AP/IB Credit in California Colleges

Last updated October 31, 2003


Pepperdine
Stanford
University of California:

University of Southern California


Pepperdine

Pepperdine grants up to 4 semester units per AP course. Languages require a score of 5 and all other subjects require a score of 3. Pepperdine grants 4 semester credits for each Higher Level IB courses with grades of 5 or better.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Test Credit


Stanford

The Stanford University Advanced Placement policy allows up to 10 units of credit per discipline for the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement examinations.

The International Baccalaureate Examination may be awarded a maximum of 10 units of credit per discipline for scores of 5, 6, or 7 in the Higher Level (English requires scores of 6 or 7). Subsidiary Level exams, Theory of Knowledge or General Paper do not warrant any units at Stanford University.

Advanced Placement


University of California: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) awards either a diploma or awards a certificate for individual IB exams. Students completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma with a score of 30 or above will receive 30 quarter units (20 semester units) total toward their UC undergraduate degree. The University grants 8 quarter units (51/3 semester units) for students who receive IB certificates on which a student scores 5, 6 or 7 in Higher Level exams. The exam credit for individual IB Higher Level certificates is listed in the box below. The University does not grant credit for Standard Level exams.

College Board Advanced Placement

The University grants credit for all College Board Advanced Placement Tests on which a student scores 3 or higher. The credit may be subject credit, graduation credit or credit toward general education or breadth requirements, as determined by evaluators at each campus.

Students should be encouraged to take AP tests when appropriate. AP test scores will not adversely affect a student's chances for admission.

The units granted for AP tests are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of an undergraduate major or the maximum number of units a student may accumulate prior to graduation from the University.

International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Test Credit


University of Southern California

USC awards unit credit for most AP examinations. A score of 3, 4, or 5 is required for credit at USC (see Computer Science for exceptions); scores of 1 or 2 receive no credit. A score of 4 or 5 is required to receive general education credit. Exams earn elective credit only; no course equivalencies are given. Departments may use results of AP examinations for placement purposes. A student's major department may use the results to waive degree requirements. A maximum of 32 units will be granted for AP exam credit. Credit evaluations indicating unit and GE credit will be issued by the Degree Progress Department for admitted students.

AP Credit Table

USC believes that students who undertake the IB are well prepared for the rigors of university academic life. The IB courses are factored into the evaluation for admission, with the grade point average adjusted to reflect the undertaking of this rigorous curriculum. USC grants 6 semester units of credit for each subject completed at the higher level with a grade of 5, 6 or 7. No credit is earned for subsidiary level exams. Currently, students may earn a maximum of 18 semester units through the IB program. Advanced Placement (AP) credit can be accumulated in addition to the IB for a maximum of 32 units. However, credit cannot be earned for AP and IB exams on the same topic.

IB Credit Table