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CLEP and AP

The Department of Modern Languages recognizes scores earned on the CLEP examination in French, German, and Spanish and awards 6 to 12 hours of credit (the equivalent of 2, 3, or 4 semesters of elementary and/or intermediate language study). Students who are enrolled in a French, German, or Spanish course at the 200-level or above and who wish to gain credit for courses they have placed out of by taking the CLEP exam must do so before completing a college-level course in that language. In addition, they must take the exam according to these deadlines:

1. by the end of the fourth week of the fall or winter semester
2. by the end of the first week of a biterm or of the May or January term

CLEP scores received from students already enrolled in a French, German, or Spanish course after these deadlines will not be recognized by the department.

We strongly urge students to take this examination before entering Western, so that their foreign language placement will be certain. Contact the Testing Service at WKU (270-745-3159) for information on testing dates. A fee is charged. (CLEP information outline)

Advanced Placement (AP) Policy

Credit for AP (Advanced Placement) achievement: Students can earn 9 hours of credit for AP scores. In all cases, the University foreign language requirement in general education is fulfilled.

(a) A score of '3' on the AP examination earns the student 3 hours of credit for FREN 201, SPAN 201 (Intermediate French/Spanish I), or GERM 201 (German III) and fulfills the General Education foreign language requirement.

(b) A score of '4' on the AP examination earns the student 3 hours of credit for FREN 202, SPAN 202 (Intermediate French/Spanish II) or German 202, (The German-Speaking Lands) and fulfills the General Education foreign language requirement.

(c) A score of '5' on the AP examination earns the student 3 hours of upper-division credit (for French language AP exam: FREN 320; German language AP exam: GERM 330; Spanish language AP exam SPAN 371; French literature AP exam: FREN 314; Spanish literature AP exam: SPAN 374) and fulfills the General Education foreign language requirement.

(d) The student presenting an AP score of 3 will be given the opportunity to earn an additional 6 hours of verified credit, which will be listed on the transcript as FREN 101 and 102, GERM 101 and 102, or SPAN 101 AND 102, by taking a course at the next level beyond that which s/he has earned through the AP exam, success fully passing that course with a 'C' or better, and then paying a fee.

(e) The student presenting an AP score of 4 will be given
the opportunity to earn an additional 6 hours of verified credit, which will be listed on the transcript as FREN 102 and 201, GERM 102 and 201, or SPAN 102 and 201, by taking a course at the next level beyond that which s/he has earned through the AP exam, successfully passing that course with a 'C' or better, and then paying a fee.

(f) The student presenting an AP score of 5 will be given the opportunity to earn an additional 6 hours of verified credit, which will be listed on the transcript as FREN 201 and 202, GERM 201 and 202, or SPAN 201 and 202, by taking a course at the next level beyond that which s/he has earned through the AP exam, successfully passing that course with a 'C' or better, and then paying a fee.

This policy is in effect as of April 7, 2003. See the following table for an overview of the policy and the course credit granted for the various examinations.

MLIS Department Policy on AP credit

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