Credit by Examination
Walla Walla University recognizes that students who have independently achieved college-level proficiency on the basis of work experience and study may receive credit for what they already know by challenging, validating, or waiving comparable classes offered by the University. (Certain university classes may not be challenged.)
APPLICATION FORMS. A current student wishing to obtain credit by examination must apply. Permission from the chair of the department in which the course is offered and permission of the course instructor are required. The application form for challenge, validation, and/or waiver examinations is available online. A student must have approval for an exam prior to taking an exam. Fees for these examinations are listed under the heading Examination Fees in the Academic Fees section of the Financial Bulletin.
RESTRICTIONS. The following restrictions apply to all credit earned by examination:
- A student must have an approved examination application on file in the Academic Records Office before credit by examination can be recorded on the permanent record.
- A student must be currently enrolled before credit by examination can be recorded on the permanent record.
- Credit by examination may be earned only if a student has not already earned credit in a similar course, or taken advanced courses.
- Grades are issued as on normal test scores, and all grades are recorded on the permanent record of the student.
- Examinations may not be repeated.
- Repeat course work and F grades are not open to credit by examination.
- Students may not take challenge or waiver examinations on courses they have audited.
- Examinations must be taken prior to the last 3 weeks of any quarter.
- CLEP examinations must be taken prior to the student's completion of a total of 45 quarter hours of university credit.
CHALLENGE EXAMINATIONS. A challenge examination is a university-prepared or a standardized examination which, if successfully completed, will yield regular university credit. The student must take the examination before enrolling for further study in the field of the examination. The challenge examination may not be repeated and must be taken prior to the final quarter of residence. Labs may be challenged by permission of school/department.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATION (CEEB). Regular university credit may be established by successful completion of an Advanced Placement (AP) examination. These tests are graded on a scale of 1 to 5.
| Discipline |
Exam |
Minimum Exam Score |
WWU Course(s) |
WWU Credits |
| Biology |
AP |
5 |
BIOL 141, BIOL 142, BIOL 143 |
12 |
| Biology |
AP |
4 |
BIOL 141, BIOL 142 |
8 |
| Chemistry |
AP |
5 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 143, CHEM 144, CHEM 145, CHEM 146 |
12 |
| Chemistry |
AP |
4 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 144, CHEM 145 |
8 |
| Chemistry |
AP |
3 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 144 |
4 |
| Computer Science A |
AP |
3 |
CPTR 141 |
4 |
| Computer Science Principles |
AP |
4 |
CPTR 141 |
4 |
| English Language and Composition |
AP |
4 |
ENGL 121 |
3 |
| Literature and Composition |
AP |
4 |
ENGL 121 |
3 |
| French Language and Culture |
AP |
5 |
FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103 |
12 |
| French Language and Culture |
AP |
4 |
FREN 101, FREN 102 |
8 |
| French Language and Culture |
AP |
3 |
FREN 101 |
4 |
| German Language and Culture |
AP |
5 |
GRMN 101, GRMN 102, GRMN 103 |
12 |
| German Language and Culture |
AP |
4 |
GRMN 101, GRMN 102 |
8 |
| German Language and Culture |
AP |
3 |
GRMN 101 |
4 |
| United States History |
AP |
4 |
HIST 221, HIST 222 |
8 |
| United States History |
AP |
3 |
HIST 221 |
4 |
| Calculus AB |
AP |
5 |
MATH 181, MATH 281 |
8 |
| Calculus AB |
AP |
3 |
MATH 181 |
4 |
| Calculus BC |
AP |
5 |
MATH 181, MATH 281, MATH 282 |
12 |
| Calculus BC |
AP |
3 |
MATH 181, MATH 281 |
8 |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
AP |
5 |
SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 103 |
12 |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
AP |
4 |
SPAN 101, SPAN 102 |
8 |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
AP |
3 |
SPAN 101 |
4 |
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL. Walla Walla University recognizes A Level and AS Level curriculum as a challenging academic program that provides excellent preparation for university study.
In general, up to a full year of quarter credits may be granted for A Level exams with a passing grade. AS Level exams with a passing grade may be awarded half the credit allowed for the A Level course. A Level or AS Level exams credits are awarded on an S/NC grading basis.
Credits will be awarded with equivalencies for specific WWU courses as available. Non-WWU equivalency exams may be applied as general elective credit. See below for further information about WWU course designations. Other exams not listed below may be considered for credit by contacting the WWU Academic Records Office.
Credit awarding policies are reviewed on a regular basis and are subject to change.
Exam Equivalencies
| Discipline |
Exam |
Minimum Exam Score |
WWU Course(s) |
WWU Credits |
| Chemistry |
A Level |
C |
CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 143, CHEM 144, CHEM 145, CHEM 146 |
12 |
| Computer Science 9608 |
A Level |
B |
CPTR 141 & CPTR 280 |
8 |
| Computer Science |
AS Level |
B |
CPTR 141 & CPTR 280 |
8 |
| English Literature |
A Level |
B |
Credit may be granted for A-Level examinations upon review. |
|
| French – Language |
A Level |
C |
FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103 |
12 |
| German – Language |
A Level |
C |
GRMN 101, GRMN 102, GRMN 103 |
12 |
| History 9389 |
A Level |
B |
HIST 399 |
4 |
| History 9489 |
A Level |
C |
HIST 399 |
4 |
| Mathematics 9709 |
A Level |
C |
MATH 121, MATH 122, MATH 181, MATH 281 |
16 |
| Mathematics Further |
A Level |
C |
MATH 121, MATH 122, MATH 181, MATH 281, MATH 289, MATH 315 |
24 |
| Physics |
A Level |
B |
PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 214, PHYS 215 |
8 |
| Physics |
AS Level |
B |
PHYS 211, PHYS 214 |
4 |
| Psychology |
A Level |
C |
PSYC 130 |
4 |
| Psychology |
AS Level |
C |
PSYC 130 |
4 |
| Sociology |
A Level |
C |
SOCI 204 |
4 |
| Spanish – Language |
A Level |
C |
SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 103 |
12 |
| Spanish – Language |
AS Level |
C |
SPAN 101 |
4 |
| Spanish – Literature |
A Level |
C |
SPAN 399 |
4 |
COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP). Walla Walla University grants credit for selected undergraduate college courses. For dates and specific information, candidates should consult the Counseling and Testing Center (testing@wallawalla.edu or (509) 527-2147), which administers these computer-based tests by appointment. These tests may not be repeated and must be taken prior to the student's completion of a total of 45 quarter hours of university credit.
A number of subject-matter examinations are offered by CLEP. Students obtaining the scaled scores established by the following departments will receive credit toward that basic requirement. Students wishing credit in courses other than those listed below should consult the appropriate department chair.
| Discipline |
Exam |
Minimum Exam Score |
WWU Course(s) |
WWU Credits |
| Accounting (Financial Accounting) |
CLEP |
50 |
ACCT 201 |
4 |
| Biology |
CLEP |
54 |
BIOL 141, BIOL 142, BIOL 143 (does not count toward biology major and professional schools) |
12 |
| English (College Composition with Essay) |
CLEP |
50 |
ENGL 121 |
3 |
| History (American History) |
CLEP |
60 (either or both exams) |
HIST 221 (test on early colonization to 1877), HIST 222 (test on 1865 to present) |
4 or 8 |
| Mathematics (College Mathematics) |
CLEP |
55 |
MATH 105 |
4 |
| Mathematics (Precalculus) |
CLEP |
55 |
MATH 117 |
5 |
| Mathematics (College Algebra) |
CLEP |
55 |
MATH 121 |
4 |
| Mathematics (Calculus) |
CLEP |
55 |
MATH 181 |
4 |
| Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish) |
CLEP |
50-54 |
FREN 101, GRMN 101, or SPAN 101 |
4 |
| Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish) |
CLEP |
55-60 |
FREN 101 and FREN 102, or GRMN 101 and GRMN 102, or SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 |
8 |
| Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish) |
CLEP |
61 |
FREN 101, FREN 102, and FREN 103; or GRMN 101, GRMN 102, and GRMN 103; or SPAN 101, SPAN 102, and SPAN 103. |
12 |
| Psychology (Introductory Psychology) |
CLEP |
50 |
PSYC 130 |
4 |
| Psychology (Human Growth and Development) |
CLEP |
50 |
PSYC 215 |
4 |
| Sociology |
CLEP |
50 |
SOCI 204 |
4 |
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE. Credit is awarded for International Baccalaureate (IB) standard and higher-level examinations with a score of 4 or higher. Please see the equivalency chart below. Other exams not listed below may be considered for credit by contacting the WWU Academic Records Office.
| Discipline |
Exam |
Minimum Exam Score |
WWU Course(s) |
WWU Credits |
| Chemistry |
HL |
7 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 143, CHEM 144, CHEM 145, CHEM 146 |
12 |
| Chemistry |
HL |
6 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 144, CHEM 145 |
8 |
| Chemistry |
HL |
4 |
CHEM 141, CHEM 144 |
4 |
| Chemistry |
SL |
4 |
CHEM 105 |
5 |
| English A: Language and Literature |
HL |
4 |
ENGL 121 |
3 |
| English A: Language and Literature |
HL |
6 |
ENGL 121, ENGL 122 |
6 |
| English A: Literature |
HL |
6 |
ENGL 204 |
4 |
| Physics |
HL |
5 |
PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 214, PHYS 215 |
8 |
| Physics |
SL |
5 |
PHYS 201, PHYS 202, PHYS 204, PHYS 205 |
8 |
| Psychology |
HL |
3 |
PSYC 130 |
4 |
VALIDATION EXAMINATIONS. Students who have transcripts from non-accredited colleges and/or transcripts showing nontransferable college courses may request to take validation examinations in courses which are comparable to those offered by Walla Walla University. Upon successful completion of the examination(s), the student will be given credit as specified.
COURSE WAIVER EXAMINATIONS. A student may meet an academic requirement, within specified limits, by passing a waiver examination at least equal in scope and difficulty to a final examination in a course. Successful completion of the examination waives the curricular requirement, but does not result in credit earned. Thus, it does not reduce the total number of quarter hours required for a degree, but will increase the available number of elective hours. The waiver examination is administered by the department in which the course is offered and may not be repeated. Waiver examinations must be taken prior to the final quarter of residence.
TRANSFER CREDIT BY EXAMINATION. Credit earned by examination at other colleges or universities may be transferred provided such credit meets the guidelines used by Walla Walla University for credit by examination.