Advanced Placement Credit: College and Major Credit

Advanced Placement Credit: College and Major Credit

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit policies at the University of California San Diego detail how students can earn college credit for AP exams. Scoring 3 or higher on most AP tests grants students units that may fulfill major prerequisites, general education requirements, or elective credits. The guide includes specific information on AP subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, and Calculus, outlining the number of units awarded and the corresponding courses. Ideal for high school students aiming to maximize their college credit before enrollment, this resource is essential for understanding AP credit transfer policies.

Key Points

  • Details AP credit policies for UC San Diego, including unit awards for various subjects.
  • Outlines specific AP exams like Biology, Chemistry, and Calculus with corresponding college course credits.
  • Explains how AP scores can fulfill major prerequisites and general education requirements.
  • Provides insights on the maximum credit limits for overlapping AP exams and college courses.
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  • newtopiccyclegrowin
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Updated 7/30/25
The University of California San Diego grants credit for most College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Tests on which a student scores 3 or higher. The credit may be subject credit
for use on prerequisites to a major, credit for general education requirements, or elective units for graduation. The number of units granted for AP tests are not counted toward the
maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of an undergraduate major. College courses taken before or after attending UC might duplicate AP exams. Additionally,
exams might duplicate each other (for example, an AP or IB exam in the same subject area). If the student does duplicate an exam with another exam of the same subject content,
and/or an exam with a college course, credit will be awarded only once. Credit and placement listed is based on 2024-2025 exams. AP Credit is subject to change.
Exam Units
Score Exemptions (For Use on Major) Revelle College Requirement
African American
Studies
4 3, 4, or 5 None
1 course for social science requirement
Art History
8
3, 4, or 5
None
Fulfills fine arts requirement
Art (Studio)
*Drawing
*2D Art and Design
*3D Art and Design
8
3, 4, or 5
None
Fulfills fine arts requirement
*8-unit maximum for all tests
Biology
8
3 Credit for BILD 10; may take BILD 1, 2, 3
1 course for Biology requirement, and 1 additional
course for Natural Science requirement
4 or 5 Credit for BILD 1, 2 and 3
1 course for Biology requirement, and 2 additional
courses for Natural Science requirement
Chemistry
8
3
Credit for CHEM 4, may take CHEM 6A or 6AH
1 course for Chemistry requirement, and 1
additional course for Natural Science requirement
4
Credit for CHEM 6A; may take 6B or 6AH
5
Credit for CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C; CHEM 6AH, 6BH, 6CH
encouraged for those continuing in chemistry or for
professional schools
1 course for Chemistry requirement, and 2
additional courses for Natural Science
requirement
Computer
Science
A (Java
Programming)
8
3
None
Elective units
4 or 5
Credit for CSE 8A; should take CSE 11
Principles 8
3
None
4 or 5
Credit for CSE 3
Economics
Micro and/or Macro
4 each
3 or 4
None
Each score of 3, 4, or 5 meets 1 course of
social science requirement
Microeconomics
4
5
Credit for ECON 1
Macroeconomics
4
5
Credit for ECON 3
English
*Composition & Literature
8
3, 4, or 5
Meets the Entry Level Writing Requirement
Elective units and clears Entry Level Writing
Requirement. *8-unit maximum for both tests
*Language & Composition
8
3, 4, or 5
Environmental
Science
4
3
None
Elective units
4
4 or 5
Credit for ESYS 10
One course for natural science requirement
Government &
Politics
United States 4
3, 4, or 5
Satisfies American History and Institutions
1 course for social science requirement
5
Credit for POLI 10
Comparative 4
3 or 4
None
1 course for social science requirement
5
Credit for POLI 11
History
United States
8
3, 4, or 5
Credit for 2 quarters U.S. History; may take HILD
2A, 2B or 2C. Satisfies American History and
Institutions.
Fulfills social science requirement
European
8
3, 4, or 5
None Elective units
World
8
3, 4, or 5
Human Geography
4
3, 4, or 5
None
Elective units
Language other
than English
Chinese
8
3
Consult Chinese Studies
Petition for proficiency if placement by Chinese
Studies Department is above CHIN 20A
4 or 5
Consult Chinese Studies
Meets language proficiency requirement
French
8
3
Credit for LIFR 1C/1CX
Enroll in LIFR 1D/DX or LTFR 2A for proficiency
4
Credit for LIFR 1D/1DX or LTFR 2A
Meets language proficiency requirement
5
Credit for LTFR 2B
German
8
3
Credit for LIGM 1C/1CX
Enroll in LIGM 1D/DX or LTGM 2A for proficiency
4
Credit for LIGM 1D/1DX or LTGM 2A
Meets language proficiency requirement
5
Credit for LTGM 2B
Italian
8
3
Credit for LIIT 1C/1CX
Enroll in LIIT 1D/DX or LTIT 2A for proficiency
4
Credit for LIIT 1D/1DX or LTIT 2A
Meets language proficiency requirement
5
Credit for LTIT 2B
Japanese 8
3
Consult Japanese Studies
Elective units only
4 or 5
Consult Japanese Studies
Meets language proficiency requirement
Spanish
8
3 Credit for LISP 1C/1CX
Enroll in LISP 1D/DX, LTSP 2A, or LTSP 2F for
proficiency
4
Credit for LISP 1D/1DX or LTSP 2A
Meets language proficiency requirement
5
Credit for LTSP 2B
Latin
Virgil
4
3, 4, or 5 Credit for LTLA 1, 2, 3
Elective units. Usually prepares student to take
LTLA 100 to meet language proficiency.
Literature
4
Literature
Spanish
8
3
Credit for LISP 1D/DX or LTSP 2A
Meets language proficiency
requirement
4
Credit for LTSP 2B
5
Credit for LTSP 2C
Mathematics
*Calculus AB 4
3
Credit for MATH 10A
AB exam = 1 course for math requirement
4 or 5
Credit for MATH 20A or 10A
*Calculus BC
8
3
Credit for MATH 20A or 10A, and MATH 10B
BC exam = 2 courses for math requirement
*8-unit maximum for both tests
4 or 5
Credit for MATH 20A and 20B - or MATH 10A and
10B
Music
Theory
8
3, 4, or 5
None
Fulfills fine arts requirement
Physics
*Physics 1 or 2 8 3, 4, or 5 Credit for PHYS 10
1 course for Physics requirement and 1 course for
Natural Science requirement
*Physics C
Mechanics
4
3
Credit for PHYS 1A
Each 4 units of Physics C exams can meet 1 course
for the Physics or Natural Science requirement.
*8-unit maximum for all three tests
4 or 5
Credit for PHYS 1A or 2A
*Physics C Electricity &
Magnetism
4
3
Credit for PHYS 1B
4 or 5
Credit for PHYS 1B or 2B
Precalculus
0
3, 4, or 5
None
Math Placement Exam still needed for scores 1-3
Psychology
4
3
None
1 course for social science requirement
4 or 5
Credit for PSYC 1
Research
0
3, 4, or 5
Meets the Entry Level Writing Requirement
No units. Clears ELWR.
Seminar
0
3, 4, or 5
Meets the Entry Level Writing Requirement
No units. Clears ELWR.
Statistics
4
3, 4, or 5
None
1 course for math requirement
Advanced
Placement Credit: College and Major Credit
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End of Document
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FAQs of Advanced Placement Credit: College and Major Credit

What AP scores are needed for credit at UC San Diego?
At UC San Diego, students need to score 3 or higher on most Advanced Placement exams to earn college credit. For example, a score of 3 in AP Biology grants credit for BILD 10, while scores of 4 or 5 can provide credit for BILD 1, 2, and 3. Each subject has specific score requirements and corresponding college courses that students can take to fulfill their major or general education requirements.
How does AP Chemistry credit work at UC San Diego?
AP Chemistry scores at UC San Diego can earn students up to 8 units of credit. A score of 3 grants credit for CHEM 4, while scores of 4 or 5 provide credit for CHEM 6A, and students are encouraged to take CHEM 6B or 6AH if they plan to continue in chemistry. This structure allows students to fulfill both their Chemistry requirement and additional Natural Science requirements based on their AP scores.
What are the requirements for AP English credit at UC San Diego?
For AP English, both the Composition & Literature and Language & Composition exams can earn students up to 8 units of credit if they score 3 or higher. This credit meets the Entry Level Writing Requirement and can be used as elective units. Students are advised to check specific course requirements to ensure they meet their major's prerequisites.
Can AP exam credits overlap with college courses at UC San Diego?
Yes, at UC San Diego, if a student takes a college course that overlaps with an AP exam, credit will only be awarded once. For instance, if a student receives credit for an AP exam and later takes a college course in the same subject area, they will not receive additional credit for both. This policy helps maintain the integrity of the credit system and ensures students are not awarded duplicate credits.

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