Policies

African American Studies - A score of 3 or higher equals AMCD 199 (will qualify as an elective for the AMCD major/minor)

Art History - A score of 3 or higher equals ARTH 199 (may fulfill Fine Arts requirement; evaluation based on individual course basis)

Biology - A score of 4 (non-Biology majors) equals BIOL 101 (fulfills a natural science with laboratory course requirement) OR BIOL 105 OR BIOL 207, depending on major degree requirements.

Students intending to major in Biology or related programs who earn a score of 4 equals BIOL 101, which fulfills a core lab science requirement but will not fulfill a major field requirement.

Students intending to major in Biology or related programs who earn a score of 5 equals BIOL 207 and fulfills 4 credits towards the Biology major.

Chemistry - A score of 3 or higher may equal CHEM 100 (fulfills Natural Science core requirement), depending on laboratory experience, at the discretion of the chair of the department.

A score of 4 or higher may equal CHEM 111 (fulfills Natural Science core requirement), depending on laboratory experience, at the discretion of the chair of the department.

Chinese - A score of 3 equals CHIN 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals CHIN 212; A score of 5 equals CHIN 300

Computer Science - Computer Science A: A score of 4 or 5 equals CISC 130 or 131

Computer Science Principles: A score of 3 or higher equals CISC 199

Economics - A score of 4 or higher in macroeconomics equals ECON 251; A score of 4 or higher in microeconomics equals ECON 252 (either course fulfills Social Scientific Analysis requirement)

English - A score of 4 or higher in English Language/ Composition equals ENGL 199 (does not fulfill the English requirement); A score of 4 or higher in English Literature/ Composition equals ENGL 121 (fulfills the English requirement)

Environmental Science - A score of 4 or higher equals ESCI 132 and will fulfill the Natural Science core requirement.

French - A score of 3 equals FREN 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals FREN 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 5 equals FREN 300 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 3 or higher in French Literature equals FREN 309 (this will count towards the major or minor in French)

Geography - A score of 3 or higher in Human Geography equals GEOG 111 (fulfills Social Scientific Analysis requirement)

German - A score of 3 equals GERM 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals GERM 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 5 equals GERM 300 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement)

History -A score of 4 or higher in European History equals HIST 199 (counts as an elective toward graduation); A score of 4 or higher in U.S.

Italian - A score of 3 equals ITAL 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals ITAL 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 5 equals ITAL 300 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement)

Japanese - A score of 3 equals JAPN 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals JAPN 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 5 equals JAPN 300 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement)

Latin - A score of 3 or higher equals LATN 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement)

Mathematics - A score of 3 or higher in Calc AB = MATH 113 (fulfills Quantitative Analysis); A score of 4 or higher in Calc BC = MATH 113 & 114; AB subscore of 3 or higher in Calc BC = MATH 113.

Music Theory - A score of 3 or higher may be the equivalent of MUSC 113 and a score of 4 or higher may be the equivalent of MUSC 114, however, all students who wish to transfer AP credits are required to take the music theory placement test for official placement.

Physics - Physics B: A score of 3 equals PHYS 101 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); A score of 4 or 5 equals PHYS 109-110 (satisfies Natural Science requirement);

Physics C1 - Mechanics: score of 3 equals PHYS 101 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); A score of 4 or 5 equals PHYS 211 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); Physics C2 -Electricity and Magnetism: A score of 3 or 4 equals PHYS 199 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); A score of 5 equals PHYS 212 (satisfies Natural Science requirement)

Physics 1: A score of 3 equals PHYS 101 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); A score of 4 or 5 equals PHYS 109 (satisfies Natural Science requirement)

Physics 2: A score of 3 equals PHYS 100 (satisfies Natural Science requirement); A score of 4 or 5 equals PHYS 110 (satisfies Natural Science requirement)

Political Science - A score of 4 or higher in United States Government and Politics equals POLS 199 (does not fulfill Social Scientific Analysis requirement).

A score of 4 or higher in Comparative Government and Politics equals POLS 104 (fulfills Social Scientific Analysis requirement).

Psychology - A score of 4 or higher equals PSYC 111 (fulfills Social Scientific Analysis requirement)

Spanish Language and Culture - A score of 3 equals SPAN 211 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 4 equals SPAN 212 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement); A score of 5 equals SPAN 300 (fulfills Language and Culture requirement)

Spanish Literature - A score of 5 equals SPAN 335 (this will count towards the major or minor in Spanish)

Statistics - A score of 4 or higher in Statistics equals DASC 111.

Studio Art - A score of 3 or higher in Studio Art equals ARTS 199 (does not fulfill Fine Arts requirement)

AP Seminar - A score of 4 or higher equals IDSC 199 and will count as 4 elective credits with an S grade.

AP Research - A score of 4 or higher equals IDSC 199 and will count as 4 elective credits with an S grade.

History A score at the 50th percentile or above in History of the United States I=HIST 113, History of the United States II=HIST 114 (both fulfill the Historical Analysis requirement.) History exams in other areas with a score of 50% or higher need to be evaluated by the department chair.

A score of 60 -79 = no credit but MATH 113 will be waived as a prerequisite;

A score of 80 - 100 = credit for MATH 113

A score of 5 or higher (non-Biology majors) equals BIOL 101 (fulfills a natural science with laboratory course requirement) OR BIOL 105 OR BIOL 207, depending on major degree requirements.

A score of 5 (Biology major or related programs) equals BIOL 207.

A score of 6 or 7 (Biology major or related programs) equals BIOL 208.

Completion of a course with a laboratory component and a score of 4 or higher equals CHEM 111.

A score of 5 or higher on the Higher Level examination equals ECON 251 (fulfills the Social Scientific Analysis requirement).

A score of 4 or higher equals ENGL 121 (fulfills 4 credits toward the English requirement).

Once a language placement exam result is known, IB credit will be granted with a score of 4 or higher.

A score of 4 or higher in European History equals HIST 199 (with the discretion of the department chair, may fulfill Historical Analysis requirement.) A score of 4 or higher in History of Americas equals HIST 100 (fulfills the Historical Analysis requirement.) A score of 4 or higher in History: Africa equals HIST 100 (fulfills the Historical Analysis requirement.)

A score of 6-7 on the IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) HL exam gives credit for both MATH 113 and MATH 114.

A score of 5 on the IB Mathematics AA HL exam gives credit for MATH 113 and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 114.

A score of 3-4 on the IB Mathematics AA HL gives students automatic placement into MATH 113, and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 113.

A score of 5 or higher on the IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) HL exam gives credit for MATH 113.

A score of 5 or higher equals PHIL 199 (elective credit).

A score of 4 or higher equals PHYS 109.

A score of 5 or higher equals PSYC 111

A score of 4 or higher equals THTR 111 (fulfills the Fine Arts requirement).

A score of 5 or higher in World Religions equals THEO 228 - Comparative: World Religions (fulfills 2nd PHIL or THEO requirement).

Credit by Examination Date Implemented: March 17, 2003 Date Revised: December 18, 2023 Please see Section V.B.1 in the Credit for Prior Learning Policy . Important Note: In the absence of a more stringent policy at the school or college level the University Graduate Academic Policies apply. Should a graduate program not have a specific policy or should there be omissions or gaps in the policy for a specific graduate school program, the University Graduate Policy shall govern. The Graduate Academic Policies are the responsibility of the Graduate Curriculum Committee Convener. For additions or revisions contact gradcurriculum@stthomas.edu . Return to Graduate Policies Back to Top University of St. Thomas University of St. Thomas, Minnesota 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 USA (651) 962-5000 Contact Us Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok X YouTube © 2026 University of St. Thomas, Minnesota Maps & Directions Parking & Transportation Disability Resources Public Safety Conference & Event Services Media Relations Jobs at St. Thomas Technology Resources (IT Help) Accreditation & Assessment Policies & Compliance Title IX Registrar Directory Report a Website Problem EO Statement Accessibility Privacy Policy Emergency Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok X YouTube © University of St. Thomas, Minnesota

Credit by Examination Date Implemented: March 17, 2003 Date Revised: December 18, 2023 Please see Section V.B.1 in the Credit for Prior Learning Policy. Important Note: In the absence of a more stringent policy at the school or college level the University Graduate Academic Policies apply. Should a graduate program not have a specific policy or should there be omissions or gaps in the policy for a specific graduate school program, the University Graduate Policy shall govern. The Graduate Academic Policies are the responsibility of the Graduate Curriculum Committee Convener. For additions or revisions contact gradcurriculum@stthomas.edu. Return to Graduate Policies

Credit for Prior Learning Credit for prior learning (CPL) means academic credit that is awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college-level learning outcomes achieved through previous experiences other than coursework at postsecondary educational institutions. The University of St. Thomas has a CPL policy applicable to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the CPL policy . The specific CPL methods for undergraduate students along with the academic units that provide these methods are described below. Please see the CPL policy for the methods of military experiential credit and portfolio assessment. Note: If a student has a high-enough test score (e.g., AP, CLEP - see our policies below) that they took as part of a dual enrollment course, the student will only get credit for the test score.

Credit for Prior Learning Credit for prior learning (CPL) means academic credit that is awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college-level learning outcomes achieved through previous experiences other than coursework at postsecondary educational institutions. The University of St. Thomas has a CPL policy applicable to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the CPL policy. The specific CPL methods for undergraduate students along with the academic units that provide these methods are described below. Please see the CPL policy for the methods of military experiential credit and portfolio assessment. Note: If a student has a high-enough test score (e.g., AP, CLEP - see our policies below) that they took as part of a dual enrollment course, the student will only get credit for the test score.

In the case of transfer credits, the St. Thomas grade point average must also satisfy the minimum requirement, with a minimum of twelve St. Thomas credits taken for letter grade.

In the case of transfer credits, the St. Thomas grade point average must also satisfy the minimum requirement, with a minimum of twelve St. Thomas credits taken for letter grade.

A student may attempt to earn credit by examination only once for a particular course. The following departments offer the availability of credit by examination for selected courses. Computer and Information Sciences The Department of Computer and Information Sciences offers a "Credit by Exam" option to allow students the opportunity to earn course credit for one of the following four entry-level computing courses at St. Thomas: CISC 130: Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences CISC 131: Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving CISC 200: Introductory Computer Technology and Business Applications DASC 120: Introduction to Computational Statistics There will be a unique exam for each course that will evaluate students relative to the specific concepts and skills that are the focus of that particular course. Engineering Examinations may be given for all courses, if circumstances warrant it, with the exception of: ENGR 480 Engineering Design Clinic I ENGR 481 Engineering Design Clinic II Each case will be considered individually by the department chair. English Under extraordinary circumstances, with the consent of the department chair, credit by examination may be sought for English courses with the following exceptions: ENGL 121 Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing ENGL 201 Text in Conversation: Perspectives on Genre and Craft ENGL 202 Texts in Conversation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives ENGL 203 Texts in Conversation: Thematic and Intertextual Perspectives ENGL 204 Texts in Conversation: Perspectives on Language, Culture, and Literacy ENGL 300 Theory and Practice of Writing ENGL 421/422 Literary Magazine Practicum ENGL 481 or ENGL 482 Capstone Seminar Geology GEOL 111 Introductory Geology I Mathematics A departmental examination is available for MATH 113 Calculus I with the following qualifications: A score of 0 - 59 = no credit; A score of 60 -79 = no credit but MATH 113 will be waived as a prerequisite; A score of 80 - 100 = credit for MATH 113 Modern and Classical Languages Examinations may be given for certain courses. Each case will be considered individually by the department chair.

A student may attempt to earn credit by examination only once for a particular course. The following departments offer the availability of credit by examination for selected courses. Computer and Information Sciences The Department of Computer and Information Sciences offers a "Credit by Exam" option to allow students the opportunity to earn course credit for one of the following four entry-level computing courses at St. Thomas: CISC 130: Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences CISC 131: Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving CISC 200: Introductory Computer Technology and Business Applications DASC 120: Introduction to Computational Statistics There will be a unique exam for each course that will evaluate students relative to the specific concepts and skills that are the focus of that particular course. English Under extraordinary circumstances, with the consent of the department chair, credit by examination may be sought for English courses with the following exceptions: ENGL 121 Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing ENGL 201 Text in Conversation: Perspectives on Genre and Craft ENGL 202 Texts in Conversation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives ENGL 203 Texts in Conversation: Thematic and Intertextual Perspectives ENGL 204 Texts in Conversation: Perspectives on Language, Culture, and Literacy ENGL 300 Theory and Practice of Writing ENGL 421/422 Literary Magazine Practicum ENGL 481 or ENGL 482 Capstone Seminar Geology GEOL 111 Introductory Geology I Mathematics A departmental examination is available for MATH 113 Calculus I with the following qualifications: A score of 0 - 59 = no credit; A score of 60 -79 = no credit but MATH 113 will be waived as a prerequisite; A score of 80 - 100 = credit for MATH 113 Modern and Classical Languages Examinations may be given for certain courses.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 must be achieved in all of the following categories: all credits presented for graduation (including transfer credits) all credits earned at St. Thomas all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field (including transfer credits) all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field earned at St. Thomas. If the student has elected to declare a minor field, all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor (including transfer credits) and all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor field earned at St. Thomas must have a GPA of 2.00.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 must be achieved in all of the following categories: all credits presented for graduation (including transfer credits) all credits earned at St. Thomas all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field (including transfer credits) all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field earned at St. Thomas. If the student has elected to declare a minor field, all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor (including transfer credits) and all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor field earned at St. Thomas must have a GPA of 2.00.

A score of 5 on the IB Mathematics AA HL exam gives credit for MATH 113 and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 114. A score of 3-4 on the IB Mathematics AA HL gives students automatic placement into MATH 113, and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 113.

A score of 5 on the IB Mathematics AA HL exam gives credit for MATH 113 and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 114. A score of 3-4 on the IB Mathematics AA HL gives students automatic placement into MATH 113, and students are encouraged to take the credit by examination test to receive credit for MATH 113.

Post-Matriculation Transfer Credit Limit Students who first become degree-seeking at St. Thomas beginning with the fall 2013 semester and for all subsequent semesters may count a maximum of 8 additional transfer credits taken after the date of matriculation at St. Thomas toward core requirements, with no more than 4 of those credits counting toward any one core requirement area (for instance, Language and Culture or Literature and Writing). This limit applies only to post-matriculation transfer credits and therefore does not apply to courses taken through a UST study abroad program or through the ACTC.

Post-Matriculation Transfer Credit Limit Students who first become degree-seeking at St. Thomas beginning with the fall 2013 semester and for all subsequent semesters may count a maximum of 8 additional transfer credits taken after the date of matriculation at St. Thomas toward core requirements, with no more than 4 of those credits counting toward any one core requirement area (for instance, Language and Culture or Literature and Writing). This limit applies only to post-matriculation transfer credits and therefore does not apply to courses taken through a UST study abroad program or through the ACTC.

Date Implemented: February 12, 2002 Date Reviewed: November 15, 2012 Date Revised: February 24, 2009 Courses will be considered for transfer credit if the course: Is designated as a graduate-level course Is from a regionally accredited institution Is graded B- or above (Pass/Fail courses are not accepted) Is earned within time limitations established by the respective graduate program Is deemed equivalent by the dean or designee as applicable to degree completion Important Note: In the absence of a more stringent policy at the school or college level the University Graduate Academic Policies apply.

Date Implemented: February 12, 2002 Date Reviewed: November 15, 2012 Date Revised: February 24, 2009 Courses will be considered for transfer credit if the course: Is designated as a graduate-level course Is from a regionally accredited institution Is graded B- or above (Pass/Fail courses are not accepted) Is earned within time limitations established by the respective graduate program Is deemed equivalent by the dean or designee as applicable to degree completion Important Note: In the absence of a more stringent policy at the school or college level the University Graduate Academic Policies apply.