Senate Bill 111 Information Policy Statement

Awarding Academic Credit to Entering Freshmen Who Have Completed a "Post-secondary Level Program"

Senate Bill 111 from the 79th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (TEC 51.968), adopted in 2005, required all Texas public colleges and universities to adopt a policy regarding the awarding of academic credit to entering freshmen who have completed a "post-secondary level program" while still in high school. Those programs include Advanced Placement courses, CLEP exam credit, and students who have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD). 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program

Lamar State College-Port Arthur recognizes the IB Diploma Program. Students who receive an IB diploma and receive scores of "4" or above on Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL) examinations will be awarded a minimum of 24 semester credit hours (see table).  Students who have not received an IB diploma may apply for credit on an individual course-by-course basis. A copy of the official IB transcript must be submitted to the Office of Admissions to receive transfer credit. All applicable Texas Statutes and Lamar-Port Arthur policies must be complied with and are still in effect for course transferability.

International Baccalaureate Program

Examination	Credit-Granting Score	Credit Granted	Equivalent Course
Group 1 - Language
English	HL	6 hours	English 1301, 1302
English	SL	3 hours	English 1301
Extended Essay	A or B	3 hours	English 1302
Group 2 - Second Language
Spanish	HL	6 hours	Spanish 1311, 1312
Spanish	SL	6 hours	Spanish 1311, 1312
Group 3 - Individuals and Societies
History Americas	HL	6 hours	History 1301, 1302
History Americas	SL	3 hours	History 1301
Economics	HL	6 hours	Economics 2301, 2302
Economics	SL	3 hours	Economics 2301
Psychology	HL or SL	3 hours	Psychology 2301
Anthropology	HL or SL	3 hours	Anthropology 2301
Group 4 - Experimental Sciences
Chemistry	HL	8 hours	Chemistry 1411, 1412
Chemistry	SL	4 hours	Chemistry 1411
Biology	HL	8 hours	Biology 1406, 1407
Biology	SL	4 hours	Biology 1406
Physics	HL	8 hours	Physics 1401, 1402
Physics	SL	4 hours	Physics 1401
Group 5 - Math and Computer Science
Mathematics	HL	4 hours	Math 2413
Math Studies	SL	3 hours	Math 1325
Further Math	SL	3 hours	Math 1316
Computer Science	HL	6 hours	Comp. Sci. 1301
Computer Science	SL	3 hours	Comp. Sci. 1301
Group 6 - Arts
Visual Arts A	HL or SL	3 hours	Drama 1310
Visual Arts B	HL or SL	3 hours	Art 1301
Music	HL or SL	3 hours	Music 1306

Advanced Placement Program

Lamar-Port Arthur awards college credit for successful performance in the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program.  Credit through any of the is awarded when the student has completed an enrollment term at Lamar-Port Arthur and has earned an amount of resident credit equal to the hours earned by examination. By law, students may receive only three semester hours of credit in U.S. history and three semester hours credit in government through credit by examination.  Applicants who wish to receive credit for college-level work completed in high school may do so by submitting their scores on the College Board's Advanced Placement Examinations.  Arrangements to take the exams are made by high school counselors.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Lamar-Port Arthur awards college credit for most College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examinations.  Credit will not be awarded for the CLEP General Examinations. By law, students may receive only three semester hours of credit in U.S. history and three semester hours credit in government through credit by examination.  Credit through any of the is awarded when the student has completed an enrollment term at Lamar-Port Arthur and has earned an amount of resident credit equal to the hours earned by examination.