Credit by Exam
You may qualify for admission or earn credit toward your degree if you pass any of the following standardized external examinations. More information about the amount of credit awarded for successful completion of AP, CLEP and IB is set forth in the CSU's External Exam Policy and in CSUMB's Academic Credit and Assessment Policy.
Select an exam below to see detailed information about the passing scores, minimum units of credit earned, and certification area (for General Education Breadth and/or U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals) awarded for successful completion of standardized external exams.
College Board Advance Placement Tests Passing Score Total Credits ​Semester Credits Toward GE Breadth Certification GE Area or Articulation Removal Date for GE Breadth AP Art History 3 6 3 C1; VPA 205 AP Biology 3 6 4 B2+B3 AP Calculus AB* 3 3 3 B4; MATH 130 AP Calculus AB* 4 3 3 B4; MATH 150 AP Calculus BC* 3 6 3 B4; MATH 130 AP Calculus BC* 4 6 3 B4; MATH 150+MATH 151 AP Calculus BC/AB Subscore* 3 3 3 B4 AP Chemistry 3 6 6 B1+B3 F09 AP Chemistry 3 6 4 B1+B3 AP Chinese Language and Culture 3 6 3 C2; CHIN 102 AP Chinese Language and Culture 4 6 3 C2; CHIN 202 AP Comparative Government & Politics 3 3 3 D AP Computer Science A* 3 3 0 CST 231 AP Computer Science AB* 3 6 0 CST 231 AP Computer Science Principles* 3 6 3 B4 AP English Language and Composition 3 6 3 A2 AP English Literature and Composition 3 6 6 A2+C2 AP Environmental Science** 3 4 4 B1 OR B2 +B3 F09 AP Environmental Science** 3 4 4 B1+B3 AP European History 3 6 3 C2 OR D AP French Language 3 6 6 C2; LANG 102 F09 AP French Language 4 6 6 C2; LANG 202 F09 AP French Language 3 6 3 C2; LANG 102 F11 AP French Language 4 6 3 C2; LANG 202 F11 AP French Language and Culture 3 6 3 C2; LANG 102 AP French Language and Culture 4 6 3 C2; LANG 202 AP French Literature 3 6 3 C2 F09 AP German Language 3 6 6 C2; LANG 102 F09 AP German Language 4 6 6 C2; LANG 202 F09 AP German Language 3 6 3 C2; LANG 102 F11 AP German Language 4 6 3 C2; LANG 202 F11 AP German Language and Culture 3 6 3 C2; LANG 102 AP German Language and Culture 4 6 3 C2; LANG 202 AP Human Geography 3 3 3 D AP Italian Language and Culture 3 6 3 C2; ITAL 102 AP Italian Language and Culture 4 6 3 C2; ITAL 202 AP Japanese Language and Culture 3 6 3 C2; JAPN 102 AP Japanese Language and Culture 4 6 3 C2; JAPN 202 AP Latin Literature 3 6 3 C2 F09 AP Latin 3 6 3 C2; LANG 102 AP Latin 4 6 3 C2; LANG 202 AP Latin: Vergil 3 3 3 C2 F12 AP Macroeconomics 3 3 3 D; BUS 201 AP Microeconomics 3 3 3 D; BUS 202 AP Music Theory 3 6 3 C1; MPA 101 F09 AP Physics 1*** 3 4 4 B1+B3 AP Physics 2*** 3 4 4 B1+B3 AP Physics B*** 3 6 6 B1+B3 F09 AP Physics B*** 3 6 4 B1+B3 F15 AP Physics C***(Electricity/Magnetism) 3 4 4 B1+B3 AP Physics C***(Mechanics) 3 4 4 B1+B3 AP Psychology 3 3 3 D; PSY 100 AP Seminar 3 3 0 AP Spanish Language**** 3 6 6 C2; SPAN 102 S14 AP Spanish Language**** 4 6 6 C2; SPAN 202 S14 AP Spanish Language and Culture**** 3 6 3 C2; SPAN 102 AP Spanish Language and Culture**** 4 6 3 C2; SPAN 202 AP Spanish Literature**** 3 6 6 C2 SPAN 102 S13 AP Spanish Literature**** 4 6 6 C2; SPAN 202 S13 AP Spanish Literature and Culture**** 3 6 3 C2; SPAN 102 AP Spanish Literature and Culture**** 4 6 3 C2; SPAN 202 AP Statistics 3 3 3 B4; STAT 100 (Effective 8/1/2023) AP Statistics 4 3 3 STAT 100 AP Studio Art- 2D Design 3 3 0 AP Studio Art- 3D Design 3 3 0 AP Studio Art- Drawing 3 3 0 VPA 215 AP U.S. Government & Politics 3 3 3 D+US2 AP U.S. History 3 6 3 C2 OR D +US1 AP World History 3 6 3 C2 OR D; GS 214 *If a student passes more than one AP exam in calculus or computer science, only one exam may be applied to the baccalaureate.
**Environmental Science exams prior to Fall 2009 may apply to either GE areas B1+B3 or B2+B3. Exams completed Fall of 2009 or later may only apply to B1+B3.
***If a student passes more than one AP exam in physics, only six units of credit may be applied to the baccalaureate, and only four units may be applied to GE Breadth.
****Students who pass both a Spanish Language and a Spanish Literature exam will be issued elective credit for the second exam.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Passing Score Total Credits GE Credits GE Area or Articulation GE Removal Date CLEP American Government 50 3 3 D + US2 CLEP American Literature 50 3 3 C2 CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 50 3 3 C2 CLEP Biology 50 3 3 B2 CLEP Calculus 50 3 3 B4 CLEP Chemistry 50 3 3 B1 CLEP College Algebra 50 3 3 B4 CLEP College Algebra & Trigonometry 50 3 3 B4 CLEP College Composition 50 0 0 CLEP College Composition- Modular 50 0 0 CLEP College Mathematics 50 0 0 CLEP English Composition (No Essay) 50 0 0 CLEP English Composition (With Essay) 50 0 0 CLEP English Literature 50 3 3 C2 F11 CLEP Financial Accounting 50 3 0 CLEP French Level I* 50 6 0 CLEP French Level II* 59 12 3 C2 F15 CLEP French Level II* 59 9 3 C2 CLEP Freshman College Composition 50 0 0 CLEP German Level I* 50 6 0 CLEP German Level II* 60 12 3 C2 F15 CLEP German Level II* 60 9 3 C2 CLEP History, United States I 50 3 3 D + US1 CLEP History, United States II 50 3 3 D + US1 CLEP Human Growth & Development 50 3 3 E CLEP Humanities 50 3 3 C2 CLEP Info Systems & Computer Applications 50 3 0 CLEP Introduction to Educational Psychology 50 3 0 CLEP Introductory Business Law 50 3 0 CLEP Introductory Psychology 50 3 3 D CLEP Introductory Sociology 50 3 3 D CLEP Natural Sciences 50 3 3 B1 OR B2 CLEP Pre-Calculus 50 3 3 B4 CLEP Principles of Accounting 50 3 0 CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics 50 3 3 D CLEP Principles of Management 50 3 0 CLEP Principles of Marketing 50 3 0 CLEP Principles of Microeconomics 50 3 3 D CLEP Social Sciences and History 50 0 0 CLEP Spanish Level I* 50 6 0 CLEP Spanish Level II* 63 12 3 C2 F15 CLEP Spanish Level II* 63 9 3 C2 CLEP Trigonometry 50 3 3 B4 F06 CLEP Western Civilization I 50 3 3 C2 OR D CLEP Western Civilization II 50 3 3 D *If a student passes more than one exam in the same language (other than English), only one exam score may be applied to the baccalaureate.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Passing Score Total Credits GE Credits GE Area or Articulation GE Removal Date IB Biology HL 5 6 3 B2 IB Chemistry HL 5 6 3 B1 IB Economics HL 5 6 3 D IB Geography HL 5 6 3 D IB History (any region) HL 5 6 3 C2 OR D IB Language A Literature HL 4 6 3 C2 IB Language A Language & Literature HL 4 6 3 C2 IB Language A1 (any language) HL 4 6 3 C2 F13 IB Language A2 (any language) HL 4 6 3 C2 F13 IB Language B (any language) HL 4 6 0 IB Mathematics HL 4 6 3 B4 IB Physics HL 5 6 3 B1 IB Psychology HL 5 3 3 D IB Theatre HL 4 6 3 C1 Student should have their official scores sent directly to CSUMB. More information about ordering scores is available at the links below.
If sending scores by mail, address to: Office of Admissions, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA 93955.
Departments may develop and provide challenge exams for major and elective courses only; GE courses are not available for challenge. Only undergraduate courses may be made available for challenge exam, and those courses available for challenge shall be identified in the catalog. Students who wish to take an exam should consult with the department office well in advance. Not all exams are available all semesters.
Prior Learning Assessment
Prior learning assessment is the evaluation of college-level knowledge or skills an individual has gained outside of the classroom for college credit. Undergraduate students may request prior learning assessment; the department may not be able to provide for review in the term requested. Students who wish to request prior learning assessment should consult with the department office well in advance.