Standardized Credit by Exams
Under certain circumstances, a currently registered student may receive credit by examination for a course in which they have not been regularly enrolled. Nationally standardized tests such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, or DSST Examinations, may yield scores which earn lower division, satisfactory credits for the student. Minot State follows NDUS procedure which details the minimum credit-granting score, number of semester credits, and course(s) or type of course(s) to be awarded.
Official score reports must be sent to the Registrar’s Office before any satisfactory credits are posted to the student’s permanent record. In order to be posted, score reports must match the student's name on their Minot State record. Credits earned by standardized examination do not carry letter grade or honor point values, nor are they considered credits earned in residence. Such credits posted to the Minot State transcript may not transfer to other institutions.
For Minot State policy information regarding credit by exam and the grading system, see those sections in the online Minot State undergraduate catalog.
DSST and CLEP exams can be taken by appointment only at the Minot State Academic Testing Center.
CLEP and DSST for Military Personnel
CLEP and DSST exams are available to military personnel at no cost. To assist military personnel in meeting their educational goals, the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) funds CLEP and DSST exams for eligible military service members and eligible civilian employees. To find out more visit DANTES on the web or contact your Education Services Officer.
- CLEP
- DSST
- AP
- IB
- CI
The CLEP Program is based on the premise that some individuals enrolling in college have already learned part of what is taught in college courses through non-credit adult courses, job training, independent reading and study, and advanced high school courses. From these experiences, CLEP offers the opportunity to demonstrate college level learning by taking exams that access the knowledge and skill taught in college courses. At Minot State University, any student may attempt to earn credit through CLEP.
To take a CLEP exam you must start by creating an account and purchasing an exam on the CLEP website. After creating an account you will purchase the exam you wish to take and pay the exam fee to CLEP online. These steps must be done before the exam can be administered at the Minot State Academic Testing Center.
Information on CLEP examinations and preparation can be found by visiting the CLEP website.
Under Procedure 403.7.4, the Academic Affairs Council has adopted the following guidelines for minimum CLEP examination scores. The North Dakota University System no longer accepts the CLEP General Examinations. If you have questions regarding CLEP credit transfer to Minot State, contact the Registrar’s Office at 701-858-3684.
| Examination Title* | Score | Equivalent Minot State Course |
Credits |
| American Government | 50 | POLS 115 American Government | 3 |
| American Literature | 50 | ENGL 261 Foundations in Am Lit I and ENGL 262 Foundations in Am Lit II |
6 |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | ENGL 270 Foundations in Literary Analysis and TRN200 Transfer Elective |
6 |
| Biology | 50 | BIOL 150 General Biology I | 4 |
| Calculus | 50 | MATH 146 Applied Calculus | 3 |
| Chemistry | 50 | CHEM 121 General Chemistry I | 5 |
| College Algebra | 50 | MATH 103 College Algebra | 4 |
| College Composition (College Composition Modular is NOT accepted by Minot State.) |
50 | ENGL 110 College Composition I | 3 |
| English Literature | 50 | ENGL 251 Foundations in Brit Lit I and ENGL 252 Foundations in Brit Lit II |
6 |
| Financial Accounting | 50 | ACCT 200 Elements of Accounting I | 3 |
| French Language Level 1 | 50 | FREN 101 Beginning French I | 3 |
| French Language Level 2 | 59 | FREN 101 Beginning French I and FREN 102 Beginning French II |
6 |
| German Language Level 1 | 50 | GERM 101 Beginning German I | 3 |
| German Language Level 2 | 60 | GERM 101 Beginning German I and GERM 102 Beginning German II |
6 |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | HMS 213 Life Span Growth and Development and as a General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Information Systems and Computer Applications | 50 | CSCI 101 Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| Introduction to Education Psychology | 50 | TRN 100SS General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | ACCT 315 Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Precalculus | 50 | MATH 107 Precalculus | 4 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Principles of Management | 50 | BADM 301 Fundamentals of Management | 3 |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | BADM 321 Marketing | 3 |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Spanish Language Level 1 | 50 | SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I | 3 |
| Spanish Language Level 2 | 63 | SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I and SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II |
6 |
| U.S. History I: Early Colonization to 1877 | 50 | HIST 103 U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
| U.S. History II: 1865 to Present | 50 | HIST 104 U.S. History from 1877 | 3 |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 50 | TRN100H General Ed History | 3 |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present | 50 | TRN100H General Ed History | 3 |
Contact Information
CLEP - College-Level Examination Program
800-257-9558
clep@info.collegeboard.org
https://clep.collegeboard.org
*The CLEP examination title must match the title in this list.
DSST exams are available to anyone who is seeking college credit outside the traditional classroom, including college students, adult learners, high school students and military personnel.
Information regarding DSST test preparation and available exams can be found on the DSST website.
Under Procedure 403.7.4, the Academic Affairs Council has adopted the following guidelines for minimum DSST examination scores. If you have questions regarding DSST credit transfer to Minot State, contact the Registrar’s Office at 701-858-3684.
| Examination Title | Score | Equivalent Minot State Course |
Credits |
| A History of the Vietnam War | 44 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Astronomy | 48 | PHYS 110 Astronomy | 4 |
| Business Law | 44 | ACCT 315 Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| Civil War & Reconstruction | 47 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Contemporary Western Europe | 45 | TRN100H General Ed History | 3 |
| Fundamentals of College Algebra | 400 | MATH 103 College Algebra | 4 |
| Human/Cultural Geography | 47 | TRN 100SS General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 47 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Life Span Developmental Psychology | 46 | TRN 100SS General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Physical Geology | 46 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Principles of Financial Accounting | 49 | ACCT 200 Elements of Accounting I | 3 |
| Principles of Statistics | 400 | MATH 210 Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| Rise & Fall of the Soviet Union | 45 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
The following DSST programs have been reviewed and are NOT accepted by North Dakota University System Institutions: Principles of Physical Science I, Technical Writing, and Principles of Public Speaking
Contact Information
DSST
877-471-9860
http://www.getcollegecredit.com
Advanced Placement is a program of college-level courses and exams administered at the high school level that gives students the opportunity to earn college credit. The AP Examinations listed are accepted by Minot State University for lower division, satisfactory college credit assuming the minimum required score has been obtained.
| Examination Title | Score | Equivalent Minot State Course | Credits |
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | ART 122 Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | ART 124 Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| Art History | 3 | ART 210 Art History: Prehistoric through Middle Ages and ART 211 Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary |
6 |
| Biology | 3 | BIOL 111 Concepts of Biology | 4 |
| Biology | 4 | BIOL 150 General Biology I and BIOL 151 General Biology II |
8 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 165 Calculus I | 4 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 165 Calculus I and MATH 166 Calculus II |
8 |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 110 Survey of Chemistry | 4 |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 121 General Chemistry I and CHEM 122 General Chemistry II |
10 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | TRN 100SS General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CSCI 160 Computer Science I | 4 |
| Drawing | 3 | ART 130 Drawing I and TRN200 Transfer Elective |
6 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | ENGL 110 College Composition I | 3 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | ENGL 110 College Composition I and ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature |
6 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | GEOL 101 Environmental Geology with Lab | 4 |
| European History | 3 | TRN100H General Ed History | 6 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | FREN 101 Beginning French I and FREN 102 Beginning French II |
6 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | GERM 101 Beginning German I and GERM 102 Beginning German II |
6 |
| Human Geography | 3 | TRN 100SS General Ed Social Science | 3 |
| Latin | 3 | LAT 101 Beginning Latin I and LAT 102 Beginning Latin II |
6 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Music Theory | 3 | MUSC 122 Musicianship I and MUSC 124 Musicianship II |
6 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | PHYS 211 College Physics I | 4 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | PHYS 212 College Physics II | 4 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 212 College Physics II | 4 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | PHYS 252 University Physics II | 5 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 211 College Physics I | 4 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | PHYS 251 University Physics I | 5 |
| Precalculus | 3 | MATH 107 Precalculus | 4 |
| Psychology | 3 | PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Research | 3 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Seminar | 3 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish I and SPAN 102 Beginning Spanish II |
6 |
| Statistics | 3 | MATH 210 Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | POLS 115 American Government | 3 |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 103 U.S. History to 1877 and HIST 104 U.S. History from 1877 |
6 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | HIST 105 World Civilizations I and HIST 106 World Civilizations II |
6 |
Contact Information
Advanced Placement Program
888-225-5427
apstudents@info.collegeboard.org
https://apstudent.collegeboard.org
In accordance with NDUS policy, Minot State will only grant credit for applicable HL examinations.
The following IB examinations are accepted by Minot State University for lower division, satisfactory college credit assuming the minimum required score has been obtained:
|
IB Examination Title |
Score | Equivalent Minot State Course | Credits |
| Biology HL | 4 | BIOL 150 General Biology I and BIOL 151 General Biology II |
8 |
| Chemistry HL | 4 | CHEM 121 General Chemistry I and CHEM 122 General Chemistry II |
10 |
| English HL | 4 | ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| Geography HL | 4 | GEOG 161 World Regional Geography and TRN100 Transfer Elective |
6 |
| History HL (Africa) | 4 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| History HL (Americas) | 4 | HIST 103 U.S. History to 1877 and HIST 104 U.S. History from 1877 |
6 |
| History HL (Asia) | 4 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| History HL (Europe) | 4 | TRN100H General Ed History | 3 |
| History HL (Islamic) | 4 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| History HL (Middle East) | 4 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Mathematics HL | 4 | MATH 103 College Algebra and MATH 105 College Trigonometry |
6 |
| Physics HL | 5 | TRN100 Transfer Elective | 4 |
| Psychology HL | 4 | PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
For more information on MSU's IB Policy, contact the Registrar's Office at (701) 858-3345 or registrar@minotstateu.edu.
To request official IB score reports or transcripts, contact IB services:
IB Services
PO Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
(888) 225-5427 (toll free)
www.collegeboard.com
Cambridge International (CI)
| Examination Title | Score | Equivalent Minot State Course |
Credits |
| Chemistry 9701 | e/E | CHEM 121 General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Economics 9708 | e | ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Mathematics 9709 | e/E | MATH 103 College Algebra | 4 |
This information is subject to change without notice. For the most current information refer to the North Dakota University System website and click on the Credit-By-Exam Chart under the Non-Collegiate Learning Experiences section.
