Advanced Placement
As a participant in the Advanced Placement program of the College Board, Merrimack College grants credit to students who present examination scores of at least 3 on Advanced 295 Placement tests offered by the Educational Testing Service.
Students who have taken the test should have their official scores sent directly from the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, and the dean of admission at Merrimack College (code number 3525) prior to June 1. Chairs of each academic department establish the number of Merrimack credits and the advanced placement level for successful students under the Advanced Placement program.
WLCS credits for Advanced Placement are granted as follows:
| AP Exam | Credit-Granting Score | Merrimack Equivalent | Credit Granted | Semester |
| AP French Language | 3 | FRE 1120 (Introductory French II) | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | FRE 2010 (Intermediate French I) | 4 | 1 | |
| 5 | FRE 2020 (Intermediate French II) | 4 | 1 | |
| AP Italian Language | 3 | ITA 1120 (Introductory Italian II) | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | ITA 2010 (Intermediate Italian I) | 4 | 1 | |
| 5 | ITA 2020 (Intermediate Italian II) | 4 | 1 | |
| AP Spanish Language | 3 | SPA 1120 (Introductory Spanish II) | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | SPA 2010 (Intermediate Spanish I) | 4 | 1 | |
| 5 | SPA 2020 (Intermediate Spanish II) | 4 | 1 | |
| AP Spanish Literature | 4 | SPA 3020 (Conversation and Culture) | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | SPA 3010 (Composition and Culture) | 4 | 1 |
College Level Examination
Course credit may be granted through the College Level Examination Program, in which students can take an equivalency examination in an academic area instead of a course offered by the college in that area. The examinations are offered by the College Entrance Examination Board and are available in most academic disciplines.
CLEP examinations are usually offered to replace courses at the introductory level. Transfer applicants to the college who have taken CLEP exams are required to have their official CLEP score report sent to Merrimack College (code #3525) for potential transfer credit.
CLEP examinations should be taken prior to the start of a student’s junior year, but no later than the start of the senior year.
When and Where to Take
Those living near Merrimack College may wish to take the CLEP test at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Information regarding CLEP testing dates and testing facilities is available to students and advisers by contacting Merrimack’s world languages and cultural studies office at 978-837-5376 or by visiting the NECC website. Depending on your score, you may be granted up to 12 credits, as follows:
CLEP Exam | Credit-Granting Score | Merrimack Equivalent | Credit | Semester |
| College-Level French Language | 50 | FRE 1110 and FRE 1120 (Intro I and II) | 8 | 2 |
| 59 | FRE 1120, FRE 2010 and FRE 2020 (completion of the Intro levels plus Intermediate I and II) | 12 | 3 | |
| College-Level Spanish Language | 50 | SPA 1110 and SPA 1120 (Intro I and II) | 8 | 2 |
| 63 | SPA 1120, SPA 2010 and SPA 2020 (completion of the Intro levels plus Intermediate I and II) | 12 | 3 |
Students pursuing a language minor must take at least half of their course requirements at Merrimack College. For this reason, they are required to take a minimum of three courses beyond their CLEP transfer credits.
Transferring Credits in Languages Not Taught at Merrimack
While studying abroad or during summer break, students often take foreign-language courses in languages not taught at Merrimack College. These courses must be pre-approved by the world languages and cultural studies department to verify whether such courses meet the foreign language requirement. Qualified coursework in a language currently not offered by the department may be transferred in as FL0051, a transfer-credit course that satisfies the foreign-language requirement in the liberal studies core.
Basic language courses (intro and intermediate) taught online (including hybrid courses) do not satisfy the FL requirement.
Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service
Brigham Young University Foreign Language Achievement Tests are available to matriculated Merrimack students who have acquired skills in foreign languages that are not offered for credit at Merrimack College. Students may earn up to 12 credits, to be determined by the registrar and the department of world languages and cultural studies based on test scores. Further information about the program may be obtained from Annette Visconti or Kelly Maccario in the Academic Success Center.
International Baccalaureate
College credit for international baccalaureate exams is subject to review. An official IB examination report is required for consideration. High Level exams with a score of 5 or better are considered for credit. Please contact the department of world languages and cultural studies at 978-837-5376 if you have IB-related transfer credit inquiries for a foreign language. The department will evaluate all relevant information and apply whatever transfer credits for which you qualify.
Military Training
Merrimack College awards academic credit for military training based on American Council on Education recommendations. Qualified coursework in a language currently not offered by the department of world languages and cultural studies may be transferred in as FL0051, a transfer-credit course that satisfies the foreign-language requirement in the liberal studies core.
