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Advanced Academic Opportunities in this section: Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing for Tech Prep, CLEP, Credit by Examination, Credit for Military Training/Experience, Credit for Prior Learning from Non-Work Experience, Credit for Prior Learning Through Work Experience (CBE), The Honors “Edge”, Independent Study, Phi Theta Kappa

 

Advanced Placement

Credit may be earned through the Advanced Placement examination in specified courses as follows:

 

 

Note: Other colleges may not accept AP in transfer.

 

Advanced Standing For Tech Prep

(Southern Minnesota Existing Tech Prep Articulations)(RCTC Policy 3.15.2)

Rochester Community and Technical College's policy on Advanced Standing for Tech Prep is designed to recognize a student's successful completion of a specific course at the participating high school that is identified as equivalent to its RCTC course counterpart. High School students who demonstrate they have mastered specific course competencies at the high school level will receive an Advanced Standing Certificate that will be used to fully acknowledge their competence in the course. Students will have the opportunity to apply credits earned through Advanced Standing Certificates to a specific program of study at Rochester Community and Technical College. For additional information contact, Jay Lee at (507) 280-3110 or visit the Advanced Standing website at: http://www.rctc.edu/policies/education/Advanced_Standings_Tech_Prep.html.

 

CLEP

The College Level Examination Program^® (CLEP) provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. There are 2,900 colleges that grant credit and/or advanced standing for CLEP exams; however, it is up to the individual to determine whether or not the receiving college/university will accept that CLEP test or the same CLEP score. A passing score at one college may be different at another college. Some colleges may not accept CLEP. Original score reports must be submitted to each institution.

 

A student needs to take a minimum of 20 credits from RCTC in order to graduate with an AA or AS degree. CLEP credits are considered as transfer credits. You could take a maximum of 44 transfer credits, including CLEP.  CLEP credits are used for graduation in the math/science area only after two different science courses with labs are completed in an AA degree or two science courses with a lab in an AS degree is completed.  Students should seek an appointment with an advisor or counselor to clarify requirements. See the CLEP Subject Examinations charts below.

 

To schedule a CLEP test call (507) 280-3157. All CLEP exams are computerized and the testing center is located at the Heintz Center room C115.  For more information on available tests go to www.collegeboard.com/clep.

 

CLEP SUBJECT EXAMINATIONS

Subject Exam tests assess specific knowledge and skills you may have gained through job experience, outside course work, or specialized independent reading. These exams require a higher degree of specialized knowledge and training.

CLEP TEST TITLE	RCTC COURSE	SCORE	SEM.HOURS	MNTC GOAL AREA
Algebra, College	MATH 1113	50	4	4
Algebra-Trigonometry, College	MATH 1117	50	4	4
American Government	POLS 1615	50	3	5
American Literature	ENGL 2273, 2274	50	6	5
Analyzing & Int. Literature	ARTS/HUM elect.	50	3	5
Biology, General	BIOL elective	50	3	-
Business Law, Introduction	BUS 2227	50	3	-
Calculus with Elem. Functions	MATH 1127	50	5	4
Chemistry, General	Science elective	50	4	-
Composition, Freshman College	ENGL 1117	50	4	1
Educational Psychology, Intro to	Soc Science/History	50	3	5
English Literature	Humanities/Arts	50	3	6
Financial Accounting	ACCT 2217	50	4	-
French Language, College Level	FREN 1101 FREN 1102	50 62	4 8	-
German Language, College Level	GERM 1101 GERM 1102	50 63	4 8	-
History of US I Early to 1877	HIST 1624	50	4	5
History of US II 1865 to Present	HIST 1625	50	4	5
Human Growth & Development	PSYC 2626	50	3	5
Inf. Systems & Comp. Apps.	Elective	50	3	-
Macroeconomics, Principles of	ECON 2215	50	4	5
Management, Principles of	BUS 2232	50	3	-
Marketing, Principle of	BUS 2201	50	3	-
Microeconomics, Principles of	ECON 2214	50	4	5
Psychology, General	PSYC 2618	50	4	5
Sociology, Introduction	SOC 1614	50	3	5
Spanish Language, College Level	SPAN 1101 SPAN 1102	50 66	4 8	-
Trigonometry	MATH elective	50	3	4
West Civ I Anc. Near East - 1648	HIST 1613	50	4	5
West Civ. II 1648 to Present	HIST 1614	50	4	5

 

RCTC CREDITS FOR CLEP EXAMINATIONS

GENERAL EXAMINATIONS

General Exam tests assess knowledge you have accumulated in broad subject areas of study. The tests are at the level of courses you would take your first year or two of college.

CLEP Test Title	RCTC Course	Minimum Score	Semester Hours	MTNC Goal Area
English Composition Or English Composition with Essay	English 1117 English 1117	50 50	4 4	1
Mathematics, College	Math	50	3	4
Humanities	Humanities	50	3	6
Natural Sciences	Science	50	3	-
Social Sciences-History	History/Soc. Science	50	3	5

 

Credit by Examination

RCTC students may petition to earn credits by examination.  Credit by examination can be provided for (1) courses which are currently listed in the college curriculum; and (2) students who are currently enrolled or have been previously enrolled and who therefore have an RCTC transcript to which the credits may be posted.

Students will initiate a Credit by Examination Petition with the Admissions and Records Office. The petition must be approved by an academic administrator and the faculty member who agrees to administer and evaluate the examination. Following completion of the examination, the faculty member will report the grade. A grade of "D" or higher will be required to receive credit for credit by examination. Credits earned by examination will not be computed in the student's GPA, or count toward enrollment in the college.

Credit for Military Training/Experience:

Rochester Community and Technical College may award up to sixteen (16) semester credits to be designated military electives at the discretion of the faculty SOC liaison based on the service person's  AARTS or SMART transcript (ACE military experience/schooling).  If a U.S. military veteran wants to apply any of these credits toward specific RCTC courses, (ex. physical education, health, management, marksmanship, etc) to meet degree requirements, veterans may use the College’s CBE or Credit-By-Exam procedures, without payment of the normal processing fee (the College will cover the processing fee).  In such a case, the veteran will take the CBE or Credit-By-Exam application to the Vice President of Teaching and Learning for approval.  If the veteran receives specific CBE or Credit-By-Exam credit for military experience/schooling, the number of credits thus received will be deducted from the overall amount awarded by the faculty SOC. In no case will such CBE/Credit-By-Exam and other general military electives equal more than 16 credits.  For more information, contact the Counseling Center at 507-285-7260.

 

Credit for Prior Learning from Non-Work Experience

Rochester Community and Technical College’s policy for the evaluation of learning which occurred through methods other than transfer college credits (i.e. self-study, correspondence course work, course work at the workplace, etc.) are designed to enable a student to further their program of study.

The determination of college credit is predicated on learning, which is approved to be equivalent to a current RCTC course. Each department determines the criteria, submitted in a portfolio format, which will result in the awarding of equivalent college credit(s). The portfolio content will need to document learning in all of the objectives in that specific course’s common course outline. To preview the common course outline, see the department chair. The cost of any prior learning evaluation is equivalent per credit to the standard tuition rate.

 

Guidelines:

§         A maximum of 12 semester credits may be granted for Prior Learning.

§         The student must document the learning in relationship to the course’s written objectives.

§         The Prior Learning must be applicable to a program, degree or curriculum at RCTC.

§         Prior Learning credits will not be used to calculate a student’s GPA.

§         Credits for Prior Learning will not count towards a student’s part-time or full-time status.

 

See an RCTC Counselor or faculty advisor to see if this program is right for you.

 

Credit for Prior Learning Through Work Experience (CBE)

Rochester Community and Technical College’s policy for the evaluation of non-college learning, which occurred through work experience prior to or outside formal academic institutions, is designed to enable a student to enrich or accelerate his/her program of study. College credit is not awarded on the basis of work experience alone, but for the achievement of an advanced level of knowledge and/or skill.

The determination of college credit is predicated on prior learning, which is considered to be at a college level. Each department determines the criteria, if any, that will result in waiver of a program requirement and/or the awarding of college credit. Assessment methods may involve a written examination, interview, skill evaluation and/or minimum achievement level on nationally standardized tests, and/or documented portfolio. The departments also have the prerogative of determining which courses, if any, may be evaluated through other forms of proficiency assessment. The charge for any CBE evaluation is equivalent per credit to the standard tuition rate.

Guidelines:

• Whatever the number of credits granted students for non-collegiate experience, they must document the competencies represented by the degree requirements.
• A maximum of 12 semester credits may be granted.
• The student must be able to document the experience or demonstrate achievement.
• Prior Learning through work experience must be applicable to a program, degree or curriculum at Rochester Community and Technical College.
• These credits shall not be used in calculating a student’s GPA.
• Credits granted through prior learning are not eligible for financial aid or veterans’ education assistance.
• Credits granted through prior learning will not count toward the enrollment of a specific term. (These credits will not be counted in determining part-time or full-time status)

See an RCTC Counselor or faculty advisor to discuss whether this program is right for you.

 

The Honors Program — RCTC

The Honors Program of special Honors courses provides students with a strong grounding in primary texts and critical thinking. Students who complete the required number of Honors courses (which vary according to degree program) are awarded an Honors certificate and special recognition.  All RCTC students may take Honors courses and are encouraged to enroll; no special permission is required. 

 

Independent Study

The following two types of Independent Study are available for RCTC students:

Regular Independent Study

Specially Designed Independent Study

This enables a student to complete an RCTC course when it is not possible to attend a required class because of unavoidable conflicts. The normal course work of a previously approved course is completed by the student under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member. Independent Study courses should start and end as near to the beginning and end of the regular term as possible. Students may apply six (6) credits of independent study toward a certificate or degree.

This enables a student to develop, with a faculty member, an educational plan for enrichment or focus on a special area of interest. Students who intend to engage in a specially-designed course with a specific instructor should have established a working relationship within the discipline (this normally means that the student has taken at least one course in the discipline). The specially designed educational plan is completed by the student under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member. Independent study courses should start and end as near as possible to the beginning and end of the regular semester. Students may apply six (6) credits of independent study toward a certificate or degree.

 

Independent Study cannot be used to validate existing knowledge or competencies.  RCTC provides Credit for Prior Learning options if a student believes that previous learning or experience meets RCTC course competencies.

 

General Directions for Independent Study Requests:

1. Obtain a copy of the appropriate independent study form from the Admissions and Records Office, Academic Dean, Division Coordinators, or in the Vice President of Teaching and Learning Office (UCR-SS208).
2. Seek a faculty member to work with.
3. Meet with the faculty member, fill out this form, and attach a copy of the course outline/syllabus, learning activities, methods of evaluation, grading criteria, and timeline for communication/meetings with the instructor to this form. Meet with the Academic Dean, Division Coordinator and AASC Chair for approval and signatures. The Dean, Division Coordinator and AASC Chair will review the attachments before signing the form.
4. Present the completed documentation to the Vice President of Teaching and Learning Secretary (UCR, SS212) to have the course added to the computer for registration. A copy of all approved independent study course materials will be filed in the office of the Vice President of Teaching and Learning.
5. Register at Admissions and Records Office.
6. Pay tuition at the Cashiers Office. NOTE: Tuition for Independent Study has been approved by the MnSCU Board of Trustees at a differential rate (higher).

 

Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society founded to recognize and encourage academic achievement among two-year college students.  It offers opportunities for the development of leadership and service, the exchange of ideas in an intellectual climate, fellowship for scholars, and simulation of interest in academic excellence.  Part-time, full-time and international students currently enrolled at RCTC and working on a certificate, diploma, or degree are eligible if they meet one of these requirements:

·         At least a 3.5 GPA after 12 credit hours (1000 level or higher) at RCTC – or –

·         At Least a 3.4 GPA after 16 credit hours (1000 level or higher) at RCTC

To maintain good standing students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2.  For additional information, contact Allan O’Bryan at (507) 529-6156 or via e-mail at: Allan.OBryan@roch.edu.