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Credit By Examination

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Students may challenge courses by taking examinations developed at CSU, Chico. Credit shall be awarded to those who pass them successfully.

Credit for Non-Collegiate Instruction

CSU, Chico grants up to 30 units of 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 number of units allowed are those recommended in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services and the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs.

Credit for Prior Learning

CSU, Chico grants up to 30 units of credit for learning, knowledge, or skills-based experience that has been documented and evaluated according to campus policy. Please see the subsection "Course Credit Policies" in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of the catalog for complete information.

Advanced Placement (AP)

CSU, Chico 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 of college credit. The number of units and how they meet specific academic content requirements are specified in the Advanced Placement Examinations Chart below.

Advanced Placement Examinations Chart
(Minimum Score of 3 Required)
AP ExamCredit 
(semester units)
Meets this GE area 
or course equivalent
Art—Studio Art/2D 3 Arts
Art—Studio Art/3D 3 Arts
Art—Studio Art/Drawing 6 -
Art—History 6 Arts: ARTH 110, ARTH 120
Biology (includes lab) 8 Life Sciences and GE lab requirement: BIOL 151, or NSCI 102, plus additional life science  
Calculus AB 4 Quantitative Reasoning: MATH 120
Calculus BC 8 Quantitative Reasoning: MATH 120 and MATH 121
Calculus AB Subscore on BC Exam 4 Quantitative Reasoning: MATH 120
Chemistry (includes lab) 8 Physical Sciences and GE Lab Requirement, plus additional physical science
Chinese Language and Literature 6 Humanities*
Computer Science A (A only) 3 CSCI 111
Computer Science A and B 6 CSCI 111 and CSCI 112
Economics—Macro 3 Societal Institutions: ECON 102
Economics—Micro 3 Individual & Society: ECON 103
English—Language and Composition 6 Written Communication: ENGL 130***
English—Literature and Composition 6 Written Communication: ENGL 130 & Humanities***
Environmental Science 4 Physical Sciences and GE lab requirement
French—Language 6 Humanities*
French—Literature 6 Humanities*
German—Language 6 Humanities*
Government and Politics—U.S. 3 Societal Institutions or U.S. Constitution**
Government and Politics—Comparative 3 Individual & Society or Societal Institutions
History—European 6 Societal Institutions or Humanities
History—U.S. 6 HIST 130 and GE Societal Institutions or Humanities
History—World 6 HIST 101 and 102 or GE Societal Institutions or Humanities
Human Geography 3 Individual & Society
Italian Language and Culture 6 Humanities*
Japanese Language and Literature 6 Humanities*
Latin—Vergil 6 Humanities
Latin—Latin Literature 6 Humanities
Music—Theory 6 Arts*
Physics B (includes lab) 8 Physical Sciences and GE Lab Requirement: PHYS 202A and PHYS 202B
Physics C—Mechanics 4 Physical Sciences and GE Lab Requirement: PHYS 204A
Physics C—Electricity & Magnetism 4 Physical Sciences and GE Lab Requirement: PHYS 204B
Psychology 3 Learning for Life or Individual & Society: PSYC 101
Spanish—Language 6 Humanities*
Spanish—Literature 6 Humanities*
Statistics 3 Quantitative Reasoning: 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.
*Department requires formal assessment for placement into appropriate courses.
**Does not meet California State and Local content requirement.
***If both AP English Exams are passed, a maximum of 9 units will be awarded.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

As recommended by the California State University Chancellor’s Office, CSU, Chico grants credit toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of specific Higher Level International Baccalaureate examinations.  Students who present scores of four or better will be granted up to six semester units of credit applied to the appropriate General Education requirements.  Please consult the IB Chart for specific details.

International Baccalaureate Examinations Chart
(Higher Level Exams only; minimum score of 4 required)
IB Exam 
(July 2001 Version)
Credit 
(semester units)
Meets this GE area 
or course equivalent
Biology HL 6 Life Sciences plus lab
Chemistry HL 6 Physical Sciences plus lab
Economics HL 6 Individual & Society 
English A1 HL 6 Humanities, GC
Geography HL 6 Societal Institutions
History of the Americas HL 6 Societal Institutions, HIST 130, GC
History (any other region) HL 6 Humanities or Societal Institutions
Language (any) A1 HL 6 Humanities
Language (any) A2 HL 6 Humanities
Mathematics HL 6 Quantitative Reasoning
Physics HL 6 Physical Sciences plus lab
Psychology HL 3 Learning for Life or Individual & Society  
Theatre HL 6 Arts

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CSU, Chico 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, please consult an Academic Evaluator at 530-898-5957.

For more information about the CLEP please 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 GE area 
or course equivalent
Accounting, Principles of 50 3 ACCT 201 and 202*
American Government 50 3 Societal Institutions/U.S. Constitution**
American Literature 50 3 Humanities
Analyzing/Interpreting Literature 50 3 Humanities
Biology 50 3 Life Sciences (no lab)
Business Law, Intro 50 3 ----
Calculus 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
Chemistry 50 3 Physical Sciences (no lab)
College Algebra 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
College Algebra/Trigonometry 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
College Mathematics 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
Educational Psychology, Intro 50 3 ----
English Literature 50 3 Humanities
Financial Accounting 50 3 ----
French, Level 1 50 6 Humanities
French, Level 2 59 12 Humanities
German, Level 1 50 6 Humanities
German, Level 2 60 12 Humanities
History, United States I 50 3 HIST 130/Societal Institutions
History, United States II 50 3 HIST 130/Societal Institutions
Human Growth and Development 50 3 Learning for Life
Humanities 50 3 Humanities
Info System/Computer Apps 50 3 ----
Macroeconomics, Principles of 50 3 Societal Institutions
Management, Principles of 50 3 ----
Marketing, Principles of 50 3 ----
Microeconomics, Principles of 50 3 Individual & Society
Natural Sciences 50 3 Physical Sciences or Life Sciences (no lab)
Pre-Calculus 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
Psychology, Intro 50 3 Individual & Society or Learning for Life
Social Sciences and History 50 3 ----
Sociology, Intro 50 3 Societal Institutions
Spanish, Level 1 50 6 Humanities
Spanish, Level 2 63 12 Humanities
Trigonometry 50 3 Quantitative Reasoning
Western Civilization I 50 3 Societal Institutions or Humanities
Western Civilization II 50 3 Societal Institutions: HIST 110
*Fulfills content requirement only; elective units only.
**Does not meet California State and Local content requirement.

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.

Catalog Cycle:13