FB Pixel Skip to Main Content
Academic Affairs

Office of the Registrar

AP, CLEP and IB Credit

Scroll to bottom of section

AP, CLEP and IB Credit

Effective July 1, 2023, the CLEP® exam fee will be $93. Test takers who purchase their registration tickets on or after this date will be charged the new fee. Registration tickets purchased prior to this date will still be valid until their stated expiration dates.

Credits can be earned for AP exams, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Official score reports must be submitted for consideration from AP and CLEP.  An official transcript must be submitted for consideration for IB credit.

The following links provide specific equivalencies for individual tests. A minimum score of 3 is required for credit to be granted for most AP tests (some require a minimum of 4). Western will grant IB credit for tests with a score of 4 or better. Western will award a maximum of 18 credits for CLEP exams.

All credits accepted at lower division

AP Exam Exam Score Western Course Equivalent General Education Requirement Fulfilled Semester Credits
ARTS:
Art History

 

3

4

ART 222

ART 222, 223

GT-AH1

3 credits applied to GT-AH1

3

6

Studio Art (Drawing, 2-D Design, 3-D Design) 3, 4, 5 6 credits ART electives 3 credits applied to GT-AH1 6
BIOLOGY:
Biology

(With Verified Lab)

Biology

(With Verified Lab)

3, 4

3, 4

5

5

BIOL 120

BIOL 150

BIOL 120

BIOL 150 & BIOL 151

GT-SC2

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC2

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

3

4

3

8

Environmental Science

(With Verified Lab)

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

BIOL 130

BIOL 130 & BIOL 135

GT-SC2

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

3

4

CHEMISTRY:
Chemistry

(With Verified Lab)

Chemistry

(With Verified Lab)

Chemistry

(With Verified Lab)

3

3

4

4

5

5

CHEM 101 (GT-SC2)

CHEM 1XX (GT-SC1)

CHEM 111 (GT-SC1)

CHEM 111 & 112 (GT-SC1)

CHEM 111 & 113 (GT-SC1)

CHEM 111, 112, 113, & 114 (GT-SC1)

GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC2

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC2

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

3

4

3

4

6

8

COMPUTER SCIENCE:
Computer Science A

Computer Science AB

Computer Science Principles

4, 5

4, 5

3, 4, 5

CS 190

CS 190, 191

CS elective

 

 

 

3

6

3

ECONOMICS:
Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

Microeconomics

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

ECON elective (GT-SS1)

ECON 201 (GT-SS1)

ECON elective (GT-SS1)

ECON 202 (GT-SS1)

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

3

3

3

3

ENGLISH:
Language & Composition

 

Literature & Composition

 

3, 4

5

3, 4

5

ENG 102 (GT-CO1)

ENG 102 & ENG 103 (GT-CO1)

ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 102 (GT-CO1) & ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

GT-CO1

GT-CO1 & GT-CO2

GT-AH2

GT-CO1 & GT-AH2

3

6

3

6

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & CULTURE:
Chinese Language & Culture

French Language & Culture

 

French Literature

 

German Language & Culture

Italian Language & Culture

Japanese Language & Culture

Latin

Latin Literature

3, 4, 5

3, 4

5

3, 4

5

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

3 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

6 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

6 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

3 credits general elective

3

3

6

3

6

3

3

3

3

3

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & CULTURE:
Spanish Language & Culture

 

 

Spanish Literature & Culture

 

3

4

5

3, 4

5

SPAN 101

SPAN 102 & 201

SPAN 102, 201, 202

SPAN 102, 385 (lower div)

SPAN 102, 201, 202, 385 (lower div)

3

6

9

6

12

GEOGRAPHY:
Human Geography 3, 4, 5 GEOG 120 (GT-SS2) GT-SS2 3
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS:
Comparative

United States

3, 4, 5

3, 4, 5

POLS 255 (GT-SS1)

POLS 180 (GT-SS1)

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

3

3

HISTORY:
European History

 

US History

 

World History

 

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

HIST 100 (GT-HI1)

HIST 100 & Elective (GT-HI1)

HIST 127 (GT-HI1)

HIST 126, 127 (GT-HI1)

HIST 100 (GT-HI1)

HIST 100 & Elective (GT-HI1)

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

3

6

3

6

3

6

MATHEMATICS:
Calculus AB

Calculus BC

 

Statistics

3, 4, 5

3

4, 5

3, 4, 5

MATH 151 (GT-MA1)

MATH 151 (GT-MA1)

MATH 151 & 251 (GT-MA1)

MATH 113 (GT-MA1)

GT-MA1

GT-MA1

GT-MA1

GT-MA1

4

4

8

3

MUSIC:
Music Theory 3, 4, 5  MUS 129 GT-AH1 3
PHYSICS:
Physics 1

 

Physics 2

 

Physics B

 

Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

 

Physics C: Mechanics

 

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

3

4, 5

PHYS 140 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 170 (GT-SC1), 185 (GT-SC2)

PHYS 140 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 171 (GT-SC1), 186 (GT-SC2)

PHYS 140 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 170, & 185 171 & 186 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 140 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 190 & 185 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 140 (GT-SC1)

PHYS 190 & 185, 191 & 186 (GT-SC1)

GT-SC1

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

4

4

4

4

4

8

4

4

4

8

PSYCHOLOGY:
Psychology 3, 4, 5 PSY 100 (GT-SS1) GT-SS1 3

Note: This chart was prepared based upon the 2023-2024 catalog. Policy subject to change after further review.
GT=Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways General Education Curriculum

All credit accepted at lower division

IB Subject Examination IB Subject Examination IB Subject Examination IB Subject Examination IB Subject Examination IB Subject Examination
Anthropology Higher

Standard

4

4

ANTH 107 (GT-SS1) and ANTH Elective

ANTH 107 (GT-SS1)

3 Credits GT-SS1

3 Credits GT-SS1

6

3

Art Higher

Standard

4

4

Art Elective**

Art Elective**

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

6

3

Art-Visual Higher

Standard

4

4

Art Elective**

Art Elective**

3 Credits GT-AH3

3 Credits GT-AH1

6

3

Biology Higher

Standard

4

4

BIOL 150 (GT-SC1) and 151

BIOL 120 (GT-SC1)

 GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

8

3

Business & Management Higher

Standard

4

4

BUAD 101 & 3 Credits BUAD Elective

BUAD 101

6

3

Chemistry Higher

Higher

Standard

5

4

4

CHEM 111, 112, 113, and 114

CHEM 111 and 112 (GT-SC1)

CHEM 101 (GT-SC1)

GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-SC1

GT-SC1

8

4

3

Computer Science Higher 4 CS 190 3
Design Technology Higher 4 General Elective 6
Economics Higher

Standard

4

4

ECON 201(GT-SS1) and 202

ECON Elective

 

3 Credits Area 1

3 Credits Area 1

6

3

English A Lang & Lit Higher

Higher

Standard

5

4

4

ENG 102 (GT-CO1), ENG 103 (GT-CO2) & ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 102 (GT-CO1) & ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

Essential Skills writing course & 3 Credits GT-AH2

GT-AH1

GT-AH1

9

6

3

English A Literature Higher

Higher

Standard

5

4

4

ENG 102 (GT-CO1) & ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

Essential Skills writing course & 3 Credits GT-AH2

GT-AH1

GT-AH1

6

3

3

Environmental Syst (ES&S) Standard 4 BIOL 130 (GT-SC1) GT-SC1 3
Film Higher

Standard

4

4

COM 119 & COM 1XX

COM 119

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

6

3

French A-1 Higher

Standard

4

4

General Elective

General Elective

6

6

French B Higher

Higher

Standard

6, 7

4, 5

4

General Elective

General Elective

General Elective

9

6

6

Geography Higher

Standard

4

4

GEOG 110 (GT-SS1) and 120 (GT-SS1)

GEOG 110 (GT-SS1)

3 Credits GT-SS1

3 Credits GT-SS1

6

3

Global Politics Higher

Standard

4

4

POLS 260 (GT-SS1)

POLS 260 (GT-SS1)

3 Credits (GT-SS1)

3 Credits (GT-SS1)

6

3

German B Higher

Standard

4

4

General Elective

General Elective

6

3

History – Europe Higher

Standard

4

4

HIST 100 and HIST 1XX (GT-SS1)

3 Credits History Elective

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History 6

3

History – Americas Higher

Standard

4

4

HIST 126 and 127 (GT-SS1)

HIST 1XX (GT-SS1)

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History

 

6

3

History – Africa Higher

Standard

4

4

HIST 254 and 3 Credits History Elective

HIST 254 (GT-SS1)

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History 6

3

History – South Asia and Middle East Higher

Standard

4

4

HIST 250 and 3 Credits History Elective

HIST 250 (GT-SS1)

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History

 

6

3

History – East Asia and Oceania Higher

Standard

4

4

History Elective

History Elective

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History 6

3

History – Islamic Higher

Standard

4

4

History Elective

History Elective

Maximum 3 Credits Area 1 from all History 6

3

Japanese AB Higher

Standard

4

4

General Elective

General Elective

6

3

Latin Higher

Standard

4

4

General Elective

General Elective

6

3

Mathematics Higher & Further

Higher

Higher

Standard

Studies

5

5

4

4

4

4

MATH 151 (GT-MA1) and 251

MATH 141 and 151 (GT-MA1)

MATH 141 (GT-MA1)

MATH 140 (GT-MA1)

MATH 105 (GT-MA1)

Essential Skills Math Course

Essential Skills Math Course

Essential Skills Math Course

Essential Skills Math

Essential Skills Math

8

8

4

3

3

3

3

3

Mathematics – Application & Interpretation Standard 4 MATH 113 (GT-MA1) Essential Skills Math 3
Mathematics – Analysis & Approach Higher

Standard

4

4

MATH Elective

MATH Elective

3

3

Music

 

Group Performing

Solo Performing

Creating

Higher

Standard

Standard

Standard

 

4

4

4

4

 

MUS 100 and 140 (GT-AH3)

MUS 140 (GT-AH3)

MUS 100 (GT-AH3)

MUS 100 (GT-AH3)

 

3 Credits GT-AH3

3 Credits GT-AH3

3 Credits GT-AH3

3 Credits GT-AH3

 

6

3

3

3

 

Philosophy Higher

Standard

4

4

PHIL 101 and 3 Credits Area 3 Elective

PHIL 101  (GT-AH3)

3 Credits GT-AH3

3 Credits GT-AH3

6

3

Physics Higher

Standard

4

4

PHYS 170 & 185, PHYS 171 & 186 (GT-SCI)

PHYS 140 (GT-SCI)

8 Credits GT-SC1

4 Credits GT-SC1

8

4

Psychology Higher

Standard

4

4

PSY 100 and PSY Elective

PSY 100 (GT-SS1)

3 Credits GT-SS1

3 Credits GT-SS1

6

3

Russian B Higher

Standard

4

4

General Elective

General Elective

6

3

Spanish Language A: Language & Literature Higher

Standard

4

4

SPAN 102, 201, 202

SPAN 101 and 102

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

9

6

Spanish Language B Higher

Higher

Standard

 6, 7

4, 5

4

SPAN 102, 201, 202, 385 (lower division)

SPAN 102, 201, 202

SPAN 101 and 102

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

12

9

6

Theatre Higher

Standard

4

4

COM Elective

COM 121 (GT-AH3)

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits GT-AH3

6

3

** Consult with Art faculty for further consideration

Note: This chart was prepared based upon the 2023-2024 catalog. Policy subject to change after further review.
Course exams not listed may be evaluated individually for credit.

Effective July 1, 2023, the CLEP® exam fee will be $93. Test takers who purchase their registration tickets on or after this date will be charged the new fee. Registration tickets purchased prior to this date will still be valid until their stated expiration dates.

All credits accepted at lower division level

CLEP Exam Exam Score Western Course Equivalent General Education Requirement Fulfilled Semester Credits
BUSINESS:
Financial Accounting

Information Systems

Introductory Business Law

Principles of Management

Principles of Marketing

50

50

50

50

50 

ACC 201

BUAD 220

BUAD 210

BUAD Elective

BUAD 270

3

3

3

3

3

COMPOSITION & LITERATURE:
American Literature

Analyzing & Interpreting Literature

College Composition

College Composition Modular

English Literature

Humanities

50

50

50

50

50

50

ENG Elective (GT-AH2)

ENG 150 (GT-AH2)

ENG 102 (GT-CO1) & ENG 103 (GT-CO2)

ENG 102 (GT-CO1)

ENG Elective (GT-AH2)

GT-AH2

GT-AH2

GT-AH2

GT-CO1 & GT-CO2

GT-CO1

GT-AH2

GT-AH2

3

3

6

3

3

3

FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
French Language, Level I Proficiency

French – Level II Proficiency

German Language, Level I Proficiency

German – Level II Proficiency

Spanish Language, Level I

Spanish Language, Level II

Spanish with Writing, Level I

Spanish with Writing, Level II

50

59

50

60

50

63

50

65

General Elective

General Elective

General Elective

General Elective

SPAN 101, 102

SPAN 102, 201, 202

SPAN 101, 102

SPAN 102, 201, 202

 

 

 

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

3 Credits Area 3

6

9

6

9

6

9

6

9

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES 
American Government

History of the United States I: Early Colonizations to 1877

History of the United States II: 1865 to present

Human Growth & Development

Introduction to Educational Psychology

Introductory Psychology

Introductory Sociology

Principles of Macroeconomics

Principles of Microeconomics

Social Sciences & History

Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648

Western Civilization II: 1648 to present

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

POLS 180 (GT-SS1)

HIST 126 (GT-HI1)

HIST 127 (GT-HI1)

PSY 270 (GT-SS3)

PSY Elective (GT-SS3)

PSY 100 (GT-SS3)

SOC 101 (GT-SS3)

ECON 201 (GT-SS1)

ECON 202 (GT-SS1)

GT-SS1

HIST 100 (GT-HI1)

HIST 100 (GT-HI1)

GT-SS1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

GT-SS3

GT-SS3

GT-SS3

GT-SS3

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

GT-SS1

GT-HI1

GT-HI1

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS:
Biology

Calculus

Chemistry

College Algebra

College Mathematics

Natural Sciences

Pre-calculus

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

BIOL 150 (GT-SC1), BIOL 151

MATH 151 (GT-MA1)

CHEM 111 (GT-SC2), CHEM 113 (GT-SC2)

MATH 140 (GT-MA1)

MATH 105 (GT-MA1)

GT-SC2

MATH 141 (GT-MA1)

 GT-SC1 & GT-SC2

GT-MA1

GT-SC2

GT-MA1

GT-MA1

GT-SC2

GT-MA1

6

4

6

3

3

6

3

**Western will award a maximum of 18 credits for CLEP exams.

Note: This chart was prepared based upon the 2023-2024 catalog. Policy subject to change after further review.

ALEKS Exam

Students needing to access the ALEKS Exam can do so by clicking this link.

Challenge Exams

Western will award course credit for prior learning to students who successfully test out of GT Pathways courses by receiving a score equivalent to a grade of C- on a course challenge exam. Challenge exams are created by discipline faculty for GT Pathways courses for which a CLEP exam is not available. A list of GT Pathways courses with challenge exams, as well as challenge exam policies, is available on the Office of the Registrar web page. Western allows a maximum of 18 credits for any combination of CLEP and challenge exams. Credits received through challenge exams will not count toward satisfying Western’s residency requirement.

  • Student must be enrolled full-time at Western at the time the challenge exam is administered.
  • Challenge exams are only available for GT Pathways courses and are not offered if a CLEP exam exists for the course.
  • Students must complete challenge exams prior to the completion of 100 credit hours.
  • Students may not challenge a course if they have earned credit for higher numbered or subsequent course in the same discipline.
  • The challenge exam must be completed in one sitting, within the time limit imposed by the discipline.
  • Students are not eligible for a challenge exam if they have previously been awarded a grade and credit for the course at Western or any other institution.
  • The challenge exam may not be used to replace any course that has previously been transcripted.
  • Students may not challenge a course in which they are currently enrolled.
  • A course may only be challenged one time.
  • All challenge exams will receive a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory; to achieve a grade of Satisfactory a student must complete the exam with a grade equivalent of C- (70 percent) or higher; only Satisfactory grades will be recorded on the transcript.
  • Challenge exam credits will count toward graduation requirements but will not satisfy residency requirements and will not be factored into the Western GPA.
  • There is a $100 fee for each Challenge Exam.

Take the Next Step

Apply to
Western
Students pose for a photo on top of Mount Crested Butte in the summer

Apply to
Western

We understand that applying to a university can be daunting, which is why we make our admission process as simple and straightforward as possible. Learn more about applying to your program of choice at Western.

Visit
Western
Colorado Hall with the Palisades in the background on a bluebird day.

Visit
Western

The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
A group of four alumni look at an old photo that one of them picked up from a selection of photos that were printed and laid out for the Ski Team Social event.

Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

Request
Information
A few students pose for a photo behind the Multicultural Center table at the Admitted Student Day Club Fair.

Request
Information

Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.