Social Sciences and History

The Social Sciences and History examination contains 120 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. 

The test questions cover United States history, western civilization, world history, government/political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and geography.   

Students should consider taking the exam if they can demonstrate the following abilities:  

  • familiarity with terminology, facts, conventions, methodology, concepts, principles, generalizations, and theories
  • ability to understand, interpret, and analyze graphic, pictorial, or written material
  • ability to apply abstractions to particulars, and to apply hypotheses, concepts, theories, and principles to given data.

Computer-based Scoring: CLEP computer-based (CBT) exams are scored without a penalty for incorrect guessing. The raw score--the number of correct responses--is translated into a scaled score. The scaled scores for CLEP CBT are reported in a range from 20 to 80.

At Ferris, candidates taking the Social Sciences and History exam earn credit for a score of 50 or higher. 

Course(s) and Credits

  • Cultural Enrichment Elective
    3 credits

Credits apply to 100-level cultural enrichment electives only.  Credits will not meet the global consciousness component of the general education requirements. 

  • Social Awareness Elective
    3 credits

Credits apply to 100-level social awareness electives only.  Credits will not meet foundations course requirements or the requirement that one course must deal with issues of race/ethnicity and/or gender or the global consciousness component of the general education requirements.