Credit by examination policies are reviewed annually and are subject to change for the following academic year. The below policies are effective for the 2015-16 academic year.
Examinations Administered in High School
SMU grants credit and placement for scores of 4 or 5 on most Advanced Placement examinations taken in high school (see table below). Credit will be awarded only for exams taken while in high school. Students may not receive credit for an AP exam, an International Baccalaureate exam and a college course covering the same subject matter; i.e., the course equivalency will only be awarded once. Credit by examination granted at SMU is considered resident credit.An official copy of test results must be sent from the testing agency to the University Registrar’s Office for credit. To facilitate advising and enrollment, students should submit their official scores no later than the first day of class.
AP Examination |
Scores |
Credits Awarded |
Course(s) Credited |
| American History | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | HIST 2311, 2312 |
| Art | 4, 5 | 3 Hours |
ASDR 1300, ASPH 1300, or ASPT 1300 (student’s choice) |
| Art History | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | ARHS 1303, 1304 |
| Biology | 4, 5 | 8 Hours | BIOL 1401, 1402 |
| Chemistry | 4, 5 | 4 Hours | CHEM 1303/1113 |
| Computer Science A, AB | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | CSE 1341 |
| Economics: | |||
| Macro | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | ECO 1312 |
| Micro | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | ECO 1311 / PREX 4002 |
| English Lng/C or Lit/C | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | DISC 1311, 1312 |
| Environmental Science | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | GEOL 1315 |
| European History | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | HIST 2365, 2366 |
| Government: | |||
| American | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | PLSC 1320 |
| Comparative | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | PLSC 1340 |
| Human Geography | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | HUM 10XX |
| Languages (Language or Lit): | |||
| Chinese Language & Culture | 4, 5 | 16 Hours | CHIN 1401, 1402, 2401, 2402 |
| French | 4, 5 | 16 Hours | FREN 1401, 1402, 2401, 2455 |
| German | 4, 5 | 14 Hours | GERM 1401, 1402, 2311, 2312 |
| Italian |
4, 5 | 16 Hours | ITAL 1401, 1402, 2401, 2402 |
| Japanese Language & Culture | 4, 5 | 16 Hours | JAPN 1401, 1402, 2401, 2402 |
| Latin | 4, 5 | 14 Hours | LATN 1401, 1402, 2311, 2312 |
| Spanish | 4, 5 | 15 Hours | SPAN 1401, 1402, 2401, 2302 |
| Mathematics: | |||
| Calculus AB | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | MATH 1337 |
| Calculus BC |
3 if AB subscore of 4 |
3 Hours | MATH 1337 |
| Calculus BC | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | MATH 1337, 1338 |
| Music Theory | 4, 5 | 6 Hours | FETC 10XX |
| Physics: | |||
| Physics does not award placement credit for labs. | |||
| Physics 1 | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | SCI 10XX |
| Physics 2 | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | SCI 10YY |
| Physics C (Mech) |
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
PHYS 1303 |
| Physics C (E&M) |
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
PHYS 1304 |
| Psychology | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | PSYC 1300 |
| Statistics | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | STAT 2331 |
| World History | 4, 5 | 3 Hours | HUM 10YY |
* Physics does not award placement credit for labs.
NOTE: Duplicate credit is not allowed toward an SMU degree. Students who enroll in classes that duplicate Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other test credit awards, will lose these credits after the 5th class day of the semester. Once credit is revoked, it may not be awarded again. Students must report any credit by exam no later than the end of his/her first semester of enrollment.
College-Level Examination Program
SMU gives credit for CLEP subject examinations based on the specified minimum scores below:
| CLEP Exam | Score (out of 80) | Credits Awarded | Course Credited |
| American Literature | 60 | 3 Hours | ENGL 20XX |
| English Literature | 60 | 3 Hours | ENGL 20YY |
| Macro Economics | 60 | 3 Hours | ECO 1312 |
| Micro Economics | 60 | 3 Hours | ECO 1311 / PREX 4002 |
SMU Departmental Examinations
SMU also awards credit for departmental examinations offered in a variety of disciplines. Such SMU credit may not transfer automatically to other universities. Credit for examinations awarded by other institutions will not transfer to SMU.
World Languages
All students whose native language is English are required to take a language placement examination. Scores on these examinations determine the world language competency of entering students so that they may be placed in classes appropriate to their level of achievement and degree program. Students may not enroll in a course below the level of their placement. When the student has successfully completed the course with a grade of Cor above, the student will retroactively earn up to 16 term hours of University credit for the preceding courses in the beginning and intermediate levels of the language sequence. Students must enroll in the world language courses for a letter grade (not pass/fail) for the course to serve as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Language courses taken at other institutions cannot be used as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Although students may earn retroactive credit in more than one language, the maximum aggregate credit involving more than one language allowed to count toward graduation is 16 term hours.
Physics
The Physics Department offers placement exams for PHYS 1303 and 1304. The placement exam, which must be taken in the first term that the student enrolls at SMU, is based on the final exam in the PHYS 1303 and 1304 courses. The department does not allow test credit for labs (e.g., PHYS 1105, 1106, 4211). The essential element of the lab is the hands-on experience; therefore, substitutes will not be accepted.
The Physics Department does not allow test credit for labs (e.g., PHYS 1105, 1106, 4211). The essential element of the lab is the hands-on experience; therefore, substitutes will not be accepted.Mathematics
Math credit exams are offered for the courses listed below and must be taken prior to initial enrollment. Calculators are not permitted on these exams, except for MATH 1307. Students interested in credit exams for courses beyond this level may contact the Mathematics Department.
MATH 1307 Introduction to Mathematical Sciences (3 credits)MATH 1309 Introduction to Calculus for Business/Social Sciences (3 credits)(suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)MATH 1337 Calculus I (3 credits)(suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)MATH 1338 Calculus II (3 credits)
Computer Science
The Computer Science and Engineering Department offers a credit exam for CSE 1341 Principles of Computer Science I that must be taken prior to initial enrollment.
Credit for Military Veterans
Students who are military veterans and completed recruit training in the service may receive 2 hours of credit to satisfy the Personal Responsibility and Wellness component of the University Curriculum. The course credits awarded are:
| PRW 1199 | PRW 1: Concepts of Wellness for Veterans (1 credit hour) For military veterans who through their military service have met the requirements for PRW I. |
| PRW 2199 | PRW 2: Physical Fitness for Veterans (1 credit hour) For military veterans who through their military service have met the requirements for PRW II. |
International Certificate Programs
SMU grants credit for the successful completion of the international certificate programs listed below. In certain cases, departmental examinations may be required as a part of the evaluation process.
-
The International Baccalaureate
Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate higher level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for standard-level exams.IB HL Examination
Scores
Credits
Course(s) Credited
Biology 5, 6, 7 8 Hours BIOL 1401, 1402 Chemistry 6, 7 4 Hours CHEM 1303/1113 Economics 5, 6, 7 6 Hours ECO 1311 / PREX 4002, ECO 1312 Geography 5, 6, 7 6 Hours HUM 10XX, HUM 10YY History:
Africa 5, 6, 7
6 Hours HIST 10XX, 10YY Americas 5, 6, 7
6 Hours HIST 10XX, 10YY
Asia and Oceania 5, 6, 7
6 Hours HIST 10XX, 10YY
Europe, Islamic World 5, 6, 7
6 Hours HIST 2365, 2366
Europe, Middle East 5, 6, 7
6 Hours HIST 10XX, 10YY
Language A: English A Literature 5, 6, 7
6 Hours DISC 1311, 1312 All other languages 5, 6, 7
8 Hours 1401, 1402 Language B 5, 6, 7
8 Hours 1401, 1402 English B
5, 6, 7
6 Hours LANG 10XX, 10YY Mathematics 5, 6, 7
6 Hours MATH 1337, STAT 2331 Music History 5, 6, 7
3 Hours MUHI 10XX Theory 5, 6, 7
3 Hours MUTH 10XX Physics 5, 6, 7
6 Hours PHYS 1303, 1304 Psychology 5, 6, 7
6 Hours PSYCH 1300, 10XX -
The General Certificate of Education A-Level (United Kingdom)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for grades of A and B on A-level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for a grade of C, or for 0-level and AS-level exams. Credit awards for the Art and Design A, High-Level exam are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by SMU's Art Department. -
The Baccalaureate (France)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 11 or above, with a maximum award of 32 credits. -
The Abitur (Germany)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 7 or above on each of the written exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for oral exams. -
The Italian Maturita (Italy)
For the Maturita Tecnica, Classica, Scientifica, and/or Linguistica, credits will be awarded for scores of 6 or above in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits.
NOTE:
- The Language A exam is typically taken in the native language of the student
- Language B is a second, third or fourth language studied by the student.
- For “all other languages” under Language A and for Language B, the course prefix will match the world language completed.
- Physics does not award IB credit for labs.
- Students enrolled in courses at SMU for which IB credit has previously been awarded will have the IB credit rescinded, and the grade in the course will count toward the student’s SMU GPA. Students are responsible for knowing and reporting their IB scores to SMU to prevent duplicate enrollment.