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Credit by Exam

Advanced Placement (AP) College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
International Baccalaureate (IB) Retroactive Credits

Students who have participated in the Advanced Placement Program (AP) in high school and have received scores of 3, 4, or 5 will receive academic credit. Official transcripts of AP work must be submitted to the Admissions Office for evaluation to determine how academic credit will be awarded. UW-La Crosse's AP School Code is 1914.  You can contact the AP Testing Center at: www.apcentral.collegeboard.com or by phone at (888) 225-5427.  Students may receive credit for passing the following AP exams:

AP Equivalencies at UW-La Crosse

AP Exam

Passing Score

UW-L Course

Credit

Art History

3,4,5

Elective Credit

3

Biology

3

Elective Credit

4

Biology

4, 5

Biology 103

4

Calculus AB

3,4,5

Math 207

5

Calculus BC

3

Math 207

5

Calculus BC

4,5

Math 207 & 208

9

Chemistry

3

Elective Credit

4

Chemistry

4,5

Chemistry 103

5

Chinese Language and Culture

3

Chinese 202

4

Chinese Language and Culture

4,5

Chinese 202, 398

7

Computer Science A

3

Elective Credit

3

Computer Science A

4,5

Comp. Science 224

4

Economics: Macro

3,4,5

Economics 120

3

Economics: Micro

3,4,5

Economics 110

3

English: Language & Composition

3,4

Elective Credit and placement into ENG 112

3

English: Language & Composition

5

English 110

3

English: Literature & Composition

3,4

Elective Credit and placement into ENG 112

3

English: Literature & Composition

5

English 110

3

Environmental Science

3

Elective Credit

3

Environmental Science

4,5

Geography 200

3

European History

3,4,5

History 240

3

French Language

3

French 202;  Placement in 303 course*

4

French Language

4,5

French 202, 303;  Placement in course above 303*

7

German Language

3

German 202;  Placement in 300+ course*

4

German Language

4,5

German 202, 300;  Placement in 300+ course*

7

Gov't & Politics: Comparative 3 Elective Credit 3

Gov't & Politics: Comparative

4,5

Political Science 234

3

Gov't & Politics: United States 3 Elective Credit 3

Gov't & Politics: United States

4,5

Political Science 101

3

Human Geography

3,4,5

Geography 110

3

Japanese Language and Culture

3

Modern Languages 202

4

Japanese Language and Culture

4,5

Modern Languages 202, 398

7

Latin: Vergil

3,4,5

Elective Credit

4

Music: Theory

3,4,5

Music 235

3

Physics B

3

Elective Credit

4

Physics B

4,5

Elective Credit

8

Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

3

Elective Credit

4

Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

4,5

Physics 204

4

Physics C: Mechanics

3

Elective Credit

4

Physics C: Mechanics

4,5

Physics 203

4

Psychology

3,4,5

Psychology 100

3

Spanish Language

3

Spanish 202;  Placement in 303 course*

4

Spanish Language

4,5

Spanish 202, 303;  Placement in 304 course*

8

Spanish Literature

3

Spanish 202;  Placement in 303*

4

Spanish Literature

4,5

Spanish 202, 305;  Placement in 303 course*

7

Statistics

3,4,5

Math 145

4

Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio**

3,4,5

Elective Credit

3

Studio Art: 3-D Design Portfolio**

3,4,5

Elective Credit

3

Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio**

3,4,5

Elective Credit

3

United States History

3,4,5

History 210

3

World History

3,4,5

History 101, 102

6

*Retroactive credits for 101, 102, and 201 (12 credits) would be granted upon completion of the appropriate 300-level course at UW-La Crosse with a grade of "B" or higher. Refer to Retroactive Credits for more information. 

**Student's portfolio will need to be reviewed by the department. 

ELECTIVE CREDITS are university electives that count toward the degree, but NOT as departmental electives toward the major.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a national program administered through the College Board. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will follow The American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines and recommendations for minimum scores for awarding credit in all subject examinations. Students should contact the Counseling and Testing Center (608) 785-8073 for information about CLEP, and to order the exam. Students who have taken exams at other sites, may submit the results to the Admissions Office for evaluation to determine if academic credit will be awarded. Students may receive credit for passing the following CLEP subject level exams:

CLEP Equivalencies at UW-La Crosse

CLEP Exam
Subject Level

Passing
Score

UW-L
Course

Credit

Composition & Literature

American Literature

50

English Elective

6

Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 

50

English Elective

6

English Literature

50

English Elective

6

College Composition

50

English Elective

6

Foreign Literature

College French

   Level 1 (2 semesters)

50

French 101, 102

8

   Level 2 (4 semesters)

62

French 101, 102, 201, 202

16

College German

  Level 1 (2 semesters)

50

German 101, 102

8

  Level 2 (4 semesters)

63

German 101, 102, 201, 202

16

College Spanish

  Level 1 (2 semesters)

50

Spanish 101, 102

8

  Level 2 (4 semesters)

66

Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202

16

History & Social Sciences

American Government

50

Pol. Science 101

3

History of the US I

50

History 210

3

History of the US II

50

History Elective

3

Human Growth & Development

50

Psychology 310

3

Intro. to Educational Psychology

50

Psychology 370

3

Introductory Psychology

50

Psychology 100

3

Introductory Sociology

50

Sociology 110

3

Principles of Macroeconomics

50

Economics 120

3

Principles of Microeconomics

50

Economics 110

3

Western Civilization I

50

History Elective

3

Western Civilization II

50

History Elective

3

Science & Mathematics

Calculus 

50

Math Elective

5

College Algebra

50

Math Elective

4

Precalculus

50

Math Elective

3

Biology

50

Biology 103

4

Chemistry

50

Chemistry 103

5

Natural Sciences    50 Science Elective   4

Business

Information Systems & Computer Applications

50

Elective Credit

3

Introductory Business Law

50

Elective Credit

3

Financial Accounting

50

Accounting 221

3

Principles of Management

50

Elective Credit

3

Principles of Marketing

50

Marketing 309

3

Department credit by examination

Each academic department will have on file an examination for credit for each course the department determines to be introductory, including courses applicable to the Skills Component of the General Education Program. Interested students should check with the department and their Dean’s office to make arrangements for taking the test on this campus. A small non-refundable fee will be charged for each examination and is payable to the Cashiers Office. The following departments offer Credit by Examination:

Department

Location

Phone

Course*

Accountancy

223 Wimberly Hall

(608)785-8090

Accountancy 221
Accountancy 222

Chemistry

4004 Cowley Hall

(608)785-8268

Chemistry 103

Computer Science

221 Wing

(608)785-6805


Computer Science 120

Economics

223 Wimberly Hall

(608)785-8090

Economics 110
Economics 120

Mathematics

(Available for new freshmen only)

1020 Cowley Hall

(608)785-8382

Math 150
Math 151
Math 207
Math 208

Philosophy

245 Graff Main Hall

(608)785-8424

Philosophy 101

*Course titles may be found in the UW-La Crosse Undergraduate Catalog

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will accept all International Baccalaureate (IB) "HIGHER LEVEL" examinations with a score of 4 or greater. IB Standard Level (SL) examinations will receive credit if listed in the table below. Official IB transcripts should be submitted to the Admissions Office for evaluation. Students may receive credit for passing the following IB exams:

IB Exam

Passing Score

UW-L Course

Credit

Biology

4, 5, 6, 7

Biology 103

4

Business & Management

4, 5, 6, 7

Management Elective

3

Chemistry

4

Chemistry 100

4

Chemistry

5

Chemistry 103

5

Chemistry

6, 7

Chemistry 103, 104

10

Classical Languages (Greek & Latin)

4, 5, 6, 7

Humanities Elective

3

Computer Science (HL)

4, 5, 6, 7

Computer Science 120

4

Computer Science (SL)

5, 6, 7

Computer Science 224

3

Economics

4, 5, 6, 7

Economics 110, 120

6

English (A1)

4, 5, 6, 7

English 200

3

Any Foreign Language   (A2 or B)

4, 5, 6, 7

Foreign Language Elective (Literature)

6

Geography

4, 5, 6, 7

Geography Elective

3

History

4, 5, 6, 7

History Elective

3

Mathematics

4, 5, 6, 7

Math Elective

3

Music

4, 5, 6, 7

Music Elective

3

Philosophy

4, 5, 6, 7

Philosophy 100

3

Physics

4, 5, 6, 7

Physics 103

4

Psychology (HL)

4, 5, 6, 7

Psychology 100

3

Psychology (SL)

5, 6, 7

Psychology 100

3

Social & Cultural Anthropology

4, 5, 6, 7

Anthropology/ Sociology 202

3

Theatre Arts

4, 5, 6, 7

Theatre Elective

3

Visual Arts **

4, 5, 6, 7

Elective Credit

3

Full Diploma

28 or Above

 

3

** Student's portfolio will need to be reviewed by the department.

Retroactive credit

Students who enter the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with advanced preparation in foreign languages and mathematics may receive credit for that preparation by passing an advanced-level UW-La Crosse course with a grade of "B" or better.

Retroactive Credit in the Department of Modern Language

All students who plan to continue a language already studied in high school must take the UW System Placement Test in order to determine the appropriate class level. The UW-La Crosse Admissions Office will send Placement Test information to all accepted new freshmen.

A student may receive retroactive credit provided a grade of "B" or better is earned in the student’s first university course above the 101 level in a particular language. 

Retroactive credit may be given in one or more languages. No retroactive credit is given for any phonetics course.

  • Elementary Language II (102)
    earns 4 retroactive credits plus 4 course credits for a total of 8 credits
  • Intermediate Language I (201)
    earns 8 retroactive credits plus 4 course credits for a total of 12 credits
  • Intermediate Language II (202)
    earns 12 retroactive credits plus 4 course credits for a total of 16 credits
  • Any Advanced Course
    earns 16 retroactive credits plus 2-3 course credits for a total of 18-19 credits

Retroactive credit in the Department of Mathematics:

Students taking Calculus I (MTH 207), Calculus II (MTH 208), or Calculus III (MTH 310):  and earning a grade of "B" or better, will be given retroactive credit for Precalculus (MTH 151) provided the student’s transcript shows no record of prior or concurrent enrollment in MTH 151, 207, 208, or 309. 

Precalculus (MTH 151) is a course on properties, graphs, and applications of elementary transcendental functions. Topics include concepts from analytic geometry; theory of equations; the logarithmic, exponential, trigonometric, and inverse trigonometric functions; and analytic trigonometry.


For additional information about these opportunities, newly admitted students should contact the Director of Admissions at (608) 785-8939. Continuing students should contact the Dean of the college or school in which they are enrolled.