Advanced Placement & Advanced Credit
A majority of students receiving advanced placement credit at Clarkson have taken the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board. The most common areas are listed below. Credit in most other subject matters is awarded when a score of 4 or greater is received. For further information, contact Student Administrative Services at 315-268-6576.
| Biology | |
| AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 | BY152/BY154 Life's Diversity |
| 5 | BY152/BY154 Life's Diversity and BY153/BY155 Cellular and Molecular Biology |
| Chemistry | |
| AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 | CM131 General Chemistry I |
| 5 | CM131/132 General Chemistry I/II |
| Computer Science A Exam | |
| AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 or 5 | CS141 Intro. to Computer Science I |
| Computer Science AB Exam | |
| AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 | CS141 Intro. to Computer Science I |
| 5 | CS141/142 Intro. to Computer Science I/II |
The computer science department schedules an exam in Pascal or C for new students during fall orientation each year. Students earning a satisfactory grade receive credit for CS141, Introduction to Computer Science I. For further information visit the Department of Computer Science Web page.
| English – Language and Composition Exam | English – Literature and Composition Exam | ||
| AP score | Course Credit | AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit | 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 or 5 | TC210 Theory of Rhetoric | 4 or 5 | LIT200, Introduction to Literature |
| Mathematics – Calculus AB Exam | Mathematics – Calculus BC Exam | ||
| AP score | Course Credit | AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit | 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 or 5 | MA131 Calculus I | 4 | MA131 Calculus I |
| 5 | MA131/132 Calculus I/II | ||
The mathematics department schedules a calculus exam during fall orientation. Students receiving a satisfactory grade receive credit for MA131 Calculus I. For further information contact the mathematics department. For additional information on this visit the Department of Mathematics Web page.
| Physics B* Exam | |||
| AP score | Course Credit | ||
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit | ||
| 4 | SC131 Intro. to Physics I | ||
| 5 | SC131/132 Intro. to Physics I/II | ||
| * Credit awarded for Physics B will not replace PH131 and/or PH132 required by many Clarkson majors. | |||
| Physics C - Mechanics Exam | Physics C - Electricity & Magnetism Exam | ||
| AP score | Course Credit | AP score | Course Credit |
| 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit | 1, 2, or 3 | No Credit |
| 4 or 5 | PH131 Physics I | 4 or 5 | PH132 Physics II |
Advanced Placement Credit Through College Course Transfer
Students may enter Clarkson having already taken college courses while still in high school. Such courses will be considered for academic transfer credit if a grade of C or better was earned. Project Lead the Way courses will be considered if the score in the course is 85% or better and the course appears on a college transcript. Students should send an official transcript as well as a course description to Student Administrative Services as soon as available. The course(s) will be evaluated for transfer credit by the academic department responsible for the course curriculum.
Credit by Examination
It is possible in some cases for a new student to take a special advanced-standing placement exam provided by the respective department. A satisfactory grade enables a student to receive credit. The format and availability of such exams are at the discretion of the appropriate department chairperson. Students interested in Credit by Examination are encouraged to notify the appropriate department as early as possible so a mutually convenient time to take the exam can be arranged. Note: Students who plan to take either or both the Calculus and Computer Science exams scheduled during fall orientation need make no special arrangements. Those exams are scheduled into orientation.
Clarkson will consider the following for advanced credit: AP, CLEP, GCE, GCSE, IB, A-levels, French Baccalaureate, Arbitur, Italian Maturita and the Swiss Maturite. While credit is usually granted, there are situations, due to the technical nature of some of the programs, where it is not. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis.
International Baccalaureate Recognition Policy
Clarkson University recognizes the IB diploma as an excellent college preparatory program and seeks candidates with this preparation. The University offers advanced standing and/or credit for scores of 5 through 7 on the Higher Level Examinations. Credit will be granted on a course by course basis in consultation with the applicant's intended academic department. No advanced credit will be given for subsidiary level examinations but the courses are recognized as fulfilling requisite requirements for admission.
If you have further questions or need more information, please contact Student Administrative Services (SAS) located in the Cubley-Reynolds/Ross-Brooks complex or call 315-268-6451/6464/6471.