AP Credits and CLEP Information
The University of Sioux Falls awards advanced standing credit through several programs. In consultation with faculty advisors, all credits accepted are applied toward completion of major or elective requirements. Course equivalencies shown are used as guidelines in the process and are subject to change. No grades will be indicated for CLEP credit on students’ transcripts other than Pass.
During registration, students are encouraged to register for classes according to the guidelines for advanced credit and the scores they expect to achieve. If actual scores are different from those anticipated, class schedules may be adjusted accordingly after arrival on campus. Official test reports must be provided to the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of a student's first semester at USF.
Credit will not be granted for any AP or CLEP exam for which college credit has already been earned.
No more than one-third of any student's credit toward graduation can be earned through advanced credit options or prior learning opportunities.
The University of Sioux Falls recognizes the merits of the Advanced Placement Program and will grant credit for Advanced Placement exams taken in high school. Credit will be given when Advanced Placement exam grade is 3 or higher. The specific AP subject examinations allowed and the corresponding University of Sioux Falls course credits that can be earned are as follows:
| Exam | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AP Exam: Arts | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Music Theory | MUS150: Theory I | 3 |
| AP Exam: English | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| English Language & Composition | ENG111: University Writing and Rhetorics | 3 |
| English Literature & Composition | ENG200: Literature and the Critical Imagination | 3 |
| AP Exam: Spanish | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Spanish Language and Culture | Score of 4- SPA201: Third Semester Spanish Score of 5- SPA201: Third Semester Spanish AND SPA202: Fourth Semester Spanish | 3/6 |
| AP Exam: History & Social Sciences | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Human Geography | SSC205: World Geography | 3 |
| Macroeconomics | ECO213: Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Microeconomics | ECO212: Microeconomics | 3 |
| Psychology | PSY201: General Psychology | 3 |
| United States Government & Politics | PSC211: American Federal Government | 3 |
| United States History | HIS120: United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| World History | HIS104: World History 1450-Present | 3 |
| AP Exam: Mathematics & Computer Science | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Calculus AB | MAT204: Calculus I | 4 |
| Calculus BC | MAT204: Calculus I AND MAT205: Calculus II | 8 |
| Computer Science | Elective Credit | 3 |
| Statistics | MAT233: Statistics | 3 |
| AP Exam: Sciences | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| Biology | BIO100: General Biology | 4 |
| Chemistry | CHE111: General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Environmental Science | NSC390: Special Topics in Natural Science | 3 |
| Physics 1 | PHY101: Introductory College Physics | 4 |
| Physics 2 | PHY102: Introductory College Physics | 4 |
The College Level Examination Program provides students the option of earning credit without enrolling in college courses. CLEP is a series of computer-based examinations developed by the College Board.
A student may earn up to 32 semester hours of credit toward a degree at the University of Sioux Falls through CLEP. CLEP credit will be allowed only for the special subject examinations and only for scores that are equivalent to a grade of a "C" or better. The University of Sioux Falls is an institutional-testing center which means USF provides CLEP testing for students and former students. For additional information on specific CLEP tests, contact the Thomas Kilian Academic Success Center at 605-331-6740.
To register for a CLEP exam and obtain more information including preparing for your CLEP exam. Once you have registered at the CLEP site, please contact the ASC to schedule an exam time. Prior to beginning a CLEP exam at USF, students must pay a $30 administration fee per test. If students pass a CLEP exam, no additional charges will be incurred for transcription of the credits to USF.
The specific CLEP subject examinations allowed and the corresponding University of Sioux Falls course credits that can be earned are as follows:
| Exam | Course Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLEP Exam: Humanities | USF Course Equivalent | Credit |
| American Literature | ENG 222: American Literature Survey I | 3 |
| English Literature | ENG 221: British Literature Survey I | 3 |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | ENG 200: Literature and the Critical Imagination | 3 |
| College Spanish (Levels 1 and 2) (1 exam) Learn more about USF's prior learning policy for Spanish | First and Second Semester Spanish (Spanish 101/102) Third and Fourth Semester Spanish (Spanish 201/202) | 8 6 |
| CLEP Exam: Social Sciences | ||
| American Government | PSC 211: American Federal Government | 3 |
| History of the U.S. I | HIS 120: United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| History of the U.S. II | HIS 121: United States History Since 1877 | 3 |
| Introductory Psychology | PSY 201: General Psychology | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development | PSY 211: Human Development | 3 |
| Introductory Sociology | SOC 201: Fundamentals of Sociology | 3 |
| CLEP Exam: Natural Science | ||
| Biology | BIO 100: General Biology | 4 |
| Chemistry | CHE 111: General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Pre-Calculus | MAT 165: Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| Calculus | MAT 204: Calculus I | 4 |
| CLEP Exam: Business Administration | ||
| Financial Accounting | ACC 225: Accounting I | 3 |
| Introductory Business Law | BUS 320: Business Law | 3 |
| Principles of Management | BUS 306: Management | 3 |
| Principles of Marketing | BUS 307: Marketing | 3 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ECO 212: Microeconomics | 3 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ECO 213: Macroeconomics | 3 |
Students may "test out" of certain courses after receiving faculty approval and passing a comprehensive examination. Student may earn up to 16 credit hours through course "test out."