Undergraduate Credit by Examination

Texas A&M University-Victoria recognizes the value of awarding credit for demonstrated achievement on institutionally approved standardized examinations. Examples of such exams include Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Credit earned through these examinations is treated as transfer credit and is not included in the calculation of the transfer GPA or the cumulative A&M-Victoria GPA. Minimum acceptable scores for each exam are listed in the sections that follow.

Transfer of Credit by Examination from Other Institutions

Credit by examination earned at another institution may be transferred to A&M-Victoria if the originating institution has recognition in some form from the U.S. Department of Education or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The credit must be for college-level work and must appear on the official transcript of the institution. Exam credits earned at another institution and accepted in transfer do not imply that the credits are applicable to a particular degree program.

Decisions regarding the application of examination credit to a student’s degree plan are made by the dean of the college of the student’s major, with the advice and consent of his/her designee.

Policies and Restrictions

• Students must meet A&M-Victoria ‘s minimum passing scores, as specified in the table below, for the credit to be applied toward a degree.

• Official score reports may be required if scores are not recorded on a transferring institution’s official transcript.

• Only official A&M-Victoria -administered exams, official score reports from approved testing agencies, or official transcripts from recognized institutions are accepted. Informal score reports will not be considered. Testing agencies must send official score reports directly to A&M-Victoria .

• Students may pursue credit by examination at any time during their undergraduate studies at A&M-Victoria .

• When awarded, a grade of CR (Credit) will appear on the transcript. This grade carries no grade points, cannot be converted to a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F), and does not replace any previously earned course grade from A&M-Victoria , high school, or another college or university.

• Credit earned by examination does not count toward the total semester credit hours required for graduation with honors.

Limitations on Credit by Examination

Credit earned through examination may not be used to reduce the following general degree requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours in residence at A&M-Victoria .

• Completion of at least 36 semester hours of advanced coursework at A&M-Victoria (40 semester hours for the B.A.A.S. degree).

• Completion of at least 18 of the 36 advanced semester hours in the student’s major at A&M-Victoria .

Credit may not be earned in any course the student has previously completed at any college or university.

Credit may not be earned in any course prerequisite to another course in the same subject for which the student has previously earned credit.

None of the examinations may be taken more than one time in a six-month period.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Credit earned through College-Level Examinations of the College Board is accepted by A&M-Victoria only when it has been officially certified by the Office of the Registrar and Student Records. The dean of the student’s college at A&M-Victoria has the option of applying CLEP credit to the student’s degree audit. Students should specify code 6917 to have CLEP test scores sent to the A&M-Victoria Student Records office.

CLEP General Examinations.

A&M-Victoria does not grant credit on the basis of College Board CLEP General Examination scores.

CLEP Subject Examinations

The table below shows CLEP exams that may be accepted for lower-division credit (unless otherwise specified), the minimum scores required, the equivalent A&M-Victoria courses, and the number of semester credit hours that may be awarded for these exams. Contact your academic advisor for information regarding possible equivalencies for any CLEP exam not listed below.

Effective July 1, 2001, CLEP began using a new “common recommended credit-granting score” for all CLEP exams. A&M-Victoria recognizes CLEP credit recommendations as posted on the official student score report.

Granting Credit by Exception

Credit may be granted for courses taken through various non-collegiate organizations, based on recommendations made by the American Council on Education (ACE) or Commission on Educational Credit, when such training is considered by A&M-Victoria to be at the baccalaureate level and consistent with students’ educational objectives. The University reserves the right to refuse to accept transfer credit when the instructor of record does not meet the requisite academic credentials. These types of credit will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate academic department’s faculty or dean.

Advanced Placement Examinations

Students typically complete an AP course offered by their high school before taking an AP examination in that subject. However, in consideration of homeschooled students and students whose schools do not offer AP, the College Board does not require the completion of an AP course before taking an AP examination. AP examinations are offered each May in most school districts. Students must score a 3, 4, or 5 to earn college credit. Specify code 6917 to have test scores sent to the A&M-Victoria Student Records Office. The table below indicates which Advanced Placement (AP) exams will be accepted as equivalent to A&M-Victoria courses, the minimum score required, and the number of semester credit hours that may be awarded for these exams. Contact an academic advisor for information regarding possible equivalencies for any Advanced Placement exam not listed below.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD)

The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD) is an international program of courses and exams offered at the high school level. In keeping with Senate Bill 111 passed in 2005, A&M-Victoria will grant credit (CR) for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams with certain required scores to incoming freshmen students.

Texas institutions of higher education must award at least 24 semester credit hours in appropriate subject areas on all IB exams with scores of 4 or above, as long as the incoming freshman has earned an IBD. However, course credit does not have to be awarded on any IB exam where the score is a 3 or less. This may mean that students will not receive 24 hours of college credit, even if they have an IBD.

Students must submit an official IB transcript to the Office of Admissions. Evaluation and determination of credit will be done by the Transfer Credit department within the Office of the Registrar and Student Records.

Dantes Standardized Subject Test (DSST)

The table below shows DSST exams that are accepted for lower-division credit (unless otherwise specified), the minimum scores required, the equivalent A&M-Victoria courses, and the maximum number of semester credit hours that may be awarded for these exams. Contact your academic advisor for information regarding possible equivalencies for any DSST exam not listed below.

Other Examinations

Credit may be accepted for other nationally recognized standardized exams. Credit for such exams will be considered on a case-by-case basis.