Retroactive Credit in a Foreign Language at WSU
WSU students may qualify for credit for previous foreign language experience. Language learning in courses prior to entering college, including high school language experience, can be validated by earning a grade of 2.0 or better in a WSU language course or courses beyond the first course in that language. For placement purposes, it is assumed that one year of high school language is equivalent to one semester of college-level language. The credit earned by validation of previous experience is called Retroactive Credit.
Retroactive Credit hours are considered to be credit by exam and are posted on the student's transcript with a grade of CRE (credit by exam). Students pay for Retroactive Credit on a course-by-course basis.
Undergraduate students can apply for and earn a maximum of 16 hours of Retroactive Credit. Retroactive Credit is not available for graduate students.
Students qualify for Retroactive Credit by completing the required validation course or courses, showing that a grade of 2.0 or better has been earned and posted to the student's transcript for each required course, and completing the application process to claim the credit. Credit can be claimed at any time before graduation, allowing a reasonable time for processing.
A validation course is more advanced than the first course in that language. Validation courses are specified for each language and each level of Retroactive Credit. They must be taken at WSU. If a student fails to earn a grade of 2.0 in a required validation course, the student may retake the class and apply for Retroactive Credit once the grade of 2.0 or better is achieved and posted on the transcript.
International students for whom English is a second language cannot earn Retroactive Credit in their native language.
Credit earned at other college-level institutions, including community colleges, already appears on the student's transcript and is therefore not eligible for Retroactive Credit.
Applications, validation course listings, and further information are all available at the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center, 115 Grace Wilkie Hall.
Participation in this program is by application to the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center, which retains authority for final approval.
Questions about Retroactive Credit should be referred to an academic advisor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center in 115 Grace Wilkie Hall, 978-3700 option 2.
If a student fails to meet the minimum grade of 2.0 in the validation course or courses, the student may retake the class and apply for retroactive credit once the grade of 2.0 or better is achieved and posted.
Credit can be claimed at any time before graduation, allowing a reasonable time for processing.
If you have any questions about Retroactive Credit, please contact an academic advisor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center, 978-3700 option 2.
Example of the Retroactive Credit Process for Spanish:
- Student enrolls in Spanish 210 at WSU. (Spanish 210 is an approved validation course).
- Student earns a 2.0 in Spanish 210 that semester.
- Grades for Spanish 210, the validation course, are posted for the semester.
- Student files a Retro-Credit application in the LAS Advising Center in 115 Grace Wilkie Hall.
- Student is eligible to pay for and to receive credit for Spanish 111, (5 hours) and Spanish 112, (5 hours)
- Students wants to claim 10 hours of credit.
- Credit is assessed at $50 per class.
- LAS Advising Center processes the request and 10 hours of credit for Spanish 111 and 112 are posted to the student's official transcript.
If you have any questions about Retroactive Credit, please contact an academic advisor in:
Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center
115 Grace Wilkie Hall, Campus Box 6
麻豆传媒映画出品, KS 67260-0006
Phone: (316) 978-3700 option 2