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Credit by Exam AP/IB/CLEP

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Credit by Exam

Through several methods, above-average students may earn academic credit for college-level learning by taking an examination in the appropriate area. The following points are the student’s responsibility and should be noted.

  • Credit granted can be used to satisfy specific, general or elective degree requirements, as determined by the academic dean.
  • Credit by examination is not assigned a letter grade and is not counted toward special recognition or honors.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to discuss pending AP, CLEP, IB or SAT Subject Tests results with his or her academic advisor prior to registration. Duplicate credit is not allowed for credit by examination and class work.
  • Credit by examination will not be granted in a lower-level course once credit has been awarded by class work or exam in a more advanced course.
  • Credit by examination must be documented by an official score report from the examining agency. It will not be taken from another college or university transcript.
  • Currently enrolled TCU students should obtain prior approval from their academic dean before taking CLEP examinations.
  • Credit by examination may be awarded only in the first 66 semester hours of college credit.
  • Credit may not be earned by examination in any course previously failed, audited or taken for noncredit at TCU.
  • Credit for departmental examinations awarded by other institutions will not transfer to TCU.

For specific information, click the name of the examination program below:

AP Subject Score TCU Equivalent Credit
(semester hours)
Core
African American Studies 4 or 5 20103
Introduction to Black Studies
3  
Art History 3 10043
Introduction to Art History
3 FAR
Studio Art: Drawing 3 10103
Drawing I
3  
Biology 3 10003
Contemporary Issues in Biology
3 NSC
  4 10000
General Biology
4 NSC
  5 10000
General Biology
10511
Introductory Biology Lab II
10513
Introductory Biology II
8 NSC
Capstone Diploma Program        
Research 4 or 5 TRAN 10001 3  
Seminar 4 or 5 TRAN 10001 3  
Chemistry 4 10113
General Chemistry I
3  
  5 10113
General Chemistry I
10125
General Chemistry II with Laboratory
8 NSC
Computer Science A 4 or 5 10403
Introduction to Programming
3  
Economics        
Macroeconomics 4 10233
Introductory Macroeconomics
3 SSC
Microeconomics 4 10223
Introductory Microeconomics
3 SSC
English        
Language and Composition 3 10803
Introductory Composition: Writing as Inquiry
3 WCO1
Language and Composition 4 or 5 10803
Introductory Composition: Writing as Inquiry
20803
Intermediate Composition: Writing Argument
6 WCO1
WCO2
Literature and Composition 3 10803
Introductory Composition: Writing as Inquiry
3 WCO1
Literature and Composition 4 or 5 10803
Introductory Composition: Writing as Inquiry
10103 Introduction to Fiction
6 WCO1
LIT
HUM
Environmental Science 4 or 5 10000
Contemporary Environmental Issues
3 NSC
History        
American History 4 or 5 10603
United States History: A Survey to 1877
10613
United States History: A Survey since 1877
6 SSC
HT
European History 4 or 5 10223
Modernization and its Discontents: Europe 1789 to the Present
3 HT
HUM
World History 4 or 5 10550
World History
3 HT
HUM
Human Geography 4 or 5 10500
Human Geography
3 SSC
Mathematics        
Calculus AB 3 MATH 10283
Applied Calculus
MTH
Calculus AB 4 or 5 MATH 10524
Calculus I
MTH
Calculus BC 3 or 4 MATH 10524
Calculus I

MTH
Calculus BC 5 MATH 10524
Calculus I
MATH 20524
Calculus II
MTH
Calculus BC: Subscore AB 3 MATH 10283
Applied Calculus
3 MTH
Calculus BC: Subscore AB 4 or 5 MATH 10524
Calculus I
4 MTH
Precalculus 4 or 5 MATH 10054
Precalculus
 
Statistics 3, 4, or 5 10043
Elementary Statistics
MTH
Modern Languages        
Chinese 3 10153
Beginning Chinese I
10163
Beginning Chinese II
6  
  4 10153
Beginning Chinese I
10163
Beginning Chinese II
20053
Intermediate Chinese I
9  
  5 10153
Beginning Chinese I
10163
Beginning Chinese II
20053
Intermediate Chinese I
20063
Intermediate Chinese II
12  
French Language/Literature 3 10153
First Semester College French
10163
Second Semester College French
 
French Language/Literature 4 10153
First Semester College French
10163
Second Semester College French
20053
Third Semester College French
 
French Language/Literature 5 10153
First Semester College French
10163
Second Semester College French
20053
Third Semester College French
20063
Fourth Semester College French
12   
German Language/Literature 3 10153
Beginning German I
10163
Beginning German II
 
German Language/Literature 4 10153
Beginning German  I
10163
Beginning German II
20053
Beginning German III
 
German Language/Literature 5 10153
Beginning German I
10163
Beginning German II
20053
Beginning German III
20063
Intermediate German
12   
Italian Language/Literature 3

10153
Beginning Italian I
10163
Beginning Italian II

 
Italian Language/Literature 4

10153
Beginning Italian I
10163
Beginning Italian II
20053
Beginning Italian III

 
Italian Language/Literature 5

10153
Beginning Italian I
10163
Beginning Italian II
20053
Beginning Italian III
20063
Intermediate Italian

12   
Latin Language/Literature 3

10000
Generic Language Credit
10000
Generic Language Credit

 
Latin Language/Literature 4

10000
Generic Language Credit
10000
Generic Language Credit
20000
Generic Language Credit

 
Latin Language/Literature 5

10000
Generic Language Credit
10000
Generic Language Credit
20000
Generic Language Credit
20000
Generic Language Credit

12   
Spanish Language/Literature 3 10103
Spanish for Beginners 1
10203
Spanish for Beginners 2
 
Spanish Language/Literature 4

10103
Spanish for Beginners 1
10203
Spanish for Beginners 2
20103
Intermediate Spanish 1
20203
Intermediate Spanish 2

12   
Spanish Language/Literature 5 10103
Spanish for Beginners 1
10203
Spanish for Beginners 2
20103
Intermediate Spanish 1
20203
Intermediate Spanish 2
12   
Music Theory 4 or 5 10203
Elementary Theory
10201
Elementary Ear Training
4  
Physics        
Physics 1 4 or 5 10154
General Physics I with Laboratory
4  
Physics 2 4 or 5 10164
General Physics II with Laboratory
4  
C - Mechanical 4 or 5 20474
Physics I with Laboratory: Mechanics
4 NSC
C - Electricity & Magnetism 4 or 5 20484
Physics II with Laboratory: Electromagnetism and Optics
4  
Political Science        
U.S. Government 3, 4 or 5 10000
American Government
3 SSC
Comparative Government and Politics 3, 4 or 5 10000
Political Science
3 SSC
Psychology 4 or 5 10500
Psychology
3  
CLEP Subject Score TCU Equivalent

Credit
(semester hours)

American Government 55 10000
US Government
3
Biology      
Biology 55 10003
Contemporary Issues in Biology
3 ‡
Biology 65 10511
Introductory Biology Lab II
10513
Introductory Biology II
4 ‡
Chemistry      
Chemistry 65 10113
General Chemistry I
3
Chemistry 70 10113
General Chemistry I
10125
General Chemistry II with Laboratory
8
Economics      
Principles of Macroeconomics 55 10233
Introductory Macroeconomics
3
Principles of Microeconomics 55 10223
Introductory Microeconomics
3
English (with essay)      
English Composition 55 10803
Introductory Composition: Writing as Inquiry
3
(TCU does not accept the College Composition Modular)
History/Civilization      
History of the United States I 55 10603
United States History: A Survey to 1877
3
History of the United States II 55 10613
United States History: A Survey since 1877
3
Western Civilization I 55 10203
Origins of Western Civilization: Europe to 1348
3
Western Civilization II 55 10223
Modernization and its Discontents: Europe 1789 to the Present
3
Humanities 55 10200
Humanities
6
Introductory Psychology 65 10500
 Psychology
3
Introductory Sociology 55 10500
Introduction to Sociology
3
Mathematics      
Calculus 65 10524
Calculus I
4
Modern Languages      
French or German Language 50 10153
First Semester College French or Beginning German I
10163
Second Semester College French or Beginning German II
6
French Language 62 10153
First Semester College French
10163
Second Semester College French
20053
Third Semester College French
20063
Fourth Semester College French
12
German Language 63 10153
Beginning German I
10163
Beginning German II
20053
Beginning German III
20063
Intermediate German
12
Spanish Language 50 10103
Spanish for Beginners 1
10203
Spanish for Beginners 2
6
Spanish Language 66 10103
Spanish for Beginners 1
10203
Spanish for Beginners 2
20103
Intermediate Spanish 1
20203
Intermediate Spanish 2
12
Natural Sciences 55 10210
Natural Science
6
Social Sciences and History 55 10200
Social Science
6

IB Subject Score TCU Equivalent Core Code Max Credit*
(semester hours)
Art (Visual) 5, 6, 7 HL ARHI 10000 FAR 3
  5, 6, 7 HL ARHI 10200   3
Biology 5, 6 HL BIOL 10003 NSC 3
  7 HL BIOL 10501/3, 10511/3 NSC (10501/3) 8
Business & Management 5, 6, 7 HL BUSI 10200   6
Chemistry 6 HL CHEM 10113   3
  7 HL CHEM 10113, 10125 NSC (10125) 8
Economics 5, 6, 7 HL ECON 10223 SSC 3
  5,6,7, HL ECON 10223 SSC 3
  5, 6, 7 SL ECON 10233 SSC 3
English  
A - Literature 5, 6 HL

ENGL 10103 HUM, LT 3
  7 HL ENGL 10103, 10113 HUM, LT 6
A - Language & Literature 5, 6, 7 HL ENGL 10103, 10803 HUM, LT, WCO 6
Language B 5, 6, 7 HL ENFL 10103, 10113 HUM, LT 6
Film 5, 6, 7 HL FTDM 10200   3
Geography 5, 6, 7 HL GEOG 10000 SSC 3
  5, 6, 7 HL GEOG 10200   3
Geology 5, 6, 7 HL GEOL 10113 NSC 3
  5, 6, 7 HL GEOL 10200   3
History  
Africa and the Middle East 5, 6, 7 HL HIST 10803
HIST 10813
HT
HUM
3
Americas 5, 6, 7 HL HIST 10500 SSC, HT 3
Asia and Oceania 5, 6, 7 HL

HIST 10943 HIST 10953

HT,
HUM,
CA

3
Europe 5, 6, 7 HL HIST 10000 HT
Information Technology in a Global Society 5, 6, 7 HL CITE 10200   6
Mathematics Applications & Interpretations (Math Apps) 6, 7 HL MATH 10043 MTH 3
  6, 7 SL MATH 10043 MTH 3
Mathematics Analysis & Approaches (Math Studies) 6, 7 HL MATH 10524 MTH 4
  6, 7 SL MATH 10000 MTH 4
Modern Languages  
French 5, 6, 7 HL FREN 20053, 20063   6
German 5, 6, 7 CA GRMN 20053, 20063   6
Greek 5, 6, 7 HL GREE 20053, 20063   6
Japanese 5, 6, 7 HL JAPN 20053, 20063   6
Spanish 5, 6, 7 HL SPAN 20103, 20203   6
Language (not taught at TCU) 5, 6, 7 HL LANG 20000   6
Philosophy 5, 6, 7 HL PHIL 10003   3
Physics 5, 6, 7 HL PHYS 10154, 10164 NSC 8
Political Science  
Global Politics 5, 6, 7 HL POSC 10000 SSC 3
Psychology 5, 6, 7 HL PSYC 10213, 10200   6
Religion 5, 6, 7 HL RELI 10000 HUM, RT 3
  5, 6, 7 HL RELI 10200   3
Sociology 5, 6, 7 HL SOCI 10500 SSC 3
  5, 6, 7 HL SOCI 10200   3
Theatre Arts 5, 6, 7 HL THEA 10000 FAR 3
  5, 6, 7 HL THEA 10200   3

 

TCU awards 6-8 credit hours per A-Level subject in which a student scores a C or better.

TCU awards 3-4 credit hours per AS-Level subject in which a student scores a C or better.

Devised primarily for the experienced professional, “Credit by Portfolio Assessment” is available in some, but not all academic fields at TCU. Limited credit may be granted for a portfolio demonstrating learning gained through college-level life experience. The portfolio is assessed by TCU faculty. Details of this program are available from the Office of Extended Education, 817-257-7130.