Credit by Exam

Credit by Examination (CBE) allows a student to receive college credit for prior learning by demonstrating mastery of course outcomes—skills and knowledge—by taking the course exam(s). Some exams may require performance of a skill set, while other exams may be written tests covering course content.

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  • CS 1428

    A Credit by Exam (CBE) test for CS 1428, Foundations of Computer Science I, is available through the Department of Computer Science. The exam will test a student's programming skills in C++ language, and the specific topics covered in CS1428.

    Topics: 

    • Variables, Operators, Data Types (including string)
    • Input/Output (including File I/O)
    • Branches
    • Loops
    • Functions
    • Arrays
    • Structs

    The CBE will be given in the fall and the spring semesters before the start of classes.

    A student can take the CS 1428 Credit by Exam only one time. If the student fails the exam, the student will be required to take the CS 1428 course. A student who already has earned credit for or received a grade in the CS 1428 course cannot take the CS 1428 CBE test.

    Student must register to take the exam and pay the testing fee no later than December 20th, 2024. 

    To register for the exam:

    1. Complete the exam registration form.
    2. Email the form to the CS academic advisor for approval to register for the exam.
    3. The academic advisor will email the form back to the student, noting if the student is approved to take the exam.
    4. The student will take the form to the University Testing, Research Support, and Evaluation Center and pay the $100 testing fee.

    Information about the next CS 1428 Credit by Exam is given below:

    Date:  January 6th - 8th, 2025
    Time:  Start time is no later than 2:30 p.m. (see university testing center webpage)
    Location: Commons Hall, Ground Floor (Select floor 1 if using the elevator).

    A student who takes the CS 1428 Credit by Exam will be notified by the academic advisor, via the student's Texas State email address, if the student earned credit on the exam. 

  • A Credit by Exam (CBE) test for CS 3358, Data Structures and Algorithms, is available through the Department of Computer Science. The exam will test a student's programming skills in C++ language, and the specific topics covered in CS3358. 

    Topics:

    • Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues
    • Algorithm Analysis using Big-O characterizations
    • Generic Programming (templates in C++)
    • Recursion
    • Sorting (bubble sort, selection sort, insertion sort, merge sort, quick sort, heap sort)
    • Heaps
    • Binary Search Trees
    • Hash Tables (closed hashing (open addressing) and open hashing (chaining))
    • Graphs
    • Common applications of the data structures listed above
    • Ability to implement the data structures above in the C++ programming language  

    The CBE will be given in the fall and the spring semesters before the start of classes.

    A student can take the CS 3358 Credit by Exam only one time. If the student fails the exam, the student will be required to take the CS 3358 course. A student who already has earned credit for or received a grade in the CS 3358 course cannot take the CS 3358 CBE test.

    A student must have received credit for CS 2308 and MATH 2358 (or equivalent courses) to be eligible to take the CS 3358 Credit by Exam.

    Student must register to take the exam and pay the testing fee at no later than December 20th, 2024. 

    To register for the exam:

    1. Complete the exam registration form.
       
    2. Email the form to the CS academic advisor for approval to register for the exam.
    3. The academic advisor will email the form back to the student, noting if the student is approved to take the exam.

    Students can request an appointment by emailing the Testing Center at proctor@txstate.edu at least three business days in advance. They can pay the test fee at https://secure.touchnet.com/C24322_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1875&SINGLESTORE=true by entering $100 as the amount to be paid.

    Information about the next CS 3358 Credit by Exam is given below:

    Dates: January 6th - 8th, 2025
    Time: See Testing Evaluation and Measurement Center (TEMC) for appointment. 
    Location: Nueces Building
     

    A student who takes the CS 3358 Credit by Exam will be notified by the academic advisor, via the student's Texas State email address, if the student earned credit on the exam.