Prior learning is defined as the knowledge and skills gained through informal education and training, work, and life experience.   Under limited circumstances, WSU assesses academic credit for prior learning through approved academic department challenge examinations and departmental placement examinations.  These sources of academic credit for prior learning are awarded only at the undergraduate level for documented student achievement evaluated by faculty and equivalent to expected learning outcomes for courses within WSU’s regular curricular offerings.  Students should consult with academic units to determine if such an assessment is warranted and available. 

WSU also assesses academic credit for prior learning via external examination sources that include College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT) exams. Approved credit for these exams is subject to transfer credit limitations as published in Rule 6. 

Credit that is granted for prior learning is identified on students’ transcripts and may not duplicate other credit awarded to the student in fulfillment of degree requirements.  WSU does not accept academic credit for prior learning as transcripted by other institutions.

An auditor is a student who is permitted on a space-available basis to observe lecture class discussions but not take examinations or consume the instructor’s time.  Auditors receive no grades and no credit.  Auditors must be on the official class roster.

Attendance in class as an auditor requires official instructor approval and enrollment.  A student wishing to enroll in classes as an auditor may seek permission after classes begin, provided space is available and the instructor approves the request.  This option is available only for lecture courses.

Auditors must pay the appropriate fee and submit the signed appropriate request form to the Registrar's Office at the student's home campus.  Initial enrollment must be completed by the end of the second week of instruction (census day), or by the add deadline for shorter academic sessions.  

Enrolled students wishing to change their enrollment status from credit to audit, or audit to credit, must submit the appropriate request form  by the end of the third week of instruction.

A maximum of two audits are allowed for any semester or term.  A registration fee per audit hour is charged for any semester or term for other than regularly enrolled full-fee-paying students.  Senior citizens are exempt from this fee under the provisions of RCW 28B.15.540, provided the prescribed eligibility requirements are met.  Personnel who have received authorization for the faculty/staff fee waiver are exempt from the audit fee up to 6 credits (including audits) in any one semester or 4 credits (including audits) in the summer session.  The limitation includes any combination of credit and audit credits.  The audit fee is non-refundable.

No university credit will be allowed for auditing courses, nor may students apply for or take special examinations for university credit in courses which they have audited. Students may not take challenge examinations (see Rule 15c) in courses they have audited. (Audit enrollments will be recorded on the student’s permanent record by listing the departmental prefix, course number and the statement, “Audit Only -- No Credit Given.”)

Students may apply for their undergraduate degrees online as soon as they have completed 90 credits and are admitted to the major.  Advisors and the students’ major department are responsible for checking that all departmental requirements are met through the advisement report / degree audit.  A graduation fee must be paid at the time of application.  See http://graduations.wsu.edu/ for further information.