Credit by Examination: Academic Year 2017-18

Credit by examination policies are reviewed annually and are subject to change for the following 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. AP test scores are evaluated and SMU course credit is assigned based on the articulation policies in effect for the term students matriculate to the University, regardless of when the test was taken.

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. Students may decline all or part of their test credit in favor of taking the equivalent credit at SMU; declining credit is an irrevocable declaration. 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 1301/1101,1302/1102
Chemistry 4, 5 4 Hours CHEM 1303/1113
Computer Science A 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 8 Hours CHIN 1401, 1402
    French 4, 5 8 Hours FREN 1401, 1402
    German 4, 5 8 Hours GERM 1401, 1402
    Italian
 4, 5 8 Hours ITAL 1401, 1402
    Japanese Language & Culture 4, 5 8 Hours JAPN 1401, 1402
    Latin 4, 5 8 Hours LATN 1401, 1402
    Spanish 4, 5 8 Hours SPAN 1401, 1402
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

Notes

● AP credit in the sciences may be used to satisfy the Science and Engineering breadth requirement of the University Curriculum. The UC’s Natural and Applied Science depth requirement must be satisfied through coursework at SMU or through transfer credit of a science course with lab from an accredited college or university.

● Physics does not award placement credit for labs.

● 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 fifth day of the term. Once credit is revoked, it may not be awarded again. Students must report any credit by exam no later than the end of their first term 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 C or 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 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 I: 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 II: 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.

  1. 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 1301/1101,1302/1102
    Chemistry 5, 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 PSYC 1300, 10XX

  2. 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. 

  3. The Baccalaureate (France)
    Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 11 or above, with a maximum award of 32 credits.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.
  • IB credit in the sciences may be used to satisfy the Science and Engineering breadth requirement of the University Curriculum. The UC's Natural and Applied Science depth requirement must be satisfied through coursework at SMU or through transfer credit of a science course with lab from an accredited college or university. 
  • 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.