Transferring Credit

Students who receive high marks on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A-Level exams can submit their scores to earn college credit at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement Course Awards

For Fall 2024 Transfer or Freshman, and Spring 2024 Transfer Students

The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers you the chance to begin college-level studies while you are in high school. Through AP, you can get a jump start on your U of M education.

Many high schools offer college-level classes through the Advanced Placement (AP) program. You may also prepare for an AP exam through individual study. AP exams are graded on a five-point scale. If you have scored a three or higher, you may be able to be awarded credits at the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota's Advanced Placement practices—including scores accepted, credits awarded, and requirements fulfilled—are subject to change1. Because the University is focused on ensuring that entering students are prepared for the rigor of college-level coursework, academic advisers may recommend that students with Advanced Placement credits still register for certain introductory University of Minnesota courses to ensure success in subsequent college courses that build upon that knowledge.

Furthermore, you can use credit awarded for your Advanced Placement exams to fulfill liberal education requirements at the University of Minnesota. However, regardless of AP credit awards, students should take the placement exams assigned on their New Student Checklist. Liberal education requirements are courses or categories of courses that all college students must complete for graduation from the U of M. (Note: These requirements should not be confused with high school preparation requirements, which are required for admission to the U of M, although AP courses can also satisfy high school preparation requirements.) See the chart below for details.

Area/TestScoreAward 2Liberal Education Award 2
Art History3,4,54 credits in Art History 1001 (Introduction to the History of Art)Arts/Humanities core requirement, Global Perspectives theme
Biology3,4,54 credits in Biology 1009 (General Biology)Biological Science/Lab requirement
Calculus AB3,4,54 credits in Math 1271 (Calculus I)Mathematical Thinking core requirement
Calculus BC1,2 and AB subscore of 3,4,54 Credits in Math 1271Mathematical Thinking core requirement
 34 credits in Math 1271Mathematical Thinking core requirement
 4,58 credits in Math 1271, 1272 (Calculus I-II)Mathematical Thinking core requirement
Chemistry44 credits in Chemistry 1061, 1065 (Chemical Principles I with Lab)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme
 58 credits in Chemistry 1061, 1062, 1065, 1066 (Chemical Principles I and II with Lab)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme
Chinese Language and Culture No credit granted 
Computer Science A3,4,54 credits in Computer Science 1103 
Computer Science Principles3,4,54 credits in Computer Science 1001Mathematical Thinking core requirement and Technology and Society theme
Economics-Micro4,54 credits in Econ 1101 (Principles of Microeconomics)Social Science core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Global Perspectives theme
Economics-Macro4,54 credits in Econ 1102 (Principles of Macroeconomics)Social Science core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Global Perspectives theme
English Language and Composition4,54 credits in Writing 1301 (University Writing)Freshman Writing requirement
English Literature and Composition4,54 credits in Writing 1301 (University Writing) and 3 credits in English Lit 19993Freshman Writing requirement and Literature core requirement
Environmental Science3,4,53 credits in ESPM 1011The Environment theme
French Language No credit automatically granted 
French Literature3,4,53 credits in French 3099Literature core requirement
Geography - Human3,4,54 credits in Geog 1301 (Intro to Human Geography)Social Science core requirement and Global Perspectives theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement
German Language No credit automatically granted 
Government & Politics - American3,4,54 credits in Political Science 1001 (American Democracy in Changing World)Social Science core requirement
Government & Politics - Comparative3,4,54 credits in Political Science 1054 (Puzzles in World Politics)Social Science core requirement and Global Perspectives theme
History-European3,4,53 credits in History 1031W & 1032WHistorical Perspectives core requirement and Global Perspectives theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement
History-U.S.3,4,53 credits in History 1301W & 1302WHistorical Perspectives core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Race, Power, and Social Justice in the United States theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement
History-World3,4,53 credits in History 19993Historical Perspectives core requirement and Global Perspectives theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement
Italian Language and Culture No credit granted 
Japanese Language and Culture No credit granted 
Latin (Vergil)3,4,54 credits in Latin 31993 
Latin Literature3,4,54 credits in Latin 31993 
Music Theory53 credits in Music 1001 (Fundamentals of Music)Arts/Humanities core requirement
Physics 13,4,54 credits in Physics 1101 (Fundamental Physics I)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement
Physics 23,4,54 credits in Physics 1102 (Fundamental Physics II)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement
Physics C (Mechanics)3,4,54 credits in Physics 1301 (Introduction to Physics I)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement
Physics C (Elec/Magnetism)3,4,54 credits in Physics 1302 (Introduction to Physics II)Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement
Precalculus No credit granted 
Psychology4,54 credits in Psychology 1001 (Introduction to Psychology)Social Science core requirement
Spanish Language No credit automatically granted 
Spanish Literature4,53 credits in Spanish 3015Literature core requirement
Statistics4,54 credits in Statistics 1001 (Introduction to the Ideas of Statistics)Mathematical Thinking core requirement
Studio Art (2D and 3D)4,53 elective credits 

Information is current as of February 1, 2023.

1 Credit for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and CLEP exams is awarded based on a student's first term of enrollment in a degree-seeking program on the Twin Cities campus. The credits listed below are the projected awards for the incoming Fall 2022 Freshman and Transfer classes as well as the Spring 2022 Transfer class. Any changes to the awards will be updated no later than January 31.

2 Students will be granted course credit plus credits toward fulfillment of the University's liberal education requirements for graduation as indicated.

3 Course numbers 1999 and 3099 indicate blanket credit in the subject matter area at the freshman-sophomore and junior-senior levels respectively; other numbers are those of specific courses for which students may be granted credit.


For more information about Advanced Placement and the University of Minnesota, contact the Office of Admissions. 

Register for an Advanced Placement exam.

Fall 2023, Spring 2023 Advanced Placement Course Awards.

International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate Course Awards

Some high schools offer courses through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities offers students who earn qualifying scores in (IB) subjects a head start on their University education.

Students in IB programs may receive up to eight semester credits at the University of Minnesota for each higher-level (HL) subject passed with a grade of five or higher. Specific credit awards for each higher-level (HL) subject are outlined below.

We encourage IB students to earn the full IB diploma.

  • Those who earn the full IB diploma with 30 or more diploma points may receive up to eight semester credits for each higher level (HL) subject with grades of five or higher and
  • IB students may receive up to two semester credits for some standard level subjects with grades of five or higher.*

The University of Minnesota's IB practices—including scores accepted, credits awarded, and requirements fulfilled—are subject to change.

Area/TestScoreAwardLiberal Education Award
Art HL5-74 Credits in ARTS 1999 and 4 credits in ARTS 1001Arts/Humanities requirement
Biology HL5-74 credits in Biology 1009 (General Biology)Biological Sciences/lab requirement
Business Management HL5-74 credits in MGMT 1999No Liberal Education requirement awarded
Chemistry HL5-73 credits in CHEM 1061, 3 credits in CHEM 1062, 1 credit in CHEM Lab 1065, and 1 credit in CHEM Lab 1066Physical Sciences/lab requirement
Computer Science HL5-74 credits in CSCI 1103 and 4 credits in CSCI 1999No Liberal Education requirement awarded
Economics HL5-74 credits in ECON 1101 and 4 credits in ECON 11022 Social Sciences core requirements
English Language & Literature HL5-74 credits WRIT 1301 and 4 credits in ENGL 1999Literature requirement & First-year Writing requirement
English A Literature HL5-78 credits in ENGL 1999Literature requirement
History HL5-78 credits in HIST 1999Historical Perspectives requirement & Global Perspectives requirement
Information Global Technology HL5-74 credits in CSCI 1001No Liberal Education requirement awarded
Math HL Applications & Interpretation5-74 credits in MATH 1271 and 4 credits in STAT 3011Mathematical Thinking requirement
Math HL Analysis & Approaches5-74 credits in MATH 1271 and 4 credits in MATH 1272Mathematical Thinking requirement
Physics HL5-74 credits PHYS 1301 and 4 credits in PHYS 1302Physical Sciences/lab requirement
Psychology HL5-74 credits PSY 1001 and PSY 1999Social Sciences requirement
Other Subjects HL5-7Contact the Office of AdmissionsContact the Office of Admissions

Information is current as of September 2024

*SL credit is granted ONLY if a student completes a full IB diploma of 30 points or more. No credit is awarded for SL classes alone. SL credit is granted for these courses: biology (2), chemistry (4), computer science (2), economics (2), English languages and literature (2), English literature (2), film studies, (2), geography (4), history (2), information technology (4), literature and performance (2), and psychology (2). No credit is granted for SL math or math studies.

Course numbers 1999 indicate blanket credit in the subject matter area at the freshman-sophomore level; other numbers are those of specific courses for which students may be granted credit.

Transfer credit for IB second language courses, HL or SL, is not awarded. For information on how to earn credit for second language courses at the University of Minnesota, go to LangTest.umn.edu, send an email to [email protected], or call 612-624-0862.

For more information about International Baccalaureate and the University of Minnesota, contact the Office of Admissions.

A-Level

A-Level Course Awards

The General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) is offered as a school leaving qualification in certain systems that follow a British-patterned curriculum. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities awards transfer credit for students who earn qualifying scores in A-Level subject towards their University education.

In order to conduct an evaluation of credit for A-Level exam results, an official copy of the A-Level exam certificate issued by the examination board must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Find the submission instructions at our Secondary School Sample Document page.

The maximum amount of credits students may receive for one subject is dependent upon the A-Level subject and grade obtained on the exam. Please note that additional placement tests may be required depending on the degree program. For instance, students may earn credit for second language A-Levels they have completed. However, students still may be required to take the second language entrance proficiency or placement test if they do not satisfy the two year language requirement, or if they wish to continue study in that language.

Note: The University of Minnesota Twin Cities currently does not award credit for A-Levels from Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

SubjectScoreAwardLiberal Education Award
AccountingA, B, or CACCT 2050 (4 credits) & ACCT 3001 (3 credits)No Liberal Education Award
Art & DesignA, B, or CARTS 1101 (4 credits) & ARTS 1102 (4 credits)Arts and Humanities core requirement
BiologyA, B, or CBIOL 1009 (4 credits)Biological Sciences /Lab core requirement
ChemistryA or BCHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits) & CHEM 2301, 2302, & 2311 (9 credits)Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement
CCHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits) & CHEM 2301 (3 credits)Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement
D or ECHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits)Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement
Computer ScienceA, B, or CCSCI 1999 (8 credits)No Liberal Education Award
EconomicsA, B, or CECON 1101 (4 credits) & ECON 1102 (4 credits)Social Science core requirement & Global Perspective theme requirement
English LanguageA, B, or CENGL 1001 (4 credits) & ENGL 1999 (3 credits)No Liberal Education Award
GeographyA, B, or CGEOG 1999 (4 credits)No Liberal Education Award
Information TechnologyA, B, or CCSCI 1999 (4 credits)No Liberal Education Award
Literature in EnglishA, B, or CENGL 1999A (4 credits) & ENGL 1999B (4 credits)Literature core requirement
MathematicsA, B, or CMATH 1271 (4 credits) & MATH 1272 (4 credits)Mathematical Thinking core requirement
Mathematics, FurtherA, B, or CMATH 2142 (4 credits)Mathematical Thinking core requirement
MusicA, B, or CMUS 1021Arts and Humanities core requirement
PhysicsA, B, or CPHYS 1301, 1302 & 2303 (12 credits)Physical Science/Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement
PsychologyA, B, or CPSY 1001 (4 credits) & PSY 1999 (4 credits)Social Science core requirement

Information is current as of September 2023