Credit by Examination: Academic Year 2020-21

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. If you are interested in credit exams for courses beyond this level, contact the Mathematics Department.

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.

Music

All entering music undergraduate students (except transfer students from 4-year NASM schools) are required to take entrance examinations in written music theory and musicianship before classes begin. The date and time of these exams are listed in the “Orientation Schedule” published by the Division of Music each year and emailed to you. You are advised to make appropriate end-of-summer plans to be present and on time for these exams. You must be available for the entire testing period, and these exams cannot be made up once the semester begins. Since the exams are used for course section placement, you are required to take the exams whether or not you are seeking credit by examination.

All music degrees require coursework in Class Piano. If you are a prospective music major with no formal piano study, you should enroll directly in Class Piano during your first semester. Prospective music majors with any amount of formal piano study must be tested individually for placement into the appropriate Class Piano course. Scheduling information for these tests is provided in the “Orientation Schedule” published by the Division of Music each year and emailed to students.

International Certificate Programs

SMU grants credit for the successful completion of the international certificate programs listed below. Credit granted by SMU is not considered resident credit and does not count towards the 60 resident hours required for an SMU degree. In certain cases, departmental examinations may be required as a part of the evaluation process.

1. The International Baccalaureate
   Six to eight credits are awarded for scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate higher level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credit is not awarded for standard-level exams.

   IB HL Examination	Scores	# of Credits	Course(s) Credited	Common Curriculum or Graduation Proficiency Component Satisfied
   Biology	5, 6 or 7	4 Hours	BIOL 1302/1102	ES Breadth
   Chemistry	7	4 Hours	CHEM 1303/1113	ES Breadth
   Economics	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	ECO 1311 / PREX 4002, ECO 1312	Quantitative Applications Proficiency
   Film	5, 6 or 7	3 Hours	FILM 10XX
   Geography	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HUM 10XX, HUM 10YY	None
   History:
   Africa	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HIST 10XX, 10YY	None
   Americas	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HIST 10XX, 10YY	None
   Asia and Oceania	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HIST 10XX, 10YY	None
   Europe, Islamic World	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HIST 20XX, 20YY	None
   Europe, Middle East	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	HIST 10XX, 10YY	None
   Language A:
   English A Literature	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	WRTR 10XX, 10YY	None
   All other languages	5, 6 or 7	8 Hours	1401, 1402	Second Language Foundation
   Language B	5, 6 or 7	8 Hours	1401, 1402	Second Language Foundation
   English B	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	LANG 10XX, 10YY	None
   Mathematics	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	MATH 1337, STAT 2331	Quantitative Reasoning Foundation
   Physics	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	PHYS 1303, 1304	With both labs PHYS 1105 and 1106 = ES Breadth
   Psychology	5, 6 or 7	6 Hours	PSYC 1300, 10XX	SBS Breadth

   *Students are awarded credit only for Higher-Level IB Exams. Standard-Level IB Exams are NOT awarded credit. Students are awarded a maximum of 32 IB credits.

2. The General Certificate of Education A-Level (United Kingdom)
   Six to eight credits are awarded for grades of A and B on A-level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits are not 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 are awarded for scores of 11 or above, with a maximum award of 32 credits.

4. The Abitur (Germany)
   Six to eight credits are awarded for scores of 7 or above on each of the written exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits are not awarded for oral exams.

5. The Italian Maturita (Italy)
   For the Maturita Tecnica, Classica, Scientifica, and/or Linguistica, credits are 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.
• If you enroll in courses at SMU for which IB credit has previously been awarded, your IB credit will be rescinded, and the grade in the course counts toward your SMU GPA. You are responsible for knowing and reporting your IB scores to SMU to prevent duplicate enrollment.