College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
(Table updated November 3, 2003; added note to French, German, and Spanish.)
The examinations offered under the CLEP were designed primarily to allow people who may not have been formal students for many years to achieve college-level credit for knowledge acquired through self-education and experience. By successful performance on CLEP examinations, many have been encouraged to pursue further a college or university education.
Additionally, these examinations are seen increasingly as of value to students formally engaged in degree programs, as a means of satisfying certain course or area requirements, or for earning extra course credits, without having to enroll formally in the courses. General and subject exams must be taken by UA students prior to the completion of 55 units. Transfer students must take general and subject exams before finishing 55 units or before completing two regular semesters at the University. Students should consult their academic advisers or the offices of their college deans for more information.
All CLEP examinations are available through the Testing Office at The University of Arizona. A limited list of CLEP examinations is available also through the testing centers at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Resident students at The University of Arizona should contact the Testing Office for additional information.
The University of Arizona accepts for college credit both the General and the Subject examinations of the CLEP, providing satisfactory scores are attained. Scores of 500 or better on the General examinations will entitle the student, upon registration at the university, to 6 units of credit in each of the following General examinations: (1) English Composition; (2) Mathematics; (3) Natural Sciences (565); (4) Social Sciences-History. A score of 530 entitles the student to 3 units of elective credit for Natural Science. A score of 500 or better entitles the student to 4 units of credit for Humanities.
From 3 to 19 units of credit, depending upon the examination, may be earned by scores of 50 or better on most subject examinations (41 for College French, 40 or 48 for College German, and 47, 54, or 75 for College Spanish). The number of units of credit earned is listed in parentheses following the corresponding test indicated below.
| EXAM | SCORE |
GENERAL EDUCATION |
OTHER UA |
CLEP UNITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition | 500 | see NOTE below | LD English | 6 |
| Social Science-History | 500 | satisfies Tier 1, INDV 102 & 103 | LD elective credit | 6 |
| Natural Science | 565 | satisfies Tier 1, NATS 101 & 104 | 3 lower-division science credit and ECOL 100 (for non-bio majors) | 6 |
| 530 | satisfies Tier 1, NATS 101 | lower-division science elective | 3 | |
| Humanities | 500 | satisfies Tier 1, TRAD 104 | none | 4 |
| Math | 500 | none | lower-division math elective | 3 |
| American Government | 50 | none | POL 103 | 3 |
| American History I (Early Colonization to 1877) | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, TRAD 103 or 104 | none | 3 |
| American History II (1865 to Present) | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, TRAD 103 or 104 | or HIST 107 | 3 |
| American Literature | 50 | satisfies Tier 2, Humanities | LD English credit | 6 |
| Analysis & Interpretation of Literature | 50 | satisfies Tier 2 | LD English credit | 3 |
| Calculus w/Elementary Functions | 50 | satisfies math requirement for all students | MATH 125a | 3 |
| College Algebra | 50 | satisfies math requirement for strands M or G | none | 3 |
| College Algebra-Trigonometry | 50 | satisfies math requirement for all students | MATH 118 & 3 units LD credit | 5 |
| Information Systems & Computer Applications | 50 | none | MIS 111 | 3 |
| Educational Psychology | 50 | none | LD psychology credit | 3 |
| English Literature | 50 | satisfies Tier 2, Humanities | LD English elective/humanities credit | 6 |
| Foreign Language | ||||
| College French
Note: students enrolled in their first language class (102, 201, or 202) may take the CLEP exam to earn additional language credit, if the exam is taken before the end of the 7th week of the fall or spring semester. |
41 | satisfies second language requirement for non-BA; BA students may fulfill lang. requirement by demonstrating proficiency at 202 level through dept. placement test or dept. administered Special Credit by Examination | FREN 101 & 102 | 8 |
| College German
Note: students enrolled in their first language class (102, 201, or 202) may take the CLEP exam to earn additional language credit, if the exam is taken before the end of the 7th week of the fall or spring semester. |
40 | satisfies second language requirement for non-BA | GER 101, 102 | 8 |
| 48 | satisfies second language requirement for all students | GER 101, 102, 201, 202 | 16 | |
| College Spanish
Note: students enrolled in their first language class (102, 201, or 202) may take the CLEP exam to earn additional language credit, if the exam is taken before the end of the 7th week of the fall or spring semester. |
47 | satisfies second language requirement for non-BA | SPAN 101, 102, | 8 |
| 54 | satisfies second language requirement for all students | SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202 | 16 | |
| 75 | satisfies second language requirement for all students | SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202, 251 (Correction: SPAN 201 added 3/15/00) | 19 | |
| Freshman College Composition | 50 | together with examination by Composition Board, may earn credit for ENGL 101, 102 | LD credit in English | 6 |
| General Biology | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, NATS 104 | ECOL 100 & 206 | 8 |
| General Chemistry | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, NATS 101 | CHEM 103a & b | 6 |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | none | LD departmental credit | 3 |
| Business Law | 50 | none | LD elective credit | 3 |
| Psychology | 50 | none | PSYC 101 | 3 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | none | ECON 201b | 3 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | satisfies Tier 2, Individuals and Societies | ECON 201a | 3 |
| Micro- and Macroeconomics | 50 & 50 | satisfies Tier 2, Individuals and Societies | ECON 200 & 201a or 201b | 6 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | none | LD elective credit | 3 |
| Sociology | 50 | none | LD elective credit | 3 |
| College Algebra-Trigonometry | 50 | satisfies math requirement for all students | MATH 118 & 3 units LD credit | 2 |
| Western Civilization I (Ancient Near East to 1648) | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, TRAD 102 | HIST 101 | 3 |
| Western Civilization II (1648 to Present) | 50 | satisfies Tier 1, TRAD 103 | HIST 102 | 3 |
| Other examinations will be added as they become available. |
NOTE: A maximum of 6 semester hours of general elective credit will be allowed for completion of one or more of the following: Subject Examination in College Composition, Subject Examination in freshman English, General Examination in English Composition. Whether this credit will satisfy the University Freshman English requirement is determined by the Director of Composition following interview and written performance.
CLEP credit in English, in composition or literature, may not be applied toward either an English major or minor.
For both prospective and currently enrolled students utilizing CLEP examinations, credit will not be awarded in subjects at the same level. In addition, resident students will not be awarded credit through CLEP for courses equivalent to, or at a lower level than, other courses they have already established in formal course work.
Passing scores for subjects credited through the CLEP are recorded simply as CR (credit), and may not necessarily be stated in terms of a specific course equivalent. No record is made of failing scores.