Course Partners and External Assessments

Whether you’re interested in earning a degree or taking courses strictly for the sake of learning, Purdue Global’s Alternative Credit Center puts a variety of open-source courses at your fingertips.

Course Partners

Register for alternative credit courses or use the links below to view options from any of our course partners.

Saylor Academy

Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative committed to making education accessible and affordable to all who need it. They offer free online courses created by experienced professors with relevant teaching experience that people can use to learn skills and earn university-level credit. Saylor Academy’s credit-recommended courses are recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) for meeting university-level academic rigor.

Sophia

Sophia offers learners affordable, flexible, competency-based online courses. These self-paced courses cost a fraction of what traditional college courses do, and have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by ACE CREDIT. Courses are listed for one low price with no textbooks to buy, no membership fees, and include unlimited, complimentary support from Sophia Learning Coaches.

StraighterLine

StraighterLine provides first- and second-year general education courses equal in quality to those at many top universities for career-focused adults. This innovative program allows you to complete your required general education courses for a fraction of the cost. ACE CREDIT has evaluated and recommended StraighterLine courses for credit.

Purdue Global does not guarantee credit from any of these sources. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Standardized External Examinations

Exams completed outside of Purdue Global offer an opportunity to earn credit for subjects you have mastered. External exams test skills and knowledge acquired from many sources, including on the job, from life experience, and from military training. As a student, you may qualify for credit from the following:


Credit may be awarded for each eligible exam in which you earn the recommended minimum score (or higher) as long as it meets your program’s guidelines and course outcomes. Official results of standardized exams must be received by the University Office of the Registrar prior to your final term in order to receive credit. For more information about these and other exam opportunities, please contact an Advisor.

Exams completed outside of Purdue Global offer an opportunity to earn credit for subjects you have mastered. External exams test skills and knowledge acquired from many sources, including on the job, from life experience, and from military training. As a student, you may qualify for credit from the following:


Credit may be awarded for each eligible exam in which you meet the recommended minimum score (or higher) as long as it meets your program’s guidelines and course outcomes. Official results of standardized exams must be received by the University Office of the Registrar prior to your final term in order to receive credit. For more information about these and other exam opportunities, please contact an Advisor.

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

The DSST program is a nationally recognized credit by examination program developed by the Chauncey Group International, a subsidiary of the Educational Testing Service. Over 35 DSST exams are available to military and nonmilitary students in the areas of business, physical sciences, humanities, social sciences, and applied technology.

  • View Chart of DSST Exams

    Review the chart below for information about the DSST exams generally accepted for credit at Purdue Global when completed with a sufficient score (typically a 400 or higher). Contact your Advisor for more information about these and other DSST exams.

    Exam Purdue Global Course Match Quarter Credits
    A History of the Vietnam War 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Art of the Western World 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Astronomy 100/200 Science Elective 5
    Business Ethics and Society 100/200 Legal Studies Elective 5*
    Business Law II LS311 Business Law 6
    Business Mathematics MM255 Business Math and Statistical Measures 5
    Computing and Information Technology IT190 Information Technology Concepts 5*
    Criminal Justice CJ101 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System 5*
    Environmental Science SC225 Environmental Science - Ecosystems, Resources, and Carbon Footprints 5
    Ethics in America HU245 Ethics 5
    Ethics in Technology 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Foundations of Education 100/200 Early Childhood Elective 5
    Fundamentals of College Algebra MM212 College Algebra 5
    Fundamentals of Counseling 100/200 Human Services Elective 5
    Fundamentals of Cybersecurity IT104 Introduction to Cybersecurity 5
    General Anthropology 100/200 Social Science Elective or 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Health and Human Development 100/200 Health Science Elective 5*
    History of the Soviet Union 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Human Resource Management MT203 Human Resource Management 5
    Human/Cultural Geography 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Introduction to Business 100/200 Business Elective 5
    Introduction to Geography 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Introduction to Geology 100/200 Science Elective 5
    Introduction to Law Enforcement CJ101 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System 5
    Introduction to Modern Middle East 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Introduction to World Religions 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Introductory College Algebra MM212 College Algebra 5
    Lifespan Developmental Psychology 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Management Information Systems IT190 Information Technology Concepts 5
    Math for Liberal Arts 100/200 Mathematics Elective 5
    Money and Banking 300/400 Business Elective 5
    Organizational Behavior 100/200 Business Elective 5
    Personal Finance MT104 Personal Financial Management 5
    Principles of Advanced English Composition CM220 College Composition II 5
    Principles of Finance MT217 Finance 5
    Principles of Financial Accounting AC114 Accounting I 5
    Principles of Physical Science I 100/200 Science Elective 5
    Principles of Public Speaking CM214 Public Speaking for the Professional 5
    Principles of Statistics MM207 Statistics 5
    Principles of Supervision MT140 Introduction to Management 5
    Substance Abuse 100/200 Psychology Elective 5*
    Technical Writing CM240 Technical Communication 5
    The Civil War and Reconstruction 100/200 Social Science Elective 5

    *Additional credit may be available based on the version of the exam completed and the score earned. Learn more about DSST requirements and testing procedures at the DSST website. You also may call DSST at 877-471-9860 (Toll Free).

Advanced Placement (AP) Program

The AP program is a series of college-level examinations administered to high school juniors and seniors.For more information about AP exams, visit the College Board website or call 800-257-9558 (Toll Free). The Purdue Global AP code is 5848.

  • View Chart of AP Exams

    Review the chart below for information about AP exams generally accepted for credit at Purdue Global when completed with a sufficient score (typically a 3 or higher). Credit may vary based on the version of the exam completed and the score earned.

    Exam Purdue Global Course Match Quarter Credits
    Art History 100/200 Humanities Elective 9
    Art: Studio 100/200 Humanities Elective 9
    Biology SC235 Human Biology and 100/200 Life Science Elective 12
    Calculus AB 100/200 Mathematics Elective 6
    Calculus BC 100/200 Mathematics Elective 12
    Chemistry SC156 Principles of Chemistry and 100/200 Chemistry Elective 12
    Chinese Language and Culture 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Computer Science A 100/200 Information Technology Elective 5
    Computer Science AB 100/200 Information Technology Elective 12
    English Language and Composition CM107 College Composition I and CM220 College Composition II 10
    English Literature and Composition 100/200 Humanities Elective 9
    Environmental Science SC225 Environmental Science - Ecosystems, Resources, and Carbon Footprints 5
    European History 100/200 Social Science Elective 9
    French Language 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    French Literature 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    German Language 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Government and Politics: Comparative 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Government and Politics: United States SS236 American Government 5
    Human Geography 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Italian Language and Culture 100/200 Humanities Elective 12*
    Japanese Language and Culture 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Latin 100/200 Humanities Elective 12*
    Latin: Vergil 100/200 Humanities Elective 12
    Macroeconomics BU204 Macroeconomics 5
    Microeconomics BU224 Microeconomics 5
    Music Theory 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Physics 1 100/200 Science Elective 6
    Physics 2: Algebra Based 100/200 Science Elective 6
    Physics B 100/200 Science Elective 12
    Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 100/200 Science Elective 6
    Physics C: Mechanics 100/200 Science Elective 6
    Precalculus 100/200 Mathematics Elective 6
    Psychology PS124 Introduction to Psychology 5
    Research CM107 College Composition I 5*
    Seminar CM107 College Composition I 5*
    Spanish Language and Culture 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Spanish Literature and Culture 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Statistics MM207 Statistics 5
    United States History 100/200 Social Science Elective 9
    World History 100/200 Social Science Elective 9

    *Additional credit may be available based on the version of the exam completed and the score earned.

    Read the Grade Reporting Services page to find out how to send your AP score report to Purdue Global.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP exams are liberal arts and business subject tests offered by the College Board and proctored at sites across the nation. Visit the College Board website or call 800-257-9558 (Toll Free) for testing information. The Purdue Global CLEP code is 8633.

  • View CLEP Exams

    Review the chart below for information about the CLEP exams generally accepted for credit at Purdue Global when completed with a sufficient score (typically a 50 or higher). Credit may vary based on the version of the exam completed and the score earned.

    CLEP Exam Purdue Global Course Match Quarter Credits
    American Government SS236 American Government 5
    American Literature 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Biology SC235 Human Biology and100/200 Life Science Elective 9
    Calculus 100/200 Mathematics Elective 5*
    Calculus With Elementary Functions 100/200 Mathematics Elective 9
    Chemistry SC156 Principles of Chemistry and 100/200 Chemistry Elective 9
    College Algebra - Trigonometry 100/200 Mathematics Elective 5
    College Algebra MM212 College Algebra 5
    College Composition CM107 College Composition I and CM220 College Composition II 10
    College Composition Modular CM107 College Composition I 5
    College Mathematics MM150 Survey of Mathematics and 100/200 Mathematics Elective 9
    English Composition CM107 College Composition I and 100/200 Communications Elective 9
    English Literature 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Financial Accounting AC114 Accounting I and (Waiver) AC116 Accounting II 5
    French Language 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Freshman College Composition CM107 College Composition I and CM220 College Composition II 10
    German Language 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Human Growth and Development 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Humanities 100/200 Humanities Elective 5*
    Information Systems 100/200 Information Technology Elective 5*
    Introduction to Educational Psychology 100/200 Psychology Elective 5
    Introductory Business Law 100/200 Legal Studies Elective or 100/200 Business Elective 5
    Introductory Psychology PS124 Introduction to Psychology 5*
    Introductory Sociology SS144 Sociology 5
    Natural Sciences 100/200 Science Elective 9
    Precalculus 100/200 Mathematics Elective 5
    Principles of Accounting AC114 Accounting I and AC116 Accounting II 10
    Principles of Macroeconomics BU204 Macroeconomics 5
    Principles of Management MT140 Introduction to Management 5
    Principles of Marketing MT219 Marketing 5
    Principles of Microeconomics BU224 Microeconomics 5
    Social Science and History 100/200 Social Science Elective 9
    Spanish Language 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Spanish With Writing 100/200 Humanities Elective 9*
    Trigonometry 100/200 Mathematics Elective 5
    Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present 100/200 Social Science Elective 5

    *Additional credit may be available based on the version of the exam completed and the score earned.Review the CLEP Scores and Transcripts page to learn more about CLEP exams and obtain transcripts of your scores.

Cambridge International

Cambridge International exams prepare learners for university study. These exams are used by students and institutions around the world to measure subject mastery.

  • View Cambridge International Exams

    Review the chart below for information about Cambridge International exams generally accepted for credit at Purdue Global when passed with a grade of A*–E. Credit may vary based on the version of the exam completed.

    Exam Purdue Global Course Match Quarter Credits
    Biology (AS) SC235 Human Biology 5
    Biology (A) SC235 Human Biology and 100/200 Life Science Elective 10
    Chemistry (AS) SC156 Principles of Chemistry 5
    Chemistry (A) SC156 Principles of Chemistry and 100/200 Chemistry Elective 10
    English General Paper (AS) CM107 College Composition I 5
    English General Paper (A) CM107 College Composition I and 100/200 Communication Elective 10
    English Language (AS) CM107 College Composition I or CM220 College Composition II 5
    English Language (A) CM107 College Composition I and CM220 College Composition II 10
    History (AS) 100/200 Social Science Elective 5
    History (A) 100/200 Social Science Elective 10
    Literature in English (AS) 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Literature in English (A) 100/200 Humanities Elective 10
    Marine Science (AS) 100/200 Life Science Elective 5
    Marine Science (A) 100/200 Life Science Elective 10
    Psychology (AS) PS124 Introduction to Psychology 5
    Psychology (A) PS124 Introduction to Psychology and 100/200 Psychology Elective 10
    Sociology (AS) SS144 Sociology 5
    Sociology (A) SS144 Sociology and 100/200 Social Science Elective 10
    Spanish (AS) 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Spanish (A) 100/200 Humanities Elective 10
    Spanish Language (AS) 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Spanish Language (A) 100/200 Humanities Elective 10
    Spanish Literature (AS) 100/200 Humanities Elective 5
    Spanish Literature (A) 100/200 Humanities Elective 10