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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

Download AP Equivalencies (PDF)

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.

Download CLEP Equivalencies (PDF)

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

Download DSST Equivalencies (PDF)

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)

Download IB Equivalencies (PDF)

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