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:

  1. 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.
  2. A student must be currently enrolled before credit by examination can be recorded on the permanent record.
  3. Credit by examination may be earned only if a student has not already earned credit in a similar course, or taken advanced courses.
  4. Grades are issued as on normal test scores, and all grades are recorded on the permanent record of the student.
  5. Examinations may not be repeated.
  6. Repeat course work and F grades are not open to credit by examination.
  7. Students may not take challenge or waiver examinations on courses they have audited.
  8. Examinations must be taken prior to the last 3 weeks of any quarter.
  9. 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 141CHEM 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.