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.

Subject Area Required Score Credit Granted
Biology 3 BIOL 1406 & 1407
Calculus AB 3 MATH 2312 & 2413, or
MATH 1324 and 1325,
or MATH 2312 & 2313
Calculus BC 3 Math 2312, 2413, & 2414
Chemistry 3 CHEM 1411
Chemistry 4 CHEM 1405 & 1407
Chemistry
5
CHEM 1411 & 1412
Economics - Macro
3
ECON 2301
Economics - Micro
3
ECON 2302
English
3
ENGL 1301
English
4
ENGL 1301 & 1302
Foreign Language
3
Six hours of Foreign Language
Foreign Literature
4
Twelve semester hours of foreign language
Government
3
GOVT 2301 or 2302
History (U.S.)
3
HIST 1301 or 1302

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.

Subject Examination Score LSCPA Course Credit Granted
General Biology 50 BIOL 1406 or 1407 4 Semester Hours
Biology 55 BIOL 1406 and 1407 8 Semester Hours
Chemistry 55 CHEM 1411 and 1412 8 Semester Hours
College Composition 50 ENGL 1301 3 Semester Hours
College Composition 54 ENGL 1301 & 1302 6 Semester Hours
American Literature 50 ENGL 2326 3 Semester Hours
English Literature 50 ENGL 2322 3 Semester Hours
Principles of Macroeconomics 50 ECON 2302 3 Semester Hours
American Government 50 GOVT 2301 or 2302 3 Semester Hours
Principles of Microeconomics 50 ECON 2301 3 Semester Hours
History of the US to 1877 50 HIST 1301 3 Semester Hours
History of the US from 1865 50 HIST 1302 3 Semester Hours
College Algebra 50 MATH 1314 3 Semester Hours
Pre-calculus 50 MATH 2312 3 Semester Hours
Calculus 50 MATH 2413 4 Semester Hours
Introductory Psychology 50 PSYC 2301 3 Semester Hours
Spanish Language, Level 1 50 SPAN 1311 3 Semester Hours
Spanish Language, Level 2 55 SPAN 1311 and 1312 6 Semester Hours