Advanced Standing
Under certain circumstances, if students can demonstrate mastery of course work not taken at the University, they may receive advanced standing and University credit for the course. Two mechanisms are available for obtaining advanced standing:
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Montana State University awards credit toward graduation for successful performance in certain Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board. Students may arrange to take these examinations on campus or at designated centers throughout the country. Passing grades are determined by national norms, or by local norms if they are available. These students receive credit and a P grade on the transcript for scores above the passing level; scores below the passing level are not entered on the transcript. CLEP examinations do not apply as a grade waiver for a course previously taken.
Due to the length of time required to score CLEP examinations, it is highly recommended that graduating seniors do not take CLEP examinations during their final semester of attendance prior to graduation.
The following list gives the names of the CLEP examinations and the course for which credit is given:
MSU Course CLEP Exam BIOL 101 Biology of Organisms Gen Biology BIOL 102 Molec & Cellular Biology Gen Biology ECON 101 Econ Way of Thinking Intro Microecon ECON 102 Prin Macro & Int'l Econ Intro Macroecon EDCI 208 Ed Psy Hum Dev Sch Age Educ Psych ENGL 123 Approaches to Literature Analysis & Interp of Lit HIST 105 Western Civ to 1600 West Civ I with essay HIST 107 Western Civ 1600 to Pres West Civ II with essay HIST 155 Am and the World Before 1865 Am Hist I with essay HIST 156 Am and the World After 1865 Am Hist II with essay MATH 160 Precalculus Precalculus MATH 181 Calculus & Anl Geom I Calc with Elem Fncts MLF 101 Elementary French I Col French I & II MLF 102 Elementary French II Col French I & II MLF 219 Intermediate French Col French I & II MLG 101 Elementary German I Col German I & II MLG 102 Elementary German II Col German I & II MLG 219 Intermediate German Col German I & II MLS 101 Elementary Spanish I Col Spanish I & II MLS 102 Elementary Spanish II Col Spanish I & II MLS 219 Intermediate Spanish Col Spanish I & II POLS 206 Govt of the U.S. Am Govt PSY 100 Introductory Psychology Intro Psych SOC 101 Intro to Sociology Intro Soc
During CLEP week, the College of Agriculture gives exams for ARNR 101 and PS 102.
In general, a department will not give a challenge examination if a CLEP examination is available for the same course. No academic credit is given for the CLEP General Examinations, but students may use the results of these examinations to support an application for admission.
Advanced Standing by Challenge
Challenge provides the opportunity to earn college credits and grade points without formal course enrollment. A student who has completed the work of a college course on his or her own initiatives and time, may, with the approval of the student's academic advisor, the instructor, the department heads, and the college deans, take a comprehensive examination in the subject matter of the course. Performance in the examination will become the basis for a grade in the course, and the results will be recorded on the student's permanent records. Official permission forms should be secured in advance from the Registrar's Office. Students must be registered at MSU when they take the challenge examination, and they must have passed ten credits of regular course work at Montana State University before the challenge grade will be recorded on their permanent records.
The challenge examination for credit in a course which is a prerequisite to a second course must be taken before completion of the second course. Students who have enrolled in a regular or an extension course and received a grade other than W or have taken a regular or an extension course for zero credit may not challenge that course. Challenges are not permitted in any 280, 470, 480, or graduate-level courses.
A fee of $30 per credit is assessed and must be paid prior to taking the challenged exam.
