College Level Examination Program (CLEP) 2020-2021
The following chart reflects the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits that may be awarded toward Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College Associate Degree General Education (GE) requirements only, and/or California State University General Education Certification. Students must submit an official copy of test results to the Admissions and Records Office, and request a SMCCCD transcript Evaluation (TES) at www.smccd.edu/transeval. Students are advised to consult with individual CSU campuses for credits. CLEP cannot be used in IGETC certification.
| CLEP Subject Exam | Passing Score For CSU and SMCCD Associate Degree |
Semester |
Area of CSU GE Breadth and/or InstitutionsAreas of GE Breadth (A1 through E) are defined in EO 1100 Revised (August 23, 2017). Areas of American Institutions (US-1 through US-3) are set forth in Sections IA and IB of EO 1061, and at assist.org. |
Application to Cañada College Associate Degree General Education 3 semester units Elective units may apply – the TES evaluation applies CLEP exam results to general education area requirements ONLY. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
| American Literature | 50 | 3 | Area C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | 3 | Area C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Biology | 50 | 3 | Area B2 | Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning - Area B2 |
| Calculus | 50 | 3 | Area B4 | Critical Thinking/Analytical Thinking Meets Math Competency - Area A3 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 3 | Area B1 | Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning - Area B1 |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | Area B4 | Critical Thinking/Analytical Thinking Meets Math Competency - Area A3 |
| College Algebra - Trigonometry | 50 | 3 | Area B4 | Critical Thinking/Analytical Thinking Meets Math Competency - Area A3 |
| College Composition | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| College Composition - Modular | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| English Composition (no essay) | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| English Composition (with essay) | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| English Literature if taken before Fall 2011 | 50 | 3 | Area C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| French Level I (1) (2) | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| French Level II (1) | 59 | 3* | Area C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Freshman College Composition | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| German Level I (1) (2) | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| German Level II (1) | 60 | 3* | Area C2 | Humanities |
| History, United States I | 50 | 3 | Area D & US 1 | Social Sciences - Area D & US1 |
| History, United States II | 50 | 3 | Area D & US 1 | Social Sciences - Area D & US1 |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | Area E | Life Long Learning and Self Development - Area E |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Information System and Computer Applications | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 3 | Area B1 or B2 | Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning - Area B1 or B2 |
| Pre-Calculus | 50 | 3 | Area B4 | Critical Thinking/Analytical Thinking Meets Math Competency - Area A3 |
| Principles of Accounting | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
| Principles of Management | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Spanish Level I (1) (2) | 50 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Spanish Level II (1) | 63 | 3* | Area C2 | Humanities - Area C2 |
| Trigonometry if taken before Fall 2006 | 50 | 3 | Area B4 | Critical Thinking/Analytical Thinking Meets Math Competency - Area A3 |
| Western Civilization I | 50 | 3 | Area C2 or Area D | Humanities or Social Sciences - Area C2 or D |
| Western Civilization II | 50 | 3 | Area D | Social Sciences - Area D |
1. If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English (e.g., two exams in French), then only one examination may be applied to the associate and baccalaureate. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 50 is considered “Level I” and earns six units of associate and baccalaureate credit; the higher score listed for each test is considered “Level II” and earns additional units of credit and placement in Area C2 of GE Breadth.
2. Students may earn 6 units toward Admissions
*These units count toward eligibility for admission. The units may not apply towards Associate Degrees for Transfer (AD-T) or the baccalaureate degree. The units may not all apply toward certification of the corresponding GE-Breadth area. See Executive Orders 1036 and 1100 Revised for details.
Student may earn 12 credits towad admissions if the test was taken before Fall 2015 and 9 units if taken fall 2015 and after. It only credits 3 units for Area C2 of the General Education.
Reference:
CSU System-wide Credit for External Examonation -
https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7800250/latest/
Revised 5/27/2020
Additional Information on External Examinations (AP, IB, CLEP):
Issues around credit for external exams are complex. Please read below for more information:
- Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College apply the external exams (AP, IB, and CLEP) credit to Associate Degree General Education area requirements in the same manner as the CSU system applies the external exams (AP, IB, and CLEP) credit to CSU General Education requirements.
- The External exam (AP, IB, and CLEP) results are applied to General Education Area requirements only. The AP chart also provides information about transfer credit generated by external exams for the purpose of admissions.
- These charts do not provide information about if or how External exam results apply to major courses. The application of the External Exam (AP, IB, and CLEP) results for university majors and degree requirements is determined by each transfer institution. Where there is common use for general education areas as indicated in AP, IB, and CLEP charts, the use of external exams to meet major requirements is complex and specific to the receiving transfer institution. The responsibility for thoroughly researching if or how an external exam may be applied toward specific subject requirements rests with the student. Students are encouraged to use the following resources for additional information, limitations, and restrictions applied to external exams: The California State University Office of the Chancellor Coded Memorandum ASA-2019-03 dated January 28, 2019; CSU Executive Order 1036, Section 1.2.4; Standards, Policies & Procedures for Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum Version 1.9, version 2.0, section 7.0 Credit By Exam dated May 2019.
- At Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College External exam evaluation results appear on student Web SMART Degree Works audit. The responsibility for researching if or how an external exam may be applied toward specific subjects or major requirements rests with the student.
- At Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, each instructional division determines IF or HOW AP, IB, and/or CLEP credit is applied to associate degree major or certificate requirements. Meet with a counselor for assistance.
- College courses (taken before or after external exams) may duplicate content. Where duplication exists between the exam course content and the college course content, students do not get credit/units for both the external exam and the college course.
- External exam credit CANNOT be applied to IGETC Area 1B and CSU GE Area A3 (Critical Thinking areas of GE).
- Transfer credits awarded for AP and IB exams for admission to CSU and UC is determined by UC and CSU. The CUS and UC polices can be found at:
- CSU System-wide Credit for External Examinations: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7800250/latest/
- UC AP Credit policy for IGETC (UC or CSU): http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/index.html
- The California State University, Advanced Placement (AP): https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/pages/advanced-placement-ap.aspx
- Advanced Placement Exams that satisfy UC freshman and Transfer Admission and IGETC Requirements: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/ap-satisfy-admission-and-igetc-req.pdf
- UC International Baccalaureate exam Policy (IGETC UC or CSU) - http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ib-credits/index.html
- The CSU International Baccalaureate exam Policy – https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/Pages/international-baccalaureate-ib.aspx
External exam policies for UC and CSU are subject to periodic modifications.
To receive credit for External Examination (AP, IB or CLEP)
If you plan to complete an Associate Degree and/or CSUGE or IGETC certification within the San Mateo County Community College District you must:
- Submit official AP, IB, or CLEP exam results to the Admissions and Records Office
- Request a SMCCCD Transcript Evaluation at smccd.edu/transeval
- Work with your counselor to develop a comprehensive Student Educational Plan (SEP) after the TES evaluation is completed and appears on Degree Works.
Note:
- Beginning in fall 2013, when students request the TES evaluation, the results will appear on Web SMART Degree Works Audit.
- The TES evaluation applies external exam results to GENERAL EDUCATION AREA REQUIREMENTS ONLY.
- Visit TES web site, www.smccd.edu/transeval, for more information about the application of external exams and the unit values applied to general education areas, admission units generated by external exams, and other information and restrictions.
Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) Academic Credit
Utilizing the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, Cañada College will award three lower division semester units for students who have achieved a passing score on a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) in AREA C2 (Humanities) of CSU General Education Breadth and in the local associate degree general education. For more information refer to the ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training, and the references listed below.
Documentation
The following documents may be accepted to award DLPT GE or course credit:
- Official Defense Language Institute Foreign Language (DLIFLC) Transcripts
- Official Joint Services Transcripts (JST)
- Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) DLPT Examinee Results
- DA Form 330 Language Proficiency Questionnaire
Reference:
CSU System-wide credit for external Examination; Guidance for Assigning Academic Credit for the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) Passing Scores; https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/7800250/latest/
The Coded Memorandum ASA-2019-03 Attachment 4 https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/administration/codedmemos/Academic%20Affairs%20Coded%20Memos/ASA-2018-06-Attachment-4.pdf
Revised 5/27/2020