AP Exam Credit at USC
Credit Summary
USC awards 4 semester units of elective credit for all AP examinations with a score of 4 or 5. Exams must be taken before matriculation at any two-year or four-year college. In addition to elective credit, select AP examinations with a score of 4 or 5 will satisfy a General Education or foreign language requirement, or they may be used on a case-by-case basis to waive select prerequisites and/or degree requirements. Please see below for more information.
Return to the general Exam Credit page for information on other types of exams.
Restrictions
- No credit is given for projected scores, partial scores or subscores, such as Calculus AB Subscore, Music: Aural Subscore, or Music: Nonaural Subscore.
- Four (4) semester units will be granted for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Capstone Seminar exam, but no credit is given for the AP Capstone Research exam.
- AP scores do not earn USC course equivalence.
- Students may not receive credit for both an AP exam (or IB or other international exam) and a college course taken before high school graduation covering the same subject matter, nor for an AP and IB exam covering the same subject matter.
- Students may receive a combined maximum of 32 elective units for college courses taken before high school graduation and/or examinations (e.g., AP, IB, or other international exams) taken before matriculation at a two-year or four-year college.
General Education
In addition to elective credit, select AP examinations will satisfy the following General Education requirements.
| GE-A: Arts | Art History |
| GE-D: Life Sciences | Biology |
| GE-E: Physical Sciences | Chemistry Physics 1 Physics 2 Physics B Physics (C– Electricity/Magnetism) Physics (C– Mechanics) |
| GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning | Calculus AB Calculus BC Macroeconomics Microeconomics Precalculus Statistics |
| GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations | African American Studies European History U.S. History World History |
Foreign Language
Scores of 4 or 5 on the following exams taken in spring 2007 or later will satisfy the third-level foreign language requirement, but do not earn USC course equivalence. (Students wishing to take a fourth-level foreign language course must take a placement exam.)
- Chinese Language and Culture
- French Language
- French Literature
- German Language
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language and Culture
- Spanish Language
- Spanish Literature
Waivers
Some departments may use AP scores of 4 or 5 to waive prerequisites or degree requirements as shown below. To receive a prerequisite waiver (to register for a higher-level class) with an AP score, contact the USC department that teaches the course. To get a degree requirement waived with an AP score, contact your major advisor.
| AP Exam | Prerequisite that can be waived | After prerequisite is waived… |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Either BISC 120 or BISC 220; see undergrad advisor in Biological Sciences. | See undergrad advisor in Biological Sciences. |
| Chemistry | CHEM 105aL | Take CHEM 105bL. |
| Economics (Micro) | ECON 203 | Take certain upper-division ECON courses. |
| Economics (Macro) | ECON 205 | Take certain upper-division ECON courses. |
| Precalculus | MATH 108 | Take MATH 118 or MATH 125 |
| Mathematics (AB) *NOT the AB subscore* |
MATH 118 or 125 | Take MATH 126, MATH 127, MATH 208, MATH 218, or certain upper-division business courses. |
| Mathematics (BC) | If your score is 4, MATH 118 or 125 If your score is 5, MATH 118, or 125 and MATH 126 |
Take higher-level calculus or business courses. |
| Psychology | PSYC 100 | Take certain upper-division PSYC courses; see advisor. |
An Important Note to Students Interested in Medical School
Even though exam scores may place students into a higher-level biology or chemistry course, many medical schools do not accept exam credit in lieu of college-level course credit to fulfill admission requirements. Students interested in medical school should consider carefully whether it is in their best interest to enroll in foundational science courses, notwithstanding AP credit in these areas. If you are a potential pre-med student, please discuss this issue with an advisor in the Office of Pre-Health Advisement.
Reporting AP Scores
Students need to have their scores sent directly to USC from the College Board, not from their high school or in any other format. Contact the College Board for ordering instructions: 1-888-CALL-4AP. If spring official scores have been sent in June but do not appear on the student’s TCR by August, email Transfer Credit Services by logging in to askUSC with your USC NetID.