Credit By Examination
Credit By Examination
Students may challenge courses by taking examinations developed at California State University, Chico. Credit shall be awarded to those who pass them successfully.
Credit for Non-Collegiate Instruction
Chico State grants undergraduate degree credit for successful completion of non-collegiate instruction, either military or civilian, appropriate to the baccalaureate degree, which has been recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education. The numbers of units allowed are those recommended in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services and the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. See the Military Credit on the Chico State Veterans Education And Transition Services (VETS) website for more information.
Credit for Prior Learning
Chico State grants up to 30 units of credit for learning, knowledge, or skills-based experience that has been documented and evaluated according to campus policy. Students should be aware, however, that policies for earning credit for prior learning vary university to university in the CSU.
The chancellor's office announces the passing scores for external examinations that may receive university credit. See Course Credit Policies for complete information.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Chico State grants credit toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of examinations of the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. Students who present scores of three or better will be granted up to eight semester units (12 quarter units) of college credit. The number of units and how they meet specific academic content requirements are specified in the Advanced Placement Examinations Chart.
Advanced Placement Examinations Chart
(Minimum Score of 3 Required)
| AP Exam | Passing Score | Credit (semester units) | Meets this Chico GE area or course equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art-Studio Art/2D Design | 3 | 3 | --- |
| Art-Studio Art/3D Design | 3 | 3 | --- |
| Art-Studio Art/Drawing | 3 | 3 | --- |
| Art-Art History | 3 | 6 | Arts (C1) or Humanities (C2): ARTH 110, ARTH 120 |
| Biology (includes lab) | 3 | 8 | Life Science (B2 with lab): BIOL 161 and BIOL 162, or BIOL/SCED 102 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4):1,2 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4):1,2 |
| Calculus AB Subscore on BC Exam | 3 | 4 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4):1,2 |
| Chemistry (includes lab) | 3 | 8 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): CHEM 107 |
| Chemistry (includes lab) | 4 | 8 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): CHEM 111 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | Humanities (C2)1 |
| Computer Science A (A only) | 3 | 3 | CSCI 1113 |
| Computer Science A and B | 3 | 6 | CSCI 1113 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 6 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4): CSCI 101 |
| Economics—Macro | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D): ECON 102 |
| Economics—Micro | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D): ECON 103 |
| English—Language and Composition | 3 | 6 | Written Communication (A2): ENGL 130W |
| English—Literature and Composition | 3 | 6 | Written Communication (A2) and Humanities (C2): ENGL 130W |
| Environmental Science (includes lab) | 3 | 4 | Physical Science (B1 with lab) |
| French—Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Humanities (C2): FREN 102, FREN 201 |
| German—Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Humanities (C2): GERM 102, GERM 201 |
| Government and Politics—U.S. | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) or US Constitution (US-2 only)4 |
| Government and Politics—Comparative | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
| History—European | 3 | 6 | Humanities (C2) or Social Sciences (D) |
| History—U.S. | 3 | 6 | Humanities (C2) or Social Sciences (D), U.S. History (US-1): HIST 130 |
| History—World | 3 | 3 | Humanities (C2) or Social Sciences (D): HIST 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D): GEOG 102 |
| Italian—Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Humanities (C2): ITAL 102, ITAL 201 |
| Japanese—Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Humanities (C2): JAPN 102, JAPN 201 |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | Humanities (C2)1 |
| Music—Theory | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Physics 1 (includes lab) | 3 | 4 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): PHYS 202A5 |
| Physics 2 (includes lab) | 3 | 4 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): PHYS 202B5 |
| Physics C—Mechanics (includes lab) | 3 | 4 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): PHYS 204A5 |
| Physics C—Electricity & Magnetism (includes lab) | 3 | 4 | Physical Science (B1 with lab): PHYS 204B5 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) or Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (E): PSYC 101 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | --- |
| Spanish—Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Humanities (C2): SPAN 102, SPAN 201 |
| Spanish—Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | Humanities (C2): Spanish major/minor elective credit (3 units only) |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4): MATH 105 |
Either 3 or 6 units of credit will be allowed for all other exams and applied to meet lower-division breadth requirements as appropriate.
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Department requires formal assessment for placement into appropriate courses.
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If both AP Calculus exams are passed, a maximum of 8 units will be awarded.
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If both AP Computer Science exams are passed, a maximum of 6 units will be awarded.
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Does not meet California state and local government content requirement.
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If more than one AP Physics exam is passed, a maximum of 8 units will be awarded.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
As recommended by the California State University Chancellor’s Office, Chico State grants credit toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of specific Higher Level (HL) International Baccalaureate examinations. Students who present the following passing scores will be granted up to six semester units of credit for each exam applied to the appropriate General Education requirements. Consult the IB Chart for specific details.
International Baccalaureate Examinations Chart (Higher Level Exams only)
| IB Exam (July 2001 version) | Passing Score | Credit (semester units) | Meets this Chico GE area or course equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology HL | 5 | 6 | Life Science (B2 with lab) |
| Chemistry HL | 5 | 6 | Physical Science (B1 with lab) |
| Economics HL | 5 | 6 | Social Sciences (D) |
| Geography HL | 5 | 6 | Social Sciences (D) |
| History (any region) HL | 5 | 6 | Humanities (C2) or Social Sciences (D) |
| History of the Americas HL | 5 | 6 | Social Sciences (D), HIST 130, GC |
| Language (any) A: Literature HL | 4 | 6 | Humanities (C2) |
| Language (English) A: Literature HL | 4 | 6 | Humanities (C2), GC |
| Language (any) A: Language and Literature HL | 4 | 6 | Humanities (C2) |
| Language (any) B HL | 4 | 6 | --- |
| Mathematics HL | 4 | 6 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| Mathematics HL: Analysis and Approaches | 4 | 6 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| Mathematics HL: Applications and Interpretation | 4 | 6 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| Physics HL | 5 | 6 | Physical Science (B1 with lab) |
| Psychology HL | 5 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) or Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (E) |
| Theatre HL | 4 | 6 | Arts (C1) |
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Chico State grants credit and/or fulfills requirements for certain CLEP Exams taken July 2001 or later as indicated in the chart below. For CLEP Exams taken prior to July 2001, consult a graduation advisor in Graduation Advising at 530-898-5957.
For more information about the CLEP visit the College Level Examination Program website.
College Level Examination Programs (CLEP) Chart
| CLEP Exam (July 2001 version) | Passing Score | Credit (semester units) | Meets this Chico GE area or course equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Principles of | 50 | 3 | 1 |
| American Government | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
| American Literature | 50 | 3 | Humanities (C2) |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | Humanities (C2) |
| Biology | 50 | 3 | Life Science (B2 no lab) |
| Business Law, Intro | 50 | 3 | --- |
| Calculus | 50 | 3 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| Chemistry | 50 | 3 | Physical Science (B1 no lab) |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| College-Algebra-Trigonometry | 50 | 3 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| College Composition | 50 | 0 | --- |
| College Composition - Freshman | 50 | 0 | --- |
| College Composition - Modular | 50 | 0 | --- |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 0 | --- |
| Educational Psychology, Intro | 50 | 3 | --- |
| English Composition (no essay) | 50 | 0 | --- |
| English Composition with Essay | 50 | 0 | --- |
| English Literature | 50 | 3 | --- |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 3 | --- |
| French, Level I | 50 | 6 | ---2 |
| French, Level II | 59 | 9 | Humanities (C2) 2 |
| German, Level I | 50 | 6 | ---2 |
| German, Level II | 60 | 9 | Humanities (C2)2 |
| History, United States I | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D), U.S. History (US-1) |
| History, United States II | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D), U.S. History (US-1) |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (E) |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | Humanities (C2) |
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | 50 | 3 | --- |
| Macroeconomics, Principles of | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
| Management, Principles of | 50 | 3 | --- |
| Marketing, Principles of | 50 | 3 | --- |
| Microeconomics, Principles of | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 3 | Physical Science (B1 no lab) or Life Science (B2 no lab) |
| Pre-Calculus | 50 | 3 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) |
| Psychology, Intro | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) or Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (E) |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 0 | --- |
| Sociology, Intro | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
| Spanish, Level I | 50 | 6 | ---2 |
| Spanish, Level II | 63 | 9 | Humanities (C2)2 |
| Spanish with Writing I | 50 | 6 | ---2 |
| Spanish and Writing II | 63 | 9 | Humanities (C2)2 |
| Western Civilization I | 50 | 3 | Humanities (C2) or Social Sciences (D) |
| Western Civilization II | 50 | 3 | Social Sciences (D) |
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Contact the Accounting Department for course equivalents.
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If more than one exam in the same language other than English is passed, a maximum of 9 units will be awarded.
There are some limits to the amount of credit that will be granted for results on external examinations. First, no more than 30 semester units of such credit may count toward degree requirements. Credit for Advanced Placement examinations is not included in this limit. Where credit has already been awarded at the equivalent or at a more advanced level, additional credit shall not be awarded. Where partial overlap exists, credit in the amounts indicated above will be reduced accordingly.
Credit by examination is not considered residence credit for purposes of residency requirements for the bachelor's degree.