Planning Programs of Study

Transfer and Schedule Guides

Students who wish to graduate from SCC and transfer with junior standing should carefully plan a program of study to meet the requirements needed for the major at the transfer institution. Contact the Student Development Department concerning academic advising and the transfer process.

Suggested curriculum guides are available for college programs. These guides indicate how you may complete your course of studies within a particular time frame. There are also transfer guides available for many majors at area colleges and universities. See our transfer pages for more information.

What Is the Academic Skills Assessment?

St. Charles Community College expects students to exhibit certain academic skills and competencies before they take college-level courses. The Academic Skills Assessment is a series of basic skills indicators that allow you and your advisor to work together to help you succeed in your courses. There is no "passing" score. Rather, the Academic Skills Assessment scores indicate areas where you are strong, academic areas where you may need help, and which courses to take as a starting point for your educational career. All of the assessments are untimed. Students use an onscreen calculator during the math assessment.

All assessments are administered during regular Assessment Center hours and do not require an appointment.

Contact Accessibility Services, in advance, at 636-922-8629 if you need special accommodations for the Academic Skills Assessment.

Full-Time Course Load and Freshman-Sophomore Classification

Students at SCC are classified according to hours enrolled and hours completed. Part-time students earn fewer than 12 hours per semester, while full-time students carry 12 or more. During the summer semester, full-time student status requires 6 or more credit hours (for academic purposes). Full-time status for financial aid in the summer is 12 or more credit hours.

Course Load	Fall/Spring	Summer
Full time	12 or more hours	6 or more
Part time	11 hours or less	5 or less

A freshman is any student who has completed fewer than 28 credit hours; a sophomore has completed 28 credit hours or more.

Except as indicated below, the maximum number of credit hours for which a student may enroll during the fall or spring is 18. During the summer, the maximum is 10 hours taken concurrently. Any course repeated counts as part of the course load.

It is recommended that the maximum course load for each of the following academic sessions be observed:

MAXIMUM COURSE LOAD

Academic Session	Course Load
Summer	10 credit hours
Fall	18 credit hours
Spring	18 credit hours

Repeated courses count as part of the course load.

Students with a superior scholastic record may be permitted to register for more than the recommended maximum providing they meet the following GPA prerequisites:

• 2.75 GPA – approved to take 19 hours
• 3.00 GPA – approved to take 20 hours
• 3.50 GPA – approved to take 21 hours

Students wishing to take more than 21 hours must receive special permission from the Academic Affairs Office.

A veteran, in order to receive maximum assistance under the Veterans Education Law (G.I. Bill), must carry at least 12 hours of credit per semester.

Sending Transcripts to SCC and Transcript Evaluation

When transferring to SCC from another institution, you must complete the following steps.

• Have official transcripts from EACH institution that you attended sent to the Admissions Office.
  Credits for courses with passing grades may be accepted at the registrar's discretion.
• To have the credits taken at other institutions evaluated, submit a Request for Transfer Evaluation Form  to the Admissions Office and declare a degree.
  • Accepted transfer credits will be included in the cumulative hours of credit but will not be calculated in the grade point average.
  • You will receive a transfer evaluation report indicating how the courses were accepted. Please allow two weeks for an evaluation from the time the transcripts are received.
  • Transcripts sent to SCC will not be automatically reviewed unless the student has requested in writing that a review be made.
  • To Appeal Your Evaluation: Send a letter requesting the appeal; documentation (course description and syllabus) supporting your requested change to:
  
  

  Transcript Evaluator ADM 1113
  St. Charles Community College
  4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
  Cottleville, MO 63376-2865

  • The transcript evaluator will submit your request and documentation to the division dean for review. A decision will be made within 7-10 days. The student may also contact the articulation officer at the sending institution.
  • Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education approved a credit transfer policy that states that any transfer student who believes there has been unfair treatment involving acceptance of college credits may appeal the evaluation.

Non-Traditional Credit (AP/CLEP)

Types of Non-Traditional Credit

CLEP | Advanced Placement | Departmental Exam | Retroactive Credit | Articulation Credits | Military Experience | PEP

Credit granted through one of the non-traditional processes will count towards the total credits earned towards graduation; however, the credit will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA. Colleges or universities to which you may transfer might not accept this credit. Likewise, SCC may or may not accept credit by examination taken elsewhere. Each institution makes its own evaluation of these issues.

College Level Examination (CLEP)

Evaluates knowledge acquired through sources other than traditional college course work. SCC will grant credit for certain subject CLEP examinations according to departmental guidelines. SCC does not grant credit for general CLEP exams.

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION (CLEP) REQUIRED SCORES
Course/Subject Area	Score Required	Hours Granted	SCC Equivalent
American Government	50	3	POL 101
American History 1	50	3	HIS 101
American History 2	50	3	HIS 102
Management	50	3	BUS 201
Marketing	50	3	BUS 230
Psychology	50	3	PSY 101
Sociology	50	3	SOC 101
Western Civilization 1	50	3	HIS 145
Western Civilization 2	50	3	HIS 146

Advanced Placement (AP)

Administered through area high schools allows a student to gain college credit through subject area testing.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT REQUIRED SCORES
Course/Subject Area	Score Required	Hours Granted	SCC Equivalent
Art History	3, 4 or 5	3	ART 150
Biology	4 or 5	4	BIO 101
Calculus AB	3, 4 or 5	5	MAT 180
Calculus BC	3, 4 or 5	10	MAT 180 & 230
English Language & Composition	3 or 4	3	ENG 101
Psychology	3, 4 or 5	3	PSY 101
U.S. Government & Politics	4 or 5	3	POL 101
U.S. History	4 or 5	3	HIS 101

Departmental Exams

Credit may be granted to a student who has in-depth knowledge of a subject. Discuss with the appropriate department chairperson whether you are prepared to take an exam. The department may refuse to administer the exam based on the evaluation. The fee for the exam must be paid before taking the test. Credits earned by examination will be equated to a specific SCC course and will be designated under the category of “non-course work” on the academic transcript.

Retroactive Credit

If you are able to enroll in a higher level foreign language course, and upon completion of that course with a 75% or better grade receive credit for the lower-level course or courses that were bypassed. Consult with the department chairperson for more information. Hours awarded vary.

Credit Through Articulation Process

SCC has agreed to grant college credit to students completing specified courses as stated in college-approved articulation (transfer) agreements with certain area career/technical programs and high schools. Credits apply ONLY to the Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Applied Science. Examples of courses included ACT-101, BUS-101, or some computer courses. Will be designated under the category of “non-course work” on the academic transcript. Students must present SCC with a completed copy of the articulation agreement at the time of enrollment.

Articulation Criteria

• Articulated courses have been designed for credit both at your high school and for credit at SCC toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree, NOT for the Associate of Arts (transfer) Degree.
• A grade of “B” or better is required in all high school coursework that is articulated.
• The student must complete the SCC application and request that a high school official transcript be sent to the SCC Enrollment Services Department (ADM 1113).
• When meeting with an SCC academic counselor or registration assistant, students must identify themselves as having articulated credit through their high school.
• Students must present the white copy of the Certificate of Credit to Enrollment Services.
• Students must complete 6 hours of college-level coursework toward an A.A.S. Degree at SCC with a 2.5 or higher GPA before articulation credit will be posted.
• Students must request that the SCC Enrollment Services Department record the Articulated High School Courses to the SCC transcript.
• Should students wish to transfer any of these articulated credits from SCC to another college or university, they should check with an academic counselor at the transfer institution to determine transferability.

Military Experience

Experience in the Armed Services may be considered for credit based upon recommendations of the American Council on Education Commission and the students intended major. Submit a military transcript and automatically be awarded 2 credit hours of Physical Education.  Contact the Coordinator of Veteran Benefits for information on obtaining a military transcript.

Proficiency Examination Program (PEP)

American College Testing (ACT) sponsors PEP, which evaluates specific subject area knowledge a student may have acquired through sources of training other than traditional course work. With a score of a 45, you may be granted credit for Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2 (BIO-240/243 and BIO-241/244) (8 credits) or for Microbiology BIO-245/247 (4 credits).

Services for Students With Disabilities

It is the policy of SCC to provide accessibility to its programs/activities and reasonable accommodations for persons defined as disabled under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, ADA AA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

To be considered for eligibility, you must provide disability documentation to the coordinator of accessibility services. Accommodations provided to students are based upon appropriate/current documentation and interview. Accommodations requests should be made eight weeks in advance. Securing alternate textbooks may take longer. Plan accordingly.