There are many exams that allow an incoming student to try to earn proficiency credit. In addition to the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams that you can take in high school, you have ample opportunity to demonstrate your proficiency in the sciences and the humanities by taking a departmental proficiency exam once you come to campus. Currently enrolled students are also allowed to take a departmental proficiency exam if they have not already earned credit for a higher-level course in the subject. Most proficiency exams are offered during the first week of classes. Click on a subject below for more specific information.
The next tests will be offered at the start of Fall semester. The date, time, and location will be announced in late summer. Please check back. For general information about the tests, click "Integrative Biology" (above).
The next tests will be offered at the start of Fall semester. The date, time, and location will be announced in late summer. Please check back. For general information about the tests, click "Molecular and Cellular Biology" (above).
Thursday, August 22 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 100 Noyes Lab. Registration is required. For the link to the registration form and for general information about the tests, click "Chemistry" (above).
The next tests will be offered at the start of Fall semester. The date, time, and location will be announced in late summer. Please check back. For general information about the tests, click "Computer Science" (above).
The next on-campus tests will be offered to currently enrolled students during Finals Week. You can choose the 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. block, the 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. block, or the 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. block. Registration will open on or about April 24th. The specific room to which you should report will be stated in your registration confirmation email.
- Wednesday, May 8 in DKH
- Thursday, May 9 in DKH
The proficiency exams for new students are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, September 4 and 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Options are ECON 102 "Microeconomic Principles" and ECON 103 "Macroeconomic Principles." Registration would open on or about August 21. Please check back later in the summer for updates.
For general information about the tests or for information on taking the tests using ProctorU, click "Economics" (above).
The next tests will be offered at the start of Fall semester. The date, time, and location will be announced in late summer. Please check back.
Individual, on-demand testing in Chinese, French, or Spanish is available for eligible students. The cost is $25. Please contact Melissa Minarik at least 5 business days prior to your desired test date to schedule your appointment at the Testing Center.
Learn about testing in other less commonly studied languages.
The next tests will be offered at the start of Fall semester. The date, time, and location will be announced in late summer. Please check back. For general information about the tests, click "History" (above).
The next tests will be offered as follows:
- Saturday, June 15 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 1320 DCL for currently enrolled students. Registration will open on Friday, May 31 and will close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 12.
- For new, entering students ONLY: a proficiency exam for MATH 220 'Calculus I' will be offered Thursday, August 22 in Room 1320 DCL. No registration is necessary. Report by 12:30 p.m. with your valid photo ID and UIN. No calculators.
- Saturday, August 31 at 9:00 a.m. (location to be announced). Registration will open on Friday, August 16 and will close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 28.
For general information about the tests and the link to the registration form, click "Math" (above).
Testing is offered to new freshmen and transfer students only. Currently enrolled students cannot take the MUS 101, 102, 107, 108, 201, 207, or 208 tests. The next tests will be offered as follows:
- Tuesday August 27 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. -Piano: MUS 172, 173, 174, and 175
- Tuesday August 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - MUS 107 and MUS 108
- Wednesday August 28 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. - MUS 101, MUS 102, and MUS 201
- Thursday August 29 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - MUS 207 and MUS 208 for those students who passed the MUS 107 and MUS 108 exams Tuesday night
For general information about the tests and the link to the registration form, click "Music" (above).
New students will have an opportunity to take a proficiency exam in August at the start of Fall semester. Currently enrolled students can test during Finals Week as follows:
PHYS 101 - Friday, May 3 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
PHYS 102 - Monday, May 6 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
PHYS 211 - Wednesday, May 8 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
PHYS 212 - Friday, May 3 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
PHYS 213 - Friday, May 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
PHYS 214 - Friday, May 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The deadline to register is 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
For the link to the registration form and for general information about the tests, click "Physics" (above).
- Psychology 100
Thursday, August 29 at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required and will open on Monday, June 3. For general information about the test, click "Psychology 100" (above).
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Rhetoric
There is no departmental proficiency test for RHET 105. Credit for this course can be earned with sufficiently high scores on the ACT or SAT, the two AP English tests, or any of seven different IB tests. For more information, click "Rhetoric" (above).
Any student who just missed earning proficiency credit from the AP Calculus exam or AP Physics exam and any student who scores well on the Chemistry and/or Physics Placement Exam should seriously consider taking the departmental proficiency test.
If a departmental proficiency exam also offers course placement, you will need to check with the department for your placement results.
To try to proficiency out of an introductory course not mentioned above, contact the department that offers the course.
IMPORTANT! Duplicate credit earned through AP, IB, departmental examinations, or any other means will not be granted. This means, for example, that if you already earned MATH 220 credit through the AP Calculus exam, you cannot earn MATH 220 credit again by taking the Math Department's MATH 220 proficiency exam. Credit for a particular course will be awarded only once.