The university cooperates with the College Board in this program, through which credit may be awarded for the CLEP subject examinations that have been approved by the academic departments as appropriate measures of academic achievement in their courses. Elective credit may be granted for examinations covering material which is not the substantial equivalent of any specific Western Carolina University course. These elective credits may be applied toward graduation requirements if the student fulfills certain liberal studies requirements or complies with other conditions prescribed by the appropriate deans and department heads. The subject examinations also may be used to validate credits earned at unaccredited institutions or courses taken through military service and to earn credit for courses failed at the university or other institutions.

Subject examinations that are repeated within less than one year from the date of previous testing will not be considered for credit. Credits earned through CLEP will be posted on the transcript, but no grades are recorded. The student’s GPA will not be affected. Duplicate credit is not awarded in any case. CLEP credits earned at other institutions will be evaluated in the same manner as the equivalent courses at those institutions. The same policies and procedures used in evaluating the applicability of other advanced-standing and transfer credits toward a degree will be applied.

The following is a list of Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for which Western Carolina University may award academic credit. In order to receive credit for a CLEP subject exam, the candidate must achieve a score equivalent to the American Council on Education (ACE) recommended credit granting score of 50 on computer based tests. Non-computer based testing (prior) to July 2001, requires a minimum score equivalent to the 50th percentile or the minimum ACE recommended score.

Contact Jane Buchanan in the Office of Professional Examinations, 138 Killian Annex, (jbuchanan@email.wcu.edu, 828 227-3264) for more details or to schedule an examination. Visit the CLEP Web site for more information about the CLEP program, including exam-specific preparation information.

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