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College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a national program of credit by examination that offers students the opportunity to earn college credits for college-level achievement. Personal reading, on-the-job experience, adult school, or other life experience may prepare students to earn college credit by examination.

• CLEP tests are appropriate for returning adult students, graduating high school seniors, and for currently enrolled college students.

• CLEP credit is applied as two-year college transfer credit.

• Students must earn the last 30 credits toward their degree at Grand Valley; therefore, a student nearing graduation must get a Residency Waiver approved before the exam is taken.

• The student must request that scores be sent to Grand Valley so that credit may be awarded.

GVSU CLEP school code: 1258

CLEP Exam

CLEP Passing Score

GVSU Equivalency

Credits and General Education Requirement Earned

American Government

50

PLS 102

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

American Literature

50

ENG 225 & 226

6 (Philosophy and Literature)

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

50

ENG general credit 

3

Calculus

50

MTH 201

4 (Mathematical Sciences)

College Algebra

50

MTH 122~

3 (Mathematical Sciences)

College Composition

50

WRT 150*

4 (Writing)

College Composition Modular

50

WRT 150*

4 (Writing)

College French Levels 1 & 2

50

FRE 101 & 102

8

College French Levels 1 & 2

63

FRE 101, 102, 201 & 202

15 (Global Perspectives)

College German Levels 1 & 2

50

GER 101 & 102

8

College German Levels 1 & 2

63

GER 101, 102, 201 & 202

15 (Global Perspectives)

College Mathematics

50

MTH 131

3

College Spanish Levels 1 & 2

50

SPA 101 & 102

8

College Spanish Levels 1 & 2

63

SPA 101, 102, 201 & 202

15 (Global Perspectives)

English Literature

50

ENG 220 & 221

6 (Philosophy and Literature)

Financial Accounting Principles

56

ACC 212

3

General Biology

50

BIO 120 & 121

8 (Life Sciences with a lab)

General Chemistry

50

CHM 109

4 (Physical Sciences with a lab)

General Chemistry

60

CHM 125 & 126

4 (Physical Sciences with a lab)

General Chemistry

65

CHM 125, 126 & 127

8 (Physical Sciences with a lab)

General Chemistry

65

CHM 125, 126 & 127 plus 128 with review and approval of lab notebook^

9 (Physical Sciences with a lab)

History of the U.S. I: Early Colonization until 1877

50

HST 103 (HST 205 if passing score on optional essay)+

3 (Historical Analysis, U.S. Diversity)

History of the U.S. II: 1865 to Present

50

HST 103 (HST 206 if passing score on optional essay)+

3 (Historical Analysis, U.S. Diversity)

Human Growth and Development

50

PSY 364

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Humanities

50


General credit

3

Information Systems & Computer Applications

55

Business general credit (CIS 150 if proficiency demonstrated through lab component)#

3

Introduction to Educational Psychology

50

PSY 325

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Introductory Business Law

55

BUS 201

3

Introductory Psychology

50

PSY 101

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Introductory Sociology

50

SOC 101

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Natural Sciences

50

General credit

3

Precalculus

50

MTH 122~

3 (Mathematical Sciences)

Principles of Macroeconomics

52

ECO 210

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Principles of Management

53

MGT 331

3

Principles of Marketing

56

MKT 350

3

Principles of Microeconomics

52

ECO 211

3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Social Science and History

50

General credit

3

Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648

50

HST 102

3 (Historical Analysis, Global Perspectives)

Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present

50

HST 102

3 (Historical Analysis, Global Perspectives)

~ Credit will not be given for both college algebra and precalculus. 

* Portfolio must be submitted to the Writing Department for review after passing multiple-choice test. Students MUST pass both the multiple-choice and the portfolio requirement to receive credit for WRT 150. For more information, visit the Writing Department website

^ Must have laboratory notebook reviewed and approved by the chair of the Chemistry Department before CHM 128 credit can be awarded.

+ The optional essay questions are supplied by the Grand Valley History Department and the answers are reviewed by history faculty members. Credit for the 200-level courses will be awarded if a passing score is received on the essay portion. Students MUST pass both the multiple-choice and essay portions to receive the 200-level credit.

# For more information, contact the College of Computing ([email protected])

 

Notes: Minimum scores and equivalencies are subject to change.

Students may not earn credit for CLEP subject examinations if the student has credit in the course, was previously or currently enrolled in the course at GVSU or elsewhere, or has credit in a higher-level course.

Page last modified November 19, 2025