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 3381, 1000	6
  	SL	SOCI 3381	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
  • Visit our website at www.shsu.edu/centers/testing-center.
  • Email test.ctr@shsu.edu
  • Visit the office located in Academic Building IV, Room 102
  • Call (936) 294-1025
  • Write to the Testing Center, Box 2240 SHSU, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2240