Credit by Examination
Moravian University recognizes the concept of "course equivalency," which permits the college to certify the educational value of private study and other out-of-class experiences and, following appropriate evaluation by the college, enables the student to receive academic credit toward a degree. Some ways by which students may receive advanced placement and credit by examination are detailed in the following tables. A maximum of 8 course units for credit by examination, in any combination, may be applied to a Moravian University degree.
Advanced Placement Examination
Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level certain Advanced Placement Examinations taken prior to admission.
Exam | Score | Moravian Equivalent Course |
Art History | 4 | elective |
Art (studio) | 4 | elective |
Art (studio): 2-D Design | 4 | elective |
Art (studio): 3-D Design | 4 | elective |
Art (studio): Drawing | 4 | elective |
Biology | 4 | BIOL 100 |
Calculus AB or AB Subscore | 4 | MATH 170 |
Calculus BC | 4 | MATH 171 |
Chemistry | 4 | CHEM113 |
Chemistry | 5 | CHEM 113 & CHEM 114 |
Chinese Language and Literature | 3* | elective (M3) |
Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | POSC125 |
Computer Science | 4 | CSCI120 |
English Language and Composition | 4 | Elective |
English Literature and Composition | 4 | Elective M2 |
Environmental Science | 4 | ENVR112 |
European History | 4 | HIST112 |
French Language | 4 | FREN110 |
French Literature | 4 | elective |
German Language | 4 | GERM110 |
Human Geography | 4 | IDIS110 |
International English Language | 4 | Elective |
Japanese Language and Literature | 3* | elective (F3) |
Latin | 4 | elective(F3) |
Macroeconomics † | 4 | Elective |
Microeconomics † | 4 | Elective |
Music Theory | 4 | MUS101 |
Physics 1 | 4 | PHYS109 |
Physics 2 | 4 | PHYS110 |
Physics C: Electricity and Mag | 4 | PHYS 112 |
Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | PHYS 111 |
Psychology | 4 | PSYC120 |
Spanish Language | 4 | SPAN110 |
Spanish Literature | 4 | elective |
Statistics | 4 | MATH107 |
U.S. Government and Politics | 4 | POSC110 |
U.S. History | 4 | HIST113 |
World History | 4 | elective |
* Acceptance conditional upon departmental approval. Departments reserve the right to verify test results and to make supplemental assignments.
† The Department of Economics and Business will waive the requirement for Economics 152 upon the student's completion of both tests with a minimum score of 4.
International Baccalaureate
Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed any higher-level International Baccalaureate exams with a score of 5 or better (6 is the minimum required score for English language). Departments reserve the right to verify test results and to make supplemental assignments.
College Level Examination Program
Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level various tests of the University-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Excelsior College Examinations (formerly New York Regents College Examinations), ACT-PEP Examinations, and DSST (formerly DANTES—Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support) program. These may be taken prior to admission or after a student has enrolled at the University. Students with nontransferable coursework from other colleges may qualify for credit through CLEP and DSST examinations.
Minimum scores in the various CLEP and DSST tests are given below. In some cases (indicated by ‡) a supplemental essay is required. Inquiries about credit for CLEP and DSST examinations listed below should be addressed to the associate dean for academic affairs.
Subject Exams
1 unit/4 credits per test
Exam | Min. Score | Moravian Equivalent Course |
American Government | 50 | POSC110 |
American Literature ‡ | 55* | ENGL102 |
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature ‡ | 55* | ENGL104 |
Calculus with Elementary Functions | 50 | MATH170 |
College French I/II% | 50/62 | FREN 100/105 |
College German I/II% | 50/62 | GERM100/105 |
College Spanish I/II% | 50/62 | SPAN100/105 |
English Literature ‡ | 55* | ENGL101 |
General Biology | 55 | BIOL100 |
General Chemistry | 55 | CHEM100 |
Information Systems | 50 | MGMT211.2 |
Introduction to Psychology | 55 | PSYC120 |
History of the U.S. I | 53 | Elective |
History of the U.S. II | 53 | Elective |
Human Growth and Development | 50 | PSYC207 |
Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | EDUC155 |
Principles of Management | 50 | MGMT223 |
Principles of Accounting | 50 | ACCT157 |
Introductory Business Law | 51 | MGMT226 |
Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | elective |
Principles of Marketing | 50 | MGMT251 |
Introductory Sociology | 50 | SOC115 |
Western Civilization I | 53 | Elective |
Western Civilization II | 53 | Elective |
General Exams
1 unit/4 credits per test
Exam | Min. Score | Moravian Equivalent Course |
Natural Sciences | 50 | Elective |
College Composition Modular with Essay ‡ | 50 | Elective |
Humanities | 50 | Elective |
Social Sciences/History | 50 | Elective |
College Mathematics | 50 | Elective |
Note: CLEP general examinations may not be used to fulfill requirements within Learning in Common or in a student's major or minor.
* Departments reserve the right to verify test results and make supplemental assignments.
‡ Essay required.
- Students who are majoring in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, or environmental studies may not take the Natural Sciences CLEP exam.
- Students who have completed any 100-level course in biology may not take the Biology CLEP exam.
- Students who have completed any 100-level course in chemistry may not take the Chemistry CLEP exam.
- Students who are working towards a math major or minor may not take the University Mathematics CLEP exam.
- %Students who have completed their F3 (foreign language) requirement may not take a CLEP in the same language in order to earn additional credit. Students who take a foreign language CLEP exam prior to completing their F3 requirement may be placed into level 105 of the same language at Moravian with a score of 50; students who earn a score of 62 or higher may be placed into level 110 of the same language. Students who subsequently earn a grade of C (not C–) or better will be awarded one unit of credit for the CLEP (without a grade) and complete their F3 requirement.
View Minimum Scores for DSST Examinations
(4 credit hours awarded unless otherwise noted)
Business | ||
Principles of Finance | 47/410 | Elective |
Principles of Financial Accounting | 47 | ACCT157 |
Human Resource Management | 48 | MGMT253 |
Organizational Behavior | 48 | MGMT223 |
Principles of Supervision | 46/400 | elective |
Business Law II | 50 | MGMT226 |
Introduction to Computing | 47/410 | Elective |
Introduction to Business* | 46/400 | Elective |
Money and Banking | 48 | Elective |
Humanities | ||
Ethics in America | 50/420 | PHIL222 |
Introduction to World Religions | 49/410 | Elective(M5) |
Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 48 | Elective(M5) |
Human/Cultural Geography | 50 | IDIS110 |
A History of the Vietnam War | 50 | Elective |
Art of the Western World | 48 | ART113 |
Western Europe since 1945 | 50 | Electivev |
Mathematics | ||
Principles of Statistics | 48/410 | MATH107 |
Physical Science | ||
Astronomy | 52 | EASC130 |
Here's to Your Health ‡ | 48/400 | Elective |
Environment and Humanity: The Race to Save the Planet | 50 | Elective(F4) |
Principles of Physical Science I | 52 | Elective |
Physical Geology | 50 | EASC110 |
Social Science | ||
Foundations of Education § | 49 | Elective |
Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 50 | PSYC207 |
General Anthropology | 50 | SOC113 |
Introduction to Law Enforcement | 50 | SOC elective |
Criminal Justice | 49/410 | SOC elective |
Fundamentals of Counseling | 50 | Elective |
* 2 credits.
† To receive credit at Moravian for Principles of Public Speaking, the student is required to submit on VHS-format videotape or DVD a 3-5 minute persuasive speech in addition to completing the examination at an acceptable level.
‡ Course equivalency and credit determined by physical education chair.
§ This test is not available to students who have completed Education 160 or its equivalent.
New York University Language Exams (NYU language exams)
Moravian University offers 1 or more units (4 or more credits) of credit towards the F3 foreign language requirement (or elective credit) for scores of 8 or higher on the NYU 12-point and 16-point exams. Students who wish for Moravian University to proctor the NYU exam need to pay all NYU testing fees as well as a $25 proctoring fee at Moravian University, prior to sitting for the exam.
Proficiency Examinations
Moravian University awards credit to students who have passed at an acceptable level proficiency examinations administered by the University for certain of its courses. An "acceptable level" is normally defined as a C (or equivalent) or better. A simple passing grade (D–, for example) is not considered "acceptable" to receive credit on a proficiency examination. Individual departments reserve the right to define "acceptable" differently for the purpose of preparing a student to continue into other courses in their curriculum. Information about a proficiency examination for a specific course, an indication of the scope of the course, suggested readings, and preparation for the examination may be obtained from the appropriate department chair.
If a student decides to take one or more proficiency examinations, he or she should obtain a Proficiency Exam (Challenge Exam) Form in the Office of the Registrar and pay a fee of $85 for each examination to the Student Accounts Office.
A student who passes a proficiency examination will be given credit for the course but no grade will be recorded. A student who fails a course may not take a proficiency examination for that course in the term immediately following the failure.
A student may not take a proficiency or challenge exam for a course the student previously has audited.
UExcel/Excelsior College
Moravian University will review credits earned through Excelsior College exams (UExcel) for possible credit at Moravian University. Credit will not be granted for grades of less than C on the exams. For certain content areas, a grade of B or better may be required for credit to be awarded at Moravian University. For more information on UExcel exams, click on this link: https://www.excelsior.edu/policy/non-collegiate-sources-of-credit/