Transfer Credit by Exam

Undergraduate students may earn course credit by demonstrating superior achievement on tests offered through several examination programs. Original copies of scores are required for acceptance and recording credit.

St. Mary’s University accepts:


Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

AP Examinations are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). These examinations are administered each May at high schools that offer Advanced Placement courses. Concerned students should consult a high school counselor for information on these centers and test registration procedure. Scores are reported to the student, their high schools, and to colleges or universities the student requests. Scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 5.

AP ExamMinimum ScoreSemester HoursCourse Number
Art – Studio43AR 2361 (to be used as elective credit only)
Art – History43AR 2362 (to be used as elective credit only)
Biology48BL 1401* and 1402* requires satisfactory lab notebook
Biology43BL 1301 (without lab notebook)
Calculus AB (or AB subscore on BC exam)44MT 2412
Calculus BC5**4MT 2412 and MT 2413**
Calculus BC44MT 2412
Chemistry48CH 1401 and 1402
Comparative Government and Politics53PO 1314
Topics in Programming Languages43CS 1320
Computer Science Principles43CS 1301
Economics (macro)33EC 2301
Economics (micro)33EC 2303
Environmental Science33ES 1373
History (European and World)46HS 2321 and HS 2322
History (U.S.)46HS 1301 and 1302
Language and Composition43EN 1311
Literature and Composition43EN 2399
Modern Languages5121311, 1312, 2311, 2312 – fulfills foreign language requirements
Modern Languages491311, 1312, 2311
Modern Languages361311, 1312
Music Theory36MU 1321 and 1322
Physics Part 158PY 1401 and 1402
Physics Part 144PY 1401
Physics Part C (Mechanics)43PY 1404 (must take 1-hour lab)
Physics Part C (Electricity and Magnetism)43PY 2404 (must take 1-hour lab)
Psychology53PS 1301
Precalculus44MT 1411
Spanish Literature56SP 3331 and 3341
Statistics44MT 2303
U.S. Government43PO 1311
*Consult Biology Department for possible additional credit. Review of lab notebook required.**Consult Mathematics Department for possible additional credit.
AP Exams

College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)

The CLEP is designed to evaluate non-traditional college-level education such as independent study or other experiences outside traditional classrooms. Credit is awarded for these Examinations. Original copy of scores is required for acceptance and recording credit. These examinations are administered at St. Mary’s University Testing Center. Please address inquiries to the Coordinator of Testing Services, St. Mary’s University, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228, or call 210-436-3135. A fee is charged for the administration of these examinations.

Please note that each school establishes its own requirements for minimum scores and credit awarded.

Students matriculating at St. Mary’s University as freshmen, including transfer students with freshman status, must take the CLEP examination(s) by the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students with sophomore or higher status must take the examination no later than their junior year.

ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
Business Law, Introductory503BA 3351
Financial Accounting503AC 2310
Information Systems and Computer Applications503QM 3330
Principles of Marketing503MK 3310
Business
ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
American Literature (with essay)603EN 2399
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (with essay)603EN 2399
English Composition (with essay)603EN 1311
English Literature (with essay)603EN 2399
Note: Essay versions of tests are required once the multiple-choice answer part of the test is successfully completed.
Composition and Literature
ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
French6212FR 1311, 1312, 2311, 2313
French589FR 1311, 1312, 2311
French536FR 1311, 1312
French503FR 1311
German6212GR 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312
German589GR 1311, 1312, 2311
German546GR 1311, 1312
German403GR 1311
Spanish6812SP 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312
Spanish669SP 1311, 1312, 2311
Spanish586SP 1311, 1312
Spanish543SP 1311
Foreign Languages
ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
American Government503PO 1311
Educational Psychology, Introduction to503Elective only
History of the U.S. I: to 1877503HS 1301
History of the U.S. II: since 1865503HS 1302
Human Growth and Development503Elective only
Macroeconomics, Principles of503EC 2301
Microeconomics, Principles of503EC 2303
Psychology, Introductory503PS 1301
Social Sciences and History503Social Sciences core credit
Sociology, Introductory503SC 1311
Western Civilization I: to 1648503HS 1351
Western Civilization II: since 1648503HS 1352
History and Social Sciences
ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
Biology503BL 1301 for non-majors
Calculus504MT 2412
Chemistry503CH 1304
College Algebra503MT 1303
College Mathematics503MT 1302
Natural Sciences506Science core requirement
Pre-calculus504MT 1411
  • For majors that require MT 1306 Business Calculus, MT 2412 Univariate Calculus I may be substituted.
  • MT 1411 can substitute for MT 1303 in degree programs that require MT 1303.
  • MT 1303 will fulfill the 3-hour core Math requirement.
  • If a student takes a mathematics course at St. Mary’s, such as MT 1303, and receives a grade of WF, F, or D, the student is no longer eligible for CLEP credit in that course.
Science and Mathematics

Departmental Examinations

Enrolled St. Mary’s University undergraduate students who believe they are proficient in the content of an undergraduate course for which no examination is regularly offered may be authorized to take a departmental examination.

Credit for departmental examinations may not be earned for a course in which the student is currently enrolled to receive a passing, failing, withdrawal, WX, TF, or P/N grade.

Authorization consists of approval by the Dean of the School for the course for which credit is requested, and approval by the Department Chairperson that teaches the course. The student and a faculty member that teachers the course schedule the testing arrangements. Test requirements and procedures vary with each department.

The student obtains a Credit by Exam form from the Registrar’s Office, St. Louis Hall, Room 104. The student takes the exam, obtains required signatures as indicated on the form, and pays the required fee to the Business Office, St. Louis Hall, Room 24. The fee is $20 per semester hour. This fee is subject to change at any time. The student returns the completed form to the Registrar’s Office and credit is posted to the transcript.


International Baccalaureate (IB)

St. Mary’s University recognizes the high standards of the IB Diploma Program and will award up to 24 semester hours credit scores of 4 or higher to students who received the IB Diploma.

If for some reason students do not wish to take the full IB Diploma Program, they also can participate in individual courses and receive IB Certificates for successful completion of this work. Credit for IB Certificates will be considered for college credit for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the higher level IB examinations.

Credit is recorded on the transcript as credit (CR) earned for St. Mary’s University enrolled students after receiving official transcripts from the school.

ExamMinimum ScoreHoursCourse Number
Art46FA 1101, 1102, 1103, AR 1301, HU 2307
Biology46BL 1301, 1302
Computer Science43CS 1301
English Literature53EN 2399
English Language and Literature53EN 1311
History46HS 1301, 1302, 1351, 1352
Languages412LN 1311, 1312, 2311, 2312
Mathematics44MT 1411
Music43MU 1331
Philosophy43PL 1310
Physics48PY 1401, 1402
Psychology43PS 1301
Science43ST 3300
Sociology43SC 1311
IB Exams

  • Questions?

    Andrew Agueros
    Assistant Director of Transfer Admission
    210-436-3126
    aagueros1@stmarytx.edu

    Office of Admission
    Chaminade Tower
    Text us: 210-526-0796
    Call us: 210-436-3126
    uadm@stmarytx.edu

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