2015-16 Academic Catalog

Credit by Examination

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

a. Advanced Placement Examinations.

Students entering Mississippi State University for the first time are allowed credit on the advanced placement examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Grades of Satisfactory (S) appear on the transcript for courses in which advanced placement credit is earned. These courses do not affect grade-point averages. Applicability of such credit to a specific degree is to be determined by the appropriate dean. The following table provides the details on how credit is presently assigned in the various subject areas by the deans.

AP Examination Score Hours Related Course
1. ART HISTORY4 or 53ART 1013
2. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE33BIO 1023
46 or 7BIO 1123 and BIO 1134
58BIO 1134 and BIO 1144
3. CHEMISTRY33CH 1213
4 or 56CH 1213 and CH 1223
4. COMPUTER SCIENCE
A Exam3, 4, or 54CSE 1284
5. ECONOMICS
Macroeconomics4 or 53EC 2113
Microeconomics4 or 53EC 2123
6. ENGLISH
Language & Comp.33EN 1103
Language & Comp.4 or 56EN 1103 and EN 1113
Literature & Comp.33EN 1103
Literature & Comp.4 or 56EN 1103 and EN 1113
7. FRENCH
Language & Culture36FLF 1123, FLF 2133
46FLF 2133, FLF 2143
57FLF 2143, FLF 3114
8. GERMAN
Language & Culture3 6FLG 1123, FLG 2133
46FLG 2133, FLF 2143
57FLG 2143, FLG 3114
9. GOVERNMENT and POLITICS
Comparative4 or 53PS 1513
United States4 or 53PS 1113
10. HISTORY
American3 3HI 1063
4 or 56HI 1063 and HI 1073
European33HI 1213
4 or 56HI 1213 and HI 1223
World33HI 1163
4 or 56HI 1163 and HI 1173
11. Human Geography4 or 53GR 2013
12. LATIN36FLL 1113, FLL 1123
46FLL 1123, FLL 2133
56FLL 2133, FLL 2143
13. MATHEMATICS
AB Exam3, 4 or 53MA 1713
BC Exam33MA 1713
4 or 56MA 1713 and MA 1723
Statistics4 or 53ST 2113
14. PHYSICS (no lab credit)
B Exam3 or 43PH 1113
56PH 1113 and PH 1123 or PH 2213
CI Exam33PH 1113
4 or 53PH 1113 or PH 2213
CII Exam4 or 53PH 2223
15. PSYCHOLOGY4 or 53PSY 1013
16. SPANISH
Language & Culture36FLS 1123, FLS 2133
46FLS 2133, FLS 2143
56FLS 2143, FLS 3113
Literature & Culture36FLS 1123, FLS 2133
46FLS 2133, FLS 2143
56FLS 2143, FLS 3143

As more high schools develop Advanced Placement courses, Mississippi State University will consider their inclusion in this listing for credit.

b. Advanced Standing Examinations.

Applications for advanced standing examinations must be submitted to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; application forms are available in that office and must be filled out in quintuplicate. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs for information on deadlines, etc. The applicant must be a regularly enrolled student in residence on the campus, when he or she files the application and takes the examination.

Advanced standing examinations must be taken within two weeks from the date of approval by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the grade card (signed by the instructor who graded the examination, the head of the department, and the student’s dean), fee slip, a copy of the examination questions, and the examination paper must likewise be filed in the office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs within the same two-week period; otherwise, the student’s application becomes null and void.

The student is responsible for making arrangements with the instructor concerning the time and the place of the examination. The student must appear for the examination on the date agreed upon. The student may attempt an advanced standing examination in a given course only one time and there will be no appeal process.

Grades of C or better are satisfactory (S) grades, and will be so designated on the transcript, and will accrue hours toward graduation, including courses specifically required for graduation. Grades below C are unsatisfactory and are not recorded on the transcript. Courses passed or failed on advanced standing examinations will have no bearing on the computation of the grade point average.

Credits earned through an advanced standing examination in any course considered prerequisite for an advanced course will be applied toward graduation hours only if the examination is passed before the advanced class has been started.

c. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

A total of not more than 25 percent of any curriculum may be earned by advanced placement exams, advanced standing examinations, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), evaluated military service credits, correspondence, tutorial, extension, and USAFI courses. Evaluated military service credits are classified as extension work, and USAFI credits are classified as correspondence work. Mississippi State University serves as an open testing center for both the General and Subject Examinations.

Academic credit on the Subject Examinations is awarded to students who are enrolled at the University and who make a scaled score of 50 or above (see exceptions below). Credit is neither awarded nor accepted for transfer credit for the General Examinations. Credit is considered the same as extension credit and is subject to the same limitations. The applicability of credit toward degree requirements is determined by the dean and/or department head concerned. At present, the only courses for which credit may be obtained through the CLEP Program are these:

ACC 2013Principles of Financial Accounting3
BIS 1012Introduction to Business Information Systems2
BIO 1023Plants and Humans (requires score of 50-59)3
BIO 1123
  & BIO 1134
Animal Biology
   and Biology I (requires score of 60-69)
7
BIO 1134
  & BIO 1144
Biology I
   and Biology II (requires score of 70-80)
8
CH 1213Chemistry I3
CH 1223Chemistry II3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 2123Principles of Microeconomics3
EPY 2513Human Growth and Development3
EPY 3503Principles of Educational Psychology3
FLF 1113French I3
FLF 1123French II3
FLF 2133French III (requires score of 63)3
FLF 2143French IV (requires score of 63)3
FLG 1113German I3
FLG 1123German II3
FLG 2133German III (requires score of 63)3
FLG 2143German IV (requires score of 63)3
FLS 1113Spanish I3
FLS 1123Spanish II3
FLS 2133Spanish III (requires score of 63)3
FLS 2143Spanish IV (requires score of 63)3
HI 1063Early U.S. History3
HI 1073Modern U.S. History3
HI 1213Early Western World3
HI 1223Modern Western World3
MA 1313College Algebra3
MA 1453Precalculus with Graphing Calculators3
MA 1713
  & MA 1723
Calculus I
   and Calculus II
6
MKT 3013Principles of Marketing3
PS 1113American Government3
PSY 1013General Psychology3
SO 1003Introduction to Sociology3

For further information about CLEP and a form for application to take the tests, please write to: Computer Based Testing, P.O. Box 9747, Mississippi State, MS 39762, or call (662) 325-6610.

d. The International Baccalaureate.

The International Baccalaureate program is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum, leading to examinations, for students between sixteen and nineteen years of age. To accommodate differences among cultures regarding academic standards, it is a deliberate compromise between the specialization required in some national systems and the breadth preferred in others. The general objectives of the IB are to provide students with a balanced education; to facilitate geographic and cultural mobility; and to promote international understanding through a shared academic experience. The student who satisfies its demands demonstrates a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of the mastery of subject content and in the development of the skills and discipline necessary for success in a competitive world.

The IB curriculum consists of six subject groups:

Group Description
Language A(best language) including the study of selections from World Literature
Language B(second language) or another Language A
Individuals and SocietiesHistory, Geography, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Anthropology, Business and Organization
Experimental SciencesBiology, Chemistry, General Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems, Design Technology, Physical and Chemical Systems
MathematicsMathematics, Mathematical Methods, Mathematical Studies, Advanced Mathematics
ElectivesArt/Design, Music, Latin, Classical Greek, Computing Studies, History and Culture of the Islamic World, Advanced Mathematics, a second subject from the humanities or the sciences, a third modern language, a school-based syllabus approved by the IB

All IB Diplomas candidates are required to offer one subject from each of the groups. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at the Higher level, the others at the Subsidiary level. Each examined subject is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The award of the Diploma requires a minimum total of 24 points and the satisfactory completion of three additional requirements: the Extended Essay of some 4000 words, which provides the first experience of the independent research paper; a course entitled Theory of Knowledge (ToK), which explores the relationships among the various disciplines and ensures that students engage in critical reflection and analysis of the knowledge acquired within and beyond the classroom; the compulsory participation in Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) extracurricular and community-service activities. Bonus points may be awarded for the exceptional essay or performance in Theory of Knowledge.

Mississippi State University recognizes the IB Program. Credit will be considered for the higher level subject examinations with scores of 5, 6 or 7 pending approval of the various colleges, schools and major departments of the university. Some subject areas may consider a score of 4.

A final official IB transcript will be sent by the International Baccalaureate North America (IBNA) regional office following the grade awarding and upon the request of the student. The document will indicate the level of the subjects, the grade awarded in each, the total point score and the completion of the additional Diploma requirements. Results are available in late July for May session candidates.

e. Cambridge International

Students entering Mississippi State University for the first time may be granted credit for examinations administered by Cambridge International. Courses taken as part of the AS level or A level curricula will be considered. Grades of Satisfactory (S) appear on the transcript for courses in which Cambridge credit is earned. These courses do not affect grade-point averages. Applicability of such credit to a specific degree is to be determined by the appropriate dean. Contact the Office of the Registrar for details on how credit is presently assigned in the various subject areas.