This policy provides information regarding credit awarded for external examinations including the College Board Advanced Placement Exam (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the International Baccalaureate (IB), the Defense Language Proficiency Test, and the DANTES DSST exam. The faculty has determined passing scores and, when appropriate, course equivalency and/or Palomar College credit toward general education and/or graduation requirements, effective fall 2025 and subsequent years. The list for the AP, CLEP, and IB policy is included below.

The external exam credit policy for Cal-GETC may be found in the current Cal-GETC standards under Standard 6.

The external exam credit policy for the California State University may be found in the CSU Systemwide Credit for External Exam Policy.

The external exam policy for the University of California may be found in the University of California AP and Exam Credit Policy.

College Board Advanced Placement Exam (AP)

2-D Art and Design

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

3-D Art and Design

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

African American Studies

Score	Palomar Equiivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No equivalent course	3	0	No general education credit

Art History

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ART 100	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Biology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	BIOL 100	6	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Calculus AB

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	MATH C2210	31	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Calculus BC

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	MATH C2210 and MATH C2220	62	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Calculus BC/AB

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	MATH C2210	33	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Chemistry

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	CHEM 110 and CHEM 110L	6	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Chinese Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	CHIN 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Comparative Government and Politics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	POSC 103	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Computer Science A

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	CSCI 114	3	3	No general education credit

Computer Science Principles

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	CSCI 112	6	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Drawing

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

English Language and Composition

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ENGL C1000	6	3	1A English Composition

English Literature and Composition

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ENGL C1000 and ENG 205	64	6	1A English Composition and Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Environmental Science

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No equivalent course	4	4	5 Natural Sciences

European History

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
35	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities OR Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

French Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	FREN 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

German Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	GERM 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Human Geography

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	GEOG 105	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Italian Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ITAL 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Japanese Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	JAPN 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Latin

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Macroeconomics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ECON C2002	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behaviorial Sciences

Microeconomics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	ECON C2001	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behaviorial Sciences

Music Theory

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	MUS 103	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Physics 1: Algebra Based

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
36	No course equivalency	47	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Physics 2: Algebra Based

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
38	No course equivalency	49	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Physics C: Mechanics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
310	No course equivalency	411	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
312	No course equivalency	413	4	Area 5 Natural Sciences

PreCalculus

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Psychology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	PSYC C1000	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Seminar

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

Spanish Language and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	SPAN 201	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Spanish Literature and Culture

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	SPAN 202	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Statistics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	STAT C1000	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

US Government and Politics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
3	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences AND US-2 American History and Institutions

US History

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
314	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities OR Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences AND US-2 American History and Institutions

World History Modern

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
315	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities OR Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is not accepted by the University of California. CLEP cannot be used for Cal-GETC.

American Government

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

American Literature

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	ENG 225 or ENG 226	3	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	ENG 205	3	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Biology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	BIOL C1001	3	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Calculus

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	MATH C2210	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Chemistry

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	CHEM 110	3	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

College Algebra Trigonometry

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College Algebra

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	MATH 110	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Financial Accounting

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
59	ACCT 201	3	0	No GE credit

French Language Level I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5016	No course equivalency	6	0	No GE credit

French Language Level II

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5917	No course equivalency	9	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

German Language Level I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5018	No course equivalency	6	0	No GE credit

German Language Level I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
6019	No course equivalency	9	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

History of the United States I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	HIST C1001	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences AND US-1 American History and Institutions

History of the United States II

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	HIST C1002	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences AND US-1 American History and Institutions

Human Growth and Development

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalent	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Humanities

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	HUM 100 or HUM 101	3	3	Area 3 Humanities

Information Systems and Computer Applications

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	CSIT 125	3	0	No GE credit

Introduction to Educational Psychology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

Introductory Business Law

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	0	No GE credit

Introductory Psychology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	PSYC C1000	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Introductory Sociology

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	SOCI C1000	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Natural Sciences

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Precalculus

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	MATH 135	3	3	Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Principles of Macroeconomics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	ECON C2002	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Principles of Management

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	BMGT 101	3	0	No GE credit

Principles of Marketing

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	BUS 155	3	0	No GE credit

Principles of Microeconomics

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	ECON C2001	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Social Sciences and History

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Spanish Language Level I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5020	No course equivalency	6	0	No GE credit

Spanish Language Level II

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
6321	No course equivalency	9	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Spanish with Writing I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	No course equivalency	6	0	No GE credit

Spanish with Writing II

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
63	No course equivalency	9	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Western Civilization I

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	HIST 105	3	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities or Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Western Civilization II

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
50	HIST 106	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Biology HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Chemistry HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Economics HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Geography HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

History (Any Region) HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities or Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Language A: Literature HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Language A: Language and Literature HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

Language B (Any Language) HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	0	No GE credit

Mathematics HL: Analysis and Approaches

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Mathematics HL: Applications and Interpretation

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Physics HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 5 Natural Sciences

Psychology HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
5	No course equivalency	3	3	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences

Theatre HL

Score	Palomar Equivalent	Palomar Units	Palomar GE Units	Palomar GE Area
4	No course equivalency	6	3	Area 3 Arts and Humanities

1. Calculus AB and Calculus BC combined maximum credit 6.0 units. ↩︎
2. Calculus AB and Calculus BC combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
3. Calculus AB and Calculus BC combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
4. English Literature and Composition Palomar equivalent, units, and GE are retroactive to spring 2015 ↩︎
5. European History with a score of 4 receives credit for HIST 106 ↩︎
6. Physics 1: Algebra Based with a score of 4 receives credit for PHYS 120 ↩︎
7. All Physics exams combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
8. Physics 2: Algebra Based with a score of 5 receives credit for PHYS 121 ↩︎
9. All Physics exams combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
10. Physics C: Mechanics with a score of 4 receives credit for PHYS 200 ↩︎
11. All Physics exams combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
12. Physics C: Electricity and Magnetisim with a score of 5 receives credit for PHYS 201 ↩︎
13. All Physics exams combined maximum credit 6.0 units ↩︎
14. US History with a score of 4 receives credit for HIST C1001 or HIST C1002. US History with a score of 5 receives credit for HIST C1001 and CHIST 1002 ↩︎
15. World History Modern with a score of 4 receives credit for HIST 108 ↩︎
16. French Language Level I: A score of 50 is considered Level I and earns six units of credit. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎
17. French Language Level II: A score of 59 is considered Level II and earns additional units of credit and placement in GE Area 3. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎
18. German Language Level I: A score of 50 is considered Level I and earns six units of credit. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎
19. German Language Level II: A score of 60 is considered Level II and earns additional units of credit and placement in GE Area 3. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎
20. Spanish Language Level I: A score of 50 is considered Level I and earns six units of credit. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎
21. Spanish Language Level II: A score of 63 is considered Level II and earns additional units of credit and placement in GE Area 3. One exam maximum for the same language ↩︎

Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)

Per the CSU external exam policy, using the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, three lower division semester hours for language shall equate to three semester units (or their quarter equivalent) in CSU GE Subject Area 3B. Credit follows the recommendations from the ACE National Guide: Defense Language Institute. This ACE guide organizes foreign language test scores and credit recommendations by language, version of test and modality of language. The Guide then provides lower and upper division credit recommendations based on the DLPT test score in the following modalities: listening, reading, and oral.

DANTES DSST Exams

Please consult with an academic counselor for details on how DANTES DSST Exams may apply to the Palomar College associate degree graduation requirements.