Alternative Ways to Earn Credit
Contents
Advanced Placement
After completing an Advanced Placement course, high school students have the option of paying a fee to take the appropriate examination. Test scores determine the type and number of credits the UO can award. Follow this link for ordering instructions.
International Baccalaureate
The UO evaluates International Baccalaureate scores in much the same way as it evaluates AP scores. Students must indicate that they want their official IB test scores sent to the UO. The UO awards credit to students who receive a five or higher on any Higher Level IB examination. The UO does not award credit for Standard Level examinations except where specifically noted.
UO credit is awarded for the following IB exams:
| Subject | Score on High Level Exam (except where noted) | Credit | UO Course Equivalent | Satisfies Group Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Arts | 5 | 4 4 |
Art History (one course) Art History (one course) |
A&L Elective |
| Biology | 5 | 12 | BI 211, 212, 213 | SC |
| Business | 5 | 4 | BA 101 | SS |
| Chemistry 1 | 5 | 12 | CH 221, 222, 223 | SC |
| Chinese A 2 | 5 | 15 | CHN 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Computer Science | 5 | 4 4 |
CIS (one course) CIS 210 |
Elective SC/td> |
| Economics | 5 Standard level score of 5 or higher |
8 4 |
EC 201, 202 EC 101 |
SS SS |
| English A | 5 | 20 | WR 121, 122 ENG 104, 105, 106 |
COMP A&L |
| French A 2 | 5 | 12 | FR 203, 301, 303 | A&L, BA Lang |
| French B 2 | 5 | 12 | FR 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Geography | 5 | 8 | GEOG 141 GEOG 142 |
SC SS, IC |
| German A 2 | 5 Standard level score of 5 or higher |
12 4 |
GER 311, 312, 313 GER 311 |
A&L, BA Lang A&L, BA Lang |
| German B 2 | 5 | 12 | GER 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| History: Africa | 5 | 4 | History (one course) | SS, IC |
| History: Americas | 5 | 12 | HIST 201, 202, 203 | SS |
| History: East and Southeast - Asia and Australia |
5 | 4 | HIST 190 | SS, IC |
| History: Europe | 5 | 12 | HIST 101, 102, 103 | SS |
| History: West and South Asia | 5 | 4 | History (one course) | SS, IC |
| History: World | 5 | 4 | HIST 106 | SS, IC |
| Japanese A 2 | 5 | 15 | JPN 301, 302, 303 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Japanese B 2 | 5 | 15 | JPN 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Mandarin B 2 | 5 | 15 | CHN 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Mathematics | 5 | 8 | MATH 251 Math or Science (one course) |
SC, BS MATH SC, BS MATH |
| Music | 5 | 4 | Music (one course) | A&L |
| Physics 3 | 5 | 12 | PHYS 201, 202, 203 | SC |
| Psychology | 5 | 8 | PSY 201 PSY 202 |
SC SS |
| Social Anthropology | 5 | 4 | ANTH 161 | SS, IC |
| Spanish A 2 | 5 | 12 | SPAN 203, 301, 303 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Spanish B 2 | 5 | 12 | SPAN 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Swedish B 2 | 5 | 12 | SWED 201, 202, 203 | A&L, BA Lang |
| Theater Arts | 5 | 4 | TA 271 | A&L |
Notes for International Baccalaureate
| 1 | Students should complete CH 227, 228, 229 (labs) prior to organic chemistry or should complete honors chemistry 224, 225, 226 with labs 237, 238, 239 prior to organic chemistry. |
| 2 | Non-native speakers only |
| 3 | No lab credit is awarded so science and health profession students should discuss with their advisers the desirability of completing PHYS 251, 252, 253 and accompanying labs or of proceeding to next appropriate level of physics. |
Key to Group Requirements
| A&L | Arts and Letters Group Satisfying |
| SS | Social Science Group Satisfying |
| SC | Science Group Satisfying |
| COMP | Composition (written English requirements) |
| BS Math | Counts toward the Bachelor of Science Mathematics requirement |
| BA Lang | Satisfies the Bachelor of Arts Foreign Language requirement |
College-Level Examination Program
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a nationwide testing program which makes it possible for students to earn college credit by taking exams.
- Subject Examinations are open to all students. The academic departments that have authorized the use of these examinations also determine the scores necessary to receive college credit.
- CLEP Credits count toward graduation but do not count as residence credits at the UO.
- The University of Oregon does not award credit to the General Examinations.
For more information about CLEP exams, visit www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html. Descriptions of the tests are available at the UO Counseling and Testing Office located in the University Health and Counseling Center, 1590 E. 13th (map). CLEP tests are given by appointment throughout the year. Follow this link for ordering instructions.
| Subject Examinations |
Passing Score |
Credits | UO Course Equivalent | Satisfies Group Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Literature | 55 | 4 | English (one course) | A&L |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | MATH 251 | SC, BS MATH |
| Chemistry 4 | 50 | 12 | CH 221, 222, 223 | SC |
| College-level French Language 5 | 57 59 62 |
4 8 12 |
FR 201 FR 201, 202 FR 201, 202, 203 |
A&L A&L A&L, BA Lang |
| College-level German Language 5 | 54 57 60 |
4 8 12 |
GER 201 GER 201, 202 GER 201, 202, 203 |
A&L A&L A&L, BA Lang |
| College-level Spanish Language 5 | 55 59 63 |
4 8 12 |
SPAN 201 SPAN 201, 202 SPAN 201, 202, 203 |
A&L A&L A&L, BA Lang |
| English Literature | 55 | 4 | English (one course) | A&L |
| Introductory Sociology | 74 | 4 | SOC 204 | SS |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 60 | 4 | EC 201 | SS |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 60 | 4 | EC 202 | SS |
Notes for CLEP:
| 4 | Students should complete CH 227, 228, 229 (labs) prior to organic chemistry or should complete honors chemistry 224, 225, 226 with labs 237, 238, 239 prior to organic chemistry. |
| 5 | Native speakers must confirm with the Office of the Registrar that they are eligible to earn credit in their own native language. In general, native speakers may not earn credit in first-second- or third-year courses. |
Military Credit Evaluation
The University of Oregon generally grants credit for Military Educational Experiences as recommended by the American Council on Education's Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, and in accordance with University and State System policies regarding Transfer credits.
General Guidelines
| Basic Training | No credit allowed. |
| M O S | No credit allowed. |
| Community College of the Air Force | Nationally accredited two-year college limit of 124 credits. Baccalaureate credit limit of 12 credits vocational credit. |
| Dantes | No credit allowed. |
| Defense Language Institute | Baccalaureate credit allowed, may satisfy University of Oregon Language Requirement for a B.A. degree. |
| Military Education | Baccalaureate credit allowed; no limit on credits; vocational credit allowed but limited to 12 credits. |
To receive transfer credits, students must submit official copies of test scores and college transcripts, or a Certificate of Completion from the Defense Language Institute. Students should submit:
- An official copy of an AARTS transcript (Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript).
- An official copy of a SMART transcript (Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript).
- Follow this link for ordering instructions. (Note that In order to view this site, you will need to enable JavaScript in your browser, and accept the https security certificate.
Credit by Examination
Credit by examination allows formally admitted undergraduate students to challenge undergraduate university courses without registering for the courses. Students seeking to receive credit by examination must be registered for the term in which the exam is given. Credit by examination may be earned only in courses whose content is identified by title in the University of Oregon catalog. Students should contact first the Office of the Registrar to complete an Academic Requirements Committee petition to determine eligibility for credit by examination. Students then obtain faculty and department approvals before the exam can be scheduled. Students are billed an examination fee of $60 per course.
Successful credit by examination is shown as transfer credit on the UO transcript and may be recorded as a pass (P) or graded (A, B, C, D) consistent with the options listed in the class schedule. Credit by examination may not be counted toward the satisfaction of the graduation residency requirement or for fulfillment of the requirement to complete 45 credits graded A, B, C, D at the University of Oregon. However, credit by examination may be counted toward the requirement to complete 168 credits graded A, B, C, D, P* from all institutions attended.
The following are not available for credit by examination:
- Courses numbered 0-99; Field Studies (196), Workshop, Laboratory Projects, or Colloquium (198), Special Studies (199); courses numbered 200, or 399-410)
- First-year second languages
- 100-level mathematics courses and MATH 211, 212, 213
- English composition courses (WR 121, 122, 123)
- An elementary language course taught in the student’s native language
- A course for which a CLEP exam is available
- A course which substantially duplicates credit already earned
- A course which is more elementary in nature than credit already earned
- A course in which the student is already enrolled for credit
- A course for which the student has received a grade of A, B, C, D, P, P*, I, X, or Y
- A course for which the student has already taken and failed an examination for credit
Credit by Exam credit transferred from regionally accredited institutions on official transcripts will be articulated and processed as transfer credit. All other limitations and exceptions in effect as documented in the current University Catalog will continue to apply to the transfer and usability of this CBE credit.
Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.