Credit by Exam
Undergraduate students may earn course credit by demonstrating superior achievement on tests offered through several examination programs. Original copies of scores are required for acceptance and recording credit.
St. Mary’s University accepts:
- Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
- College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)
- Departmental Examinations for Enrolled Students
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
AP Examinations are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). These examinations are administered each May at high schools that offer Advanced Placement courses. Concerned students should consult a high school counselor for information on these centers and test registration procedure. Scores are reported to the student, their high schools, and to colleges or universities the student requests. Scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 5.
| AP Exam | Minimum Score | Semester Hours | Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit by Exam | |||
| Art-Studio | 4 | 3 | AR 2361 (to be used as elective credit only) |
| Art-History | 4 | 3 | AR 2362 (to be used as elective credit only) |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BL 1401* and BL 1402* requires satisfactory lab notebook |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | BL 1301 (without lab notebook) |
| Calculus AB (or AB subscore on BC exam) | 4 | 4 | MT 2412 |
| Calculus BC | 5** | 4 | MT 2412 and MT 2413** |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 | MT 2412 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CH 1401 and 1402 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 5 | 3 | PO 1314 |
| Topics in Programming Languages | 4 | 3 | CS 1320 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CS 1301 |
| Economics (Macro) | 3 | 3 | EC 2301 |
| Economics (Micro) | 3 | 3 | EC 2303 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | ES 1373 |
| History (European and World) | 4 | 6 | HS 2321 and HS 2322 |
| History (U.S.) | 4 | 6 | HS 1301 and 1302 |
| Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | EN 1311 |
| Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | EN 2399 |
| Modern Languages | 5 | 12 | 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312 - fulfills foreign language requirements |
| Modern Languages | 4 | 9 | 1311, 1312, 2311 |
| Modern Languages | 3 | 6 | 1311, 1312 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 6 | MU 1321 and 1322 |
| Physics Part 1 | 5 | 8 | PY 1401 and 1402 |
| Physics Part 1 | 4 | 4 | PY 1401 |
| Physics Part C (Mechanics) | 4 | 3 | PY 1404 (must take 1-hour lab) |
| Physics Part C (Electricity and Magnetism) | 4 | 3 | PY 2404 (must take 1-hour lab) |
| Psychology | 5 | 3 | PS 1301 |
| Precalculus | 4 | 4 | MT 1411 |
| Spanish Literature | 5 | 6 | SP 3331 and 3341 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | MT 2303 |
| U.S. Government | 4 | 3 | PO 1311 |
- *
Consult Biology Department for possible additional credit. Review of lab notebook required.
- **
Consult Mathematics Department for possible additional credit.
The CLEP is designed to evaluate non-traditional college-level education such as independent study or other experiences outside traditional classrooms. Credit is awarded for these Examinations. Original copy of scores is required for acceptance and recording credit. These examinations are administered at St. Mary’s University Testing Center. Please address inquiries to the Coordinator of Testing Services, St. Mary’s University, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228, or call 210-436-3135. A fee is charged for the administration of these examinations.
Please note that each school establishes its own requirements for minimum scores and credit awarded.
Students matriculating at St. Mary’s University as freshmen, including transfer students with freshman status, must take the CLEP examination(s) by the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students with sophomore or higher status must take the examination no later than their junior year.
| CLEP Exam | Minimum Score | Semester Hours | Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit by Exam | |||
| Business Law, Introductory | 50 | 3 | BA 3351 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | AC 2310 |
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | 50 | 3 | QM 3330 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | MK 3310 |
| American Literature (with essay) | 60 | 3 | EN 2399 |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (with essay) | 60 | 3 | EN 2399 |
| English Composition (with essay) | 60 | 3 | EN 1311 |
| English Literature (with essay) | 60 | 3 | EN 2399 |
| French | 62 | 12 | FR 1311, 1312, 2311, 2313 |
| French | 58 | 9 | FR 1311, 1312, 2311 |
| French | 53 | 6 | FR 1311, 1312 |
| French | 50 | 3 | FR 1311 |
| German | 62 | 12 | GR 1311,1312, 2311, 2312 |
| German | 58 | 9 | GR 1311,1312, 2311 |
| German | 54 | 6 | GR 1311, 1312 |
| German | 40 | 3 | GR 1311 |
| Spanish | 68 | 12 | SP 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312 |
| Spanish | 66 | 9 | SP 1311, 1312, 2311 |
| Spanish | 58 | 6 | SP 1311, 1312 |
| Spanish | 54 | 3 | SP 1311 |
| American Government | 50 | 3 | PO 1311 |
| Education Psychology, Introduction to | 50 | 3 | Elective only |
| History of the U.S. l: to 1877 | 50 | 3 | HS 1301 |
| History of the U.S. ll: since 1865 | 50 | 3 | HS 1302 |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | Elective only |
| Macroeconomics, Principles of | 50 | 3 | EC 2301 |
| Microeconomics, Principles of | 50 | 3 | EC 2303 |
| Psychology, Introductory | 50 | 3 | PS 1301 |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences Core Credit |
| Sociology, Introductory | 50 | 3 | SC 1311 |
| Western Civilization l: to 1648 | 50 | 3 | HS 1351 |
| Western Civilization ll: since 1648 | 50 | 3 | HS 1352 |
| Biology | 50 | 3 | BL 1301 for non-majors |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | MT 2412 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 3 | CH 1304 |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | MT 1303 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 3 | MT 1302 |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 6 | Science core requirement |
| Pre-Calculus | 50 | 4 | MT 1411 |
- For majors that require MT 1306 Business Calculus, MT 2412 Univariate Calculus I may be substituted.
- MT 1411 can substitute for MT 1303 in degree programs that require MT 1303.
- MT 1303 will fulfill the 3-hour core Math requirement.
- If a student takes a mathematics course at St. Mary’s, such as MT 1303, and receives a grade of WF, F, or D, the student is no longer eligible for CLEP credit in that course.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
St. Mary’s University recognizes the high standards of the IB Diploma Program and will award up to 24 semester hours credit scores of 4 or higher to students who received the IB Diploma.
If for some reason students do not wish to take the full IB Diploma Program, they also can participate in individual courses and receive IB Certificates for successful completion of this work. Credit for IB Certificates will be considered for college credit for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the higher level IB examinations.
Credit is recorded on the transcript as credit (CR) earned for St. Mary’s University enrolled students after receiving official transcripts from the school.
| IB Exam | Minimum Score | Semester Hours | Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art | 4 | 6 | FA 1101, 1102, 1103, AR 1301, HU 2307 |
| Biology | 4 | 6 | BL 1301, 1302 |
| Computer Science | 4 | 3 | CS 1301 |
| English Literature | 5 | 3 | EN 2399 |
| English Language and Literature | 5 | 3 | EN 1311 |
| History | 4 | 6 | HS 1301, 1302, 1351, 1352 |
| Languages | 4 | 12 | LN 1311,1312, 2311, 2312 |
| Mathematics | 4 | 4 | MT 1411 |
| Music | 4 | 3 | MU 1331 |
| Philosophy | 4 | 3 | PL 1310 |
| Physics | 4 | 8 | PY 1401, 1402 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PS 1301 |
| Science | 4 | 3 | ST 3300 |
| Sociology | 4 | 3 | SC 1311 |
Enrolled St. Mary’s University undergraduate students who believe they are proficient in the content of an undergraduate course for which no examination is regularly offered may be authorized to take a departmental examination.
Credit for departmental examinations may not be earned for a course in which the student is currently enrolled to receive a passing, failing, withdrawal, WX, or P/N grade.
Authorization consists of approval by the Dean of the School for the course for which credit is requested, and approval by the Department Chairperson that teaches the course. The student and a faculty member that teachers the course schedule the testing arrangements. Test requirements and procedures vary with each department.
The student obtains a Credit by Exam form from the Registrar’s Office, St. Louis Hall, Room 104. The student takes the exam, obtains required signatures as indicated on the form, and pays the required fee to the Business Office, St. Louis Hall, Room 24. The fee is $20 per semester hour. This fee is subject to change at any time. The student returns the completed form to the Registrar’s Office and credit is posted to the transcript.