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2020 - 2021 FCC Academic Catalog
22 • 301.846.2400
Distance Learning Opportunities
Students who find it difficult to attend
courses on campus may consider distance-
learning options offered by the college.
FCC hybrid and online options–Frederick
Community College offers two types of
distance education courses: Online and Hybrid.
Hybrid courses require students to attend class
sessions on campus, Online courses do not.
However, all Online courses require at least
proctored assessment which may require a
student to visit an approved testing center.
Online courses refers to a course taught entirely
Online. Instructor-student communication is
facilitated by electronic technologies. Online classes
require at least one proctored assessment with a
student picture ID. Not all FCC courses are offered
Online. Students who require an Online course that
is not available at FCC should contact the Online
Learning and Instructional Innovation Office to see
if the course is available through MarylandOnline.
Hybrid courses refers to a course in which
Online activity is mixed with classroom meetings,
replacing a percentage of face to face instruction.
Both Online and Hybrid courses are taught on
Blackboard and require the student to have off-
campus Internet access with an Internet Browser
such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
MarylandOnline–MarylandOnline is a statewide
consortium dedicated to championing distance
learning in Maryland. Through collaboration
among Maryland community colleges, colleges,
and universities, MarylandOnline gives students
access to statewide articulated courses,
certificates, and degree programs offered via
distance education. MarylandOnline enhances
the quality and availability of higher education
for the citizens and employers of Maryland
and for students worldwide. Go to www.
for more information.
International Education
The College provides opportunities for faculty,
staff, and students to enhance their cultural
competence and building their global awareness
by providing on and off campus learning
experiences, including credit and non-credit
international travel experiences. FCC is a part of
the state-wide Maryland Community College
International Education Consortium (MCCIEC)
which offers short-term credit and Continuing
Education trips. Check out the
website to learn more details about these short-
term options. For information on all international
education choices, consult the college website.
Prior Learning Assessment
(PLA)
Prior learning pathways at FCC allow students
the opportunity to earn credit for college-level
learning, thus accelerating their progress toward
graduation. A PLA evaluation is conducted of a
student’s work experiences, workplace training,
professional licensure and certifications, military
training and service, volunteer activities, life
experiences, credits earned by standardized testing,
and volunteering and community service activities
which demonstrate college-level learning. Credit
for PLA is not awarded for experience alone, but
for a combination of experience and college-level
learning. Students seeking credit for prior learning
should call the Assistant Dean, Career Programs at
301.846.2587 for more information.
Portfolio Assessment
The portfolio development process allows students
an opportunity to demonstrate college-level
knowledge acquired from work, independent
reading, training programs, volunteer activities, and
other life experience. A portfolio is an organized
collection of essays, documentation, and artifacts
demonstrating learning through work and life
experiences that satisfies a specific FCC course.
Following development the portfolio is submitted
to the college for credit review by faculty. Students
pay an assessment fee for the portfolio to be
reviewed equivalent to a one-credit course and will
be assessed 50% of the current tuition per credits
rewarded. No more than 15 credits may be earned
through portfolio assessment. For additional
information, contact the Prior Learning Assessment
Coordinator at 301.846.2587.
Institutional Departmental Exams
If no CLEP or DSST exam (see charts on pages
24-25) is available for the subject in which a
student is knowledgeable or skilled, students
may contact the Prior Learning Assessment
Coordinator to discuss the possibility of credit by
course examination. A credit by examination may
be taken only once. If the student passes a credit
by examination with a grade of “C” or better, they
will earn the stipulated number of credits for the
course. A student’s transcript will show credit for
the specific courses that were taken on a credit-
by-examination basis. No grade will be recorded,
but credits may be counted toward degree
requirements. Students pay an assessment fee of
50% of the current tuition per credit prior to taking
the departmental exam. If a student is enrolled
in a class for which they subsequently request
a departmental examination, no refund for the
course is available. No more than 15 credits may
be earned through departmental examinations. For
additional information, contact the Prior Learning
Assessment Coordinator at 301.846.2587.
Certificate & Licensure Evaluation
FCC accepts many industry-standard certificates
and licensure for college credit. Currently
students enrolled in a minimum of three credits
can take advantage of agreements in programs
including accounting, computer science, criminal
justice, emergency management, fire service
administration, hospitality, culinary, and tourism,
medical assisting, and police science. For additional
information, contact your program manager,
department chair, or the Prior Learning Assessment
Coordinator call 301.846.2587.
Credit by Examinations
CLEP/DSST/IB/AP
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and
DANTES Standardized Subject Tests (DSST)
CLEP and DSST are national credit-by-examination
programs providing individuals the opportunity
to earn credit in a non-traditional format. General
and Subject exams are available in many different
disciplines. FCC’s Testing Center administers
CLEP and DSST exams by appointment. For more
information about taking a CLEP or DSST exam,
contact the Testing Center at 301-846-2522.
FCC also accepts CLEP and DSST and awards credit
based on the exam taken and score earned. Refer
to the following charts for exams accepted by
FCC. For more information, contact Counseling &
Advising at 301.846.2471 or a Transfer Evaluator at
301.846.2595.