Credit by Examination and Course Placement

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This information has been prepared in an attempt to answer questions concerning Credit by Exam. If you have any questions or concerns not addressed please contact Office of the Registrar located in St. Hall room 104.

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.

Policies Concerning Credit by Examination

• Credit earned by examination does not apply towards meeting St. Mary's University residence requirements.
• Credit earned by examination is recorded with the symbol CR (Credit only), without a grade, and is not included in the calculation of cumulative grade-point- average.
• Credit by examination will not subtract from the number of courses for which students may register on Pass / No Pass basis.
• Students may not receive credit by examination for courses for which they already have credit.
• Coursework always takes precedence over credit by examination. If a student receives credit by examination and then takes the corresponding course (or an equivalent one) in the classroom, the grade from the class replaces credit by examination.
• Credit is posted to a student's official record only after the student has enrolled and successfully completed one semester at St. Mary's University.
• Credit by examination posted on a transcript from another accredited institution will transfer to St. Mary's University as corresponding resident course credit from that institution.
• Credit by examination can be used to meet prerequisites for advanced level courses.
• Original copies of scores are required for acceptance and recording credit.

Examinations Available for Placement with Credit

• Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
• College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)
• Thomson Prometric DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
• 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 Examination	Minimum Score Required	Sem. Hours	Course Number
Art - Studio	5,4	3	AR 2361 (To be used as Elective Credit only)
Art - History	5,4	3	AR 2362 (To be used as Elective Credit only)
Biology	5,4	3	BL 1301 - Non-Biology majors only
Chemistry	5 4	6 3	CH 1401 & 1402--Must take 2-hrs lab CH 1401--Must take 1-hour lab
Computer Science A Computer Science A Computer Science AB Computer Science AB Computer Science AB	4,5 3 5 4 3	8 4 11 8 4	CS 1410 and 1411 CS 1410 CS 1410, 1411, 2313 CS 1410, 1411 CS 1410
Economics (Macro) Economics (Micro)	3 3	3 3	EC 2301 EC 2303
Environmental Science	3	3	ES 1373
Language & Composition	3	3	EN 1311
Literature & Composition	3	3	EN 2321
Modern Languages: French, German, Latin or Spanish Spanish Literature	5 4 3 5	12 9 6 6	1311,1312,2311,2312 -Fulfills Foreign Lang req 1311,1312,2311--Needs 2312 1311,1312--Needs 2311 & 2312 SP 3331 and SP 3341
Comparative Govt & Politics U.S. Government - United States	5 4	6 3	PO 1311 and PO 1314 PO 1311
History - United States History - European & World	3 3	6 6	HS 1301 and HS 1302 HS 1351 and HS 1352
Math* Calculus AB Calculus BC Calculus BC	5, 4, 3 5 4,3	4 4 4	Credit awarded according to Academic Major MT 2412 MT 2412 (Consult Math Dept for possible additional credit) MT 2412
Music Theory	3	6	MU 1321 & MU 1322
Physics Part B	5,4	8	PY 1401 & PY 1402
Physics Part C (Mechanics)	5,4	3	PY 1404--Needs 1-hour lab
Physics Part C (Elect & Mag)	5,4	3	PY 2404--Needs 1-hour lab
Psychology	5	3	PS 1301

* Degree programs that require MT 1306 Business Calculus may substitute MT 2412 Univariate Calculus I.

College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)

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 Jim Willis, Coordinator of Testing Services, St. Mary's University, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, Texas 78228, telephone (210) 436-3135. A fee is charged for the administration of these examinations.

Effective July 2001, CLEP Program implemented computer-based testing for all of their examinations. Paper and pencil CLEP tests have been phased out as of September 2001. Please note that each school establishes its own requirements for minimum scores and credit awarded. St. Mary's University policy may not be consistent with those of other schools.

Composition and Literature (Note: Essay versions of tests are required)
Examination	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted		St. Mary's University Course Number
American Literature	57	3		EN 2355
Analyzing & Interpreting Lit	61	3		EN 2321
Freshman College Composition	-
English Composition (with Essay)	54	3		EN 1311
English Literature	60	3		EN 2353 or EN 2354
Humanities	50	3		Fine Arts Credit

History and Social Sciences
Examination	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted	St. Mary's University Course Number
American Government	50	3	PO 1311
Education Psychology, Introduction to	50	3	Elective only
History of the U.S.I: to 1877	50	3	HS 1301
History of the U.S. II since 1865	50	3	HS 1302
Human Growth & 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	6	Social Science Core Credit
Sociology, Introductory	50	3	SC 1311
Western Civilization I: to 1648	50	3	HS 1351
Western Civilization II: since 1648	50	3	HS 1352

Foreign Languages
Examination	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted	St. Mary's University Course Number
French	62 58 53 50	12 9 6 3	FR 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312 FR 1311, 1312, 2311* FR1311, 1312** FR 1311***
German	62 58 54 50	12 9 6 3	GR 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312 GR 1311, 1312, 2311* GR 1311, 1312** GR 1311***
Spanish	68 66 58 54	12 9 6 3	SP 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312 SP 1311, 1312, 2311* SP 1311, 1312** SP 1311***
*Needs 2312**Needs 2311, 2312***Needs 2311, 2312

Business
Examination	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted	St. Mary's University Course Number
Financial Accounting	50	3	AC 2310
Business Law, Introductory	50	3	BA 3351
Information Systems & Computer Appl	50	3	QM 3330
Principles of Management	50	3	BA 3325
Principles of Marketing	50	3	MK 3310

Science and Mathematics
Examination	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted	St. Mary's University Course Number
College Algebra	50	3	MT 1303
College Algebra-Trigonometry	58	4	Not available after 07/06/06
Precalculus	50	4	MT 1411
Biology	50	3	BL 1301 For Non-Majors
Chemistry	50	3	CH 1304
Calculus	50	4	MT 2412
College Mathematics	No credit
Natural Sciences	50	6	Science Core Requirement
Trigonometry	57	1	MT 1111
**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.

Deadline for applying for credit through CLEP examination
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.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional; Education Support (DANTES) Program

The DANTES Program, designed and administered originally only for military personnel, is now available to all interested persons. St. Mary's University grants credit for college level courses. Courses for which credit is awarded must be relevant to the student's educational program. Original copy of scores must be submitted for acceptance and recording credit. Credit is based on the scores recommended by the American Council on Education. These tests are administered at St. Mary's University Testing Center. Please address your inquiries to: Jim Willis, Coordinator of Testing Services, St. Mary's University, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228 (210) 436-3135.

Departmental Examinations for St. Mary's University Enrolled Students

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, TF, 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 $20.00 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.

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.

International Baccalaureate Credit - 24 hours awarded from:
Test	Credit Granting Score	Credit Hours Granted	St. Mary's University Course Number
Art	4,5, 6, 7	6	FA 1101, 1102, 1103, AR 1301
Biology	4,5, 6, 7	6	BL 1301, 1302
Computer Science	4,5, 6, 7	3	Elective
English	4,5, 6, 7	6	EN 1311, 3300
History	4,5, 6, 7	6	HS 1301, 1302, HS 1351, 1352
Languages	4,5, 6, 7	12	LN 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312
Mathematics	4,5, 6, 7	4	MT 1411
Music	4,5, 6, 7	3	MU 1331
Philosophy	4,5, 6, 7	3	PL 1310
Physics	4,5, 6, 7	8	PY 1401, 1402
Psychology	4,5, 6, 7	3	PS 1301
Science	4,5, 6, 7	3	ST 3300
Sociology	4,5, 6, 7	3	SC 1311