The University accepts the AP, IB, CLEP and Theology Placement Exams.
The maximum number of credit hours the University will grant by examination is 30. Students are responsible for completing a Request for Credit by Examination Form in order to receive credit by examination. For transfer students, the University may accept examination credit listed on other institutions’ transcripts. Credits accepted in this manner will count toward a student’s total transfer credits. Credit by examination will not satisfy the University’s residence requirement that a student must take the last 36 credit hours on campus.
Students wishing to obtain credit through the American Chemical Society (ACS) exam should contact the chair of the Chemistry Department.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAM SCORES
The table below indicates which AP exams UST will accept as credit. UST will normally grant three credit hours of elective credit for each AP exam score of three or higher. Exam scores higher than three will result in credit for specific courses at UST. If the specific course is a core requirement then the student will receive credit towards the core curriculum. Students may not receive credit for both AP courses and for equivalent UST courses or transfer courses.
UST recognizes the value of the AP Program. Sometimes, however, a student would be better served by taking the UST course that corresponds to the AP credit instead of accepting the AP credit, so as to be better prepared for the rigors of the subsequent courses in the sequence.
A student who elects to accept AP credit in an area he or she chooses to pursue for a major or minor should consult with the Office of Academic Advising to discuss exact degree requirements. The credits you receive for a particular exam will be the credits found on the AP table in effect at the time the grades are received from the College Board.
Test Subject |
Score |
Related Courses |
Credit Hours |
Notes |
Art History |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
ARTHS 1350 |
3 |
|
|
Biology |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
BIOL 1351 – 1352 |
6 |
1,2 |
|
Chemistry |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
CHEM 1341 – 1342 |
6 |
6 |
|
Computer Science A |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
COMSC 1450 |
4 |
|
|
Computer Science B |
3 |
COMSC 1450 |
4 |
|
4 |
COMSC 1450, 1351 |
7 |
|
|
Economics (Macro) |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
ECON 1331 |
3 |
|
|
Economics (Micro) |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
ECON 1332 |
3 |
|
|
English Lit. & Comp. |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
ENGL 1341, 1342 |
6 |
3 |
|
Geography |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
GEOG 2332 |
3 |
|
|
History (American) |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
HIST 2333 – 2334 |
6 |
4 |
|
History (European) |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
HIST 1335 – 1336 |
6 |
4 |
|
Language |
3 |
Elective |
6 |
5 |
4 |
LANG 1331 – 1332 |
6 |
5 |
|
Latin Vergil |
3 |
Elective |
6 |
5 |
4 |
CLASS 1331 – 1332 |
6 |
5 |
|
Mathematics, Calculus AB |
3 |
MATH Core |
3 |
|
4 |
MATH 1431 |
4 |
|
|
Mathematics, Calculus BC |
3 |
MATH 1431 |
4 |
|
4 | MATH 1431 - 1432 | 8 | ||
Music Theory |
3 |
MUSC 2362 or MUSC 2363 |
3 |
|
Psychology |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
PSYC 1332 |
3 |
|
|
Physics 1 |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
PHYS 1331 |
3 |
6 |
|
Physics 2 |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
PHYS 1332 |
3 |
6 |
|
Physics C (Mechanics) |
4 |
PHYS 2333 |
3 |
6 |
Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism) |
4 |
PHYS 2334 |
3 |
6 |
Political Science (U.S. Government) |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
POSC 2331 – 2332 |
6 |
|
|
Statistics |
4 |
PSYC 3433 |
4 |
|
Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
Studio Art: 2D |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
Studio Art: 3D |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
|
- Credit may not be used as prerequisite for upper division biology courses.
- AP credit may not be applied toward either a minor or major. To receive credit for the required laboratory that parallels 1351 and 1352, consult the department chair. TheAP credit alone does not fulfill core requirements.
- Students receive 6 credits towards the core requirement and then complete the core sequence: ENGL3312.
- History majors granted AP credit for U. S., Western Civilization or European must fulfill the required 36 hours of the major with other history courses.
- AP credit is accepted for the university core requirement, but may not be applied toward either a minoror major in a Foreign Language.
- Laboratories must be taken at UST for credit. The AP credit alone does not fulfill core requirements.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) SCORES
UST will grant three credit hours of elective credit for each IB “higher” level exam score of four or better. Exam scores greater than four may result in credit for specific courses at UST. Please see the table below. Students may not receive credit for both IB exams and equivalent UST courses, or transfer courses or any other source of equivalent credit. The credits you receive for a particular exam will be the credits found on the AP table in effect at the time you enter the University.
IB transcripts are typically received from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in August. Any IB proficiency credit you earn is automatically posted to your academic record. We accept authentic IB transcripts throughout the year. If you are expecting IB proficiency credit and do not see it in myStThom, you can ask the IBO to send your exam results to the Office of Admissions. Our address is:
Admissions Office University of St. Thomas 3800 Montrose
Houston, TX 77006
UST recognizes the value of the IB Program. However, you should be aware that there are times when it is in your best interest to take the UST course that corresponds to the IB credit instead of accepting the IB credit, so as to be better prepared for the rigors of the subsequent course in the sequence. Consult with your academic advisor.
IB Exam |
Minimum Score Required |
Credit Hours Awarded |
Equivalent UST Course(s) |
Note |
Biology Higher |
7 |
8 |
Science LD Core |
1 |
Chemistry Higher |
6 |
8 |
Sience LD Core |
2 |
Computing Standard |
6 |
4 |
COMSC 1450 |
|
7 |
7 |
COMSC 1450 and COMSC 1352 |
|
|
Computing Higher |
6 |
3 |
COMSC 2351 |
|
English Higher |
7 |
3 |
English LD Core |
3 |
Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish) Standard |
6 |
6 |
Language LD Core |
1 |
Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish) Standard |
5 |
6 |
Language LD Core |
1 |
Languages (Other) Standard |
6 |
6 |
Language LD Core |
1 |
Languages (Other) Higher |
5 |
6 |
Language LD Core |
1 |
Mathematics Standard |
6 |
3 |
Math LD Core |
2 |
Mathematics Higher |
5 |
3 |
Math LD Core |
2 |
7 |
4 |
Math LD Core |
|
|
Philosophy Higher |
6 |
3 |
Philosophy LD Core |
|
Psychology |
6 |
3 |
PSYC 1332 |
|
Theatre Higher |
5 |
3 |
DRAM 1330 |
|
World History Higher |
6 |
3 |
HIST 1336 |
4 |
- The examination does not fulfill the requirement for major or minor program credit in the discipline. Credit may not be used as a prerequisite for upper– division courses in the discipline.
- With permission, credit may be given for specific courses in the discipline. See the department chair.
- Students receive 3 credits (lower division) for the core requirement and then complete the core sequence: ENGL 1341 and ENGL 1342.
- History majors receiving IB credit must fulfill the required 36 credits of the major with other history courses.
COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) EXAM SCORES
Lower Division (LD) refers to courses at the 1000 or 2000 level. Any test not listed will not be accepted for credit by UST. Students may not receive credit for both CLEP courses and for equivalent UST courses or transfer courses (including Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate). CLEP credit will be deleted in such cases. The credits you receive for a particular exam will be the credits found on the AP table in effect at the time you enter the University. Please contact your school dean if you have any questions.
Exam |
Minimum Score Required |
Credit Hours Awarded |
Equivalent UST Course(s) |
Note |
Biology |
50 |
8 |
Science LD Core |
1 |
Chemistry |
50 |
8 |
Science LD Core |
2 |
Economics Prin. of Macroeconomics Pron. of Microeconomics |
50 50 |
3 3 |
ECON 1331 ECON 1332 |
|
English College Comp. and Analyzing and Interpreting Lit. |
50 50 |
3 3 |
English LD Core |
|
Financial Accounting |
50 |
6 |
ACCT 1341 & ACCT 1342 |
3 |
Government American Government |
50 |
3 |
POSC 2331 |
|
History History of U.S. I History of U.S. II Western Civilization I Western Civilization II |
50 50 50 50 |
3 3 3 3 |
HIST 2333 HIST 2334 HIST 1335 HIST 1336 |
4 |
Languages French I French II German I German II Spanish I Spanish II |
50 50 50 50 50 50 |
3 3 3 3 3 3 |
FREN 1331 FREN 1332 GERM 1331 GERM 1332 SPAN 1331 SPAN 1332 |
5 |
Mathematics College Math Pre–Calculus Calculus |
50 50 50 |
3 3 4 |
MATH LD Core MATH LD Core MATH LD Core |
2 |
Psychology Intro. to Psychology Human Growth & Development |
50 50 |
3 3 |
PSYC 1332 PSYC 2332 |
|
Sociology Intro. to Sociology |
50 |
3 |
Sociology LD Core |
|
- The examination does not fulfill the requirement for major or minor program credit in the discipline. Credit may not be used as a prerequisite for upper– division courses in the discipline.
- With permission, credit may be given for specific courses in the discipline. See the department chair.
- Students receive 3 credits (lower division) for the core requirement and then complete the core sequence: ENGL 1341 and ENGL 1342.
- Students must also submit a research paper to the chair of the History Department demonstrating proficiency in research and writing. History majors receiving CLEP credit must fulfill the required 36 credits of the major with other history courses.
- CLEP Written and ACTFL Oral are both required for any credit through either.
THEOLOGY PLACEMENT EXAM
Students who have completed four years of high–school Catholic teaching with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.00 scale may qualify for an advanced placement exam for the following courses:
- THEO 1301–Introduction to Sacred Scripture
- THEO 2301–Teachings of the Catholic Church
A theology placement exam means that qualified students who score an 75% or higher on a comprehensive written examination for THEO 1301 and/or THEO 2301 may be placed in an 3000/4000 level theology course in the same sub– discipline; for example, a student who passes the placement exam for THEO 1301 will be required to complete an 3000/4000 level course on Sacred Scripture instead of THEO 1301. Each exam is administered only once.
The procedure for requesting a theology placement exam is as follows:
- A student will submit a letter of intent to sit for the placement exam and provide a high school transcript. This material must be sent to the department chair.
- The department chair will meet with the candidate to discuss eligibility and the nature of the exam and to establish a time to administer the exam.
- On the day of the exam, students will submit a $90 non–refundable fee (check made out to University of Saint Thomas). The placement exams are prepared, administered and graded by the Theology Department. Students will have 2.5 hours to complete it. Students with academic accommodations are given extended time.
- Students will be notified of the test results within three weeks after taking the exam.