AP, CLEP, IB, Military

Students who score a minimum ACT English score of 27 or an old SAT verbal score of 610 or a new SAT Reading Test score of at least 33 will be exempt from taking English 101. Official scores should be mailed to the Office of Admissions for exemption to be granted.

A student may receive credit for a course by passing a locally prepared examination and by paying appropriate fees. (See “Credit by Examination”.)

A student may receive Military Science or Aerospace Science placement credit for prior military service or Junior ROTC training. Contact the Department of Military Science or the Department of Aerospace Studies for details.

The Prior Learning Assessment Center, housed in the Department of Integrative Studies, will serve as a central location where potential and enrolled USA students can obtain information and advising on the assessment options available for earning USA credit for prior learning. The center will also be the primary academic unit responsible for the coordination and administration of prior learning assessment by portfolio.

If you are a high school student and you are receiving dual enrollment credit while in high school, you must send the Office of Admissions an official transcript from the institution through which you dual enrolled. An evaluation of transfer credits will be completed prior to the semester of entry. You must have earned at least a "C" (2.0) average on all previous collegiate work attempted to satisfy the requirements.

Students participating in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) will be granted University credit as indicated below.

AP Course	USA Credit Awarded	Hours Awarded	Required Score
Art History	ARH 100	3 hrs	4
Studio Art: 2-D Design	ARS Elective	3 hrs	4
Studio Art: 3-D Design	ARS Elective	3 hrs	4
Studio Art-Drawing	ARS Elective	3 hrs	4
Biology	BLY 121/121L & BLY 122/122L	8 hrs	3
Chemistry	CH 131/131L	4 hrs	4
Chemistry	CH 131/131L & CH 132/132L	8 hrs	5
Computer Science A	CSC 120	4 hrs	4
Computer Science Principles	CSC 108	3 hrs	3
Microeconomics	ECO 215	3 hrs	3
Macroeconomics	ECO 216	3 hrs	3
Language & Composition	EH 101	3 hrs	4
Language & Literature	EH 101	3 hrs	4
Human Geography	GEO 114	3 hrs	3
European History	HY 102	3 hrs	4
World History	HY 121	3 hrs	4
World History	HY 121 & HY 122	6 hrs	5
US History	HY 136	3 hrs	4
US History	HY 135 & HY 136	6 hrs	5
Calculus AB	MA 125	4 hrs	3
Calculus BC	MA 125 & MA 126	8 hrs	3
Music Listening & Lit	MUL Elective	3 hrs	3
Music Theory	MUT Elective	3 hrs	3
Physics 1	PH 114/114L	5 hrs	4
Physics 2	PH 115/115L	5 hrs	4
Physics C Mechanics	PH 201/201L	4 hrs	4
Physics C Electricity & Magnetism	PH 202/202L	4 hrs	4
American Gov‘t	PSC 130	3 hrs	3
Comparative Gov’t	PSC 250	3 hrs	3
Psychology	PSY 120	3 hrs	3
Statistics	ST 210	3 hrs	3
French:
French Language and Culture	LG 111 & LG 112	6 hrs	3
French Language and Culture	LG 111, LG 112, & LG 211	9 hrs	4
French Language and Culture	LG 111, LG 112, LG 211, & LG 212	12 hrs	5
German:
German Language and Culture	LG 151 & LG 152	6 hrs	3
German Language and Culture	LG 151, LG 152, & LG 251	9 hrs	4
German Language and Culture	LG 151, LG 152, LG 251, & LG 252	12 hrs	5
Latin:
Latin	LG 101 & LG 102	6 hrs	3
Latin	LG 101, LG 102, & LG 201	9 hrs	4
Latin	LG 101, LG 102, LG 201 & LG 202	12 hrs	5
Spanish:
Spanish Language and Culture	LG 131 & LG 132	6 hrs	3
Spanish Language and Culture	LG 131, LG 132, & LG 231	9 hrs	4
Spanish Language and Culture	LG 131, LG 132, LG 231, & LG 232	12 hrs	5

A student may receive credit from the General Examinations and certain Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) as shown below. Official CLEP scores mailed directly from the CLEP division of the Educational Testing Service are required before credit will be awarded.

CLEP Exam	USA Credit Awarded	Hours Awarded	Required Score
Financial Accounting	ACC 211	3 hrs	50
General Biology	BLY 121/121L & BLY 122/122L	8 hrs	50
Natural Sciences-General	Biology & Natural Science Electives	8 hrs	50
Intro to Business Law	BUS 265	3 hrs	50
General Chemistry	CH 131/131L & CH 132/132L	8 hrs	50
Intro to Microeconomics	ECO 215	3 hrs	50
Intro to Macroeconomics	ECO 216	3 hrs	50
College Composition	EH 101 & EH 102	6 hrs	50
Humanities-General	Fine Arts & Literature Electives	6 hrs	50
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 -	HY 101	3 hrs	50
Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present	HY 102	3 hrs	50
World History	HY 121	3 hrs	50
U.S. History I: Early Colonizations to 1877	HY 135	3 hrs	50
US History II: 1865 to Present -	HY 136	3 hrs	50
Precalculus	MA 115	4 hrs	50
Calculus	MA 125	4 hrs	60
College Mathematics	Math Electives	8 hrs	50
Intro to Marketing	MKT 320	3 hrs	50
American Government	PSC 130	3 hrs	50
Into to Psychology	PSY 120	3 hrs	50
Human Growth and Development	PSY 250	3 hrs	50
Intro to Sociology	SY 109	3 hrs	50
Social Science & History	Social Science & History Electives	6 hrs	50
French	LG 111 & LG 112	6 hrs	50-59
French	LG 111, LG 112, and LG 211	9 hrs	60
German	LG 151 & LG 152	6 hrs	50-59
German	LG 151, LG 152, and LG 251	9 hrs	60
Spanish	LG 131 & LG 132	6 hrs	50-59
Spanish	LG 131, LG 132, and LG 231	9 hrs	60

 

Computer Science CLEP credit are awarded based on USA departmental recommendations. The University reserves the right to change the CLEP minimum scores and credit awarded based on recommendations by the College Board and University research.

Students participating in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) will be granted University credit as indicated below:

IB Examination	USA Credited Awarded	Hours Awarded	SL/HL	Required Score
Social and Cultural Anthropology	AN 100	3 hrs	SL and HL	5
Biology	BLY 101/101L & BLY 102/102L	8 hrs	SL	5
Biology	BLY 121/121, & BLY 122/122L	8 hrs	HL	5
Chemistry	CH101/101L or CH131/31L	4 hrs	SL	5
Chemistry	CH131/131L & CH132/132L	8 hrs	HL	5
Theatre	DRA 110	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
Economics	ECO 215 & ECO 216	6 hrs	SL	6
Economics	ECO 215	3 hrs	HL	4
Economics	ECO 215 & ECO 216	6 hrs	HL	5
Language A: Language and Literature	EH 101	3 hrs	HL	5-6
Language A: Language and Literature	EH 101 & EH 102	6 hrs	HL	7
Geography	GEO 114	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
History of the Americas	HY 135	3 hrs	HL	5
History of Asia and Oceania	HY 104	3 hrs	HL	5
History of Europe	HY 102	3 hrs	HL	5
Information Technology in a global society	ISC 245 or ITE 271	3 hrs	SL and HL	5
Arabic	LGS 106	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Arabic	LGS 106	3 hrs	SL and HL	3
Arabic	LGS 106 & LGS 107	6 hrs	SL and HL	4
Arabic	LGS 106, LGS 107, LGS 206, LGS 207	12 hrs	SL and HL	5
Chinese	LG 121	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Chinese	LG 121	3 hrs	SL and HL	3
Chinese	LG 121, LG 122	6 hrs	SL and HL	4
Chinese	LG 121, LG 122, LG 221, LG 222	12 hrs	SL and HL	5
Classical Languages	LG 101	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Classical Languages	LG 101	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
Classical Languages	LG 101 & LG 102	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
Classical Languages	LG 101, LG 102, LG 201	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
Classical Languages	LG 101, LG 102, LG 201, LG 202	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
French	LG 111	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
French	LG 111	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
French	LG 111 & LG 112	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
French	LG 111, LG 112, LG 211	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
French	LG 111, LG 112, LG 211, LG 212	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
German	LG 151	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
German	LG 151	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
German	LG 151, LG 152	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
German	LG 151, LG 152, LG 251	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
German	LG 151, LG 152, LG 251, LG 252	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
Hindi	LGS 131	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Hindi	LGS 131	3 hrs	SL and HL	3
Italian	LGS 161	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Italian	LGS 161	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
Italian	LGS 161 & LGS 162	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
Italian	LGS 161, LGS 162, LGS 261	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
Italian	LGS 161, LGS 162, LGS 261, LGS 262	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
Japanese	LGS 101	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Japanese	LGS 101	3 hrs	SL and HL	3
Japanese	LGS 101 & LGS 102	6 hrs	SL and HL	4
Japanese	LGS 101, LGS 102, LGS 201, LGS 202	12 hrs	SL and HL	5
Korean	LGS 171	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Korean	LGS 171	3 hrs	SL and HL	3
Korean	LGS 171& LGS 172	6 hrs	SL and HL	4
Korean	LGS 171, LGS 172, LGS 271, LGS 272	12 hrs	SL and HL	5
Modern Greek	LGS 141	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Modern Greek	LGS 141	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
Modern Greek	LGS 141 & LGS 142	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
Modern Greek	LGS 141, LGS 142, LGS 241	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
Modern Greek	LGS 141, LGS 142, LGS 241, LGS 242	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
Portuguese	LGS 181	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Portuguese	LGS 181	3 hrs	SL and HL	4
Portuguese	LGS 181 & LGS 182	6 hrs	SL and HL	5
Portuguese	LGS 181, LGS 182, LGS 281	9 hrs	SL and HL	6
Portuguese	LGS 181, LGS 182, LGS 281, LGS 282	12 hrs	SL and HL	7
Russian	LG 171	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL	4
Russian	LG 171 & LG 172	6 hrs	ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL	5
Russian	LG 171, LG 172, LG 271	9 hrs	ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL	6
Russian	LG 171, LG 172, LG 271, LG 272	12 hrs	ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL	7
Spanish	LG 131	3 hrs	ab initio SL/HL	4
Spanish	LG 131	3 hrs	SL	4
Spanish	LG 131 & LG 132	6 hrs	SL	5
Spanish	LG 131, LG 132, LG 231	9 hrs	SL	6
Spanish	LG 131 & LG 132	6 hrs	HL	5
Spanish	LG 131, LG 132, LG 231	9 hrs	HL	6
Spanish	LG 131, LG 132, LG 231, LG 232	12 hrs	HL	7
Mathematical Studies	MA 110	3 hrs	SL	4
Mathematics	MA 115	4 hrs	SL and HL	4-5
Mathematics	MA 125	4 hrs	SL and HL	6
Music	MUL 101	3 hrs	SL	5
Music	MUL 235	2 hrs	HL	5
Physics	PH 104	4 hrs	SL and HL	5
Philosophy	PHL 110	3 hrs	SL and HL	5
Psychology	PSY 120	3 hrs	SL and HL	5

 

 

Credit will be awarded as outlined for examinations completed through an A/AS Level Examining Board.

AICE Subject	Grade	USA Credit Awarded	Hours Awarded
Accounting (AS-Level)	A - E	BUS 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Accounting (A-Level)	A - E	BUS 100 Level Elective	3-6 hrs
Art and Design (AS-Level)	A - E	ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Art and Design (A-Level)	A - E	ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective	3-6 hrs
Biology (AS-Level)	A - E	BLY 101	3 hrs
Biology (A-Level)	A - E	BLY 121/121L & BLY122/122L	8 hrs
Business Studies (AS-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Business Studies (A-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Chemistry (AS-Level)	A - E	CH 100 Level Elective	4 hrs
Chemistry (A-Level)	A - E	CH 131 & CH 100 Level Elective	8 hrs
Classical Studies (AS-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Computing (AS-Level)	A - E	CSC 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Computing (A-Level)	A - E	CSC 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Design and Technology (AS-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Design and Technology (A-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Economics (AS-Level)	A - E	BUS 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Economics (A-Level)	A - E	ECO 215 & ECO 216	6 hrs
English Language (AS-Level)	A - E	EH 101	3 hrs
Environmental Management (AS-Level)	A - E	GEO 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
French Language (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 111	3 hrs
French Language (A-Level)	A - E	LG 111 & LG 112	6 hrs
French Literature (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Further Mathematics (A-Level)	A - E	MA 125 & MA 126	8 hrs
General Paper (AS-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Geography (AS-Level)	A - E	GEO 115	3 hrs
Geography (A-Level)	A - E	GEO 102, GEO 102L, GEO 100 Level Elective	7 hrs
German Language (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 151	3 hrs
German Language (A-Level)	A - E	LG 151 & LG 152	6 hrs
History (AS-Level)	A - E	HY 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
History (A-Level)	A - E	HY 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Language and Literature in English (AS-Level)	A - E	EH 101	3 hrs
Latin (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 101	3 hrs
Literature in English (AS-Level)	A - E	EH 101	3 hrs
Literature in English (A-Level)	A - E	EH 101 & EH 102	6 hrs
Marine Science (AS-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Marine Science (A-Level)	A - E	GNRL 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Mathematics (AS-Level)	A - E	MA 115	4 hrs
Mathematics (A-Level)	A - E	MA 125	4 hrs
Music (AS-Level)	A - E	MUL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Music (A-Level)	A - E	MUL 101 & MUL 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Physics (AS-Level)	A - E	PH 100 Level Elective	4 hrs
Physics (A-Level)	A - E	PH 114 & PH 115	10 hrs
Psychology (AS-Level)	A - E	PSY 120	3 hrs
Psychology (A-Level)	A - E	PSY 120 & PSY 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Sociology (AS-Level)	A - E	SY 109	3 hrs
Sociology (A-Level)	A - E	SY 109 & SY 100 Level Elective	6 hrs
Spanish Language (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 131	3 hrs
Spanish Language (A-Level)	A - E	LG 131 & LG 132	6 hrs
Spanish Literature (AS-Level)	A - E	LG 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Thinking Skills (AS-Level)	A - E	PHL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs
Thinking Skills (A-Level)	A - E	PHL 100 Level Elective	3 hrs

 

A Level Exam Credit Award Policy:

This policy is in effect for all undergraduate students entering USA. Tests taken after a student matriculates are not eligible for credit.

For incoming new undergraduate students, Cambridge A-Level and AICE scores on file at USA are evaluated for credit at the point the student has an offer of admission. Additional scores that are received for incoming new undergraduate students will be evaluated at the time of receipt.

For continuing undergraduate students who did not send their scores prior to matriculating at USA, A-Level and AICE scores received by the university are evaluated for credit based on the AP credit equivalencies in effect at time of receipt.

Transfer students will receive the A-Level and AICE credit for college-level courses when official scores are received by the university.

Credit will be awarded only once for the same subject, whether the credit is earned by examination, Dual Enrollment, transfer credit, or course credit. If duplicate credit exists among A-Level, AP, IB, the source yielding the most credit will be awarded. Credit earned through testing will not replace graded credit in that same course.

Students may opt out of test credit if they see that acceptance of credit may disadvantage them. Students should make this request within their first year of attendance at USA.

Additional Information:

Cambridge International does not release scores on A-Level taken in June until after September of that same test year. This may impact incoming undergraduate students attending orientation sessions in summer. Students should speak to their academic advisor during orientation about potential A-Level credit that is not yet on their USA record.

For sequence courses such as foreign language, English, Math, plan to take the next course after the one for which you have received course credit. Please consult with your academic advisor for additional information.

Appeals:

If you believe that the assessment of your work and subsequent awarding of credits for such is in error, please contact the Registrar’s Office.