3.37 Course Substitutions Policy

In awarding a degree or certificate, Westmoreland County Community College is recognizing the satisfactory completion of a set of courses it deems representative of the academic standards it upholds.

Students should complete the requirements listed in the plan as published in the catalog year the student started in or was accepted into for restricted programs. Course substitution permits a student to substitute an equivalent course for a required course in the student's curriculum. Westmoreland County Community College creates programs with specific outcomes and competencies required. To maintain the integrity of the degree, course substitutions should only be used for extraordinary circumstances, for institutional error, or for students who completed coursework at a previous institution. Substitutions should be very rare for non-transfer students who have been properly advised and are using well-administered degree plans.

Generally, substitutions should only be used for students who completed coursework for their program while at a previous institution or in a former major. The Deans will review any commonly substituted courses on a yearly basis and determine if a curriculum change is warranted.

Guidelines:

1. 1. The student must be currently enrolled at the college and in the program for the substitution.
2. 2. The course substitution must meet the spirit/content of the substituted course in the student’s program, including specified course, program, and institutional outcomes.
3. 3. Course substitutions should not be used to circumvent a course that is part of the student's normal curriculum.
4. 4. A student who fails or withdraws from a required course must repeat that course and may not substitute another in its place. This does not apply to electives.
5. 5. Course substitutions are specific to each program and catalog year and may not transfer from one to the other.
6. 6. Course substitutions cannot be used for Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee (TAOC) programs with the exception of course substitutions that are approved for transfer by our transfer counselor.
7. 7. No more than 20% of the credential (12 credits for a 60-credit degree) can be substituted, and only 2 courses in the major field of the credential can be substituted.
8. 8. Courses are substituted on a one to one basis. Courses cannot be combined to satisfy a course requirement.