Waiver Exams
Competency-based waiver exams may be available for graduate students who have the requisite skills and/or prior coursework necessary to waive one or more courses in their programs of study. These exams provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate competencies and receive credit for a particular course requirement. Graduate students seeking a waiver exam are encouraged to contact their department to determine if this option is available, for a particular program, or course.
The following graduate students may be eligible to petition to take a waiver exam:
- Working professionals with a strong academic and employment background in their field who can demonstrate competency for the waiver of a course requirement in their program of study.
- Those who have taken relevant coursework more than six (6) years ago that is equivalent to a course requirement in their program of study.
A graduate student who receives a satisfactory grade on a waiver exam as determined by the program, earns three (3) credits or the equivalent credit(s) of the course, and the course is waived from the student's program of study.
Waiver credits are not considered when calculating a student's GPA. An "EP" is recorded on a student's transcript to indicate credit received through successful completion of a waiver exam. A waiver exam may be taken only once. The Waiver Exam Fee for a waiver exam is $250.