Can I test out of any course?
The CS Dept. offers credit by examination only for the following courses: CS 112 and CS 211. To make arrangements for taking the exam for one of these courses, you should contact the current course coordinator for the class in question. To qualify for any credit by exam, you must be currently enrolled at George Mason University. You may not take an exam for credit if you have previously audited or failed the course, or if you have previously completed a more advanced course in the same sequence.
Other departments also offer credit by examinations. For example, you can test out of History 120 (U.S. History requirement). Please contact the appropriate department for information about testing out of non-CS classes.
Will I receive a grade if I successfully complete the credit by examination?
No, you will not receive a grade, so the credit by examination will not affect your GPA. However, you will receive course credit, which will be reflected on your transcript.
Can I get credit for "life" or "work" experience?
Only coursework earned at an accredited college or university is accepted for credit towards a degree in Computer Science. However, it is occasionally possible to use an internship as part of the course work for completion of CS 498, an elective for independent study. Please note the following procedure for obtaining approval to enroll in CS 498:
The work for a CS 498 should be at a level that goes beyond an existing 400-level CS course, draws substantially on such a course, and is not otherwise available. Being an intern is not sufficient, though it is possible that some of the work done as an intern may be compatible and make a goodly contribution to the CS 498 activity and results.
- The student finds a faculty member willing to supervise the work.
- The two of them reach agreement on the topic.
- The student prepares a plan, including specification of deliverables, and presents it to the faculty member for signed approval.
- The student fills out an enrollment form and leaves it with the staff in the CS office, along with the plan, the name of the faculty member and that person's signature of approval on the form for the plan and the 498. The office staff gets these materials to the chair for consideration.
- If the chair approves, the staff processes the form.