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 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/Test | Score | Award 2 | Liberal Education Award 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Art History | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Art History 1001 (Introduction to the History of Art) | Arts/Humanities core requirement, Global Perspectives theme |
Biology | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Biology 1009 (General Biology) | Biological Science/Lab requirement |
Calculus AB | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Math 1271 (Calculus I) | Mathematical Thinking core requirement |
Calculus BC | 1,2 and AB subscore of 3,4,5 | 4 Credits in Math 1271 | Mathematical Thinking core requirement |
3 | 4 credits in Math 1271 | Mathematical Thinking core requirement | |
4,5 | 8 credits in Math 1271, 1272 (Calculus I-II) | Mathematical Thinking core requirement | |
Chemistry | 4 | 4 credits in Chemistry 1061, 1065 (Chemical Principles I with Lab) | Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme |
5 | 8 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 A | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Computer Science 1103 | |
Computer Science Principles | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Computer Science 1001 | Mathematical Thinking core requirement and Technology and Society theme |
Economics-Micro | 4,5 | 4 credits in Econ 1101 (Principles of Microeconomics) | Social Science core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Global Perspectives theme |
Economics-Macro | 4,5 | 4 credits in Econ 1102 (Principles of Macroeconomics) | Social Science core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Global Perspectives theme |
English Language and Composition | 4,5 | 4 credits in Writing 1301 (University Writing) | Freshman Writing requirement |
English Literature and Composition | 4,5 | 4 credits in Writing 1301 (University Writing) and 3 credits in English Lit 19993 | Freshman Writing requirement and Literature core requirement |
Environmental Science | 3,4,5 | 3 credits in ESPM 1011 | The Environment theme |
French Language | No credit automatically granted | ||
French Literature | 3,4,5 | 3 credits in French 3099 | Literature core requirement |
Geography - Human | 3,4,5 | 4 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 - American | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Political Science 1001 (American Democracy in Changing World) | Social Science core requirement |
Government & Politics - Comparative | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Political Science 1054 (Puzzles in World Politics) | Social Science core requirement and Global Perspectives theme |
History-European | 3,4,5 | 3 credits in History 1031W & 1032W | Historical Perspectives core requirement and Global Perspectives theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement |
History-U.S. | 3,4,5 | 3 credits in History 1301W & 1302W | Historical Perspectives core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Race, Power, and Social Justice in the United States theme; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive Requirement |
History-World | 3,4,5 | 3 credits in History 19993 | Historical 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) | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Latin 31993 | |
Latin Literature | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Latin 31993 | |
Music Theory | 5 | 3 credits in Music 1001 (Fundamentals of Music) | Arts/Humanities core requirement |
Physics 1 | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Physics 1101 (Fundamental Physics I) | Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement |
Physics 2 | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Physics 1102 (Fundamental Physics II) | Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement |
Physics C (Mechanics) | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Physics 1301 (Introduction to Physics I) | Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement |
Physics C (Elec/Magnetism) | 3,4,5 | 4 credits in Physics 1302 (Introduction to Physics II) | Physical Science/Lab requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement |
Precalculus | No credit granted | ||
Psychology | 4,5 | 4 credits in Psychology 1001 (Introduction to Psychology) | Social Science core requirement |
Spanish Language | No credit automatically granted | ||
Spanish Literature | 4,5 | 3 credits in Spanish 3015 | Literature core requirement |
Statistics | 4,5 | 4 credits in Statistics 1001 (Introduction to the Ideas of Statistics) | Mathematical Thinking core requirement |
Studio Art (2D and 3D) | 4,5 | 3 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.
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/Test | Score | Award | Liberal Education Award |
---|---|---|---|
Art HL | 5-7 | 4 Credits in ARTS 1999 and 4 credits in ARTS 1001 | Arts/Humanities requirement |
Biology HL | 5-7 | 4 credits in Biology 1009 (General Biology) | Biological Sciences/lab requirement |
Business Management HL | 5-7 | 4 credits in MGMT 1999 | No Liberal Education requirement awarded |
Chemistry HL | 5-7 | 3 credits in CHEM 1061, 3 credits in CHEM 1062, 1 credit in CHEM Lab 1065, and 1 credit in CHEM Lab 1066 | Physical Sciences/lab requirement |
Computer Science HL | 5-7 | 4 credits in CSCI 1103 and 4 credits in CSCI 1999 | No Liberal Education requirement awarded |
Economics HL | 5-7 | 4 credits in ECON 1101 and 4 credits in ECON 1102 | 2 Social Sciences core requirements |
English Language & Literature HL | 5-7 | 4 credits WRIT 1301 and 4 credits in ENGL 1999 | Literature requirement & First-year Writing requirement |
English A Literature HL | 5-7 | 8 credits in ENGL 1999 | Literature requirement |
History HL | 5-7 | 8 credits in HIST 1999 | Historical Perspectives requirement & Global Perspectives requirement |
Information Global Technology HL | 5-7 | 4 credits in CSCI 1001 | No Liberal Education requirement awarded |
Math HL Applications & Interpretation | 5-7 | 4 credits in MATH 1271 and 4 credits in STAT 3011 | Mathematical Thinking requirement |
Math HL Analysis & Approaches | 5-7 | 4 credits in MATH 1271 and 4 credits in MATH 1272 | Mathematical Thinking requirement |
Physics HL | 5-7 | 4 credits PHYS 1301 and 4 credits in PHYS 1302 | Physical Sciences/lab requirement |
Psychology HL | 5-7 | 4 credits PSY 1001 and PSY 1999 | Social Sciences requirement |
Other Subjects HL | 5-7 | Contact the Office of Admissions | Contact 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 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).
Subject | Score | Award | Liberal Education Award |
---|---|---|---|
Accounting | A, B, or C | ACCT 2050 (4 credits) & ACCT 3001 (3 credits) | No Liberal Education Award |
Art & Design | A, B, or C | ARTS 1101 (4 credits) & ARTS 1102 (4 credits) | Arts and Humanities core requirement |
Biology | A, B, or C | BIOL 1009 (4 credits) | Biological Sciences /Lab core requirement |
Chemistry | A or B | CHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits) & CHEM 2301, 2302, & 2311 (9 credits) | Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement |
C | CHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits) & CHEM 2301 (3 credits) | Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement | |
D or E | CHEM 1061, 1062, 1065 & 1066 (8 credits) | Physical Science/ Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Environment theme requirement | |
Computer Science | A, B, or C | CSCI 1999 (8 credits) | No Liberal Education Award |
Economics | A, B, or C | ECON 1101 (4 credits) & ECON 1102 (4 credits) | Social Science core requirement & Global Perspective theme requirement |
English Language | A, B, or C | ENGL 1001 (4 credits) & ENGL 1999 (3 credits) | No Liberal Education Award |
Geography | A, B, or C | GEOG 1999 (4 credits) | No Liberal Education Award |
Information Technology | A, B, or C | CSCI 1999 (4 credits) | No Liberal Education Award |
Literature in English | A, B, or C | ENGL 1999A (4 credits) & ENGL 1999B (4 credits) | Literature core requirement |
Mathematics | A, B, or C | MATH 1271 (4 credits) & MATH 1272 (4 credits) | Mathematical Thinking core requirement |
Mathematics, Further | A, B, or C | MATH 2142 (4 credits) | Mathematical Thinking core requirement |
Music | A, B, or C | MUS 1021 | Arts and Humanities core requirement |
Physics | A, B, or C | PHYS 1301, 1302 & 2303 (12 credits) | Physical Science/Lab core requirement; Does NOT fulfill Writing Intensive requirement |
Psychology | A, B, or C | PSY 1001 (4 credits) & PSY 1999 (4 credits) | Social Science core requirement |
Information is current as of September 2023