Course equivalency
Course equivalency is the term used in higher education describing how a course offered by one college or university relates to a course offered by another. If a course is viewed as equal or better than the course offered by the receiving college or university, the course can be noted as an equivalent course. The methods and measures used to determine course equivalency vary by institution, state, region and country. College transfer often requires the determination and evaluation of prior course learning resulting in the creation and maintenance of course equivalency tables listing how courses equate between institutions.
Background
Colleges and universities often utilize electronic evaluation tools to determine course equivalencies. This way, sending and receiving institutions can publicly communicate how course offerings align online and in real-time. Further, utilizing these tools allows institutions to ensure that equivalency decisions are applied quickly, accurately, and equally to all students with similar learning backgrounds.
The most common course attributes evaluated to determine course equivalency are description, academic credits, accreditation, type of instructor, method of instruction, length of the course, number of meetings, total class time, level of rigor, level of instruction, learning outcomes, grade scale, pre-requisites, co-requisites and textbook. This is not an exclusive list of course attributes. Generally, faculty perform the determination of course equivalencies. Course equivalency decisions can be appealed by presenting evidence to an academic department.
See also
- College transfer
- Articulation (education)
- Career college
- Community college
- Junior college
- University
- List of colleges and universities