Pre-College Credits
Source: https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/pre-college-credits Parent: https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants
The University of Pennsylvania may award credit or advanced course standing to students who have taken Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other internationally-recognized examinations. Scores warranting University credit may vary by department.
Please note: These policies remain under ongoing review by the faculty of the University and are subject to change. Current students should consult their home school offices for policies in effect at the time of their matriculation.
Credit and Advanced Course Standing
Advanced Placement
If you are a matriculating student seeking credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, you should use the ETS code 2926 to have your official scores sent to Penn.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credits
| Examination | Score | Penn Credit Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Art History | 5 | Waiver for ARTH 1010 or ARTH 1020, consult with undergraduate chair |
| Art (Studio) | 5 | No credit (possible exemptions for majors, portfolio considered) |
| Biology | No credit | |
| Chemistry♦ | 5 | EAS 091 (1 c.u.), for Engineering students only |
| Chemistry♦ | 5 | NURS 0061 (0.5 c.u.), for Nursing students only |
| Computer Science A | 5 | CIS 1100 (1 c.u.) |
| Computer Science Principals | No credit | |
| Economics | ||
| Economics - Micro | 5 | Economics 0100 waiver |
| Economics - Macro | 5 | Economics 0200 waiver |
| English | ||
| English - Language/Composition | No credit | |
| English - Literature/Composition | No credit | |
| Environmental Science | No credit | |
| European History | No credit | |
| French Language | 5 | French 1000 (1.cu.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| French Language | 4 | No credit (fulfills language requirement) |
| German Language | 5 | German 0400 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| German Language | 4 | No credit, (must pass the department exam to fulfill language requirement) |
| Government and Politics | No credit | |
| Human Geography | No credit | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | ITAL 1000 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | No credit (fulfills language requirement) |
| Japanese | 5 | JPAN 0400 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| Japanese | 4 | No credit (must pass the departmental exam to fulfill language requirement) |
| Latin - Literature | No credit (consult Classical Studies Department for Latin Placement Test and advising on language placement) | |
| Mathematics AB | No credit | |
| Mathematics BC♦ | 5 | Math 1400 (1 c.u.) (Students entering 2024 and earlier) Math 1300 (1 c.u.) (Students entering 2025 onward) |
| Music Theory | No credit | |
| Physics 1 | 5 | Physics 0101 (1.5 c.u.) |
| Physics 2 | 5 | Physics 0102 (1.5 c.u.) |
| Physics-C (Mechanics) | 5 | Physics 0150 (1.5 c.u.) |
| Physics-C (Electricity and Magnetism) | 5 | Physics 0151 (1.5 c.u.) |
| Psychology | 5 | Psychology 0001 Waiver |
| Spanish Language | 5 | Spanish 1000 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| Spanish Language | 4 | No credit (fulfills language requirement) |
| Spanish Literature | 5 | Spanish 1200 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| Spanish Literature | 4 | No credit (fulfills language requirement) |
| Statistics | 5 | STAT 1010 waiver or STAT 1110 waiver |
| Statistics | 5 | NURS 2300 (1 c.u.), for Nursing students only |
| United States History | No credit | |
| World History | No credit |
International Baccalaureate (IB)
If you are a matriculating student seeking credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, you must have official score reports sent directly to the Office of Admissions through the International Baccalaureate Organization online request system. Students can receive waivers or credits for certain Higher Level IB examination scores. See International Baccalaureate chart below.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Credits
| Higher Level Examination | Score | Penn Credit Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | No credit | |
| Biology | No credit | |
| Chemistry♦ | 7, 6 | EAS 091 (1 c.u.), for Engineering students only |
| Economics | 7, 6 | Economics 0100 and 0200 Waiver |
| English A/B | No credit | |
| French A | 7, 6 | French 1212 (1 c.u.) |
| 5 | French 1000 (1 c.u.) | |
| French B | 7, 6 | French 1000 (1 c.u.) |
| Geography | No credit | |
| German A | 7, 6 | German 2100 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| 5 | German 0400 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) | |
| German B | 7, 6 | German 0400 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| History of the Americas | No credit | |
| History of Europe | No credit | |
| Latin | No credit (consult Classical Studies Department for Latin Placement Test and advising on language placement) | |
| Mathematics♦ | No credit | |
| Music | No credit | |
| Philosophy | 7, 6 | Phil 1000 (1 c.u.) |
| Physics | 7, 6 | Phys 0150 (1.5 c.u.) and Physics 0102 (1.5 c.u.) |
| Psychology | 7, 6 | Waiver for Psychology 0001 |
| Spanish A | 7, 6 | Spanish 1200 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| 5 | Spanish 1000 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) | |
| Spanish B | 7, 6 | Spanish 1000 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) |
| Theater Arts | 7, 6, 5 | Departmental review on case-by-case basis |
♦ An internal departmental examination is also available for credit once enrolled at Penn.
A-Level Exams
If you are a matriculating student seeking credit for A-Level exams, you must email your original A-Level certificates to the Office of Admissions (Attention: Eddrena Owens, eddrenao@upenn.edu) in order to have your scores evaluated for credit. See GCE Advanced (A) Level Exam Policy chart below.
GCE Advanced (A) Level Exam Policy
| Examination | Grade of A* or A or B | Grade of C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | No credit | No credit | |
| Ancient Greek | No credit (consult Classical Studies Department for Ancient Greek Placement Test and advising on language placement) | No credit | |
| Biology | No credit | No credit | |
| Chemistry | A* or A = EAS 091 (1 c.u.), for Engineering students only | No credit | |
| Economics | A* or A = Waiver Econ 0100 & 0200 B = no waiver | No credit | |
| English | No credit | No credit | |
| French | A* or A = Fren 1212 (1 c.u.) (fulfills language requirement) A- = no credit (fulfills language requirement) B = no credit | No credit | |
| Greek | No credit | No credit | |
| History | No credit | No credit | |
| Latin | No credit (consult Classical Studies Department for Latin Placement Test and advising on language placement) | No credit | |
| Math w/Special paper w/merit (Cambridge) | No credit | No credit | |
| Physics | A* or A = Physics 0150 (1.5 c.u.) and Physics 0151 (1.5 c.u.) B = Physics 0101 (1.5 c.u.) and Physics 0102 (1.5 c.u.) | No credit | |
| Spanish | A* or A = Spanish 1200 (1.cu) (fulfills language requirement) A- = no credit (fulfills language requirement) B = no credit | No credit |
Pre-College and Dual Enrollment Course Work
Credit is not awarded for college-level coursework undertaken at other institutions while a student is enrolled in high school or in the summer after high school. Such coursework is considered a part of a student’s preparation for a Penn education. It is used in consultation with the student’s academic advisor to inform decisions about placement into appropriate courses at Penn.
Students who enroll in regular undergraduate courses at Penn prior to their matriculation into an undergraduate degree program at the University, during the academic year or in the summer sessions, may elect to have that coursework merged with their undergraduate transcript, in which case it will count toward their undergraduate degree requirements, and the grades will be included in their grade point average.