Information for New Students

Advanced placement credit, defined as college-level credit earned either in high school or college prior to matriculation at any college, may be awarded by high attainment on College Level Examination Program Examinations, College Board Advanced Placement Examinations, or examinations specially prepared or approved by the departments involved or by transfer of college credit earned elsewhere. Consideration will also be given for International Baccalaureate High Level coursework. Transfer credit for non-college work will not be granted unless students can show proficiency by testing. The following conditions apply:

  1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for those courses applicable to the curriculum will be given to an applicant with a score of 60 and above in the examinations that cover individual subjects. Credit will not be given for the four general examinations - Humanities, College Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History.
  2. An applicant successfully completing a College Board Advanced Placement Examination (AP Exam) with a score of four (4) or better may receive credit for those courses applicable to the University curriculum.
  3. All advanced placement credit is assigned by Student Achievement Services according to policy set by the University's academic units. Advanced placement should be determined before the student's first registration on campus, but must be finalized before the student's second registration on campus. Advanced placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 credit hours. Credit will be awarded upon receipt of official test scores indicating a qualifying score.
  4. Advanced placement credit based on college-level courses transferred from other institutions will be awarded upon receipt of an official college transcript indicating a grade of C or better and course description if evaluated by the course offering department at Clarkson to be appropriate for Clarkson credit.

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP Exams)

A majority of students receiving advanced placement credit at Clarkson have taken the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board. The most common areas are listed below. Credit in most other subject matters is awarded when a score of 4 or greater is received, and official test scores sent to Clarkson.

Clarkson's CollegeBoard School Code is 2084. Contact information for the CollegeBoard:

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1-888-225-5427 (toll free)    
1-212-632-1780

Advanced Placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 hours. For further information, please contact us.

Credit for Advanced Placement exams through the College Board will be awarded as follows:

^Note that credit for these Physics exams will not replace PH 131 or PH 132, courses required by many Clarkson 
AP ExamScoreCU CourseCredits
Biology4BY 100, Biology Elective with Lab4
Biology5BY 140/142, Biology I & BY 160/162, Biology II 10
Chemistry4CM 131, General Chemistry I4
Chemistry5CM 131, General Chemistry I & CM 132, General Chemistry II8
Computer Science A*4, 5CS 141, Intro to Computer Science4
English Lang & Composition4, 5COMM 210, Theory of Rhetoric for Business, Science & Engineering3
English Lit & Composition4, 5LIT 101, Literature & Writing3
Calculus AB4, 5MA 131, Calculus I*3
Calculus BC4MA 131, Calculus I*3
Calculus BC5MA 131, Calculus I & MA 132, Calculus II*6
Physics C, Mechanics4, 5PH 131, Physics I4
Physics C, Elect & Mag4, 5PH 132, Physics II4
Physics 1 (Algebra based)^4, 5SC 141, Introduction to Physics I4
Physics 2 (Algebra based)^4, 5SC 142, Introduction to Physics II4

 Don't see your exam on the list? Check out this link for transfer information for some of the less commonly taken AP exams!

*Credit by Examination at Clarkson

It is possible in some cases for a new student to take a special advanced-standing exam provided by the respective department. A satisfactory grade enables a student to receive credit. The format and availability of such exams are at the discretion of the appropriate department chairperson. Students interested in Credit by Examination are encouraged to notify the appropriate department as early as possible so a mutually convenient time to take the exam can be arranged. Note: Students who plan to take the Calculus exam need make no special arrangements. That exam is scheduled during the first week of the term.

Clarkson will consider the following for advanced credit: AP, CLEP, GCE, GCSE, IB, A-levels, French Baccalaureate, Arbitur, Italian Maturita and the Swiss Maturite. While credit is usually granted, there are situations, due to the technical nature of some of the programs, where it is not. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. Advanced Placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 hours.

To be eligible for AP credit for MA 131 or MA 132, first-year students must also perform at a satisfactory level of the Math Readiness Survey (which is taken in late May) or successfully complete the on-campus advanced-standing exam given in the first week of the fall semester.

The computer science department schedules an exam in C++ or Java for new students each year. Students earning a satisfactory grade receive credit for CS 141 Introduction to Computer Science I. The exam may also be taken in other pre-approved languages. Contact the computer science department for more information.

Advanced Placement Credit Through College Course Transfer

Students may enter Clarkson having already taken college courses while still in high school. Such courses will be considered for academic transfer credit if a grade of C or better was earned. Students should send an official transcript as well as a course description to Student Achievement Services as soon as available. The course(s) will be evaluated for transfer credit by the academic department responsible for the course curriculum.

International Baccalaureate Recognition Policy

Clarkson University recognizes the IB diploma as an excellent college preparatory program and seeks candidates with this preparation. The University offers advanced standing and/or credit for scores of 5 through 7 on the Higher Level Examinations. Credit will be granted on a course by course basis in consultation with the applicant's intended academic department. No advanced credit will be given for subsidiary level examinations but the courses are recognized as fulfilling requisite requirements for admission.

IB CourseScoreCU CourseCredits
Biology HL5BY100, Biology Elective with Lab4
Biology HL6, 7BY 140/142 Biology I, and BY 160/162 Biology II10
Business & Mgmt HL5, 6, 7SB 01, Business Elective3
Chemistry HL5, 6CM 131, General Chemistry I 4
Chemistry HL7CM 131 General Chemistry I & CM 132, General Chemistry II8
Computer Science HL5, 6, 7CS 141 and CS 142, Intro to Computer Science I, II7
Design Tech HL5, 6, 7TECH 100, Design Technology3
Economics HL5, 6, 7EC 02, Economics Elective3
English A15, 6, 7LIT 101, Literature and Writing3
European History HL5, 6, 7HIST 100, European History Survey3
Geography HL5, 6, 7SS 230, Introduction to Human Geography3
History HL5, 6, 7HIST 101, World History Survey3
History of the Americas HL5, 6, 7HIST 102, History of the Americas Survey3
Islamic History HL5, 6, 7HIST 103, Islamic History Survey3
Mathematics HL5MA 180, Introduction to College Mathematics4
Mathematics HL6, 7MA 131, Calculus I3
Music HL5, 6, 7ARTS 200, Music Through the Ages3
Philosophy HL5, 6, 7PHIL 201, History of Western Philosophy3
Physics HL5, 6SC 141, Introduction to Physics I4
Physics HL7SC 141 & SC142, Introduction to Physics I, II8
Psychology HL5No credit0
Psychology HL6, 7PY 151, Introduction to Psychology3
Social Anthropology HL5, 6, 7ANTH 200, Introduction to Culture and Society3
Visual Arts HL5, 6, 7ARTS 100, Introduction to Art3
IB Languages:

-- A1, A2 languages will receive Intermediate Language credit and will satisfy the Cultures and Society (CSO) Knowledge Area   
-- B languages will receive introductory Language credit

If you have further questions or need more information, please visit the SAS Center in TAC 207 or call 315-268-6451 or e-mail registrar@clarkson.edu.

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