2024-25 Academic Catalog

Credit by Examination

Not more than 25 percent of any curriculum may be earned by College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), evaluated military service credits, tutorial, extension courses, and advanced placement exams (a maximum of 20% of the total degree hours can be correspondence courses). Evaluated military service credits are classified as extension work. Correspondence courses must be approved by the dean before being taken by students in residence. Mississippi State University serves as an open testing center for both the General and Subject Examinations. (See AOP 12.26)

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
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES 3 3 AAS 1063
ART HISTORY 3 3 ART 1013
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE (no lab credit) 3 3 BIO 1023
4 6 or 7 BIO 1123 and BIO 1134
5 8 BIO 1134 and BIO 1144
CHEMISTRY 3 3 CH 1213
4 or 5 6 CH 1213 and CH 1223
COMPUTER SCIENCE
A Exam 3, 4, or 5 4 CSE 1284
COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES 3, 4, or 5 3 CSE 2990
ECONOMICS
Macroeconomics 3 3 EC 2113
Microeconomics 3 3 EC 2123
ENGLISH
Language & Comp. 3 3 EN 1103
Language & Comp. 4 or 5 6 EN 1103 and EN 1113
Literature & Comp. 3 3 EN 1103
Literature & Comp. 4 or 5 6 EN 1103 and EN 1113
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 3 3 ENS 2103
FRENCH
Language and Culture 3 3 FLF 1113
Language and Culture 4 6 FLF 1113 and FLF 1123
Language 5 9 FLF 1113, FLF 1123, and FLF 2133
Culture 5 9 FLF 1113, FLF 1123, and FLF 2133
GERMAN
Language and Culture 3 3 FLG 1113
Language and Culture 4 6 FLG 1113 and FLG 1123
Language 5 9 FLG 1113, FLG 1123, and FLG 2133
Culture 5 9 FLG 1113, FLG 1123, and FLG 2133
GOVERNMENT and POLITICS
Comparative 3 3 PS 1513
United States 3 3 PS 1113
HISTORY
American 3 3 HI 1063
4 or 5 6 HI 1063 and HI 1073
European 3 3 HI 1213
4 or 5 6 HI 1213 and HI 1223
World 3 3 HI 1163
4 or 5 6 HI 1163 and HI 1173
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY 3 3 GR 2013
LATIN 3 6 FLL 1113 and FLL 1123
4 6 FLL 1123 and FLL 2133
5 6 FLL 2133 and FLL 2143
MATHEMATICS
AB Exam 3, 4 or 5 3 MA 1713
BC Exam 3 3 MA 1713
4 or 5 6 MA 1713 and MA 1723
MUSIC 3 3 MU 1213
STATISTICS 3 3 ST 2113
PHYSICS (no lab credit)
CI Exam - MECH 3 3 PH 1113
4 or 5 3 PH 2213
CII Exam - E & M 3 3 PH 1133
4 or 5 3 PH 1133 or PH 2223
PHYSICS I 3, 4, or 5 3 PH 1113
PHYSICS II 3, 4, or 5 3 PH 1123
PRECALCULUS 3 3 MA 1453
PSYCHOLOGY 3 3 PSY 1013
SPANISH
Language and Culture 3 3 FLS 1113
Language and Culture 4 6 FLS 1113 and FLS 1123
Language and Culture 5 9 FLS 1113, FLS 1123, and FLS 2133
Literature and Culture 5 9 FLS 1113, FLS 1123, and FLS 2133
2-D DESIGN PORTFOLIO 3 3 ART 1113
3-D DESIGN PORTFOLIO 3 3 ART 1113
DRAWING PORTFOLIO 3 3 ART 1113

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

b. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

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 I (score of 53 or above)3
FLF 1123French II (score of 53 or above)3
FLG 1113German I (score of 53 or above)3
FLG 1123German II (score of 53 or above)3
FLS 1113Spanish I (score of 53 or above)3
FLS 1123Spanish II (score of 53 or above)3
HI 1063Early U.S. History3
HI 1073Modern U.S. History3
HI 1213Early Western World3
HI 1223Modern Western World3
MA 1313College Algebra3
MA 1453Precalculus3
MA 1713
MA 1723
Calculus I
and Calculus II
6
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.

c. 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.

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.

Mississippi State University awards credit in the following areas:

IB Credit Score/Level Required Credit to Award
ENGLISH 5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL EN 1103 and EN 1113
CHEMISTRY 5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL CH 1213 and CH 1223
HISTORY
American 6 STANDARD LEVEL HI 1063
4 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1063
5 or 6 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1063 and HI 1073
Asian 6 STANDARD LEVEL HI 1313
4 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1313
5 or 6 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1313 and HI 1323
European 6 STANDARD LEVEL HI 1213
4 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1213
5 or 6 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1213 and HI 1223
Islamic 4 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1163
5 OR 6 HIGHER LEVEL HI 1163 and HI 1173
BIOLOGY 4 STANDARD LEVEL BIO 1023 or BIO 1123
5, 6, or 7 STANDARD LEVEL BIO 1023 and BIO 1123
6 HIGHER LEVEL BIO 1134
7 HIGHER LEVEL BIO 1134 and BIO 1144
PHYSICS 5 HIGHER LEVEL PH 1113
6 HIGHER LEVEL PH 1113 and PH 1123 or PH 2213
7 HIGHER LEVEL waiver for PH 1113 and credit for PH 1123 and PH 1133 or PH 2213 and PH 2223
ECONOMICS 5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL EC 2113 and EC 2123
PSYCHOLOGY 5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL PSY 1013
SPANISH 4 HIGHER LEVEL FLS 1113 and FLS 1123
5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL FLS 2133 and FLS 2143
LATIN 4 HIGHER LEVEL FLL 1113 and FLL 1123
5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL FLL 2133 and FLL 2143
FRENCH 4 HIGHER LEVEL FLF 1113 and FLF 1123
5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL FLF 2133 and FLF 2143
GERMAN 4 HIGHER LEVEL FLG 1113 and FLG 1123
5, 6, or 7 HIGHER LEVEL FLG 2133 and FLG 2143

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.

d. 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.

Cambridge International Course Cambridge Curriculum Grade Required Credit to Award
Biology AS Level E or Better BIO 1023 and BIO 1123
A Level E or Better BIO 1134 and BIO 1144
Computer Science A Level E or Better CSE 1011
English Language AS Level E or Better EN 1103
A Level E or Better EN 1103 and EN 1113
English Literature A Level and AS Level E or Better EN 2223
English Lit and Language AS Level E or Better EN 1103
History (American) A Level and AS Level E or Better HI 1063
History (European) A Level and AS Level E or Better HI 1213
Math AS Level E or Better MA 1713
A Level E or Better MA 1723
Physics A Level E or Better PH 1113
Psychology A Level E or Better PSY 1013
German AS Level E or Better FLG 1113
A Level E or Better FLG 1113 and FLG 1123
French AS Level E or Better FLF 1113
A Level E or Better FLF 1113 and FLF 1123
Spanish AS Level E or Better FLS 1113
A Level E or Better FLS 1113 and FLS 1123
Spanish Literature AS Level E or Better FLS 2133
Spanish Language and Literature A Level E or Better FLS 2133 and FLS 2143