AP, CLEP, IB, Military
Students who score a minimum ACT English score of 27 or an old SAT verbal score of 610 or a new SAT Reading Test score of at least 33 will be exempt from taking English 101. Official scores should be mailed to the Office of Admissions for exemption to be granted.
A student may receive credit for a course by passing a locally prepared examination and by paying appropriate fees. (See “Credit by Examination”.)
A student may receive Military Science or Air Force Studies placement credit for prior military service or Junior ROTC training. Contact the Department of Military Science or the Department of Air Force Studies for details.
Prior Learning Assessment, or PLA, is a way to earn academic credit for learning that has taken place outside the classroom. It recognizes that adult students often bring with them considerable knowledge and skills gained from years of experience in the workplace and elsewhere. For more information, please visit the Prior Learning Assessment website.
If you are a high school student and you are receiving dual enrollment credit while in high school, you must send the Office of Admissions an official transcript from the institution through which you dual enrolled. An evaluation of transfer credits will be completed prior to the semester of entry. You must have earned at least a "C" (2.0) average on all previous collegiate work attempted to satisfy the requirements.
Students participating in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) will be granted University credit as indicated below.
AP Course
|
USA Credit Awarded
|
Hours Awarded
|
Required Score
|
Art History | ARH 100 | 3 hrs | 4 |
Studio Art: 2-D Design | ARS Elective | 3 hrs | 4 |
Studio Art: 3-D Design | ARS Elective | 3 hrs | 4 |
Studio Art-Drawing | ARS Elective | 3 hrs | 4 |
Biology | BLY 121/121L & BLY 122/122L |
8 hrs
|
3
|
Chemistry | CH 131/131L |
4 hrs
|
4
|
Chemistry | CH 131/131L & CH 132/132L |
8 hrs
|
5
|
Computer Science A | CSC 120 | 4 hrs | 4 |
Computer Science Principles | CSC 108 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Microeconomics | ECO 215 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Macroeconomics | ECO 216 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Language & Composition | EH 101 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Language & Literature | EH 101 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Human Geography | GEO 114 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
European History | HY 102 | 3 hrs | 4 |
World History | HY 101 | 3 hrs | 4 |
World History | HY 101 & HY 102 | 6 hrs | 5 |
US History | HY 136 | 3 hrs | 4 |
US History | HY 135 & HY 136 | 6 hrs | 5 |
Precalculus | MA 115 |
4 hrs
|
3
|
Calculus AB | MA 125 |
4 hrs
|
3
|
Calculus BC | MA 125 & MA 126 |
8 hrs
|
3
|
Music Listening & Lit | MUL Elective |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Music Theory | MUT Elective |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Physics 1 | PH 114/114L |
5 hrs
|
4
|
Physics 2 | PH 115/115L | 5 hrs | 4 |
Physics C Mechanics | PH 201/201L |
4 hrs
|
4
|
Physics C Electricity & Magnetism | PH 202/202L |
4 hrs
|
4
|
American Gov‘t | PSC 130 | 3 hrs | 3 |
Comparative Gov’t | PSC 250 | 3 hrs | 3 |
Psychology | PSY 120 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Statistics | ST 210 |
3 hrs
|
3
|
Chinese: |
|
|
|
Chinese Language and Culture | LG 121 & LG 122 |
6 hrs
|
3
|
Chinese Language and Culture | LG 121, LG 122, & LG 221 |
9 hrs
|
4
|
Chinese Language and Culture | LG 121, LG 122, LG 221, & LG 222 |
12 hrs
|
5
|
French: |
|
|
|
French Language and Culture | LG 111 & LG 112 |
6 hrs
|
3
|
French Language and Culture | LG 111, LG 112, & LG 211 | 9 hrs | 4 |
French Language and Culture | LG 111, LG 112, LG 211, & LG 212 | 12 hrs | 5 |
German: |
|||
German Language and Culture |
LG 151 & LG 152 | 6 hrs | 3 |
German Language and Culture | LG 151, LG 152, & LG 251 | 9 hrs | 4 |
German Language and Culture | LG 151, LG 152, LG 251, & LG 252 | 12 hrs | 5 |
Latin: | |||
Latin | LG 101 & LG 102 | 6 hrs | 3 |
Latin | LG 101, LG 102, & LG 201 | 9 hrs | 4 |
Latin | LG 101, LG 102, LG 201 & LG 202 | 12 hrs | 5 |
Spanish: | |||
Spanish Language and Culture | LG 131 & LG 132 | 6 hrs | 3 |
Spanish Language and Culture | LG 131, LG 132, & LG 231 | 9 hrs | 4 |
Spanish Language and Culture | LG 131, LG 132, LG 231, & LG 232 | 12 hrs | 5 |
A student may receive credit from the General Examinations and certain Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) as shown below. Official CLEP scores mailed directly from the CLEP division of the Educational Testing Service are required before credit will be awarded.
CLEP Exam
|
USA Credit Awarded
|
Hours Awarded | Required Score |
Financial Accounting | ACC 211 | 3 hrs | 50 |
General Biology | BLY 121/121L & BLY 122/122L |
8 hrs | 50 |
Natural Sciences-General | Biology & Natural Science Electives | 8 hrs | 50 |
Intro to Business Law | BUS 265 | 3 hrs |
50 |
General Chemistry | CH 131/131L & CH 132/132L |
8 hrs | 50 |
Intro to Microeconomics | ECO 215 | 3 hrs | 50 |
Intro to Macroeconomics | ECO 216 | 3 hrs | 50 |
College Composition | EH 101 & EH 102 | 6 hrs | 50 |
Humanities-General | Fine Arts & Literature Electives | 6 hrs | 50 |
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 - |
HY 101 |
3 hrs
|
50
|
Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present |
HY 102 |
3 hrs
|
50
|
U.S. History I: Early Colonizations to 1877 |
HY 135 |
3 hrs
|
50
|
US History II: 1865 to Present - |
HY 136 |
3 hrs
|
50
|
Precalculus | MA 115 | 4 hrs | 50 |
Calculus | MA 125 | 4 hrs | 60 |
College Mathematics | Math Electives | 8 hrs | 50 |
Intro to Marketing | MKT 320 | 3 hrs | 50 |
American Government | PSC 130 | 3 hrs | 50 |
Into to Psychology | PSY 120 | 3 hrs | 50 |
Human Growth and Development |
PSY 250 |
3 hrs
|
50
|
Intro to Sociology | SY 109 | 3 hrs | 50 |
Social Science & History | Social Science & History Electives | 6 hrs | 50 |
French | LG 111 & LG 112 | 6 hrs | 50-59 |
French | LG 111, LG 112, and LG 211 |
9 hrs | 60 |
German | LG 151 & LG 152 | 6 hrs | 50-59 |
German | LG 151, LG 152, and LG 251 |
9 hrs | 60 |
Spanish | LG 131 & LG 132 | 6 hrs | 50-59 |
Spanish | LG 131, LG 132, and LG 231 |
9 hrs | 60 |
Computer Science CLEP credit are awarded based on USA departmental recommendations. The University reserves the right to change the CLEP minimum scores and credit awarded based on recommendations by the College Board and University research.
Students participating in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) will be granted University credit as indicated below:
IB Examination | USA Credited Awarded | Hours Awarded | SL/HL | Required Score |
Social and Cultural Anthropology | AN 100 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Biology | BLY 101/101L & BLY 102/102L |
8 hrs | SL | 5 |
Biology | BLY 121/121, & BLY 122/122L |
8 hrs | HL | 5 |
Chemistry | CH101/101L or CH131/131L |
4 hrs | SL | 5 |
Chemistry | CH131/131L & CH132/132L |
8 hrs | HL | 5 |
Theatre | DRA 110 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Economics | ECO 215 & ECO 216 | 6 hrs | SL | 6 |
Economics | ECO 215 | 3 hrs | HL | 4 |
Economics | ECO 215 & ECO 216 | 6 hrs | HL | 5 |
Language A: Language and Literature | EH 101 | 3 hrs | HL | 5-6 |
Language A: Language and Literature | EH 101 & EH 102 | 6 hrs | HL | 7 |
Geography | GEO 114 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
History of the Americas | HY 135 | 3 hrs | HL | 5 |
History of Asia and Oceania | HY 104 | 3 hrs | HL | 5 |
History of Europe | HY 102 | 3 hrs | HL | 5 |
Information Technology in a global society | ISC 245 or ITE 271 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Arabic | LGS 106 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Arabic | LGS 106 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 3 |
Arabic | LGS 106 & LGS 107 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Arabic | LGS 106, LGS 107, LGS 206, LGS 207 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Chinese | LG 121 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Chinese | LG 121 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 3 |
Chinese | LG 121, LG 122 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Chinese | LG 121, LG 122, LG 221, LG 222 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Classical Languages | LG 101 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Classical Languages | LG 101 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Classical Languages | LG 101 & LG 102 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Classical Languages | LG 101, LG 102, LG 201 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
Classical Languages | LG 101, LG 102, LG 201, LG 202 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
French | LG 111 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
French | LG 111 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
French | LG 111 & LG 112 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
French | LG 111, LG 112, LG 211 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
French | LG 111, LG 112, LG 211, LG 212 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
German | LG 151 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
German | LG 151 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
German | LG 151, LG 152 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
German | LG 151, LG 152, LG 251 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
German | LG 151, LG 152, LG 251, LG 252 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
Hindi | LGS 131 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Hindi | LGS 131 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 3 |
Italian | LGS 161 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Italian | LGS 161 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Italian | LGS 161 & LGS 162 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Italian | LGS 161, LGS 162, LGS 261 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
Italian | LGS 161, LGS 162, LGS 261, LGS 262 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
Japanese | LGS 101 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Japanese | LGS 101 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 3 |
Japanese | LGS 101 & LGS 102 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Japanese | LGS 101, LGS 102, LGS 201, LGS 202 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Korean | LGS 171 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Korean | LGS 171 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 3 |
Korean | LGS 171& LGS 172 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Korean | LGS 171, LGS 172, LGS 271, LGS 272 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Modern Greek | LGS 141 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Modern Greek | LGS 141 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Modern Greek | LGS 141 & LGS 142 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Modern Greek | LGS 141, LGS 142, LGS 241 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
Modern Greek | LGS 141, LGS 142, LGS 241, LGS 242 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
Portuguese | LGS 181 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Portuguese | LGS 181 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Portuguese | LGS 181 & LGS 182 | 6 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Portuguese | LGS 181, LGS 182, LGS 281 |
9 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
Portuguese | LGS 181, LGS 182, LGS 281, LGS 282 |
12 hrs | SL and HL | 7 |
Russian | LG 171 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL | 4 |
Russian | LG 171 & LG 172 | 6 hrs | ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL | 5 |
Russian | LG 171, LG 172, LG 271 |
9 hrs | ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL | 6 |
Russian | LG 171, LG 172, LG 271, LG 272 |
12 hrs | ab initio SL/HL, SL and HL | 7 |
Spanish | LG 131 | 3 hrs | ab initio SL/HL | 4 |
Spanish | LG 131 | 3 hrs | SL | 4 |
Spanish | LG 131 & LG 132 | 6 hrs | SL | 5 |
Spanish | LG 131, LG 132, LG 231 |
9 hrs | SL | 6 |
Spanish | LG 131 & LG 132 | 6 hrs | HL | 5 |
Spanish | LG 131, LG 132, LG 231 |
9 hrs | HL | 6 |
Spanish | LG 131, LG 132, LG 231, LG 232 |
12 hrs | HL | 7 |
Mathematical Studies | MA 110 | 3 hrs | SL | 4 |
Mathematics | MA 112 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 4 |
Mathematics | MA 115 | 4 hrs | SL and HL | 4-5 |
Mathematics | MA 125 | 4 hrs | SL and HL | 6 |
Music | MUL 101 | 3 hrs | SL | 5 |
Music | MUL 235 | 2 hrs | HL | 5 |
Physics | PH 104 | 4 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Philosophy | PHL 110 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Psychology | PSY 120 | 3 hrs | SL and HL | 5 |
Credit will be awarded as outlined for examinations completed through an A/AS Level Examining Board.
AICE Subject | Grade | USA Credit Awarded | Hours Awarded |
Accounting (AS-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Accounting (A-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3-6 hrs |
Art and Design (AS-Level) | A - E | ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Art and Design (A-Level) | A - E | ARS121, ARS 123, ARS 124, ARS 100 Level Elective | 3-6 hrs |
Biology (AS-Level) | A - E | BLY 101 | 3 hrs |
Biology (A-Level) | A - E | BLY 121/121L & BLY122/122L | 8 hrs |
Business Studies (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Business Studies (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Chemistry (AS-Level) | A - E | CH 100 Level Elective | 4 hrs |
Chemistry (A-Level) | A - E | CH 131 & CH 100 Level Elective | 8 hrs |
Classical Studies (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Computing (AS-Level) | A - E | CSC 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Computing (A-Level) | A - E | CSC 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Design and Technology (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Design and Technology (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Economics (AS-Level) | A - E | BUS 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Economics (A-Level) | A - E | ECO 215 & ECO 216 | 6 hrs |
English Language (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 hrs |
Environmental Management (AS-Level) | A - E | GEO 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
French Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 111 | 3 hrs |
French Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 111 & LG 112 | 6 hrs |
French Literature (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Further Mathematics (A-Level) | A - E | MA 125 & MA 126 | 8 hrs |
General Paper (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Geography (AS-Level) | A - E | GEO 115 | 3 hrs |
Geography (A-Level) | A - E | GEO 102, GEO 102L, GEO 100 Level Elective | 7 hrs |
German Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 151 | 3 hrs |
German Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 151 & LG 152 | 6 hrs |
History (AS-Level) | A - E | HY 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
History (A-Level) | A - E | HY 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Language and Literature in English (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 hrs |
Latin (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 101 | 3 hrs |
Literature in English (AS-Level) | A - E | EH 101 | 3 hrs |
Literature in English (A-Level) | A - E | EH 101 & EH 102 | 6 hrs |
Marine Science (AS-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Marine Science (A-Level) | A - E | GNRL 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Mathematics (AS-Level) | A - E | MA 115 | 4 hrs |
Mathematics (A-Level) | A - E | MA 125 | 4 hrs |
Music (AS-Level) | A - E | MUL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Music (A-Level) | A - E | MUL 101 & MUL 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Physics (AS-Level) | A - E | PH 100 Level Elective | 4 hrs |
Physics (A-Level) | A - E | PH 114 & PH 115 | 10 hrs |
Psychology (AS-Level) | A - E | PSY 120 | 3 hrs |
Psychology (A-Level) | A - E | PSY 120 & PSY 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Sociology (AS-Level) | A - E | SY 109 | 3 hrs |
Sociology (A-Level) | A - E | SY 109 & SY 100 Level Elective | 6 hrs |
Spanish Language (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 131 | 3 hrs |
Spanish Language (A-Level) | A - E | LG 131 & LG 132 | 6 hrs |
Spanish Literature (AS-Level) | A - E | LG 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Thinking Skills (AS-Level) | A - E | PHL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
Thinking Skills (A-Level) | A - E | PHL 100 Level Elective | 3 hrs |
A Level Exam Credit Award Policy:
This policy is in effect for all undergraduate students entering USA. Tests taken after a student matriculates are not eligible for credit.
For incoming new undergraduate students, Cambridge A-Level and AICE scores on file at USA are evaluated for credit at the point the student has an offer of admission. Additional scores that are received for incoming new undergraduate students will be evaluated at the time of receipt.
For continuing undergraduate students who did not send their scores prior to matriculating at USA, A-Level and AICE scores received by the university are evaluated for credit based on the AP credit equivalencies in effect at time of receipt.
Transfer students will receive the A-Level and AICE credit for college-level courses when official scores are received by the university.
Credit will be awarded only once for the same subject, whether the credit is earned by examination, Dual Enrollment, transfer credit, or course credit. If duplicate credit exists among A-Level, AP, IB, the source yielding the most credit will be awarded. Credit earned through testing will not replace graded credit in that same course.
Students may opt out of test credit if they see that acceptance of credit may disadvantage them. Students should make this request within their first year of attendance at USA.
Additional Information:
Cambridge International does not release scores on A-Level taken in June until after September of that same test year. This may impact incoming undergraduate students attending orientation sessions in summer. Students should speak to their academic advisor during orientation about potential A-Level credit that is not yet on their USA record.
For sequence courses such as foreign language, English, Math, plan to take the next course after the one for which you have received course credit. Please consult with your academic advisor for additional information.
Appeals:
If you believe that the assessment of your work and subsequent awarding of credits for such is in error, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Feel free to email records@southalabama.edu with questions regarding transfer credit to the University of South Alabama.
revised 7/22/2024