Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Credit by Examination


Undergraduate Admissions  > Evaluation of Credits > Credit by Examination

The University of Houston awards course credit based on scores earned on Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), SAT II Subject Tests, International Baccalaureate (IB) tests, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES), and UH departmental examinations.

Each course credit equivalency is evaluated by the appropriate department and college to determine whether the work and credit are of suitable content and rigor. The list of courses for which credit may be awarded, the minimum exam score requirements, the number of credit hours approved for test credit, and the policies associated with the awarding of test credit are approved by the Undergraduate Committee and published in the University of Houston Undergraduate Catalog. Students are encouraged to consult the UH Undergraduate Catalog to understand related policies.

Specific procedures for claiming credit by examination, including the testing schedule, eligibility requirements, test descriptions, sample questions, and test fee amounts, are updated and published on the UH Testing Services website.

Eligibility

  • Any current or former University of Houston student may attempt to earn UH credit based on performance on an appropriate examination for any required or elective undergraduate course for which UH offers credit.
  • Prospective students may take examinations to establish their eligibility to receive credit or placement; however, credit is awarded only to officially enrolled students and former students.
  • Official test scores must be sent to the University of Houston by the last official class day in the semester the student is graduating in order to evaluate and post the course credit.
  • Students must meet University of Houston’s minimum approved passing scores, as well as any other specific departmental requirements, in order for examination credit to be used toward a degree program. 

Credit Hour Policies

  • There is not a limit to the number of hours that may be earned through the CBE program.
  • Credits earned by examination do not impact the Repeat rule.
  • Credit by examination that does not apply towards a student’s degree plan may make him or her ineligible for a tuition rebate. Review the Tuition Rebate guidelines for details.

Grades

A grade of CR (credit) will be assigned where applicable, will not carry grade points, will not be used to calculate a grade point average, cannot be translated into letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, D, or F), and will not replace any existing course grade earned at University of Houston, in high school, or at another college or university.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit earned by examination satisfies degree requirements in the same way as credit earned by passing a course, except that it does not count as credit earned in residence.
  • Students should confer with an academic advisor to determine whether credit earned by examination or by course is best for their degree objectives.
  • If a student takes a duplicate examination for the same subject content, credit will only be awarded once.

Fees

Credit by examination fees are used to support test administration, preparation and selection of examinations, scoring, analysis, and reporting. Examination fees are approved through the appropriate fee approval process at the university and collected by UH Testing Services or academic departments. 

Scholarship Eligibility

Credit earned by examination does not jeopardize eligibility for scholarships that require freshman standing

Exceptions

  • Academic deans may approve exceptions to the course placement and credit by examination policies for compelling academic reasons. If the exception involves the student’s eligibility to be tested or to receive credit by examination in a particular course, the exception must also be approved by the department in which the course is offered and the Office of the Provost.
  • Additional eligibility requirements may be established by the academic department awarding credit, with the approval of the Dean of the college and approved by the Undergraduate Committee.

Submitting Scores

Only University of Houston administrations of appropriate tests or official score reports from an approved testing agency are acceptable for credit, (e.g., official reports from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) are required for the College Board CLEP Tests and the Advanced Placement Program). Informal score reports or results of special administrations of national tests from other institutions are not accepted for credit.

Credit by Exam
All Credit by Examination Policies are Subject to Change.

Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component
Area

Notes

ACCT 2331

CLEP: Financial Accounting

55

3

 

 

ACCT 2332

Departmental Exam

35

3

 

 

ARAB 1501

Departmental Exam

2.5

5

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

4 SL

5

 

ARAB 1501, 1502

Departmental Exam

3.5

10

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

4 HL; 5 SL

10

 

ARAB 1501, 1502, 2301

Departmental Exam

4.5

13

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

5 HL; 6 SL

13

 

ARAB 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302

Departmental Exam

5.5

13

 

1

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

6 HL; 7 SL

13

1

ARAB 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302, 3301

Departmental Exam

7

13

 

1

ARAB 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302, 3301, 3302

Departmental Exam

9

13

 

1

ART 1397

AP: Studio Art 2D Design

AP: Studio Art 3D Design

AP: Studio Art Drawing

3

3

 

13

ARTH 1381

AP: Art History

3

3

(050)

 

ARTH 1380, ARTH 1381

AP: Art History

4

6

(040)

(050)

 

 
ARTH 1000-level elective core credit/Creative Arts core credit

IB (HL): Visual Arts or IB (SL) with Diploma:

4

3

(050)

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Visual Arts

5

6

 

DANTES: Arts of the Western World

 60

3

 

ASLI 1301

Departmental Exam

Interview Written Expressive

3

 

9

1+ or better 65% 65%
ASLI 1302

Departmental Exam

Interview Written Expressive

3

 

9

2 or better 70% 70%
ASLI 2301

Departmental Exam

Interview Written Expressive

3

 

9

2+ or better 75% 75%
ASLI 2302

Departmental Exam

Interview Written Expressive

3

 

9

3+ or better 80% 80%

BIOL 1161

AP: Biology

3

1

 

 

CLEP: Biology

50

1

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Biology

4

1

 

BIOL 1162

AP: Biology

3

1

 

 

CLEP: Biology

55

1

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Biology

4

1

 

BIOL 1361

AP: Biology

3

3

(030)

 

CLEP: Biology

50

3

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Biology

4

3

 

BIOL 1362

AP: Biology

3

3

(030)

 

CLEP: Biology

55

3

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Biology

4

3

 

CHEM 1101

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Chemistry

4

1

 

 

SAT II: Chemistry

630

1

 

CHEM 1111

AP: Chemistry

 

1

 

2

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Chemistry

5

1

 

Honors Chemistry

  1   2a

CHEM 1301

AP: Chemistry

3

3

(030)

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Chemistry

4

3

 

SAT II: Chemistry

630

3

3

CHEM 1331

AP: Chemistry

5

3

(030)

4, 5

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Chemistry

5

3

 

CHNS 1501

Departmental Exam

 65

 5

 

 

AP: Chinese Language and Culture

3

5

 

CHNS 1501, CHNS 2302

Departmental Exam

 105

 8

 

 

CHNS 1502, CHNS 2301

AP: Chinese Language and Culture

4

8

 

 

CHNS 1502, CHNS 2301, CHNS 2302

AP: Chinese Language and Culture

5

11

 

 

CHNS 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Chinese

4

5-10

 

 

CHNS 1501, CHNS 2302, CHNS 3301

Departmental Exam

 116

 11

 

 

CHNS 3302

Departmental Exam

 Pass

 3 

 

 

 

Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component Area

Notes

COSC 1306

AP: Computer Science Principles

3

3

(90)

 

COSC 1306

AP: Computer Science A

3

3

(90)

 

COSC 1306;
COSC 1430

AP: Computer Science A

4

7

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Computer Science

4

7

 

ECON 2304

CLEP: Principles of Microeconomics

48

3

(080)

 

AP: Microeconomics

3

3

 

ECON 2305

CLEP: Principles of Macroeconomics

48

3

(080)

 

AP: Macroeconomics

3

3

 

ECON 2304 - ECON 2305

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Economics

4

6

(080)

 

ENGL 1303

AP: English Language and Composition

3

3

(10)

 

CLEP: Freshman College Composition Modular with Essay

50 & 4 (Essay)

3

 

IB (SL) with Diploma: Language & Literature

4-5

3

 

IB (SL) with Diploma: Literature

4

3

 

ENGL 1304

AP: English Language and Composition

4

3

(10)

 

ENGL 1303-ENGL 1304

AP: English Language and Composition

4

6

(10)

 

IB (SL) with Diploma: Language & Literature

6-7

6

 

IB (HL): Language & Literature

4-5

6

 

ENGL 1303, ENGL 1304, & ENGL 2316

AP: Language and Composition

5

6 (ENGL 1303, ENGL 1304)

(10)

 

AP: Literature and Composition (ENGL 2316)

3,4,5

3 (ENGL 2316)

(040)

 

IB (HL): Language & Literature

6-7

9

(10) ENGL 1303/1304

 

IB (HL): Literature

4,5,6,7

9

(10) ENGL 1303/1304

 

IB (SL) with Diploma: Literature

5,6,7

9

(10) ENGL 1303/1304

 

FREN 2301 - FREN 2302

AP: French Language and Culture

3

6

 

 

FREN 1501/1502, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: French

4

5-10

 

 

FREN 2301 - FREN 2302;
FREN 3313

AP: French Language and Culture

4

9

 

 

FREN 2301
FREN 2302
FREN 3313

Departmental Exam: French Language 75% 9    

GEOG 1301

AP: Human Geography

3

3

 

 

GEOG 2340

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Geography

4

3-6

 

 

GERM 1501, GERM 1502

AP: German Language and Culture

3

10

 

 

GERM 1501, GERM 1502, GERM 2331

AP: German Language and Culture

4

13

 

 

GERM 1502, GERM 2331, GERM 2332

AP: German Language and Culture

5

11

 

 

GERM 2331

CLEP: College German

60

 

 

 

 Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component Area

Notes

GERM 2331 - GERM 2332

CLEP: College German

70

6

 

 

GERM 1501/1502, 2331, 2332

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: German

4

5-10

 

 

GERM 2331 - GERM 2332 - GERM 3333 - GERM 3334

Departmental Exam: German Language

75%

3-12

 

 

GREK 1301/1302, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Latin or Classical Greek

4

5-10

 

 

GREK 1305/1306, 2305, 2306

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Modern Greek

4

5-10

 

 

HIND 1501

Departmental Exam

2.5

5

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

4

5

 

HIND 1501, 1502

Departmental Exam

3.5

10

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

4 HL; 5 SL

10

 

HIND 1501, 1502, 2301

Departmental Exam

4.5

13

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

5 HL; 6 SL

13

 

HIND 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302

Departmental Exam

5.5

13

 

1

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma

6 HL; 7 SL

13

1

HIST 1377

CLEP: History of the United States I

50

3

(060)

 

HIST 1378

CLEP: History of the United States II

50

3

(060)

 

HIST 1377 or HIST 1378

AP: American History

3

3

(060)

 

HIST 1377, HIST 1378

AP: American History

4

6

(060)

 

HIST 2353

AP: European History

3

3

(040)

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: History (Europe)

4

3-6

 

HIST 2361

AP: World History

3

3

(040)

 

ITAL 1501

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Italian

4

5

 

 

ITAL 1501, 1502 or 1601

AP: Italian

3

10 or 6

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Italian

4 HL; 5 SL

10 or 6

 

ITAL 1501, 1502, 2301 or 1601, 2301

AP: Italian

4

13 or 9

 

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Italian

5 HL; 6 SL

13 or 9

 

ITAL 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302, or 1601, 2301, 2302

AP: Italian

5

13 or 12

 

1

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Italian

6 HL; 7 SL

13 or 12

1

ITAL 2301, ITAL 2302 Departmental Exam: Italian Language 75% 3-6    

JPNS 1501

AP: Japanese Language and Culture

3

5

 

 

JPNS 1502, JPNS 2501

AP: Japanese Language and Culture

4

10

 

 

JPNS 2501, JPNS 2502

AP: Japanese Language and Culture

5

10

 

 

JPNS 1501/1502, 2501, 2502

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Japanese

4

5-10

 

 

LATN 1301, LATN 1302

AP: Latin

3

6

 

 

LATN 1301, LATN 1302, LATN 2301

AP: Latin

4

9

 

 

LATN 1301, LATN 1302, LATN 2301, LATN 2302

AP: Latin

5

12

 

 

LATN 1301/1302, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Latin or Classical Greek

4

5-10

 

 

MATH 1310

CLEP: College Algebra

50

3

(020)

 

Departmental Exam

35

3

(020)

 

MATH 1310 or 1311

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Mathematics Studies

4

3

(020)

 

MATH 1312

CLEP: College Mathematics

50

3

(020)
(090)

 

MATH 1313

Departmental Exam

17

3

(020)
(090)

 

MATH 1314

AP: Calculus AB

3

3

(020)
(090)

 

Departmental Exam

37

3

 

MATH 1312 - 1314 or 1313 - 1314

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Further Mathematics

4

6

(020)
(090)

 

MATH 1312, 1314, 2311 or 1313, 1314, 2311

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Further Mathematics

5

9

(020)
(090)

 

MATH 1330

CLEP: Precalculus

50

3

(020)
(090)

 

Departmental Exam

20

3

 

MATH 1431

AP: Calculus AB

4

4

(020)
(090)

 

AP: Calculus BC

3

4

 

CLEP: Calculus

50

4

 

Departmental Exam

3

4

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Mathematics

4

4

 

MATH 1432

Departmental Exam

3

4

(090)

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Mathematics

4

4

 

MATH 1431, 1432

AP: Calculus BC

4

8

(020)
(090)

 

MATH 2311

AP: Statistics

3

3

(020)
(090)

 

Departmental Exam

Pass

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Mathematics: Further Mathematics

5

3

 

MUSI 1300

AP: Music Theory

3

3

 

11

MUSI 1301

AP: Music Theory

3

3

 

12

 

 Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component Area

Notes

PHIL 1301

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Philosophy

4

3

(040)

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Philosophy

4

3

 

PHYS 1101

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Physics

4

1

 

 

PHYS 1102

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Physics

4

1

 

 

PHYS 1301

AP: Physics B

5

3

(030)

 

Departmental Exam

Pass

3

6

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Physics

4

3

 

PHYS 1301, PHYS 1101

AP: Physics 1

3

4

(030)

 

AP: Physics C (Mechanics)

3

4

 

PHYS 1302

AP: Physics B

5

3

(030)

 

Departmental Exam

Pass

3

6

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Physics

4

3

 

PHYS 1302, PHYS 1102

AP: Physics 2

3

4

(030)

 

AP: Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism)

3

4

 

PHYS 1321

Departmental Exam

Pass

3

(030)

 

PHYS 1321, PHYS 1121

AP: Physics C (Mechanics)

4

4

(030)

 

PHYS 1322

Departmental Exam

Pass

3

(030)

 

PHYS 1322, PHYS 1122

AP: Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism)

4

4

(030)

 

POLS 1337

AP: U.S. Government and Politics

3

3

(070)

 

CLEP: American Government

50

3

 

POLS 1336 - POLS 1337

AP: U.S. Government and Politics

4 and passing UH test

6

(070)

 

CLEP: American Government

60 and passing UH test

6

 

POLS 1335

AP: Comparative Government and Politics

3, 4

3

 

 

POLS 3311

AP: Comparative Government and Politics

5

3

(080)

 

PORT 1505, PORT 2505

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Portuguese

4

5-10

 

 

PSYC 1300

AP: Psychology

3

3

(080)

 

CLEP: Introductory Psychology

50

3

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Psychology

4

3

 

Elective IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Psychology

4

3

 

RUSS 1301

Departmental Exam: Russian

250

3

 

 

RUSS 1301 - RUSS 1302

Departmental Exam: Russian

425

6

 

 

RUSS 1301 - RUSS 1302, RUSS 2301

Departmental Exam: Russian

500

9

 

 

RUSS 1301 - RUSS 1302, RUSS 2301 - RUSS 2302

Departmental Exam: Russian

600

12

 

 

RUS 1501/1502, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Russian

4

5-10

 

 

SOC 1300

CLEP: Introductory Sociology

51

(080)

 

 

 Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component Area

Notes

SPAN 1505

AP: Spanish Language & Culture

3

5

   

Departmental Exam

356

5

 

SPAN 1505, SPAN 2301

AP: Spanish Language & Culture

4

8

   

Departmental Exam

440

8

 

SPAN 1505, SPAN 2301, SPAN 2302

AP: Spanish Language & Culture

5

11

   

Departmental Exam

641

11

 

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Spanish

4 5-10  

SPAN 2302

AP: Spanish Literature and Culture

3 3    

SPAN 2302, SPAN 3301

AP: Spanish Literature and Culture

4 6    

SPAN 2302, SPAN 3301, SPAN 3302

AP: Spanish Literature and Culture

5 6 (cap)    

SPAN 2307, SPAN 2308, SPAN 3307, SPAN 3308

Departmental Exam

Pass

12

  7

TLIM 2371

DANTES: Prin. of Financial Accounting (525)

47

3

   

TLIM 3345

DANTES: Human Resource Management (530)

48

3

   

TLIM 3363

DANTES: Technical Writing (820)

46

3

(81)  

THEA 1331

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Theater Arts

4

3-6 

(050)  

TURK 1501/1502, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Turkish

4 5-10    

VIET 1501

Departmental Exam: Vietnamese Language

2.5 5    

VIET 1501, 1502

Departmental Exam: Vietnamese Language

3.5 10    

VIET 1501, 1502, 2301

Departmental Exam: Vietnamese Language

4.5 13    

VIET 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302

Departmental Exam: Vietnamese Language

5.5 11-16    

VIET 1501/1502, 2301, 2302

IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Vietnamese

4 5-10    

 

Non-Core Elective Credits
See Your Advisor - May Not Be Useful in all Academic Plans.

Unspecified Course

Test

Minimum Score

Total
Hours/Credit

Core Component Area

Notes

Freshman (1000-level) general elective AP: Environmental Science 3 3    
Non-core Social Science elective hours AP: Capstone RESEARCH 3 3   10
Non-core Social Science elective hours AP: Capstone SEMINAR 3 3   10
Biological Science CLEP: Natural Sciences 53 (Bio Sci) 3   8
CLEP: Natural Sciences 520 (paper) 3   8
CLEP: Natural Sciences 52 (CBT) 3   8
Fine Arts CLEP: Humanities 520 (paper) 3    
CLEP: Humanities 52 (CBT) 3    
Management IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Business and Management 4 3-6    
Foreign Languages IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: Other Languages 4 5-10    
History IB (HL) or IB (SL) with Diploma: History (The Americas) 4 3-6    
 Physical Science CLEP: Natural Sciences 52 (Phy Sci) 3    
CLEP: Natural Sciences 500 (paper) 3    
CLEP: Natural Sciences 50 (CBT) 3    
 Social Science CLEP: Social Science History 52 (Soc Sci)  3    
CLEP: Social Science History 530 (paper) 3    
CLEP: Social Science History 53 (CBT) 3    
 World History CLEP: Social Science History 52 (Hist) 3    
CLEP: Social Science History 530 (paper) 3    
CLEP: Social Science History 53 (CBT) 3    

Core Component Area CODES:

10 Communication
20 Mathematics
30 Life and Physical Sciences
40 Language, Philosophy, and Culture
50 Creative Arts
60 American History
70 Government/Political Science
80 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Component Area Option:

90 Math Reasoning
81 Writing in the Disciplines

 

Footnotes Footnote Description
1 Maximum 13 credit hours capped.
2 CHEM 1111 , credit available only to those who are also receiving credit for 1331 . The Lab Departmental Assessment involves a review of the student’s Advanced Placement Lab Book. Please contact Dr. Arek Czader at the Department of Chemistry at agczader@central.uh.edu
  2a Completion of CHEM 1331H, CHEM 1332H, and CHEM 1112H (all honors) with a grade of at least C- in each course.
3 For Core Curriculum requirement - Not for Science, Math, Engineering, or Computer Science majors.
4 Introductory level for Computer Science, Engineering, Math, and Science majors.
5 Must not have taken either CHEM 1331  or equivalent course at another college-level institution.
6 Other than Physics, Math, and Engineering majors.
7 Students may not receive credit for both SPAN 2301 -SPAN 2302  and SPAN 2307 -SPAN 2308  nor for both SPAN 3302  and SPAN 3308 .
8 For non-science majors only.
9

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING PROGRAM (ASLI)
ASLI faculty offers a comprehensive testing system that measures the ability of students to express and also comprehend American Sign Language. The test will consist of three components:

Proficiency interview (question and answer) facilitated by a UH ASLI Faculty member;

Written component requiring students demonstrate the ability to comprehend aspects of language (i.e. vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, finger spelling and numbers) and knowledge of cultural components taught in the desired level of ASL being tested;

Expressive component requiring students demonstrate the ability to produce a narrative in American Sign Language, using language components as taught in the desired level of ASL being tested.

The Proficiency Interview will be conducted in accordance with the standards set by the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) evaluation tool. Students will be awarded an overall proficiency level of 0-5 (explanations of levels available at: http://www.gallaudet.edu/the-american-sign-language-proficiency-interview/aslpi/aslpi-video-samples-level-0-5).

Written and Expressive scores vary based on the typical course expectations for students and the need for increased language ability required in higher-level ASL courses. The combined interview (ASLPI), written component and expressive component will be graded-see chart below for a list of minimum passing scores.

10 Please consult with your academic advisor on the number of credit hours that can be used in your degree program. Excessive credit hours may have possible negative consequences.
11 Non-Music Majors
12 Music Majors
13

ART 1301  credit may be requested through submission of a drawing portfolio for faculty review. Students may not earn credit for both ART 1301  and ART 1397 . Please contact the KGMCA Academic Advising Center for instructions.