Prior Learning/Priority Registration

 

In accordance with the Assembly Bill 2133, priority registration is granted to veterans or members of the Armed Forces (Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves). To be eligible, proof of service (i.e. a DD-214, military id, copy of orders) must be submitted to the Center for Military-Connected Students. You can apply for a copy of your DD 214 at the National Archives.

If you served in the military, you may be eligible for credit that will transfer to Cal Poly, helping you to earn your degree faster. Veterans and service members are required to submit their Joint Services Transcript (JST) or CCAF  transcripts to the Office of the Registrar when asked to provide their previous college transcripts.

Transfer Credit

The Evaluations Unit in the Office of the Registrar will evaluate credit in relation to Cal Poly degree requirements. Newly admitted and matriculated transfer students will receive an email from Evaluations that their evaluation has been completed and that the results are available in their Degree Progress Report via the Student Center on the Cal Poly Portal. New students cannot access their Degree Progress Report prior to matriculation, nor can Evaluations provide any specific information about credit prior to that time.

Every effort is made to provide a complete Degree Progress Report (DPR), with all transfer credit reflected, prior to the date of new transfer student registration in mid-August. The DPR serves as the basis for determining remaining degree requirements and should be used frequently to track progress toward the degree. More information about the Degree Progress Report can be found here:
https://registrar.calpoly.edu/degreeprogressreport.

Credit for Military Service

Matriculated students with past or current service in the United States Armed Forces may receive academic credit for training and experience during that service. Units and applicability of credit are described in the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services, and communicated via the ACE Joint Services Transcript (ACE/JST). 

Nine quarter units of elective credit are allowed toward graduation to any student submitting evidence of satisfactory completion of basic training in the military service of the United States (4 units satisfy GE Area E and 5 units are elective credit). Military service credit does not calculate into the GPA. For a military transcript to be processed, students must provide either a DD-214 form (veterans) or a Common Access Card (active service members). Completion of basic training currently satisfies GE E – as that area is being removed from the future GE template that credit will be evaluated by the General Education Governance Board (GEGB) as to whether it can apply to a different GE area (e.g. Area D). Leadership training will satisfy GE Area A2 (Written Communication). The Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) will count for 3 semester units (4.5 quarter units) in GE Area C2 (Humanities). Where other items from the ACE/JST are desired to substitute for a specific course, the relevant academic unit will approve or disapprove through the current process of articulation. Veterans will have the right to choose which courses they would like to have added to their degree progress reports and higher education totals. 

CSU revised Military Leave Policy

In addition to military training, students can be granted credit for:

• baccalaureate-level courses that were successfully completed at a regionally accredited two- or four-year college or university
• academic units when the non-collegiate instruction or experience is determined to be appropriate to the baccalaureate degree and meet American Council on Education guidelines
• external exams such as DSST and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Learn more about Cal Poly's Credit for Prior Learning policies - Credit for Education, Training and Service Provided by the Armed Forces of the United States