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Suggested Follow-Up Courses

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.

AP tests and recommended courses
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 recommended courses
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.