AP / IB Credit Recognition for Students Entering September 2022 - August 2023
AP credit and IB credit is administered through the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. If you have submitted your scores from the AP or IB exams you will receive notification of credit from WCAS and it will appear on your unofficial transcript on CAESAR. Advanced Standing credit is also administered through WCAS if you have completed college level coursework during your senior year in high school or the summer before you enter Northwestern. The Office of the Registrar evaluates transfer credits from other schools. Your adviser will determine how AP and IB credits will be applied to your degree.
In SESP, you may satisfy up to seven distribution requirements through AP or IB credits. one English (Literature only) AP credit may be applied toward the Literature and Arts distribution requirement. All other English AP credit will be considered elective credit.
You may not use AP credit or IB credit for core or concentration requirements except for: ECON 201 (Introduction to Macroeconomics), ECON 202 (Introduction to Microeconomics), PSYCH 110 (Introduction to Psychology), POLI SCI 220 (Introduction to American Government and Politics), and Statistics credit. If you are a Secondary Education student with AP or IB credit in your teaching subject area, consult with your adviser about how that credit may be applied to the concentration.
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, for exams taken either before or after calendar year 2020 | 4, 5 | 1 unit (Stat 210) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| Statistics, for exams taken in 2020 | 4 | 1 unit (Stat 1xx) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| 5 | 1 Unit (Stat 210) | 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: Analysis and Approaches, or Applications and Interpretation | 6 | 1 unit (Math 2xx) | 1 unit, Formal Studies |
| 7 | 2 units (Math 2xx) | 1 unit, Formal Studies | |
| Further Mathematics (test 2020 or earlier) | 6,7 | 4 units (Math 220-1,2; Math 226; Stat 210) | 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 |
| Politics (Global) | 6,7 | 1 unit (Poli Sci 240) | 1 unit, Soc_Pol or LOC |
| Psychology | 6, 7 | 1 unit (Psychology 110) | 1 unit, HDC, LOC, LRN_SCI, or Soc_Pol |
Important Note: Students entering may satisfy up to seven of the 10 distribution requirements through Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits.
*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.