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Northwestern University

Suggested Follow-Up Courses

AP tests and course suggestions

If you are considering further study in the fields below, review the broad course suggestions in the final column.

300-level courses in some departments may be appropriate starting points for interested, well-prepared students with AP credit.

Remember, the department will always be the best source of information for your individual registration plans.

Exam Score Suggested Next Step
African American Studies 5 Any 200-level African American Studies course.
Art History 5 Any 200-level Art History course.
Art (including 2-D, 3-D and Drawing) 5 Art 210, 220, 230, 240, 250
Biology 5 For premeds or Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 in Spring first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course.
Chemistry 4, 5 All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam.
Chinese Language and Culture 4, 5 Department exam determines placement and completion of Language Requirement.
Computer Science A   4, 5 A score of 4 or 5 on AP CS A gives credit for Comp Sci 150. This does *not* mean that students should skip Comp Sci 111. All students should start in Comp Sci 111.
Computer Science Principles 4, 5 AP CS Principles does not count toward the CS major or minor or as a prerequisite to any NU CS course. All students should start in Comp Sci 111 (or alternatively Comp Sci 110 if they do not plan to major in CS).
Economics-Macro 5 Econ 202. If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern). 
Economics-Micro 5 Econ 201If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern).  
English (Language) 5 Any 200-level English literature course.
English (Literature) 5 Any 200-level English literature course.
Environmental Science 5 Any 200-level Env Sci course; other prereqs apply.
French Language and Culture 5 Language Requirement is complete. Take placement exam to determine next course.
Geography (Human) 5 Any 200-level Geography course.
German Language and Culture 4, 5 Take placement exam to determine Language Requirement and next course.
Government and Politics (American) 5 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major, you can Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 220 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.
Government and Politics (Comparative) 5 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 250 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.
History (European) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
History (U.S.) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
History (World) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
Italian Language and Culture 4, 5 Language Requirement complete. Consult dept. to discuss course options.
Japanese Language and Culture 4, 5 Department exam determines placement and completion of Language Requirement.
Latin 4 Latin 201-3 (spring only).
5 Language Requirement complete. Latin 310.
Mathematics (Calculus) AB, or the AB subscore of Calculus BC

1-3

Math 220-1; possibly Math 218-1 after consultation with a departmental adviser. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

4 Math 220-2. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.
5 Math 228-1, 230-1, 290-1;  possibly Math 226-0 or 291-1. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.
Mathematics (Calculus) BC 1-3 See AP Subscore of Mathematics AB.
4, 5

Math 228-1, 230-1, or Math 290-1; possibly Math 291-1. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

Music Theory 5 Consult department.
Physics 1 5 Physics 130-2
Physics 2 5 Physics 130-3
Physics C (Mechanics) 5 Physics 135-2. Students who took the AP exam in Spring 2020 should consult with the Physics department about next steps.
Physics C (E&M) 5 Physics 135-1 (if not receiving AP credit) or 135-3. Exception: Students who took the AP exam in Spring 2020 should consult with the Department of Physics and Astronomy about next steps.
Psychology 5 Any 200-level psychology course other than Psych 205.  Psych 313 is also an option.  First-year students may NOT take Psych 205 in Fall quarter.
Spanish Language 3 Spanish 125 or 127.
4 Language Requirement complete. Spanish 200 or 201.
5 Language Requirement complete. Spanish 204.
Statistics 4, 5 Stat 201-0 or Stat 232-1 (Math 220-1 is prerequisite) or Stat 320-1 (co-requisites Math 226-0 & Math 230-2).

IB tests and course suggestions

Exam Score Suggested Next Step
Arts (visual) 6, 7
Art 210, 220, 230, 240, 250
Biology 6, 7
For premeds for Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 in Spring of first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course.
Chemistry 5, 6, 7
All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam.
Computer Science 5, 6, 7 Comp Sci 111.
Economics 6, 7

Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern).

Geography

6, 7 Any 200-level Geography course.

History (European, American, Asia and Oceania, or Africa and Middle East

6, 7 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in IB area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
Language A (English Literature or Language) 6, 7 Any 200-level English course.
Language A (all languages other than English - Literature or Language) 6, 7 Department placement test determines next course. 
Language B 

6, 7

Department placement test determines next course.

Mathematics

1-5

Math 220-1; possibly Math 218-1 after consultation with a departmental adviser. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

6-7

For IB HL without the calculus option: Math 220-2. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

6-7

For IB HL with the calculus option: Math 228-1, 230-1, 290-1, or 291-1; consult department for more information. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

Physics

6, 7 Physics 130-3.

Politics (Global)

6, 7 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 240 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.

Psychology

6, 7 Any 200-level psychology course other than Psych 205.  Psych 313 is also an option.  First-year students may NOT take Psych 205 in Fall quarter.
NOTE: Students with IB scores of 5, 6, 7 in Hindi and Urdu have completed the Language Requirement. Consult the Asian Languages and Cultures website for details. Back to top