Final Examinations Make-up Policy

When a final examination falls at a time that conflicts with a student’s observance of a holy day, faculty members must accommodate a request for an alternate examination date at a time that does not violate the student’s religious creed.

A student must discuss a final examination conflict with the professor no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled examination date to arrange an acceptable alternate examination date.

Administrative Examinations

USC administrative examinations are given to determine: (1) placement level in certain subjects; (2) fulfillment of skill level requirements for the degree; (3) approval to allow upper division transferred course work to earn subject credit toward the USC degree and; (4) subject credit on the USC transcript. Below are the administrative titles of the various examinations, a short description of the purpose and nature of the examination and a referral to the appropriate section of this catalogue for more detailed explanation of university policies specifically related to each type of examination.

(1) Placement Examinations

Determine the student’s level of ability in certain subjects. These tests establish the appropriate placement level in subjects such as chemistry, physics, mathematics and foreign languages. No unit credit is available. See the section titled Placement Examinations for specific details.

(2) Equivalency Examinations

Determine whether upper division transferred course work may be applied to the major requirements for the degree. These tests are given at the discretion of the academic unit. Passing the examination does not provide additional unit credit. Contact the appropriate academic unit for specific details.

(3) Special Examinations

Establish subject credit in subject matter in which the student is sufficiently prepared but in which no previous course credit has been accepted toward the degree at USC. See the section titled Credit by Special Examination for specific details.

Placement Examinations

Placement tests are administered by the University Testing Bureau in the following areas: math, chemistry, physics and foreign languages as well as the International Student English Examination. The tests are given for placement and/or counseling and/or subject credit (which may fulfill a required or elective subject area). They are administered on scheduled dates on the USC campus. A USC ID or positive ID along with proof of USC admission is required for all placement tests. For additional information concerning one or more of these tests, contact the USC Testing Bureau, YWCA 104, (213) 740-7166, http://www.usc.edu/dept/Testing-Bureau.

Placement in elementary and intermediate foreign language courses is made by the Foreign Language Placement Tests. Transfer courses equivalent to a USC language course fulfill the prerequisite for the next course in the sequence, but students are required to take the USC placement exam. Transfer students may be advised to repeat, without additional credit, a semester or semesters of instruction to qualify for the next level in the sequence if their skills are judged insufficient at the time of testing. Questions concerning foreign language placement should be directed to the chair of the appropriate department.

Placements in Chemistry 040x and 105a; Mathematics 040x, 100, 108, 116, 117, 118 and 125; and Physics 135 and 151 are made by appropriate tests.

University Writing Examination

Students who score below the specified level on the verbal portion of the SAT are required to take the Composition Placement Examination to determine if they must complete preparatory course work before enrolling in Writing 140. Also see The Writing Program.

Credit by Special Examination

Students who feel sufficiently prepared in a subject field to request waiver from the normal course requirements may request that the chair of the department in which the course is offered allow them to take a special examination challenging the course for subject credit only.

With the permission of the dean of the academic unit in which the student is a degree candidate, the student may file a Request for Credit by Special Examination form in the Grade Department (SAS 103). The following rules apply:

(1) Credit by examination is available to undergraduate students only.

(2) No more than one special examination may be taken in a given course.

(3) Special examinations will not be allowed in any course at USC or elsewhere for which a student has received a grade or mark on the transcript (e.g., W, UW, IN, IX, F or D).

(4) An examination will not be allowed if the course is a prerequisite to or sequentially precedes a course or courses that appear on a college level transcript, unless USC allows similar courses to be taken out of sequence.

(5) Baccalaureate credit cannot be earned by examination for the Expository Writing requirement, the first three semesters of any foreign language or MATH 040x.

(6) Native speakers of a foreign language may challenge only literature or linguistics courses offered through the respective language department.

(7) Results of all special examinations taken for subject credit only will appear on the USC transcript with a grade of “CR” (credit) or “NC” (no credit) and will not reflect unit value.