Credit By Exam
Cornerstone grants advanced placement or college credit on the basis of examination. A maximum of 30 credit hours earned by CLEP, Advanced Placement (AP), DSST and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) may be applied toward a degree program. You are encouraged to verify the equivalent course with the Registrar’s Office prior to taking one of the exams.
No charge will be assessed for the processing of AP, CLEP or DSST credits. For information on applying college credit earned through placement exams, review the following criteria for AP, CLEP, DSST and IB test scores.
Advanced Placement
You may be awarded Advanced Placement (AP) or college credit on the basis of examination. The amount of credit and level of placement are determined by the American Council on Education recommendations approved by the Cornerstone Education Policy Committee.
- A test score of 3, 4 or 5 permits a waiver of the course and awards credit.
- Earning credit by exam will not be allowed for courses previously waived to allow enrollment in an advanced course.
- You may earn a maximum of 30 credits by exam.
- No charge will be assessed for the processing of AP credits.
| AP | Minimum Score | Credits | Cornerstone Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | 6 | HUM-311 Imagination in Culture |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | BIO-111 Intro to Biological Sciences |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MAT-131 Calculus I |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MAT-131 Calculus I, MAT-132 Calculus II |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | CHM-121 General Chem I, CHM-122 General Chem II |
| Chinese Language & Culture | 3 | TBD | Fulfills core foreign language requirement |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSC-131 Computer Science I |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CIS-211 Foundations of Information Systems |
| English Language/Composition | 3 | 6 | ENG-114 & ENG-212 |
| English Literature/Composition | 3 | 6 | ENG-114 & ENG-223 Introduction to Literature |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | ECO-241 Environmental Science |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIS Elective |
| French Language | 3 | 6 | FRN-102 and FRN-201 |
| French Language | 4 | 9 | FRN-102, 201, 202 |
| French Language | 5 | 12 | FRN-101, 102, 201 and 202 |
| German Language | 3 | 6 | GER-102 and GER-201 |
| German Language | 4 | 9 | GER-102, 201 and 202 |
| German Language | 5 | 12 | GER-101, 102, 201 and 202 |
| Comparative Government & Politics | 3 | 3 | SSC Elective |
| U.S. Government & Politics | 3 | 3 | SSC-211 American Government |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | SSC-161 World Geography |
| Italian Language & Culture | 3 | TBD | Fulfills core foreign language requirement |
| Japanese Language & Culture | 3 | TBD | Fulfills core foreign language requirement |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | LAT-201 and 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECN-231 Macroeconomics |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECN-232 Microeconomics |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUS-117 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 6 | MUS-117, 118 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHY-211 General Physics I |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHY-212 General Physics II |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHY-221 Physics for Scientists & Engineers I |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHY-222 Physics for Scientists & Engineers II |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY-111 General Psychology |
| Spanish Language | 3 | 6 | SPA-101 and SPA-102 |
| Spanish Language | 4 | 9 | SPA-101, 102 One of the following: (1 credit) SPA-221 or SPA-225 |
| Spanish Language | 5 | 12 | SPA-101, 102 One of the following: (1 credit) SPA-221 or SPA-225 One of the following (3 credits) SPA-222, 223, 224 |
| Spanish Literature | 3 | 3 | One of the following: SPA-222, 223, 224 |
| Spanish Literature (scores of 4 or 5 require division review) | 4 | 4 | One of the following (1 credit) SPA-221 or SPA-225 One of the following (3 credits) SPA-222, 223, 224 |
| Spanish Literature (scores of 4 or 5 require division review) | 5 | 5 | SPA-221, SPA-225 One of the following (3 credits) SPA-222, 223, 224 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MAT-151 Statistics |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIS Elective |
| United States History | 4 or 5 | 6 | HIS-221, 222 U.S. History I, II |
| World History | 3 | 6 | HIS-113, 114 World Civilization I, II |
CLEP
You may be granted college credit on the basis of examination. The amount of credit is determined by American Council on Education recommendations approved by the Cornerstone Education Policy Committee. Credit by exam can be acquired by the following means:
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP) with scores according to the following list.
- A maximum number of 30 credits will be assessed by way of credit by exam (i.e., AP, CLEP, DANTES).
- No charge will be assessed for the processing of CLEP credits.
| CLEP | Credits Awarded | Score Required | Cornerstone Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 3 | 50 | SSC-211 American Government |
| American Literature | 3 | 50 | ENG-334 PGS: ENG-LIT |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 3 | 50 | ENG-223 Introduction to Literature |
| Biology | 6 | 50 | BIO-111 Intro to Biological Science |
| Calculus | 4 | 50 | MAT-131 Calculus I |
| Chemistry | 6 | 50 | CHM-121/CHM-122 General Chem I & II |
| College Algebra | 3 | 50 | MAT-121 College Algebra |
| College Composition | 6 | 50 | ENG-114, ENG-212 PGS: ENG-118 & ENG elective |
| College Composition Modular | 3 | 50 | ENG-114 College Composition PGS: ENG-118 |
| College Mathematics | 3 | 50 | MAT-110 College Mathematics |
| English Literature | 3 | 50 | ENG-344 |
| Financial Accounting | 3 | 50 | ACC-221 Accounting I PGS: ACC-324 |
| French Language: Level 1* | 6 | 50 | FRN-101 French I, FRN-102 French II |
| French Language: Level 2* | 9 | 59 | FRN-102, 201, 202 PGS: fulfills (2) HUM |
| German Language: Level 1* | 6 | 50 | Foreign Language Elective |
| German Language: Level 2* | 9 | 60 | Foreign Language Elective |
| History of US I: To 1877 | 3 | 50 | HIS-221 U.S. History I |
| History of US II: 1877 to Present | 3 | 50 | HIS-222 U.S. History II |
| Human Growth & Development | 3 | 50 | PSY-232 Develop Psychology K12 |
| Humanities | 3 | 50 | HUM-311 Imagination in Culture PGS: FAR-HIS |
| Information Systems | 3 | 50 | CIS-211 Foundations of Info Systems |
| Intro to Educational Psychology | 3 | 50 | EDU elective PGS: PSY elective |
| Introductory Business Law | 3 | 50 | BUS-361 Business Law |
| Introductory Sociology | 3 | 50 | SOC-111 Introduction to Sociology |
| Introductory Psychology | 3 | 50 | PSY-111 General Psychology |
| Natural Science | 6 | 50 | SCI Elective (non-lab) |
| Precalculus | 3 | 50 | MAT-122 Trigonometry |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | 50 | ECN-231 Macroeconomics |
| Principles of Management | 3 | 50 | MGT-231 Principles of Management |
| Principles of Marketing | 3 | 50 | MKT-251 Principles of Marketing |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | 50 | ECN-232 Microeconomics |
| Social Sciences & History | 6 | 50 | SSC Elective PGS: HUM/SSC Elective (3/3) |
| Spanish Language: Level 1* | 6 | 50 | SPA-101 Elem. Spanish I, SPA-102 Elem. Spanish II |
| Spanish Language: Level 2* | 9 | 63 | SPA-101, SPA-102 and one of the following: SPA-222, SPA-223 or SPA-224 PGS: fulfills (2) HUM |
| Western Civilization I: To 1648 | 3 | 50 | HIS Elective |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present | 3 | 50 | HIS Elective |
*Credit will not be awarded for both levels of the same foreign language exam.
DSST
You may be granted college credit on the basis of examination. The amount of credit is determined by American Council on Education recommendations approved by the Cornerstone Education Policy Committee. Credit by exam can be acquired by the following means:
- Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) with scores according to the following list. DSST exams listed as “technical” are applicable only to the adult and continuing education program.
- A maximum number of 30 credits will be assessed by way of credit by exam (i.e., AP, CLEP, DSST).
- No charge will be assessed for the processing of DSST credits.
| DSST | Credits | Cornerstone Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Art of the Western World | 3 | HUM-311 (PGS: FAR w/History) |
| Astronomy | 3 | SCI Elective |
| Business Ethics and Society | 3 | PGS Only: BUS-401 |
| Business Mathematics | 3 | MAT Elective PGS-GEN Elective |
| Civil War & Reconstruction | 3 | HIS Elective |
| Computing and Information Technology | 3 | CIS Elective |
| Criminal Justice | 3 | SOC Elective |
| Environmental Science | 3 | ECO Elective |
| Ethics in America | 3 | PHI Elective |
| Ethics in Technology | 3 | General Elective |
| Foundations of Education | 3 | EDU Elective |
| Fund of College Algebra | 3 | MAT-121 College Algebra |
| Fundamentals of Counseling | 3 | PSY Elective |
| Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 3 | CIS Elective |
| General Anthropology | 3 | SSC Elective |
| Health and Human Development | 3 | KIN Elective |
| History of the Soviet Union | 3 | HIS Upper Level Elective |
| History of the Vietnam War | 3 | HIS Elective |
| Human Resource Management | 3 | MGT-332 Human Resource Management |
| Introduction to Business | 3 | BUS Elective |
| Introduction to Geography | 3 | SSC-161 World Geography |
| Introduction to Geology | 3 | SCI Elective |
| Introduction to Law Enforcement | 3 | PGS Only: Tech Elective |
| Introduction to World Religions | 3 | REL-212 Religions of the World |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 3 | PSY-235 Lifespan Developmental Psychology PGS: PSY-335 Lifespan Developmental Psychology |
| Management Information Systems | 3 | CIS-211 Foundations of Info Systems |
| Math for Liberal Arts | 3 | PGS: MAT-120 Contemporary Math |
| Money and Banking | 3 | ECN-334 Money and Banking |
| Organizational Behavior | 3 | MGT-335 Organizational Behavior PGS: MGT-317 Organizational Behavior |
| Personal Finance | 3 | BUS-241 Personal Financial Planning |
| Principles of Advanced English Composition | 3 | ENG-212 Writing in Culture PGS: ENG with research component (ENG-RES) |
| Principles of Finance | 3 | FIN-341 Principles of Finance PGS: FIN-345 Financial Management |
| Principles of Public Speaking | 3 | COM Elective |
| Principles of Statistics | 3 | MAT-151 Statistics |
| Principles of Supervision | 3 | MGT-231 Principles of Management |
| Substance Abuse | 3 | SOC Elective |
| Technical Writing | 3 | ENG Elective PGS: ENG-118 Intro Writing/Research |
International Baccalaureate
A student may be awarded college credit on the basis of International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. The amount of credit and level of placement are approved by the Cornerstone Education Policy Committee. IB Higher Learning exams will be accepted with scores of 5, 6 or 7. Letter grades are not given in any course for which credit is granted. These credits may be used to satisfy degree requirements but do not apply to the residency requirement and are treated as transfer credit.
- No charge will be assessed for the processing of IB credits.
- Students must provide an official IB transcript to the Admissions Office at the point of admission.
| IB Course (HL only: scores 5, 6 or 7) | CU Equivalent | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | BIO-111 or 151 | 4 |
| Chemistry | CHM-121 & CHM-122 | 8 |
| Economics | ECN-231 | 3 |
| English Language & Literature | ENG-224 | 3 |
| English Literature | ENG-223 | 3 |
| History | HIS Elective | 3 |
| Mathematics | MAT-121 | 3 |
| Music HL | HUM-311 | 3 |
| Physics | PHY-211 & PHY-212 | 8 |
| Psychology | PSY-111 | 3 |
| Spanish B | SPA-201 | 3 (score = 5) |
| Spanish B | SPA-201 & SPA-202 | 6 (score = 6, 7) |
Registrar's Office
Contact
- P:
- 616.222.1426
Hours
MON - FRI: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SAT & SUN: Closed