International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM

Sam Houston State University Policy Information

Sam Houston State University recognizes the International Baccalaureate Program for those students who earn the IB diploma/certificate. Although Sam Houston typically accepts a maximum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit through a combination of national standardized examinations and/or locally designed and administered departmental tests, students earning the IB diploma/certificate are capable of earning in excess of those 30 hours.

  • GENERAL INFORMATION
    • Information on the International Baccalaureate Program may be obtained from high school counselors or by visiting the International Baccalaureate website at www.ibo.org.
    • Letter grades A and B take precedence over credit-by-exam.
    • Credit-by-Exam will automatically replace letter grades D and F. If a letter grade of C is listed on the transcript for a course in which credit-by-exam is also applicable, the C will take precedence over the credit-by-exam. Students will have the option to request credit (via credit-by-exam) in lieu of letter grade C. The student will have to initiate the change and work with the respective department and Admissions to finalize the change.
    • Although credit-by-exam replaces letter grades C, D, and F, it does not remove the letter grade from the transcript.
    • Specific course prefixes, numbers, and credit hours will be awarded for acceptable scores but no grades will be awarded.
  • EXAMS ACCEPTED/CREDIT AWARDED
    INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM

    EXAM AREA

    LEVEL

    SHSU COURSE EQUIVALENT

     Group 1

    Level Course Number Hours

    English A: Literature

    HL ENGL 2332 and ENGL 2333 6

     SL

    ENGL 2332 (or 2333) 3
    English A: Language & Literature
    HL
    SL
    ENGL 2332 and 2333
    ENGL 2332 (or 2333)
    6
    3
    English B: Language
    HL
    SL
    ENGL 1301
    ENGL 1301
    3
    3
    English Literature & Performance

    SL

    ENGL 2332 (or 2333) 3
    Extended Essay

    Grade A or B

    ENGL 1302 3

    Group 2

    Level

    Course Number

    Hours

    Spanish A: Literature

    HL

    SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 & 3362 (or 3363)

    17

    SL

    SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312

    14

    Spanish A: Language & Literature

    HL

    SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 & 3362 (or 3363)

    17

    SL

    SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312

    14

    Spanish B: Language

    HL

    SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312

    14

    SL

    SPAN 1411 & 1412

    8

    Spanish ab initio

    SL

    SPAN 1411

    4

    Arabic A: Literature

    HL
    SL
    ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3380
    ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Arabic A: Language & Literature

    HL
    SL
    ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3380
    ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Arabic B: Language

    HL
    SL
    ARAB 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    ARAB 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Arabic ab initio

    SL

    ARAB 1411

    4

    French A: Literature

    HL
    SL
    FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, & 3362 (or 3363)
    FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    French A: Language & Literature

    HL
    SL
    FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, & 3362 (or 3363)
    FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    French B: Language

    HL
    SL
    FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    FREN 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    French ab initio

    SL

    FREN 1411

    4

    German A: Literature

    HL
    SL
    GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3380
    GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    German A: Language & Literature

    HL
    SL
    GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3380
    GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    German B: Language

    HL
    SL
    GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    GERM 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    German ab initio

    SL

    GERM 1411

    4

    Language A: Literature

    Chinese - Cantonese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Chinese – Mandarin

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Danish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Hebrew

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Hindi

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Korean

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Norwegian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Portuguese 

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Russian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Dutch

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Finnish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Indonesian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Italian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Japanese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Swedish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Language A1 Self-taught

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Language A: Language & Literature

    Chinese - Cantonese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Chinese - Mandarin

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Danish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Hebrew

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Hindi

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Korean

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Norwegian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Portuguese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Russian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Dutch

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Finnish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Indonesian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Italian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Japanese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Swedish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Language A1 Self-taught

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312, 3061
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    17
    14

    Language B: Language

    Chinese - Cantonese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Chinese - Mandarin

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Danish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Hebrew

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Hindi

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Korean

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Norwegian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Portuguese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Russian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Dutch

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Finnish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Indonesian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Italian

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Japanese

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Swedish

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Language A1 Self-taught

    HL
    SL
    WOLC 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312
    WOLC 1411, 1412
    14
    8

    Language ab initio

    Chinese - Cantonese

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Chinese - Mandarin

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Danish

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Hebrew

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Hindi

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Korean

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Norwegian

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Portuguese

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Russian

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Dutch

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Finnish

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Indonesian

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Italian

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Japanese

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Swedish

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Language A1 Self-taught

    SL WOLC 1411 4

    Group 3

    Level

    Course Number

    Hours

    History Europe

    HL

    HIST 2312, 1000

    6

    SL

    HIST 2312

    3

    History Americas

    HL

    HIST 1301, 1302

    6

    SL

    HIST 1301

    3

    Economics 

    HL

    ECON 2302, 2301

    6

    SL

    ECON 2302

    3

     Psychology 

    HL

    PSYC 1301, 2315

    6

    SL

    PSYC 1301

    3

     Philosophy 

    HL

    PHIL 1301

    3

    SL

    PHIL 1301

    3

    Digital Society

    HL

    SOCI 1000, 3381

    6

    SL

    SOCI 1000

    3

    Group 4

    Level

    Course Number

    Hours

    Biology

    HL
    SL
    BIOL 1406, 1407
    BIOL 1408
    8
    4

    Chemistry

    HL
    SL
    CHEM 1411, 1412
    CHEM 1411
    8
    4
    Computer Science
    HL
    SL
    CSTE 1330
    CSTE 1330
    3
    3
    Environmental Systems and Societies

    SL

    ENVR 1301

    3

    Physics
    HL
    SL
    PHYS 1301, 1101, 1302, 1102
    PHYS 1305, 1105
    8
    4

    Sports, Exercise, and Health Science

    HL
    SL
    KINE 1117, 2119
    KINE 1117
    2
    1

    Group 5

    Level

    Course Number

    Hours

    Mathematics Analysis and Approaches

    HL

    Math 1420

    4

    SL

    Math 1410

    4

    Mathematics Applications and Interpretation

    HL

    Math 1410

    4

    SL

    Math 1314 or 1332 or 1342 3

    Group 6

    Level

    Course Number

    Hours

    Dance

    HL

    DANC 1372

    3

    SL

    DANC 1372

    3

    Film

    HL

    MCOM 2366

    3

    SL

    MCOM 2366

    3

    Music

     

    HL

    MUSI 1306

    3

    SL

    MUSI 1306

    3

     

    Theatre 

    HL 

    THEA 1366

     3

    SL

    THEA 1366

     3

     

    Visual Arts 

    HL 

     ARTS 1301

     3

    SL 

     ARTS 1301

     3

  • LIMITATIONS
    • Students with the IB diploma/certificate will be allowed to gain at least 24 hours of credit provided they score at least a 4 on each exam.
    • Students without an IB diploma/certificate may earn credit for taking the exam on a case by case basis. In such cases, the various academic departments will determine what level of proficiency is needed to earn credit.
  • ACCEPTABLE SCORES AND CREDIT
    • An official score report must be received before credit will be awarded.
    • Click here to request your IB score report to be sent to SHSU.
    • A student must earn the International Baccalaureate diploma/certificate and receive a score of 4 or above to receive any course credit from the IB exam.
    • Students taking IB exams without achieving the IB diploma/certificate will be evaluated on an individual basis.
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION