UExcel® Credit-by-Examination Program Now Offers Introduction to Sociology

Sept. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Education providers, Pearson and Excelsior College®, creators of the UExcel credit-by-examination program have added a new subject to their growing list of available examinations. Introduction to Sociology, a subject area considered increasingly important to a well-rounded college education, is the newest exam offered. This exam is recommended for students who have prior academic knowledge or study independently and pass exams to earn college credit. For students preparing for college, the addition of Sociology provides further opportunity for students looking to fulfill college credits at a fraction of the cost of tuition.

Introduction to Sociology is a course requirement that is not limited to future sociologists. Pre-professional programs in law, education, business, medicine, engineering, social work and nursing also require sociology studies as part of their curriculum. Through the UExcel credit-by-examination program, students who successfully complete the Introduction to Sociology exam will earn three college-level credits from Excelsior College, a regionally-accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution.

“As the cost of a college education increases faster than income, credit-by-examination is an attractive option for many students,” said Susan Henken, UExcel brand director for Pearson. “UExcel directly addresses the issue of rising tuition costs with an affordable way to turn knowledge into college credit.” For students who have acquired college-level knowledge outside of the classroom, addressing the cost of tuition is just one of a number of benefits to “testing out”. Fulfilling course requirements through credit-by-exam shortens the time it takes to earn a degree, thereby saving money on tuition and fees. Other students find benefit in the ability to move on to more advanced courses sooner, complete basic requirements in order to take more electives, or explore new career possibilities.

UExcel exams are now available in eight subject areas including Calculus, College Writing, Introduction to Psychology, Physics, Political Science, Spanish Language, Statistics and now, Introduction to Sociology. The exams are delivered at nearly 4,200 test centers around the world, and examination scores are available immediately. A letter grade and college credit are reported on an official transcript from Excelsior College. Thousands of colleges and universities accept Excelsior College credits earned through UExcel exams and Excelsior College Examinations. Anyone wishing to demonstrate subject matter proficiency including: high school students, homeschoolers, international students, adult learners and military service members are eligible to take a UExcel exam.

About UExcel®
The UExcel program is an alliance between two leading education providers, Excelsior College (http://www.excelsior.edu) and Pearson (http://www.pearson.com). Excelsior College, founded in 1971, is a leader in distance education and has more than 40 years of experience offering widely recognized credit-by-exam programs. Pearson is the world’s leading learning company and develops educational products for children, adults, schools, universities and corporations. Together, these two leading education providers help students worldwide turn their knowledge into university and college credit. Students interested in taking a UExcel exam can visit http://www.UExcelTest.com or http://www.facebook.com/UExcel for more information.