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These notes are NOT official. For official CSUS policies please visit the CSUS.edu website or the appropriate CSUS office.

In a message dated 8/29/2016 9:36:01 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, a student writes:
Professor Vicars,
Hello, this is Jane Johnson again, and I know you are not my counselor but professor ______________ suggested to me that I ask you about challenging a class. I am enrolled in her ASL 2 class and she said that instead of me taking the class I challenge it and go to you in regards to doing so. I hope you can help me for in this instance. Thank you so much. Have a great evening.
Sincerely
Jane Johnson (name changed to protect the student's privacy)

Dear Jane,
"Challenging a course" is a complex topic.
Long story short, no you can not "challenge" DEAF 52.
(The quotes around "challenge" are important in that sentence.)
"Credit by examination may not be earned for General Education courses at CSUS."*
DEAF 52: "ASL 2" is considered "General Education" credit under "Area C2" of the current catalog.**
So, you can't fill out a piece of paper, "not" register for the course, and get credit for it.
There is a DIFFERENCE however between filling out an "Application for Course Credit by Challenge Examination" (commonly known as "challenging a class") and REGISTERING for (and paying for) a class in wherein a teacher decides you have the requisite skills and assigns you a corresponding grade.
What it comes down to is this: The Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges expects Sacramento State to have rigorous and consistent grading policies.
That means assigning grades based on students having met the expected outcomes of a course.
Professor ___________ is a seasoned professional who has taught "ASL 2" at CSUS for more years than most of her students have been alive. I daresay she knows what sort of signing skills and outcomes are expected of an ASL 2 student and can very competently assign you a grade in her class based on her own assessment of your existing signing skills.
The point is this grades are awarded for attainment of the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected in a course and outlined in that course's syllabus. Grades are NOT assigned for seat warming. If in Professor ___________' opinion your knowledge, skills, and abilities fall within the range of someone who has completed her ASL 2 class AND you have REGISTERED and PAID for her class it is not only her right but her expected duty to assign you a grade -- either for warming a seat and completing a series of assignments that bring you to the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (abbreviated to "KSA's") OR by ascertaining that you have otherwise acquired those "KSA's." Now here is the thing -- while she at a minimum must provide the opportunity for you do the former (the seat warming) -- neither you nor I can force Professor ___________ to do the latter (the "ascertaining" and assigning of a grade).
That "ascertaining" looks an awful lot like "challenge testing" but it is DIFFERENT.

Challenge testing is done PRIOR to registering for a course. (So you do not have to register for a course!)
Ascertaining the skills that correspond to a grade and then assigning that corresponding grade however is done AFTER a student has registered for a course.
Thus my point is simply this:

Neither she nor I can let you "challenge" the DEAF 52 course. (See above.)
You can however register for the course (which you apparently have done) and ask her as the teacher of that course to assign you a grade. She can then test you (using any defensible method up to and including "have a chat with you in ASL" -- otherwise known as "oral proficiency testing" or in our case "sign proficiency testing") and then use her knowledge of the expected outcomes of the course to decide where you fit on the evaluation spectrum (A, B, C, D, or F and/or any of the plusses or minuses) and grade you accordingly OR she can tell you "no" and make you do (for example) 60% or better (cumulatively or specifically) on all of the TASKS listed in her syllabus.
Cordially,

Dr. Bill Vicars

Sources:
*http://www.csus.edu/registrar/forms/availablecounter/credit_by_exam.pdf
**http://catalog.csus.edu/16-17/first%20100%20pages/ge.htm

As of this time the CSUS ASL and Deaf Studies Program has no official policy regarding "Credit by Examination" other than what is currently described in the CSUS catalog. Below are some notes from some of the faculty members who teach within the CSUS ASL and Deaf Studies Program. Eventually these notes may lead to a more formal process, but as of now any credit awarded by examination will be done so on a case by case basis as approved by the individual faculty member, the student's advisor, and the Chair of the Undergraduate Branch of the College of Education. Any of the notes presented here or information provided via email or in-person are superseded by the official information and policies found in the most current CSUS Policy manual.

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_____ Read all of the information below. If you ask an instructor or advisor a question that is already answered below we will tend to believe you are NOT QUALIFIED to challenge an exam due to incompetence.

_____ Visit the Admissions and Records Office in Lassen Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6048 and get the "Credit By Examination Petition" form.

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Credit by Examination

Students may challenge courses by taking examinations developed at Sacramento State. Credit shall be awarded to those who pass them successfully. Results of the examination ("CR" or "NC") will be noted on the student’s transcript. Only courses listed in the University Catalog may be challenged. Departments may exclude performance or other courses from challenge. Campus challenge procedure is open only to matriculated students enrolled during summer, fall, and spring semesters. A course may be challenged only once. Forms are available at Admissions and Records.

Individual departments may require students to enroll in courses they wish to challenge. The deadline for returning forms showing challenge results to the Registrar’s Office is the last day to add a class as shown in University calendars.

Other Conditions Governing Award of Credit by Examination A student may not challenge a course if the course (or its equivalent) appears on the student’s transcript with any grade other than "W".

Credit will not be awarded for successful passage of any system-wide examination if the student has taken that examination previously within the past term. Campus examinations may only be attempted one time.

Credit will not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been granted for regular course work, credit by evaluation or other instructional process, such as correspondence, at any institution.

Credit will not be awarded when credit has been granted at a level more advanced than that represented by the examination in question.

Where there is partial overlap with prior credit granted, the amount of examination credit will be reduced accordingly.

The total amount of credit earned on the basis of externally or internally developed tests that may be applied to a baccalaureate degree will not exceed 30 semester units. Advanced Placement credit is excluded from the limit.

Credit earned by examination will be so identified on the student’s permanent record. The course number and title will be shown for campus examinations. An unsuccessful challenge will result in a grade of "NC", also noted as "by examination".

Credit by examination does not count toward the degree residence requirement.

Additional conditions affecting campus examinations only:

a. Individual departments may require a specific grade point average for credit.

b. Departments or divisions may have established limits on the number of credits within the area. A maximum of 12 units in any one foreign language may be earned by exam; the total of foreign language units earned by examination may not exceed 16.

c. Credit awarded for campus examinations is for elective purposes unless approved by appropriate department chairs for use in meeting major or minor requirements. Credit by examination may not be used for General Education requirements except as noted.

(Source: http://aaweb.csus.edu/catalog/current/First%20100%20Pages/academicpolicies.asp)

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Is credit by examination counted as part of the 70 unit ceiling on units transferred from community colleges?

Response: Credit by examination is not included in the 70 unit two-year college or community college transfer limit.
(Source: http://webapps1.csus.edu/admr/content/evaluation/bachelor_reqs.asp)

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Question: Demonstrated foreign language proficiency at a level comparable to an intermediate college level course, with a grade of C- or higher, is required for graduation. Can I use credit by examination to satisfy the CSU Foreign Language Proficiency requirement?

Response: Courses and proficiency tests designed to meet this requirement are offered by the Department of Foreign Languages each semester (Refer to the Sacramento State catalog).
(Source: http://webapps1.csus.edu/admr/content/evaluation/bachelor_reqs.asp)

Also see: http://www.csus.edu/acad/faq/fl.stm

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Question: Where do I get the "Credit By Examination" form?

Response: The "Credit By Examination Petition" can be obtained by going in person to the counter of Admissions and Records Office.

Office Location: Lassen Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6048