This guide lists the credit and/or placement awarded for exam scores taken
prior to Swarthmore matriculation.
As the guide indicates, credit and/or placement is available for American College
Board Advanced Placement Exams, the International Baccalaureate Exams, British
System Advanced Level Exams, and some other foreign university entrance exams
as approved by the registrar.
Swarthmore's CEEB number (our College Board number) is 2821.
There is no College-wide maximum limit to the amount of AP credit that can
be received.
Departmental policies subject to change. Last revised September 07, 2009.
| Program |
Score of AP or IB exam
|
Credit
Awarded |
Advanced Placement in Swarthmore
courses |
Comments |
| Art History |
5 - AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 |
|
Students who receive a 5 on the AP exam in art history will be granted one
unit of credit upon completion of an art history course in the department.
|
| Biology |
A - British A levels;
6 or 7 - Higher IB;
5 - AP |
1 |
Possible Adv. Placement for
Bio 010-050, with instructor's permission |
Credit awarded after completion
of 1 Swarthmore Bio course with lab (Bio 001, 002 or 010-050) |
| Chemistry |
5 - AP (taken Jr yr HS or later;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 |
No need to take Chemistry
Placement Exam |
No AP/IB credit if you take
Chem 001 or Chem 010. If continuing in Chem, take Chem 010H. |
| Classics |
5 - Latin AP (Vergil);
5 - Latin AP (Lat.Lit.);
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 credit for
5 on either or both exams |
Possible adv. placement with
lower score |
|
| Computer Science |
4 or 5 on either the 'A'
or 'AB' AP exam |
1
(maximum) |
Placement out of CS 21 for
5 on the "AB" AP exam |
Credit awarded after completion of 1 Swarthmore CS course. Students with less than a
5 on the 'AB' exam are encouraged to discuss placement with any CS faculty
member. |
| Economics |
5 - AP
Macro AND Micro;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
none |
Option to place out of Econ
001 |
If option is used, must take
another Econ course before taking Econ 011 or 021. |
| Educational Studies |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
| Engineering |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Prior college-level work
may be awarded credit by individual application, not as matter of policy
|
| English Language & Composition
|
4 or 5 - AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 |
No exemptions from Dept.
prerequisites |
Does not count toward English
Major or Minor |
| English Literature & Composition
|
4 or 5 - AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 |
No exemptions from Dept.
prerequisites |
May count toward ENGL Major or Minor
|
| Environmental Studies |
5 - AP Envir Sci exam |
1 |
Credit does not satisfy divisional distribution requirements. |
Must complete 1 course that
satisfies ENVS program (not an "adjunct" course) |
| History (US, European, World)
|
4 or 5 - AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 for each
exam
(2 maximum) |
Possible placement in advanced
courses, with instructor's permission. |
Must pass with straight C or better one Hist course
(001-011) for first AP/IB credit; must pass with straight C or better any other Hist course for
2nd credit. |
| Linguistics |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
| Mathematics |
5 - AP Calculus BC exam |
2 |
|
Equals Math 015, 025
|
| " |
5 - AP Calculus (AB, or AB-subscore);
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1.5 |
|
Equals Math 015, the first
half of 025, and placement into 026 |
| " |
4 - AP Calculus (BC or AB,
or AB-subscore);
5 - Higher IB |
1 |
|
Equals Math 015 |
| " |
Dept. Calculus placement
exam |
-- |
Possible adv. placement up
to two semesters |
|
| Modern Languages and Literatures
|
4 or 5 - AP or 6 or 7 - IB in
Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
|
1
(maximum 1 per language) |
|
After completing a one credit
course in that language at the College |
| Music Theory |
-- |
-- |
Possible adv. placement |
|
| Philosophy |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
| Physics |
5 Mechan C -AP |
1 |
Possible adv. placement |
Equals Physics 003 if you
pass a representative Physics 003 test administered
by the department |
| " |
5 Electr/Mag C-AP |
1 |
Possible adv. placement |
Equals Physics 004 if you
pass a representative Physics 004 test administered
by the department |
| " |
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
2 |
Possible adv. placement |
Equals Physics 003 &
004 if you pass a representative Physics
003 and 004 tests administered by the department |
| Political Science |
5 AP (either US Govt &
Polit or Compar Govt & Polit, but not both) |
1
(maximum) |
-- |
Majors are still urged to
take 2 intro courses as prereq for advanced work |
| Psychology |
5 AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
No credit
|
Possible placement out of
Intro Psychology |
For exemption from Psyc 001,
consult Dept. for guidance and admission to suitable first Psyc course. |
| Religion |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
| Soc / Anth |
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
-- |
-- |
Considered on a case by case
basis. |
| Statistics |
4 or 5 - AP |
1 |
|
Equals Statistics 011 |
| Studio Art |
5 - AP;
6 or 7 - Higher IB |
1 |
|
May waive STUA 001 with presentation
of portfolio |
| Theater |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
