UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2025-2026

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of examinations that test college-level knowledge gained through professional development, on-the-job training, the military, etc. CLEP affords participants an opportunity to obtain college credit, satisfy course prerequisites or meet general requirements by examination.

Students attending CSUN should review the required CLEP scores for meeting course equivalencies in the table below.

CLEP examinations can be taken on-campus at CSUN; see the Testing Center website for more information.

CLEP Examination Score Credit CSUN Equivalent General Education Application
American Government 50 3 units Consult Political Science Chair 3 units Area 4A U.S. Constitution requirement
(Take POLS 490CA to satisfy Area 4B California government requirement)
American Literature 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 3B Humanities
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 3B Humanities
Biology 50 3 units BIOL 101 3 units in Area 5B Biological Science (does not meet Lab requirement)
Calculus 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Basic Skills, Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
Chemistry 50 3 units CHEM 100 3 units in Area 5A Physical Science (does not meet Lab requirement)
College Algebra 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Basic Skills, Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
College Algebra/
Trigonometry
50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Basic Skills, Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
English Literature 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
Financial Accounting 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
French Level I* 50 6 units FREN 101 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
French Level II* 59 9 units FREN 102 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
German Level I* 50 6 units No Equivalency 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
German Level II* 60 9 units No Equivalency 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
History, United States I 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences and meets the Campus Requirement in U.S. History
History, United States II 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences and meets the Campus Requirement in U.S. History
Human Growth and
Development
50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Humanities 50 3 units HUM 101 3 units in Area 3B Humanities
Information Systems and
Computer Applications
50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement (Meets the Campus Requirement in Lifelong Learning)
Introduction to
Educational Psychology
50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
Introductory Business Law 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement (Meets the Campus Requirement in Lifelong Learning)
Introductory Psychology 50 3 units PSY 150 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Introductory Sociology 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Natural Sciences 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 5A Physical Science or Area 5B Biological Science
Pre-Calculus 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Basic Skills, Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
Principles of Accounting 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
Principles of
Macroeconomics
50 3 units ECON 161 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Principles of Management 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
Principles of Marketing 50 3 units No Equivalency No GE Placement
Principles of
Microeconomics
50 3 units ECON 160 3 units in Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Spanish Level I* 50 6 units SPAN 101 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
Spanish Level II* 63 9 units SPAN 102 4 units in CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
Spanish with Writing Level I* 50 6 units No Equivalency No GE placement
Spanish with Writing Level II* 63 9 units No Equivalency 3 units CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies
Western Civilization I 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 3B Humanities or Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Western Civilization II 50 3 units No Equivalency 3 units in Area 3B Humanities or Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

*If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English (e.g., two exams in French), then only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 50 is considered “Level I” and earns 6 units of baccalaureate credit. The higher score listed for each test is considered “Level II” and earns additional units of credit.