Credit by Examination (AP, CLEP, IB)
The University of Southern Mississippi will allow students to earn credit by examination through Advanced Placement (AP) testing, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination.
Submit your AP, CLEP, or IB scores to Admissions for credit evaluation:
Mail | 118 College Drive, #5166, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Fax | 601.266.5148
Advanced Placement Program (AP)
For AP scores earned 2005-forward: Unless otherwise noted, an Advanced Placement (AP) score of 3 will earn three (3) semester hours of credit. Students scoring a 4-5 on an AP exam typically are awarded six (6) semester hours of credit. Different policies exist for AP scores earned 2004 and prior; please contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
Listed below are the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations accepted by the university and the Southern Miss credits to be awarded.
AP Examinations | Southern Miss Course Equivalent | Credit |
Art, Drawing | ART 101, 102 | 3/6 |
*Biology (4-5) | BSC 110, 110L; BSC 111, 111L | 8 |
Chemistry | CHE 106, 106L; 107, 107L | 4/8 |
***Computer Science, A | CSC Elec., CSC 101 | 3 |
Computer Science, AB | CSC Elec., CSC 101 | 3/6 |
**Economics, Macro | ECO 201 | 3 |
**Economics, Micro | ECO 202 | 3 |
English Language or Literature | ENG 101, 102 | 3/6 |
French Language or Literature | FRE 101, 102 | 3/6 |
German | GER 101, 102 | 3/6 |
**Gov’t. & Politics U.S. or Comp. | PS 101 | 3 |
History, American or U.S. | HIS 201, 202 | 3/6 |
History, European | HIS 101, 102 | 3/6 |
Latin | LAT 101, 102 | 3/6 |
Math, Calculus, AB or BC | MAT 167, 168 | 3/6 |
Spanish Language or Literature | SPA 101, 102 | 3/6 |
Physics B or C | PHY 111, 111L, 112, 112L | 4/8 |
Psychology | PSY 110 | 3 |
*Beginning in 1990, biology scores of 4-5 will receive eight (8) hours’ credit; scores of 1-3 will receive no credit.
**Scores of 3-5 will receive three (3) hours’ credit.
***Scores of 3-CSC Elec.; 4 or 5-CSC 101
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The University of Southern Mississippi will allow credit by examination to those students who have participated in the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and have achieved a level acceptable to the university. Different academic policies govern the application of CLEP credit for students who earned CLEP scores prior to June 2001. Please contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
To find a CLEP test center near you, please visit the College Board website.
Students can receive up to (but not more than) 30 semester hours through CLEP examination credit.
Below is a list of CLEP subject-area examinations that Southern Miss will consider:
Subject Area Examination | Southern Miss Course Equivalent | Semester Hours |
American Government | PS 101 | 3 |
*American History I and/or II | HIS 201, 202 | 3/6 |
Biology | BSC 110, 110L | 4 |
Business Law, Introductory | BA 200 | 3 |
Calculus, with Elementary Functions | MAT 167, MAT 168 | 3/6 |
Chemistry, General | CHE 106, 106L; CHE 107, 107L | 8 |
College Algebra | MAT 101 | 3 |
*Freshman English | ENG 101 | 3 |
**Foreign Languages | All languages | 3-12 |
Information Systems & Computer Applications | CSC 100 | 3 |
Introductory Macro-economics | ECO 201 | 3 |
Introductory Micro-economics | ECO 202 | 3 |
Sociology, Introductory | SOC 101 | 3 |
Trigonometry | MAT 103 | 3 |
Western Civilization I and/or II | HIS 101, 102 | 3/6 |
*The essay is required for all English examinations. CLEP examinations in English can be, with required scores, substituted for ENG 101. The Department of English cannot accept CLEP examinations as substitutes for ENG 102. The appropriate academic department at Southern Miss will have final determination in the amount of credit to be awarded, based on the essay.
**Credit for all foreign languages will vary within a range score of 40-80 and may allow up to 12 semester hours’ credit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Student receiving an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma may receive up to thirty (30) semester hours of credit for scores of 4 or better on both higher-level and standard-level examinations. Specific policies are determined by the academic unit for which the credit is awarded.
IB Exam | Exam Score of 4 | Exam Score of 5-7 |
Advanced Math | MAT 167 | MAT 167/MAT 168 |
English A1 | ENG 101 | ENG 101/ENG 102 |
History of Europe | HIS 101 | HIS 101/HIS 102 |
History of Americas | HIS 201 | HIS 201/HIS 202 |
History | HIS 101 | HIS 101/HIS 102 |
Spanish B | SPA 101 | SPA 101/SPA 102 |
Psychology | PSY 110 | PSY 110 |
French | FRE 101 | FRE 101/FRE 102 |
German | GER 101 | GER 101/GER 102 |