2023-2024 Course Catalog

Credit Evaluation

Transfer of College Credit to Richland

A student who has been accepted as a Richland Community College student may apply for college credit for courses taken at a regionally accredited postsecondary institution, as recognized by the Higher Education Directory, and which meet a course or graduation requirement at Richland Community College.

Students who wish to transfer credit earned at another accredited college or university must request an official transcript from the college attended. The transcript should be sent directly from the college or university to Richland’s Student Success Center. Transcripts hand-delivered to the Student Success Center will only be accepted in a sealed, tamper-free envelope from the institution. The student requesting a transfer of credit must pay any applicable transcript fees charged by their prior institutions.

Approved transfer courses will count toward Richland degree or certificate requirements.

Transfer credit will not be included in computing the student’s GPA at Richland. Approved credit hours will be recorded on the student’s academic record after a formal evaluation of the transfer work. Students are notified via automated email when transfer courses are approved and can be viewed on their degree audit in myRichland.

College Credit for Experience Outside the Classroom

Richland realizes that many people who attend school have knowledge gained through work, military service, independent study, and other learning experiences. Richland may grant credit for this knowledge through the programs listed below. Credit earned in this way will be recorded on the student’s transcript without a grade and will not be used in computing the student’s grade point average. The programs include the following:

Advanced Placement Program (APP)

The APP is an organized instructional and/or testing program offered in high school in cooperation with the College Entrance Examination Board. High school courses may be offered through the program for college credit, or credit may be given for course areas not offered by the APP if the student passes an AP examination given by the College Board. College credit granted through an APP examination will be recorded as “AP” and will not be used in computing a grade point average. Approved credit will be posted to the student’s record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at Richland. High school students interested in the Advanced Placement Program should contact their high school counselor.

 

AP Test Minimum Score RCC Equivalent 
(number of credit hours where course number is unavailable) 
Capstone
AP Research  3 Elective (3.0)
AP Seminar  3 Elective (3.0)
Arts
AP Art History  3 ART 100
AP Music Theory  3 Fine Arts Elective (3.0)
AP Studio Art: 2D Design  3 ART 111
AP Studio Art: 3D Design  3 ART 112
AP Studio Art: Drawing  3 ART 101 
English
AP English Language & Composition  3 ENGL 101
AP English Literature & Composition  3 ENGL 115
Social Science
AP Comparative Government & Politics  3 Social Science Elective (3.0)
AP European History  3 HIST 111
AP Human Geography  3 Social Science Elective (3.0)
AP Macroeconomics  3 ECON 231
AP Microeconomics  3 ECON 232
AP Psychology  3 PSYCH 110
AP United States Government & Politics  3 POL S 110
AP United States History  3 HIST 101
AP World History  3 Social Science Elective (3.0)
Math & Computer Science
AP Calculus AB  3 MATH 121
AP Calculus BC  3 MATH 121
AP Calculus BC  4 MATH 121 & MATH 122
AP Computer Science A  3 CS 251
AP Computer Science Principles  3 IT 131
AP Statistics  3 MATH 113
Sciences
AP Biology  3 BIOL 101
AP Chemistry  3 CHEM 131
AP Chemistry  4 CHEM 131 & CHEM 132
AP Environmental Science  3 BIOL 210
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism  3 PHYS 100
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism  4 PHYS 101 & PHYS 102 
AP Physics C: Mechanics  3 PHYS 100
AP Physics C: Mechanics   4 PHYS 152

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based and AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based

 3 PHYS 100
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based and AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based  4 PHYS 101 & PHYS 102
World Languages & Cultures
AP Chinese Language & Culture  3 CHIN 101
AP Chinese Language & Culture  4 CHIN 202
AP French Language & Culture  3 Foreign Language Elective (3.0)
AP French Language & Culture  4 Foreign Language Elective (3.0)
AP German Language & Culture  3 GERM 101
AP German Language & Culture  4 GERM 202
AP Italian Language & Culture  3 Foreign Language Elective (3.0)
AP Japanese Language & Culture  3 Foreign Language Elective (3.0)
AP Latin  3 Foreign Language Elective (3.0)
AP Spanish Language & Culture  3 SPAN 101
AP Spanish Literature & Culture  3 Humanities Elective (3.0)

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

The International Baccalaureate program offers college preparatory coursework. Course credit is awarded based on appropriate scores. Students who have participated in the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme should have the official IB transcript sent to Richland Community College.

Proficiency by Advanced Course

Some courses are organized in sequence so that completion of an advanced course depends on knowledge gained from a previous course. Students who satisfactorily complete the advanced course at Richland without taking the previous course may be eligible for college credit for the previous course. Course sequences in which students may apply for proficiency by advanced course are listed below, along with the minimum grade required in the advanced course to earn credit for the lower course:

Advanced Course Proficiency Credit Required Grade
CS 105 CIS 101 B
CHIN 202 CHIN 101, CHIN 102, CHIN 201 B
CHIN 201 CHIN 101, CHIN 102 B
CHIN 102 CHIN 101 B
CIS 110 CIS 101 B
GERM 202 GERM 101, GERM 102, GERM 201 B
GERM 201 GERM 101, GERM 102 B
GERM 102 GERM 101 B
IT 116 CIS 101 B
IT 282 IT 153 B
MATH 221 MATH 116, MATH 117, MATH 121, MATH 122 B
MATH 122 MATH 116, MATH 117, MATH 121 B
MATH 121 MATH 116, MATH 117 B
NURS 203 NURS 112, NURS 152, NURS 155 B
SIGN 202 SIGN 101, SIGN 102, SIGN 201 B
SIGN 201 SIGN 101, SIGN 102 B
SIGN 102 SIGN 101 B
SPAN 202 SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 201 B
SPAN 201 SPAN 101, SPAN 102 B
SPAN 102 SPAN 101 B

Students desiring credit by advanced course must apply officially for such credit within four years following completion of the advanced course. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Dean of the appropriate division.

To apply for proficiency credit, students must obtain a “Required for Proficiency Credit by Advanced Course” form from the Student Success Center or from the appropriate Dean. A fee of $20.00 per semester hour will be charged for consideration of the student’s request and may be refunded only if the student is not eligible to receive such college credit. Contact the Registrar for additional information.

Credit Equivalency by Exam

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Richland participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which allow students to obtain college credit based on their learning outside the classroom. CLEP examinations are available in over 30 areas, including Social Science, Natural Science, Humanities, and Mathematics. Credit through a CLEP examination may be applied to a degree or certificate as general education or elective(s).

Credit granted through a CLEP examination will be recorded as credit and will not be used in computing a grade point average. Credit will be recorded after completion of eight (8) semester hours toward an associate’s degree or certificate program. Students should check with the Registrar to verify how CLEP will be applied. Students who have enrolled in college study before attempting a CLEP examination will not be granted credit if they attempt an examination after they have received a grade for that specific course or for prior college study that is directly related to an exam taken.

For more information or to register to take a CLEP examination, contact the Testing Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6238, or the Academic Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6419. Payment for exams is made at the time of registration; the fee is not refundable.

 

 CLEP Course  CLEP Minimum Score   RCC Equivalent (number of credit hours where course number is unavailable) 
English
 American Literature 50   Not Accepting 
 Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 50   Not Accepting
 College Composition (with Essay) 50   Not Accepting
 College Composition Modular 50   Not Accepting
 English Literature 50   Not Accepting
Humanities
 Humanities 50   Not Accepting
 Western Civilization I: Ancient Near to 1648 50  HIST 111 
 Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present 50   HIST 112 
World Languages
 French Language (2 semester) 50  Not Accepting
 French Language (4 semester) 62  Not Accepting
 German Language (2 semester) 50  GERM 101 
 German Language (4 semester) 63   GERM 102 
 Spanish Language (2 semester) 50   SPAN 101 
 Spanish Language (4 semester) 63   SPAN 102 
Social Science 
 American Government  50  POL S110 
 History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877  50  HIST 101
 History of the United States II:1865 to the Present  50  HIST 102
 Human Growth & Development  50  Not Accepting
 Introduction to Educational Psychology  50  Not Accepting
 Introductory Psychology  50  Not Accepting
 Introductory Sociology  50  Not Accepting
 Principles of Macroeconomics  50  ECON 231
 Principles of Microeconomics  50  ECON 232
 Social Sciences & History  50  Not Accepting
Math
 Calculus  50  MATH 121
 College Algebra 50  Not Accepting
 College Mathematics  50  Not Accepting
 Precalculus  50  Not Accepting
Sciences
 Biology  50  BIOL 101
 Chemistry  50  CHEM 131 - no lab (3.0)
 Natural Sciences  50  Physical Science - no lab (3.0)
Business & Computer Science 
 Financial Accounting  50  Not Accepting
 Information Systems & Computer Applications  50  Not Accepting
 Introductory Business Law  50  Not Accepting
 Principles of Management  50  Not Accepting
 Principles of Marketing  50  Not Accepting

DSST Prometrics

Richland participates in the DSST Prometrics Examination Program, which allow students to obtain college credit based on their learning outside the classroom. DSST Prometrics exams are available in areas such as education, criminal justice, finance, business, and world religions. Credit through a DSST Prometrics examination may be applied to a degree or certificate as general education or elective(s). Credit granted through a DSST Prometrics examination will be recorded as credit and will not be used in computing a grade point average. Credit will be recorded after completion of eight (8) semester hours toward an associate’s degree or certificate program.

Students should check with the Registrar to verify how DSST will be applied. Students who have enrolled in college study before attempting a DSST Prometrics examination will not be granted credit if they attempt an examination after they have received a grade for that specific course or for prior college study that is directly related to an exam taken.

For more information or to register to take a DSST Prometrics examination, contact the Testing Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6238, or the Academic Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6419. Payment for exams is made at the time of registration; the fee is not refundable.

Proficiency Examination

Students with wide varieties of educational experience may convert this experience into college credit on the basis of evaluations by designated Richland Community College personnel and standards set by the College in those areas and courses deemed appropriate. To take an exam, students must be currently enrolled at Richland and not enrolled in the course in which they are requesting to be tested. They should obtain the appropriate form and obtain permission from the division involved, pay the required fee, and successfully pass the examination. A proficiency examination for a given course may be taken only once. A fee of one-half the in-district or out-of-district tuition normally charged for the course must be paid before the exam. The fee is not refundable. The student must receive a score of 80% or better to earn credit by proficiency. Credit hours earned through proficiency examination are posted on the student’s permanent record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College. The credit is not included in the calculation of the grade point average and may not be used to establish enrollment status (i.e., full-time, part-time).

Credit Equivalency for Military Service and Training

A student who has been officially accepted as a Richland Community College student may apply for and receive college credit for courses taken while serving in the military if the courses meet the objectives of the student's declared academic program as required for graduation from Richland Community College. Consideration for the awarding of credit for military experience and training will be guided by the college credit recommendations developed by the American Council on Education. Approved credit will be posted to the student’s record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College. Contact the Registrar for further information.

Armed Forces Health and Physical Education

Any veteran who has completed a minimum of six (6) months’ active duty in the armed forces and presents evidence of an honorable or general “under honorable conditions” discharge from the service is eligible for a maximum of four (4) semester hours of physical education activity course credit. Approved credit will not be used to compute a grade point average. Approved credit will be posted to the student’s record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College. Veterans may apply for credit by submitting a copy of their DD-214 or military transcript to the Student Success Center in the Student Success Center.

Credit Equivalency by Licensure or Certification

If a student has already obtained a recognized license or certification for which the College offers a technical curriculum, that student may be granted credit for specific courses in the declared program of study. Approved credit will be posed to the student's record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College and after any additional program requirements have been fulfilled.

Credit Equivalency for Professional Training

Academic course credit for professional training events in some disciplines and technical fields may be granted if the event is offered by Richland Community College and/or one or more of the College’s training partners. A training partner is a professional organization or other authorized training provider recognized by the College. This partner ensures that the training meets predetermined standards. In some instances, training must be delivered by certified instructors as dictated by program/curricular requirements. The training must meet all objectives of the relevant course(s) in order to receive credit, as determined by faculty responsible for the content area. Approved credit will be posted to the student’s record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at Richland. A fee will be assessed.

Credit Equivalency for Professional Experience

Students with wide varieties of experience may develop a portfolio of these experiences and apply for course credit. A portfolio is a collection of documentation of learning, which may include samples of actual work, and is submitted for evaluation in consideration of course credit. The portfolio must meet all objectives of the course in order to receive credit, as determined by faculty responsible for the course. Approved credit will be posted to the student’s record after a minimum of eight (8) semester hours of 100-level or above credit has been earned at the College. A fee is associated with this option. A student interested in this credit should contact the Dean of the division responsible for the course.

State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy Program recognizes public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. To receive credit at Richland, a student must provide a high school transcript with the seal and submit a request to the Registrar within three academic years of graduating from high school. Credit will be granted without a grade and may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.