Exam and Early College Credit
John Carroll reviews and awards credit for early college courses and national exams, such as the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The criteria for how credit is awarded for courses taken through early college programs and for specific exams can be found in the links below.
Students are responsible for sending in official transcripts from the institutions where they took college courses (high school transcripts indicating early college credit are not sufficient), as well as official test scores. Transcripts and test scores must be received by the Registrar’s Office at John Carroll by the last day of classes of the second semester of enrollment (the last Friday prior to finals week). Timely receipt of transcripts and test scores helps to avoid the duplication or loss of transfer credit, and eliminates potential registration issues if a student is transferring in a prerequisite course. Students should request their transcripts and/or test scores be sent at least one month in advance of the deadline to ensure transcripts are received prior to the deadline. Credit will not be awarded from transcripts received after the deadline has passed.
Applicants who have not taken the Advanced Placement Tests but have attained a superior level of academic performance in high school will be permitted, on nationally normed examinations selected by the University, to demonstrate competence in English composition, languages at the intermediate level, and mathematics.
Degree credit is not given on the basis of such tests, but certain basic course requirements may be waived for students demonstrating high achievement. These students will be eligible to enroll in more advanced courses.
Dual Enrollment / Advanced Coursework / College Credit Plus (CCP)
John Carroll University grants credit for college-level classes that a student completes while in high school. Credit will be accepted from CHEA-recognized institutions of higher education or another institution accredited by one of the organizations in the following list as long as students achieve a grade of “C” or better:
Higher Learning Commission
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New England Commission of Higher Education
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Senior College and University Commission
Official determination of credit transferability occurs only after the student has committed to John Carroll and submitted his or her enrollment deposit. At that time, students should contact the registrar’s office of the college or university at which the classes were taken and request that an official transcript be sent directly to the Office of Admission at John Carroll University. Once the official transcript arrives, the JCU Registrar’s Office will evaluate the courses and will send the student a Transfer Credit Evaluation. This will include the courses taken and John Carroll’s equivalencies for those courses. Quality points and grades are not transferred, only credit hours.
Generally speaking, if a college course taken during high school does not map directly to a course at John Carroll, credits will be accepted as general electives. However, students will not receive credit for courses in orientation, applied arts, athletics, or technical training.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) courses, administered by the College Board, are college-level classes that students can take while in high school. Those who opt to take the year-end AP Examinations can potentially receive college credit. Earned AP credits do not convert to letter grades and do not apply towards graduation honors. Information about these examinations may be obtained through the high school or the College Board AP website https://www.ap.collegeboard.org.
Once students commit to John Carroll and submit their enrollment deposit, they should request that their Advanced Placement test scores be sent directly from the College Board to John Carroll for an official credit evaluation. The tables below show current departmental practice for AP tests.
Courses that satisfy the Integrative Core Curriculum are denoted as such:
CAPA = Satisfies the Creative and Performing Arts requirement.
HUM = Satisfies the Humanities distribution requirement.
ISJ = Satisfies the Issues in Social Justice requirement.
QA = Satisfies the Quantitative Analysis (foundational competencies) requirement.
SCI = Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.
SOC = Satisfies the Social Science distribution requirement.
+ = Satisfies the Written Expression (foundational competencies) requirement.
++ = Satisfies the Language requirement.
AP Capstone
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Research | 3 | 3 | EN 1250+ |
Seminar | 3 | 3 | EN 1XXX* |
* To be considered for more specific credit, the student must submit an academic petition and provide a syllabus from his or her high school for this course.
Arts
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Art History | 3 | 3 | GE 1XXX (HUM) |
Music Theory | 3 | 3 | FA 1XXX (HUM) |
Studio Art: 2-D Design | 3 | 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) |
Studio Art: 3-D Design | 3 | 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) |
Studio Art: Drawing | 3 | 3 | FA 1260 (CAPA) |
English
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | EN 1250+ |
English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | EN 1250+ |
History and Social Science
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
African American Studies | 3 | 3 | HS 1131 (ISJ) |
Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PO 1200 (SOC) |
European History | 3 | 3 | HS 2299 (HUM) |
Human Geography | 3 | 3 | HS 2071 |
Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | EC 2202 (SOC) |
Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | EC 2201 (SOC) |
Psychology | 3 | 3 | PS 1010 (SCI) |
United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PO 1100 (SOC) |
United States History | 3 | 3 | HS 2111 (HUM) |
World History | 3 | 3 | HS 2002 (HUM) |
Math and Computer Science
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Calculus AB (or AB subscore on BC exam) | 3 | 4 | MT 1350 (SCI) |
Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MT 1350 (SCI) |
Computer Science A | 3 | 8 | CS 1280, 1281, 1290, 1291 (SCI) |
Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS 1XXX |
Precalculus | 3 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
Statistics | 3 | 3 | DATA 1220 (QA) |
Sciences
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Biology | 3 | 3 | BL 1010 (SCI) |
Chemistry | 3-4 | 3 | CH 1XXX (SCI) |
Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BL 1090, 1095 (SCI) |
Physics I: Algebra-Based** | 3 | 4 | PH 1250, 1251 (SCI) |
Physics II: Algebra-Based** | 3 | 4 | PH 1260, 1261 (SCI) |
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PH 1260, 1261 (SCI) |
Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PH 1250, 1251 (SCI) |
*Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam may receive 4 credits for BL1500/1505 (Principles of Biology I); students who receive this credit are encouraged to take BL1700/1705 (Principles of Biology III) during their first fall semester, and then will take BL1600/1605 (Principles of Biology II) during their first spring semester.
** Students who have a score of 5 on both the AP Physics I and Physics II exams, and who have the equivalent of MT 1360 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry II), may receive a total of 8 credit hours for PH 1510, 1511, 1520, and 1521 (Physics I and II and their accompanying labs). If students do not have the MT 1360 equivalent, they will be awarded credit for PH 1250, 1251, 1260, and 1261 (General Physics I and II and their accompanying labs).
World Languages and Cultures
AP Test | Minimum AP Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | ML 1020, 1030++ |
French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FR 1020, 1030++ |
German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GR 1020, 1030++ |
Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | IT 1020, 1030++ |
Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | ML 1020, 1030++ |
Latin | 3 | 6 | LT 1020, 1030++ |
Spanish Language and Culture* | 3 | 6 | SP 1020, 1030++ |
Spanish Literature and Culture* | 3 | 6 | SP 1020, 1030++ |
* Students who earn a 3 or higher on both the Spanish Language/Culture and Spanish Literature/Cultures will only receive credit for one exam, for a total of 6 credits.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) prepares high school students for success at the university level. The academically challenging, internationally focused curriculum includes courses in multiple subject areas. Students taking year-end IB examinations can potentially receive college credit. Earned IB credits do not convert to letter grades and do not apply towards graduation honors. Information about these examinations may be obtained through the high school or the International Baccalaureate website https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/.
Once students commit to John Carroll and submit their enrollment deposit, they should request that a transcript from International Baccalaureate North America (IBNA) be sent directly to John Carroll for an official credit evaluation. The tables below show current departmental practice for IB exams.
For courses not listed below, the student must also provide a syllabus from his or her high school for each course being considered for transfer credit. A copy of the syllabus will be sent to the department chair at John Carroll for input on what credit may be given before the official credit evaluation is sent to the student.
Courses that satisfy the Integrative Core Curriculum are denoted as such:
CAPA = Satisfies the Creative and Performing Arts requirement.
HUM = Satisfies the Humanities distribution requirement.
PLVS = Satisfies the Philosophy Values & Society requirement.
PLKR = Satisfies the Philosophy Knowledge & Reality requirement.
SCI = Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.
SOC = Satisfies the Social Science distribution requirement.
+ = Satisfies the Written Expression (foundational competencies) requirement.
++ = Satisfies the Language requirement.
John Carroll accepts Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) coursework, as noted below.
Studies in Language and Literature
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
English A: Language and Literature | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 6 | EN 1250+ EN 1250+, EN 1XXX* |
English A: Literature | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 6 | EN 1250+ EN 1250+, EN 1XXX* |
* To be considered for more specific credit, the student must submit an academic petition and provide a syllabus from his or her high school for this course.
Language Acquisition
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Arabic B | SL 6-7 | 6 | ML 1010, 1020 |
Classical Languages | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 6 | LT 1010, 1020 or GK 1010, 1020 |
French B | SL 6-7 | 6 | FR 1010, 1020 |
German B | SL 6-7 | 6 | GR 1010, 1020 |
Italian B | SL 6-7 | 6 | IT 1010, 1020 |
Japanese B | SL 6-7 | 6 | ML 1010, 1020 |
Mandarin/Chinese B | SL 6-7 | 6 | ML 1010, 1020 |
Russian B | SL 6-7 | 6 | ML 1010, 1020 |
ab initio Spanish | SL 6-7 | 6 | SP 1020, 1030++ |
Spanish B | SL 6-7 | 6 | SP 1010, 1020 |
For language courses not listed, the student must also provide a syllabus from his or her high school for each course being considered for credit.
Individuals and Societies
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Business and Management | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 2 3 | MOL 2XXX MOL 2XXX |
Economics | SL 6-7 | 3 | EC 1101 |
Geography | HL 5-7 | 3 | HS 2071 (HUM) |
Global Politics | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | PO 2970 (SOC) PO 2970 (SOC) |
History | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | HS 1199, 1299, 1399, or 2XXX* (HUM) HS 1199, 1299, 1399, or 2XXX* (HUM) |
Individuals and society: Digital society | - | - | NA 000** |
Philosophy | HL 5-7 | 3 | PL 1XXX (PLVS or PLKR)* |
Psychology | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | PS 1010 (SCI) PS 1010 (SCI) |
Social and Cultural Anthropology | HL 5-7 | 3 | SC 1XXX (SOC) |
* Credit awarded is dependent on the student’s course. To be considered, the student must submit an academic petition and provide a syllabus from his or her high school for this course.
** Not currently accepted for credit. To be considered for credit, the student must submit an academic petition and provide a syllabus from his or her high school for this course.
Sciences
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Biology | SL 6-7 HL 6-7 | 4 8 | BL 1500, 1505 (SCI) BL 1010, 1500, 1505 (SCI) |
Chemistry | SL 6-7 HL 5 | 3 3 | CH 1XXX (SCI) CH 1XXX (SCI) |
Computer Science | HL 5 | 4 | CS 1280, 1281 (SCI) |
Design Technology | HL 4-7 | 3 | ER 2201 |
Physics | SL 6-7 | 3 | PH 1XXX (SCI) |
Sports, exercise and health science | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | SPM 2010 SPM 2010 |
Mathematics
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Mathematics: analysis & approaches | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 5 | MT 1300 (SCI) MT 1350, 2240 (SCI) |
Mathematics: applications & interpretations | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 4 | MT 1XXX MT 1XXX , MT 2240 |
The Arts
IB Course | IB Score Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Dance | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) FA 1XXX (CAPA) |
Film | HL 5-7 | 3 | COM 2XXX (HUM) - does not count toward COM major |
Music | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) FA 1XXX (CAPA) |
Theatre | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) EN 2XXX (CAPA) |
Visual Arts | SL 6-7 HL 5-7 | 3 3 | FA 1XXX (CAPA) FA 1XXX (CAPA) |
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) is designed to assist students who, through personal study and effort, may have developed the knowledge, understanding, and skills normally associated with certain college-level courses. The amount of credit granted will depend on the tests taken and the scores achieved. Earned CLEP credits do not convert to letter grades and do not apply towards graduation honors. Information about these examinations may be obtained through the College Board CLEP website https://www.clep.collegeboard.org.
Once students commit to John Carroll and submit their enrollment deposit, they should request that their CLEP scores be sent directly from the College Board to John Carroll for an official credit evaluation. The tables below show current departmental practice for CLEP tests.
CLEP scores must be submitted at the point of first matriculation. Continuing and returning JCU students are not permitted to earn transfer credit from CLEP exams.
CLEP courses are not generally accepted to fulfill requirements of the Integrative Core Curriculum, except for those denoted as such:
+ = Satisfies the Written Expression (foundational competencies) requirement.
++ = Satisfies the Language requirement.
Composition and Literature
CLEP EXAM | MINIMUM CLEP SCORE Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
AMERICAN LITERATURE | 50 | 3 | EN 2700 |
ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING LITERATURE | 50 | 3 | EN 2990 |
COLLEGE COMPOSITION | 50 | 3 | EN 1250+ |
COLLEGE COMPOSITION MODULAR | - | - | NA 000* |
ENGLISH LITERATURE | 50 | 3 | EN 2140 |
HUMANITIES | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
*Not accepted for credit.
World Languages
CLEP EXAM | MINIMUM CLEP SCORE Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
french language | Level 1: 50 Level 2: 59 | 6 3 | FR 1010, 1020 FR 1030++ |
German language | Level 1: 50 Level 2: 60 | 6 3 | GR 1010, 1020 GR 1030++ |
spanish language* | Level 1: 50 Level 2: 63 | 6 3 | SP 1010, 1020 SP 1030++ |
Spanish with writing* | Level 1: 50 Level 2: 65 | 6 3 | SP 1010, 1020 SP 1030++ |
Students earn the credit associated with the highest level of proficiency they demonstrate on the language exam, not cumulative with a lower-level score.
* Students who earn applicable scores on both the Spanish Language and Writing exams will not earn duplicate credit and will only receive credit for the highest score earned.
History and Social Sciences
CLEP EXAM | MINIMUM CLEP SCORE Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
american government | 50 | 3 | PO 1100 |
history of the united states I: early colonization to 1877 | 50 | 3 | HS 2111 |
history of the united states ii: 1865 to present | 50 | 3 | HS 2111 |
human growth and development | 50 | 3 | PS 2680 |
introduction to educational psychology | 50 | 3 | ED 2321 |
introductory psychology | 50 | 3 | PS 1010 |
introductory sociology | 50 | 3 | SC 1010 |
principles of macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | EC 2202 |
principles of microeconomics | 50 | 3 | EC 2201 |
social sciences and history | 50 | 3 | HS 1XXX |
western civilization i: ancient near east to 1648 | 50 | 3 | HS 1XXX |
western civilization II: 1648 to the present | 50 | 3 | HS 1XXX |
Science & Mathematics
CLEP EXAM | MINIMUM CLEP SCORE Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Biology | 50 | 6 | BL 1500, 1600 - not labs |
calculus | 50 | 4 | MT 1350 |
chemistry | 50 | 6 | CH 1XXX |
college algebra | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
college mathematics | 50 | 3 | MT 1XXX |
natural sciences | 50 | 3 | BL 1010 |
precalculus | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
Business
CLEP EXAM | MINIMUM CLEP SCORE Required for Credit | Semester Hours | JCU Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
financial accounting* | 50 | 3 | AC 2201 |
information systems | 50 | 3 | BI 1XXX |
introductory business law | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
principles of management | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
principles of marketing | 50 | 3 | GE 1XXX |
*Students intending to pursue a major in Accountancy are advised to take AC 2201 at JCU.
Other Exams
The University awards transfer credits for various international exams on a case-by-case basis. The most common type is the General Certificate of Education- A-level, but other exams will also be considered. Students who have made an enrollment deposit at John Carroll, and who wish to submit their exam scores for award of credit, should present official documentation of those scores to the Office of the Registrar.