AP / IB Credit Recognition for Students Entering September 2021 - August 2022
Important Note: Students entering may satisfy up to seven of the 10 distribution requirements through Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits.
Exam |
Score |
Course Credit Authorized |
Area the Credit Will Count |
| Art History | 5 | 1 unit (Art History 2xx) | 1 unit, Literature and Fine Arts |
| Studio Art | 5 | 1 unit (Art 2xx) | 1 unit, Elective |
| Biology | 5 | 1 unit (Biology 1xx) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Chemistry | 4 | 1 unit (Chem 1x0) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| 5 | 3.68 units (Chem 1x0, 1x1, 1x2, and lab courses 11x, 12x) | 2 units, Natural Sciences; 1.68 units Elective | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Chinese 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (Chinese 1LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Computer Science A | 4, 5 | 1 unit (COMP_SCI 150) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Computer Science Principles | 4, 5 | 1 unit (Comp Sci 1xx) | |
| Economics-Macro | 5 | 1 unit (Economics 201) | 1 unit concentration for HDC, LOC and SOC POL |
| Economics-Micro | 5 | 1 unit (Economics 202) | 1 unit concentration for HDC, LOC and SOC POL |
| English (Language) | 5 | 2 units (English 1LC) | 1 unit composition requirement for SEC TEACH; elective for HDC, LOC and Soc Pol |
| English (Literature) | 5 | 2 units (English 1LT) | 1 unit, Lit and Fine Arts; 1 unit elective |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 1 unit (Env Sci 1xx) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (French 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (French 2LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Geography (Human) | 5 | 1 unit (Geography 1xx) | 1 unit, Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (German 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (German 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective | |
| Government and Politics (American) | 5 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 2xx) | 1 unit, Soc Pol |
| Government and Politics (Comparative) | 5 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 2xx) | 1 unit, Soc Pol |
| History (European) | 5 | 2 units (History 2EU) | 2 units, History |
| History (U.S.) | 5 | 2 units (History 2US) | 2 units, History |
| History (World) | 5 | 2 units (History 2WL) | 2 units, History |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Italian 2LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (Italian 2LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Japanese 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (Japanese 2LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Latin | 4 | 1 unit (Latin 1LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (Latin 2LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Mathematics (Calculus) AB, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 | 4 | 1 unit (Math 220-1) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| 5 | 2 units (Math 220-1,2) | 2 units, Formal Studies | |
| Mathematics (Calculus) BC, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 | 4 | 2 units (Math 220-1,2) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| 5 | 3 units (Math 220-1,2 & Math 226) | 2 units, Formal Studies | |
| Music Theory | 5 | 1 unit (Gen Music 252) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Physics 1 | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 130-1 and lab course 13x-1) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Physics 2 | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 130-2 and lab course 13x-2) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Physics C-Mechanics | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 135-1 and lab course 136-1) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism), for exams taken in 2019 or prior year | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 135-2 and lab course 136-2) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism), for exams taken in 2020 | 5 | 1.34 units (Physics 1XX and 1XL) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Psychology | 5 | 1 unit (Psychology 110) | 1 unit, HDC or LOC |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Spanish 2LN) | 1 unit, Elective |
| 5 | 2 units (Spanish 2LN) | 2 units, Elective | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 1 unit (Spanish 2LT) | 1 unit, Lit and Fine Arts |
| 5 | 2 units (Spanish 2LT) | 1 unit, Lit and Fine Arts; 1 unit elective | |
| Statistics | 4 | 1 unit (Statistics 1xx) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Statistics | 5 | 1 unit (Statistics 202) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
Recognition for International Baccalaureate Testing
International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination |
Score |
Northwestern Credit |
Distribution Credit Authorized |
| Biology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Biology 1xx) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| Chemistry | 5, 6 | 1 unit (Chem 1x0) | 1 unit, Natural Sciences |
| 7 | 3.68 units (Chem 1x0, 1x1, 1x2, and lab courses 11x, 12x) | 2 units, Natural Sciences; 2 units elective | |
| Computer Science | 5, 6, 7 | 1 unit (COMP_SCI 110) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Economics | 6, 7 | 2 units (Econ 201, 202) | 2 units for concentration HDC, LOC, Soc Pol |
| English | 6, 7 | 2 units (English 1xx) | 1 unit Lit and Fine Arts for HDC, LOC and SOC POL; 1 unit communication for Sec Teach |
| Foreign Language (all languages) | 6 | 1 unit of 1xx in the relevant language | 1/3 of optional global engagement requirement |
| 7 | 2 units of 1xx in the relevant language | 2/3 of optional global engagement requirement | |
| Geography | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Geog 1xx) | 2 units, History |
| History (American) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2AM) | 2 units, History |
| History (European) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2EU) | 2 units, History |
| History (Asia and Oceania, or Africa & Middle East) | 6, 7 | 2 units (History 2xx) | 2 units, History |
| Mathematics | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Math 220-1) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Philosophy | 7 | 1 unit (Phil 1xx) | 1 unit, Ethics and Values |
| Physics | 6, 7 | 2.68 units (Physics 130-1,2 and lab courses 13x-1,2) | 2 units, Natural Sciences |
| Psychology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Psychology 110) | 1 unit, HDC or LOC |
*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.
Note: If you have taken an exam not listed here (British A-Levels, for example) and wish to discuss earning credit, send the International Test Credit Evaluation Request form and a copy of your score report to wcas-forms@northwestern.edu.