience, but rather for the learning obtained from the experience. The learning is judged to be equivalent to that which would be gained through UWSP course work.
Prior learning may be evaluated by techniques such as an interview, demonstration, portfolio assessment, or other methods where appropriate for specific courses, CLEP exam and challenge exams offered by various departments. Students must contact the chairperson of the department to determine what evaluation is needed. A maximum of 32 credits can be earned this way. |
| UW-Stout |
Students can earn credit for prior learning or experience through departmental tests, CLEP scores, or other examinations.
Also, Distance Education majors can earn up to 48 credits if they have a 40-credit technical component requirement. These students are required to prepare a work experience portfolio. |
| UW-Superior |
Students can earn credits by presenting a portfolio or taking the CLEP test. |
| UW-Whitewater |
Students may take the CLEP test, a department test, and request an evaluation of their military transcript if they would like to earn credit for prior learning. |
