A variety of methods are available to students who wish to receive the associate degree in less than the usual two calendar years. The opportunities for time-shortened degrees at St. Petersburg College including the following:

1. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) — The College participates in the selected subject examination program. Decision as to acceptability of subject examinations is made by Educational and Student Services, within the restrictions imposed by Paragraph 6A-14.031(1)(a), State Board of Education Regulations.
   
   The acceptable examinations, minimum acceptable scores for each examination, the course(s) for which credit will be granted and the number of semester hours credit for each examination are published in the "College-Level Examination Program at St. Petersburg College" brochure by the Central Records' Office.



2. Advanced Placement (AP) — Advanced placement examinations are a special program of the College Entrance Examination Board offering special instruction to high school seniors. The examination must have been taken while the student was still enrolled in high school. Advanced placement credit is treated as transfer credit. Credit will be granted to students who achieve scores of 3, 4 or 5 on one or more of the Advanced Placement Program examinations. Such credits will be transferable to institutions of higher education within the State of Florida which participate in the State Advanced Placement Program.



3. Correspondence and Extension Courses — A maximum of 15 semester hours of correspondence and extension credit may be accepted, provided:
   
   
   1. The course was administered by an accredited institution.
   
   
   
   2. The credit is acceptable by the institution conducting the correspondence or extension course toward one of its degrees.

   None of the final 15 semester hours toward graduation may be through correspondence.
   
   Students expecting to transfer correspondence credit to another institution should become familiar with that institution's acceptance policy.
   
   St. Petersburg College does not offer correspondence courses.




4. International Baccalaureate (IB) — St. Petersburg College will grant college credit to a student who presents a score of 4, 5 or 6 on one or more of the International Baccalaureate examinations. Credit thus granted is transferable among Florida institutions of higher education participating in the statewide articulation agreement.



5. Credit by Assessment of Prior Learning/Experiential Learning Program (ELP) — Credit may be awarded under this area for learning in a discipline or program area(s) offered by the College. The assessment of learning shall take place through means consistent with generally accepted techniques of measuring college level learning. The techniques may include written and oral examinations, portfolio evaluations, interview assessments and project or product evaluations. In addition, other methods of evaluation shall include use of ACE guidebooks, DANTES, the MOS Specialty Guide, the CAEL Guide and correlation of military training with college-level credit. Experiential Learning Program (ELP) replaces internal/challenge exams and other methods of evaluating and crediting prior learning. The discipline program directors, by college wide agreement, will determine which courses within the curriculum of the department may be eligible for assessment through experiential learning. The College limits the credit earned through the Experiential Learning Program for A.S., A.A.S. and Certificate programs to 50% of the major/core courses. If a student can demonstrate prior learning, the College will award credit for achievement rather than have the student repeat the learning sequence. Information concerning such assessments may be secured from the associate provost, center administrator or the Experiential Learning Office on each campus.
   
   
   1. When the student completes the assessment, the ELP Office will notify the student of the outcome. A grade of "P" will be recorded for the course if credit is awarded.
   
   
   
   2. A student may not be registered for a course and be simultaneously evaluated for his/her prior learning of that course.

   Pursuant to State Board of Education, Rule 6A-14.054, matriculation and tuition fees shall not be charged for the assessment of prior learning or the awarding of credit based on prior learning, regardless of whether the prior learning was acquired through instruction provided by the College or through instruction or experience external to the College.
   
   Students who are evaluated for the assessment of prior learning shall be charged a fee as prescribed in BOT Rule 6Hx23-5.17 Student Fees.
   
   For information call the Career Development Centers at the Clearwater Campus (727)791-2680; Seminole Campus (727)394-6108; SPC Downtown (727)893-9586; St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus (727)341-4640; or Tarpon Springs Center (727)712-5761 or 938-3744.
   
   Visit the Career Development web site at http://www.spcollege.edu/CareerDevelopment/.

Three-Year Baccalaureate Program
(Fast Track BA Program)

Students in Pinellas County may participate in a special joint program that will permit them to obtain their bachelor's degree within 3 years after graduation from high school. The Fast Track BA program, which offers an opportunity to specialize in many different majors, is a joint offering by the Pinellas County Schools, St. Petersburg College and the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg. Participants in the Three-Year Baccalaureate Program must participate in the Dual Credit, Early Admission, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Programs offered through the Pinellas County School System. Read more about Dual Credit High School in the Admissions Requirements and Continuing Education/Non Credit Program sections.