AP, CLEP and IB Credit
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES: | ||||
| African American Studies | 3, 4, 5 | 3 Credits General Education | GT-SS1 | 3 |
| 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 | 3
4 5 |
BIOL 120
BIOL 150 BIOL 150 & BIOL 151 |
GT-SC2
GT-SC1 GT-SC1 & GT-SC2 |
3
4 8 |
| Environmental Science | 3
4, 5 |
BIOL 130
BIOL 130 & BIOL 135 |
GT-SC2
GT-SC1 & GT-SC2 |
3
4 |
| CHEMISTRY: | ||||
| Chemistry | 3
4 5 |
CHEM 101 (GT-SC2)
CHEM 111 (GT-SC1) CHEM 111 & 112 (GT-SC1) |
GT-SC2
GT-SC1 GT-SC1 & GT-SC2 |
3
3 4 |
| 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) |
GT-AH1
3 Credits applied to GT-AH1 3 Credits applied to GT-AH1 3 Credits applied to GT-AH1 3 Credits applied to GT-AH1 |
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 C: Electricity & Magnetism
Physics C: Mechanics
|
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 191 & 186 (GT-SC1) PHYS 140 (GT-SC1) PHYS 190 & 185 (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 |
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 |
| PSYCHOLOGY: | ||||
| Psychology | 3, 4, 5 | PSY 100 (GT-SS1) | GT-SS1 | 3 |
Note: This chart was prepared based upon the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 catalog. Policy subject to change after further review.
Course exams not listed may be evaluated individually for credit.
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 2024-2025 catalog. Policy subject to change after further review.
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
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
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
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
Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.