Credit by Examination
Credit given by examination may be earned in technical courses only. Students who have been given grades other than a “W” in the course are not eligible for credit by examination. Grades for credit by examination are recorded as credit and are not considered in computing grade point averages. The minimum passing score for credit by examination is 80.
Credit earned by students not yet enrolled at STC is held in escrow until the student earns six credit hours at STC. Credit for CLEP, AP, IB, internal exams or combination thereof may not exceed 75% of degree requirements. Credit awarded for testing at South Texas College may or may not meet minimum requirements for credit at other institutions. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the institution they plan on attending to verify transfer requirements.
Cost of credit by examination is tuition only (based on the student’s residency status). Tuition for the course must be paid to the Business Office Cashier's Department and a receipt presented to the instructor before the student is permitted to take the examination. The instructor must submit the credit by examination form and a copy of the exam to the Office of Admissions and Records.
Advanced Placement (AP)
High school seniors anticipating advanced placement through the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement exams should make arrangements with their counselor to take the proper examination. This should be far enough in advance of their first college semester for their scores to be received and evaluated before registration begins. A student must have taken the Advanced Placement exam within the last five (5) years in order to receive credit.
Required Scores for AP Credit
| Subject | Min. Score | STC Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 3 | (BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407) or (BIOL 1408, BIOL 1409) | 8 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | BIOL 2406 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 1411, CHEM 1412 | 8 |
| Computer Science (A) | 3 | COSC 1436 | 4 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 2301 | 3 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | ECON 2302 | 3 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 1301, HIST 1302 | 6 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 2413 | 4 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 2413, MATH 2414 | 8 |
| Statistics | 3 | MATH 1342 | 3 |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | 3 | PHYS 1401 | 4 |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 3 | PHYS 1402 | 4 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 2425 | 4 |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 2426 | 4 |
| US Government and Politics | 3 | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Spanish Language | 3 | SPAN 1411 | 4 |
| Spanish Literature | 3 | SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412 | 8 |
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
STC will grant credit for CLEP exams with certain required scores; however, credit will not be posted to a transcript until the student enrolls and earns six (6) credit hours credit at STC. A student must have taken the CLEP exam within the last five (5) years in order to receive credit.
Required Scores for CLEP Subject Examination Credit
| Subject | Min. Score | STC Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Info Systems and Computer Applications | 50 | COSC 1301 | 3 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | ACCT 2301, ACCT 2302 | 8 |
| Biology | 50 | BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407, BIOL 1408, BIOL 1409 | 8 |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | BUSI 2301 | 3 |
| Chemistry | 50 | CHEM 1411, CHEM 1412 | 8 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | ECON 2302 | 3 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | ECON 2301 | 3 |
| College Composition | 50 | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| Spanish Language | 50 | SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412 | 8 |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 50 | ENGL 2341 | 3 |
| American Literature | 50 | ENGL 2326 | 3 |
| English Literature | 50 | ENGL 2321 | 3 |
| History of the US I | 50 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| History of the US II | 50 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| College Algebra | 50 | MATH 1414 | 4 |
| Calculus | 50 | MATH 2413, MATH 2414 | 8 |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | SOCI 1301 | 3 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | MATH 1332 | 3 |
| Principles of Management | 50 | OPMG 3305 | 3 |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | OPMG 3336 | 3 |
Credit for International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is an international program of courses and exams offered at the high school level. South Texas College will grant (CR) credit for IB exams with certain required scores.
In accordance with SB 111 and TEC 51.968, students with IB diplomas or certificates may receive up to 24 credit hours based upon minimum scores of 4 in either the Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) subject group examinations. However, course credit does not have to be awarded on any IB exams where the score received is a 3 or less. This may mean that such students will not receive 24 hours of college credit, even if they have an IB diploma.
Eligibility for Award of Credit
Prior to the award of college credit for IB diplomas or certificates, the student:
- Must meet all admissions requirements of the College.
- Must be pursuing a certificate or degree with a declared major.
- Must officially enroll and earn six (6) hours of academic credit.
- Must submit an official IB diploma or certificate and request examination scores directly from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).
- Must have received at least a minimum score of 4 on the curriculum subject examination.
- Must petition for award of IB credit. Student may choose which credit is to be transcribed if IB scores indicate more than 24 credit hours meet established criteria.
STC will not award a degree based solely upon the number of IB credits transferred in toward a degree requirement. STC policies require students to take 25% of credit hours from South Texas College as a graduation requirement.
Students bringing in an IB transcript for credit evaluation should consider the total number of qualifying credits to be awarded. Additional hours above the required amount to graduate may have an adverse impact on students' financial aid or other grant programs. In addition, no Texas public university or college shall be required to accept in transfer or toward a degree program more than sixty-six (66) semester credit hours of lower division academic credit.
Required Scores for IB Credit
| IB Examination | Score | STC Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | |||
| Biology (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | BIOL 1406 or BIOL 1408 | 4 |
| Biology (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1407 or BIOL 1408 & BIOL 1409 | 8 |
| Business and Management | |||
| Business and Management | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | BUSI 1301 | 3 |
| Chemistry | |||
| Chemistry (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | CHEM 1411 | 4 |
| Chemistry (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | CHEM 1411 & CHEM 1412 | 8 |
| Computer Science | |||
| Computer Science (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | COSC 1301 | 3 |
| Economics | |||
| Economics (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ECON 2301 | 3 |
| Economics (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ECON 2301 & ECON 2302 | 6 |
| English | |||
| English (SL) Language A1 or A2 | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ENGL 1301 & ENGL 1302 | 6 |
| English (HL) Language A1 or A2 | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ENGL 1301 & ENGL 1302 | 6 |
| Geography | |||
| Geography (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | GEOG 1301 | 3 |
| History of the Americas | |||
| History of the Americas (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| History of the Americas (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | HIST 1301 & HIST 1302 | 6 |
| Mathematics | |||
| Mathematical Studies (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | MATH 1332 or MATH 1414 | 3 or 4 |
| Further Mathematics (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | MATH 1332 | 3 |
| Mathematics (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | MATH 1414 | 4 |
| Mathematics (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | MATH 2412 & MATH 2413 | 8 |
| Modern Languages | |||
| Spanish Language A1 or A2 (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | SPAN 1411 & SPAN 1412 | 8 |
| Spanish Language A1 or A2 (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412, SPAN 2311 & SPAN 2312 | 14 |
| Spanish Language B (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412 | 8 |
| Spanish Language B (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412, SPAN 2311 & SPAN 2312 | 14 |
| Spanish Language Ab | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | SPAN 1411 | 4 |
| Music | |||
| Music (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | MUSI 1306 | 3 |
| Philosophy | |||
| Philosophy (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | PHIL 1301 | 3 |
| Physics | |||
| Physics (SL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | PHYS 1401 | 4 |
| Physics (HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | PHYS 1401 & PHYS 1402 | 8 |
| Psychology | |||
| Psychology (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | |||
| Social and Cultural Anthropology (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ANTH 2351 | 3 |
| Theatre Arts | |||
| Theatre Arts (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | DRAM 1310 | 3 |
| Film (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | DRAM 2366 | 3 |
| Visual Arts | |||
| Visual Arts (SL or HL) | 4, 5, 6, or 7 | ARTS 1301 | 3 |