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Northwestern University

Credit Recognition for Students Entering 2023-24

Credit based on some AP and IB (HL) scores can be applied to foundational discipline requirements (subject to limitations described at the bottom of this page) and sometimes part or all of the requirement of proficiency in a language other than English. In some cases they can also substitute for particular courses. These test-based credits generally count towards the 45 units of credit needed for a Weinberg College degree, even if they are not being used for general education or major/minor requirements, but they do not count toward the Undergraduate Registration Requirement.

Last update (new rows/subjects added to IB table) August 17, 2023. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits

AP credit table for 2023-2024
Exam Score Course Credit Authorized Foundational Discipline Credit
(see note below)
African American Studies 5 1 unit (BLK_ST 2XX) None
Art History 5 1 unit (ART_HIST 2XX) None
Art: Drawing 5 1 unit (ART 2XX) None
Art: 2-D Art and Design 5 1 unit (ART 2XX) None
Art: 3-D Art and Design 5 1 unit (ART 2XX) None
Biology 5 1 unit (BIOL_SCI 1XX) None
Chemistry 4 1 unit (CHEM 1X0) 1 unit, NS
5 3.68 units (CHEM 1X0, 1X1, 1X2, and lab courses 11X, 12X) 1 unit, NS
Chinese Language and Culture 4 1 unit (CHINESE 1LN) None
5 2 units (CHINESE 1LN) None
Computer Science A 4, 5 1 unit (COMP_SCI 150-0) 1 unit, EDR
Computer Science Principles 4, 5 1 unit (COMP_SCI 1XX) None
Economics—Macro 5 1 unit (ECON 201-0) 1 unit, SBS
Economics—Micro 5 1 unit (ECON 202-0) 1 unit, SBS
English (Language and Composition) 5 2 units (ENGLISH 1LC) None
English (Literature and Composition) 5 2 units (ENGLISH 1LT) None
Environmental Science 5 1 unit (ENVR_SCI 1XX) None
French Language and Culture 4 1 unit (FRENCH 1LN) None
5 2 units (FRENCH 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
Geography (Human) 5 1 unit (GEOG 1XX) None
German Language and Culture 4 1 unit (GERMAN 1LN) None
5 2 units (GERMAN 2LN) None
Government and Politics (United States) 5 1 unit (POLI_SCI 2XX) 1 unit, SBS
Government and Politics (Comparative) 5 1 unit (POLI_SCI 2XX) 1 unit, SBS
History (European) 5 2 units (HISTORY 2EU) None
History (United States) 5 2 units (HISTORY 2US) None
History (World) 5 2 units (HISTORY 2WL) None
Italian Language and Culture 4 1 unit (ITALIAN 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
5 2 units (ITALIAN 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
Japanese Language and Culture 4 1 unit (JAPANESE 1LN) None
5 2 units (JAPANESE 1LN) None
Latin 4 1 unit (LATIN 2LN) None
5 2 units (LATIN 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
Mathematics (Calculus) AB, or the AB subscore of Calculus BC, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 4 1 unit (MATH 220-1) 1 unit, EDR
5 2 units (MATH 220-1,2) 1 unit, EDR
Mathematics (Calculus) BC, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 below 4 see Mathematics AB see Mathematics AB
4 2 units (MATH 220-1,2) 1 unit, EDR
5 3 units (MATH 220-1,2 & Math 226-0) 1 unit, EDR
Mathematics (Calculus) AB, for exams taken in 2020 4 1 unit (MATH 220-1) 1 unit, EDR
5 2 units (MATH 220-1,2) 1 unit, EDR
Mathematics (Calculus) BC, for exams taken in 2020 4 2 units (MATH 220-1,2) 1 unit, EDR
5 3 units (MATH 220-1,2 & MATH 2XX) 1 unit, EDR
Music Theory 5 1 unit (GEN_MUS 252-0) None
Physics 1 5 1.34 units (PHYSICS 130-1 and lab course 13X-1) 1 unit, NS
Physics 2 5 1.34 units (PHYSICS 130-2 and lab course 13X-2) 1 unit, NS
Physics C (Mechanics) 5 1.34 units (PHYSICS 135-1 and lab course 136-1) 1 unit, NS
Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism), for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 5 1.34 units (PHYSICS 135-2 and lab course 136-2) 1 unit, NS
Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism), for exams taken in 2020 5 1.34 units (PHYSICS 1XX and 1XL) 1 unit, NS
Psychology 5 1 unit (PSYCH 110-0) 1 unit, SBS
Spanish Language and Culture 4 1 unit (SPANISH 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
5 2 units (SPANISH 2LN) None (see language proficiency)
Spanish Literature and Culture 4 1 unit (SPANISH 2LT) None (see language proficiency)
5 2 units (SPANISH 2LT) None (see language proficiency)
Statistics, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 4, 5 1 unit (STAT 210-0) 1 unit, EDR
Statistics, for exams taken in 2020 4 1 unit (STAT 1XX) 1 unit, EDR
5 1 unit (STAT 210-0) 1 unit, EDR

 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credits

NOTE: The following list is not exhaustive. Northwestern grants credit for sufficiently high scores on most HL (Higher Level) IB exams. Northwestern does not grant credit for any SL (Standard Level) IB exams.

IB credit table for 2023-2024
International Baccalaureate higher level examination Score Northwestern credit Foundational Discipline credit
(see note below)
Arts (visual) 6, 7 1 unit (ART 2XX) None
Biology 6, 7 1 unit (BIOL_SCI 1XX) None
Chemistry 5, 6 1 unit (CHEM 1X0) 1 unit, NS
7 3.68 units (CHEM 1X0, 1X1, 1X2, and lab courses 11X, 12X) 1 unit, NS
Computer Science 5,6,7 1 unit (COMP_SCI 150-0) 1 unit, EDR
Dance 6, 7 1 unit (DANCE 1XX) None
Economics 6, 7 2 units (ECON 201-0, 202-0) 1 unit, SBS
Film 6, 7 1 unit (RTVF 1XX) None
Geography 6, 7 1 unit (GEOG 1XX) None
History (Americas) 6, 7 2 units (HISTORY 2AM) None
History (European) 6, 7 2 units (HISTORY 2EU) None
History (Asia and Oceania, or Africa and Middle East) 6, 7 2 units (HISTORY 2XX) None
Language A - English Literature 6, 7 2 units (ENGLISH 1LT) None
Language A - English Language and Literature 6, 7 2 units (ENGLISH 1LC) None

Language A - Literature (all languages other than English)

6 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language None
7 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language None
Language A - Literature & Language (all languages other than English) 6 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language None
7 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language None
Language B (no credit if the language is English) 6 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language None
7 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language None
Language - Classical (Latin or Classical Greek) 6 1 unit of 1XX in the relevant language None
7 2 units of 1XX in the relevant language None
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, or Applications and Interpretation 6 1 unit (MATH 2XX) 1 unit, EDR
7 2 units (MATH 2XX) 1 unit, EDR
Mathematics (test 2020 or earlier) 6, 7 1 unit (MATH 220-1)* 1 unit, EDR
Further Mathematics (test 2020 or earlier) 6, 7 4 units (MATH 220-1,2; MATH 226-0; STAT 210-0) 1 unit, EDR
Philosophy 7 1 unit (PHIL 1XX) 1 unit, EET
Physics 6, 7 2.68 units (PHYSICS 130-1,2 and lab courses 13X-1,2) 1 unit, NS
Politics (Global) 6, 7 1 unit (POLI_SCI 2XX) 1 unit, SBS
Psychology 6, 7 1 unit (PSYCH 110-0) 1 unit, SBS
Theatre 6, 7 1 unit (THEATRE 1XX)** None

*A student who earns a score of 6 or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL examination may be eligible for additional credit if their examination includes the Calculus Option (credit for MATH 220-2 and MATH 226-0) or the Statistics and Probability option (credit for STAT 210-0). To apply for additional credit, the student must have their high school IB Diploma Programme Coordinator submit a copy of the student's IB Registration Summary to the Office of the Registrar.

**Credit recognized by both the Department of Theatre and the Department of Performance Studies. Questions can be directed to the School of Communication.

Note: If you have taken an exam not listed here (British A-Levels, for example) and wish to have it considered for academic credit, send the International Test Credit Evaluation Request form and a copy of your score report to wcas-forms@northwestern.edu. Such credit is not applicable to the foundational disciplines but might still count towards the degree program of your school.

Using AP and IB credits

Foundational Discipline Requirements

You can complete up to two of the twelve foundational discipline credits through AP or IB credits. These two credits must be applied in two different foundational areas. Also, a test-based credit may not be paired with a course completed with a grade of P to complete a foundational area. The tables above show in which area (if any) a credit can count.

Placement in language and other sequences

Credits earned through AP and IB can provide you with placement in various course sequences, but you may in addition need to take a placement exam in order to verify where you should start. You will need to consult the placement information on the department or program website to find out whether you need a placement exam.

AP credit in a language other than English can be used to demonstrate Language Proficiency in some cases, or for placement in a course beyond the beginning level. Consult the language proficiency chart for specifics. In some cases, even if you have an AP score you may still need a placement exam. Information about language placement is generally available on the department or program website, Purple Prep, and through the Council on Language Instruction.

Course Equivalents 

If your score gives you credit for a specific course number (e.g., ECON 201-0), you are considered to have completed the equivalent of that course and if you take the course at Northwestern you lose the credit. If the table indicates you get credit for 1XX or 2XX, that means you have earned a generic 100- or 200-level credit in that subject. Consult the relevant academic department or program about whether generic credits can be used to place out of introductory-level courses. 

Graduation Requirements 

AP and IB credits generally count toward the 45 units of credit needed for a Weinberg degree, even if they are not being counted toward general requirements for majors or minors, etc. There is no cap on the number of credits a student may earn via AP and IB tests, but these credits do not count toward Northwestern's Undergraduate Registration Requirement (URR), which specifies how many quarters must be spent at Northwestern and how many units of credit must be earned through NU courses. No matter how many AP or IB credits you have on your transcript, you must still be registered at Northwestern for the required number of quarters and earn the required number of units at the University.

Consult our information about AP/IB credits and the relevant departments for more information.