Is There a CLEP Exam for Art History? Your Other Options for Credit

No, there is no CLEP exam specifically for art history. If you need college credit in the subject, an online course or AP Art History may offer another path, depending on your college’s policies. The best choice depends on whether you need a specific art history course, a humanities requirement, or an elective. Check that distinction before you pay for a course or exam.

Is there a CLEP exam for art history?

No. CLEP has a Humanities exam, but it covers a broader range of material than art history alone. A humanities exam may be useful if your goal is a general requirement, but ask your college whether it would count toward that requirement.

If you need a particular art history course, look for a closer match in subject matter and historical period. Our guide to art history as a humanities requirement explains why the distinction matters.

What art history courses are available for college credit?

You can look at courses offered by colleges or at online courses with a college-credit recommendation. AP Art History is another possible route: a college may award credit based on your exam score, subject to its own policies.

Before choosing, ask your college whether the course or exam would count as an art history equivalent, a humanities requirement, or an elective. A credit recommendation alone does not determine how it applies to your degree.

The table summarizes UPI Study’s Art History 1 course, including its recommendation, format, and pass rule.

What are the best art history courses online for college credit?

The best course is one that fits your degree requirement and covers the period you need. A survey from prehistory through the Gothic period is different from one focused on the Renaissance through contemporary art.

Compare the syllabus, assessment requirements, and credit recommendation with your college’s requirements. For a closer look at the periods, see Art History Survey 1 and Art History Survey 2.

Are there art history courses online free?

Free online materials can help you explore art history or prepare for a class, but access to lessons is not the same as earning college credit. Check whether the option includes an assessment or certificate and, more importantly, whether your college would award credit for it.

If credit is your goal, send your college the course details before you begin. Ask how any credit would fit your degree plan.

What should you study for an art history exam?

Start with your course syllabus or exam outline. Practice identifying a work’s period, materials, visual features, and cultural context rather than memorizing titles alone.

For example, compare a Gothic cathedral’s pointed arches and stained glass with a Romanesque church’s rounded arches and heavy masonry. Then consider how each building’s design relates to its religious function and historical setting.

Which colleges list Art History 1 on an equivalency chart?

These colleges show Art History 1 (ART 101) on their equivalency charts with UPI Study. Open a college for its full chart.

See the rest of the equivalency on the Art History 1 course page, or open a college above for its full chart. ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Art History

Final Thoughts on Art History

Start by identifying the exact requirement you need to meet. Then send your college the syllabus or exam details and ask how the credit would apply before you enroll or register.