Within the structures outlined below, Bethel University awards credit in recognition of learning that has been achieved apart from a college classroom situation. A maximum of 40 credits in prior learning can be applied toward a degree program.
- Credit may be awarded to a student who receives a qualifying score on:
- an Advanced Placement Examination (AP). A minimum score of 3 is required in order for the exam to replace most Bethel requirements. A score of 4 or higher is required to fulfill the Inquiry Seminar requirement as well as requirements for some majors. The Office of the Registrar maintains information about AP exams and General Education requirements. Students should consult departments for information about AP courses that may be used to fulfill requirements in the major.
- either a General Examination or a Subject Examination of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
- an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam. Bethel awards 3 credits for Standard Level Examinations with a score of 5 or higher. A student with a score of 4 or higher on a Higher Level Examination is awarded 6 credits. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
- a DANTES Subject Standardized Test (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support), which is equivalent to a college course. Consult the Office of the Registrar for details.
- Exemption from certain first-level courses may be granted on the basis of an adequate score on special placement examinations devised by the respective departments.
- Students who complete high school outside the U.S. may be eligible to receive credit for some first-year courses.
Print Version: CLEP Equivalencies
CLEP Equivalencies
| Subject Area | CLEP Exam | Minimum Score | Credits | Bethel Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composition and Literature | American Literature | 50 | 4 | ENJ 103 |
| Analyzing & Interpreting Literature | 50 | 4 | ENJ 100 | |
| College Composition (with Essay) | 50 | 4 | GES 161 Composition | |
| College Composition Modular | 50 | 3 | ENJ1--A: Artistic Experience | |
| English Literature | 50 | 6 | ENJ 101; ENJ 102 | |
| Humanities | 50 | 4 | GES1: General Studies Elective | |
| Science and Math | Algebra | 50 | 2 | MAT1--M: Mathematics |
| Algebra-Trigonometry | 50 | 2 | MAT1--M: Mathematics | |
| Biology | 50 | 3 | BIO1: Biology Elective | |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | MAT 124M | |
| Chemistry | 50 | 4 | CHE1: Chemistry Elective | |
| College Math | 50 | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics | |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 3 | GES1: General Education Elective | |
| Physics | 50 | 4 | PHY1: Physics Elective | |
| Precalculus | 50 | 4 | MAT 121M | |
| Trigonometry | 50 | 2 | MAT1--M: Mathematics | |
| Foreign Languages | Level 1 French | 50 | 8 | LAN101 Introductory Language I; LAN102S Introductory Second Language II |
| Level 2 French | 62 | 14 | LAN101 Introductory Language I; LAN102S Introductory Second Language II; LAN 201 Intermediate Language I; LAN 202 Intermediate Language II | |
| Level 1 German | 50 | 8 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course, LAN 102S Introductory Second Language II | |
| Level 2 German | 63 | 11 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course, LAN 102S Introductory Second Language II, LAN 201 Intermediate Language course | |
| Level 1 Spanish | 50 | 8 | SPA 101; SPA 102S | |
| Level 2 Spanish | 63 | 14 | SPA 101; SPA 102S; SPA 201S; SPA 202SU | |
| History & Social Science | American Government | 50 | 3 | POS 100 |
| ED Psych, Intro | 50 | 3 | EDU 240 | |
| History of US up to 1877 | 50 | 3 | HIS2: History Elective | |
| History of US from 1865 to Present | 50 | 3 | HIS 200L | |
| Human Growth & Development | 50 | 3 | PSY 203 | |
| MacroEconomics, Prin | 50 | 2 | ECO 203 | |
| MicroEconomics, Prin | 50 | 2 | ECO 202 | |
| Psychology, Intro | 50 | 4 | PSY 101; PSY 102 | |
| Sociology, Intro | 50 | 4 | SOC 101 | |
| Western Civ 1: Ancient Near East- 1648 | 50 | 3 | HIS2: History Elective | |
| Western Civ 2: 1648- Present | 50 | 3 | HIS2: History Elective | |
| Business | Accounting, Prin | 50 | 4 | BUS 210 |
| Business Law, Intro | 50 | 2 | BUS2: Business Elective | |
| Info Systems & Comp Applications | 50 | 3 | BUS 106 | |
| Management, Prin | 50 | 4 | BUS 230 | |
| Marketing | 50 | 4 | BUS 220 |
Print Version: AP Equivalencies
AP Equivalencies
| Subject | Test Title | Score | Credits | Bethel Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art | Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio | 3-5 | 4 | ART 202A |
| Studio Art: 2D Design Portfolio | 3-5 | 4 | ART 110 | |
| Studio Art: 3D Design Portfolio | 3-5 | 4 | ART 110 | |
| History of Art | 3-5 | 4 | ARH 222 | |
| Biology | Biology | 3 | 4 | BIO1--D: Laboratory Science |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIO 124/BIO 124D (4 credits); BIO1--D: Lab Science (4 credits) | |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIO 124/BIO 124D; BIO 128/BIO 128D | |
| Chemistry | Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHE1--D: Laboratory Science |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHE 113/CHE 113D | |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHE 113/CHE 113D & CHE 214/CHE 215 | |
| Computer Science | Computer Science A | 3 | 2 | COS 101 |
| Computer Science A | 4-5 | 4 | COS 111 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 2 | COS1--Computer Science elective | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4-5 | 2 | COS 101 | |
| Economics | Macroeconomics | 3-5 | 2 | ECO 203 |
| Microeconomics | 3-5 | 2 | ECO 202 | |
| English | Language and Composition | 3 | 6 | GES1: General Studies Elective |
| Language and Composition | 4-5 | 6 | GES161: Composition; GES1: General Studies Elective | |
| Literature and Composition | 3-5 | 6 | ENJ 100 (4 credits); GES1: General Studies Elective (2 credits) | |
| Combination of Language and Composition | 3 | 10 | ENJ 100 (4 credits); GES1: General Studies Elective; GES1-A: Artistic Experience | |
| Combination of Language and Composition | 4-5 | 10 | ENJ 100 (4 credits); GES161: Composition; GES1-A: Artistic Experience | |
| Environment | Environmental Science | 3-5 | 4 | ENS 104, ENS 104D |
| French | French Language | 3-5 | 8 | LAN101 Introductory Second Language I; LAN102S Introductory Second Language II |
| French Literature | 3-5 | 4 | LAN2: Language3 Elective | |
| Geography | Human Geography | 3-5 | 3 | GEO1: Geography Elective |
| German | German Language | 3-5 | 8 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course, LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II |
| Government and Politics | Government and Politics-- Comparative | 3-5 | 4 | POS1: Political Science Elective |
| Government and Politics-- U.S. | 3-5 | 4 | POS 100 | |
| History | U.S. History | 3 | 3 | HIS2: History Elective |
| U.S. History | 4-5 | 6 | HIS 200L (4 credits); HIS2: History Elective (2 credits) | |
| European History | 3-5 | 6 | HIS2: History Elective | |
| World History | 3-5 | 6 | HIS2: History Elective | |
| Latin | Virgil | 3-5 | 8 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course, LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II |
| Mathematics | Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MAT1--M: Mathematics Elective (Can be BUS 100 for BA in Business and BS in Actuarial Science and Finance majors) |
| Calculus AB | 4-5 | 4 | MAT 124M | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 6 | MAT 124M (4 credits), MAT1--M: Mathematics Elective (2 credits) | |
| Calculus BC | 4-5 | 8 | MAT 124M; MAT 125 | |
| Calculus BC | Less than 3, Subscore 3 | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics Elective | |
| Calculus BC | Less than 3, Subscore 4-5 | 4 | MAT 124M | |
| Statistics | 3-5 | 4 | MAT 207M | |
| Music | Music Theory | 3-5 | 6 | MUS 101 (1 credit); MUS1: Music Elective (5 credits) |
| Physics | Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHY1--D: Physics Elective |
| Physics 1 | 4-5 | 4 | PHY 202; PHY 202D | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHY1--D: Physics Elective | |
| Physics 2 | 4-5 | 4 | PHY 206; PHY 207 | |
| Physics C/Mechanics | 3 | 3 | PHY1: Physics Elective | |
| Physics C/Mechanics | 4-5 | 3 | PHY 292; PHY 292D | |
| Physics C/Elect & Magnetism | 3 | 3 | PHY1: Physics Elective | |
| Physics C/Elect & Magnetism | 4-5 | 3 | PHY 296; PHY 297 | |
| Psychology | Psychology | 3-5 | 4 | PSY 101; PSY 102 |
| Spanish | Spanish Language | 3-5 | 8 | SPA 101; SPA 102S |
| Spanish Literature | 3-5 | 4 | SPA2: Spanish Elective |
Print Version: IB Equivalencies
IB Equivalencies
| Subject | Test Title | Score | Credits | Bethel Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Biology (HL) | 4 or 5 | 4 | BIO 100; BIO 100D |
| Biology (HL) | 6 or higher | 8 | BIO 124/BIO 124D; BIO 128/BIO 128D | |
| Biology (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | BIO1-D: Laboratory Science | |
| Business Management | Business Management (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | BUS1: Business Elective |
| Business Management (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | BUS1: Business Elective | |
| Chemistry | Chemistry (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | CHE1-D: Laboratory Science |
| Chemistry (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | CHE1-D: Laboratory Science | |
| Classical Languages | Classical Languages (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | LAN1-S: Second Language |
| Classical Languages (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | LAN1: Language Elective | |
| Computer Science | Computer Science (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | COS1: Computer Science Elective |
| Computer Science (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | COS1: Computer Science Elective | |
| Dance | Dance (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | GES1-A: Artistic Experience |
| Dance (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | GES1-A: Artistic Experience | |
| Design Technology | Design Technology (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | GES1: General Elective |
| Design Technology (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | GES1: General Elective | |
| Economics | Economics (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | ECO1: Economics Elective |
| Economics (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | ECO1: Economics Elective | |
| Environmental Systems | Environmental Systems (HL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | ENS 104; ENS 104D |
| Environmental Systems (SL) | 6 or Higher | 4 | ENS 104; ENS 104D | |
| Geography | Geography (HL) | 4 or Higher | 4 | GEO 120 |
| Geography (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | GEO 120 | |
| History | History (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | HIS1: History Elective |
| History of Africa (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | Contact Department Chair | |
| History of the Americas (HL) | 4 or Higher | 4 | HIS1-L: Contemporary Western Life & Thought | |
| History of Asia and the NE (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | Contact Department Chair | |
| History of Europe (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | Contact Department Chair | |
| History of the Islamic World (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | Contact Department Chair | |
| Info Tech | Info Tech in Global Society (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | GES1: General Elective |
| Info Tech in Global Society (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | GES1: General Elective | |
| Language A | English A1 (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | ENJ 100 (4 credits); GES1: Elective (2 credits) |
| English A1 (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | ENJ 100 | |
| Spanish A2 (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | SPA2: Spanish Elective | |
| Language B | English (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | GES1: General Elective |
| French (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| French (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| German (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | LAN102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| German (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| Hebrew (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | HEB 102S | |
| Japanese (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | LAN102S: Intro to Second Language II | |
| Japanese (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN102S: Intro to Second Language II | |
| Mandarin (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| Mandarin (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN 102S Introduction to Second Language II | |
| Russian (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | LAN102S: Intro to Second Language II | |
| Russian (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN102S: Intro to Second Language II | |
| Spanish (HL) | 4 or Higher | 8 | SPA 102S | |
| Spanish (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | SPA 102S | |
| Language Ab Initio- | French (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course |
| German (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN 101 Introductory Language I course | |
| Hebrew (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | HEB 102S | |
| Japanese (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | LAN1: Second Language Elective | |
| Spanish (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | SPA 101 | |
| Mathematics | Mathematics (HL) | 4 or Higher | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics |
| Mathematics (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics | |
| Further Mathematics (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics | |
| Mathematics Studies (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | MAT1-M: Mathematics | |
| Music | Music (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | MUS1: Music Elective |
| Music Composition (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | MUS1: Music Elective | |
| Music Solo Performance (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | MUS1: Music Elective | |
| Music Group Performance (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | MUS1: Music Elective | |
| Philosophy | Philosophy (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | PHI1: Philosophy Elective |
| Philosophy (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | PHI1: Philosophy Elective | |
| Physics | Physics (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | PHY1-D: Laboratory Science |
| Physics (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | PHY1-D: Laboratory Science | |
| Psychology | Psychology (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | PSY 101; PSY 102 (4 credits); PSY2: Psychology Elective (2 credits) |
| Psychology (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | PSY 101; PSY 102 | |
| Social Anthropology | Social Anthropology (HL) | 4 or Higher | 3 | ANT 200 |
| Social Anthropology (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | ANT 200 | |
| Theory of Knowledge | Theatre Arts (HL) | 4 or Higher | 6 | Contact Department Chair |
| Theatre Arts (SL) | 5 or Higher | 3 | Contact Department Chair | |
| Visual Arts (HL) | 4 or Higher | 4 | GES 125 | |
| Visual Arts A,B, (SL) | 5 or Higher | 4 | ART1-A: Artistic Experience |