Advanced Placement

Departmental criteria are established each year to determine how credit or placement can be granted to students who take the Advanced Placement (AP) tests, which are usually given during the student’s senior year in high school.

Such course credit can be used toward meeting degree requirements when permitted by the major or minor department. AP credit cannot be used toward fulfillment of the primary writing requirement or toward any of the College’s clusters. Additionally, AP credit cannot be used to accelerate graduation beyond what is permitted by the College’s enrollment policy.

Transfer students cannot use AP credit to modify their Rochester Curriculum (cluster) requirements.

Students with AP examination scores are subject to the credit limits (16 credits) outlined in the policy described credit and placement by examination page.

Students are notified of Advanced Placement credit by the College Center for Advising Services (CCAS). Those wishing to discuss AP credit should contact CCAS. Students can also request reports online.

Policy for the Class of 2028
CourseScoreCredit and/or Placement
African and African-American Studies
African American Studies
(exam offered beginning 2025)
4 or 5Four credits in African and African-American Studies awarded. Students who choose to major or minor in African and African-American Studies can use this credit to fulfill a 100-level elective course. This credit will not substitute for a required 100-level introductory course.
Art and Art History
Art History4 or 5Credit awarded after consultation with department.
Studio Arts4 or 5A maximum of four credits in studio arts awarded upon completion of 100-level course with "B" or better.
Biology
Biology4 or 5Four credits of elective biology awarded. Not for major. Students are eligible for placement in BIOL 112/113.
Chemistry
Chemistry4 or 5Award four credits for CHEM 131. Eligible to either enroll in CHEM 171 in the fall or go into CHEM 132 in spring. Students taking CHEM 131 will forfeit AP/IB credit.
Computer Science
Computer Science Principles4 or 5Placement in CSC 172. Four credits granted for CSC 171. Note that CSC 171 uses the Java programming language. CSC 172 and later CSC courses assume familiarity with Java. Students who did not learn Java in AP Computer Science Principles will be expected to acquire this knowledge if they do not take CSC 171. Any student who is uncertain of their preparation for CSC 172 should consult with a faculty advisor.
Computer Science A4 or 5Placement in CSC 172. Four credits of advanced placement credit granted for CSC 171.
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth and Environmental Science4 or 5Credit for EESC 103.
Economics
Microeconomics4 or 5Credit for ECON 108 for 4 or 5 in Microeconomics plus 3, 4, 5 in Macroeconomics.
Macroeconomics3, 4, or 5See above.
English
Language and Composition4 or 5No credit. See primary writing requirement.
English Literature4 or 5Upon completion of a literature course offered by the English department with a grade of “B” or better, four hours of elective English credit will be awarded (not for major). Students with questions should consult the director of undergraduate studies in English.
History
American, European, or World History5Elective credit granted for score of 5 on the American History, European History, or World History exams. A maximum of four credits in History will be awarded. Credit cannot be used to satisfy the geographical, chronological, or area of focus requirements in major/minor.
Human Geography
Human Geography4 or 5Four credits in Anthropology awarded. Students who choose to major or minor in Anthropology can use this credit to fulfill a 100-level elective course. This credit will not substitute for ANTH 101.
Mathematics
Calculus AB3


4 or 5
No AP credit awarded. Student will be placed in MATH 161.

AP credit for MATH 161. Student will be placed in MATH 162 or 171.
Calculus BC3


4 or 5
AP credit for MATH 161. Student will be placed in MATH 162 or 171.

AP credit for MATH 161 and 162. Student will be placed in MATH 164, 165, or, in exceptional cases, in MATH 173. A student who chooses to register for MATH 171 will receive 4 AP credits for MATH 162. Otherwise, the student will receive two semesters of advanced placement credit.

NOTE: Students who receive AP credit for MATH 161 can register for MATH 162 or 171. MATH 171 is particularly recommended for students interested in mathematics, physics, or theoretical engineering who would like to gain a deeper knowledge of how and why calculus works so effectively.

For more information on math placement policies, visit the Department of Mathematics website.

Modern Languages And Cultures
Chinese4




5
Potential placement by department into CHIN 151, with credit granted for CHIN 102 upon completion of CHIN 151 with grade of B+ or better.

Potential placement by department into CHIN 152, with credit granted for CHIN 151 upon completion of CHIN 152 with grade of B+ or better.
French (Literature and Languages)4 or 5Placement by department in FREN 200. Credit granted for FREN 153 upon completion of FREN 200 with grade of “A-” or better.
German (Literature and Languages)4 or 5Placement by department in 152 or 200. Credit granted for 151 upon completion of 152 with grade of “B+” or better. Credit granted for 151 and 152 upon completion of 200 with “B+” or better.
Italian4



5
Placement by department in ITAL 152. Credit granted for ITAL 151 upon completion of ITAL 152 with grade of “B+” or higher

Placement by department in ITAL 200. Credit granted for ITAL 151 and ITAL 152 upon completion of ITAL 200 with grade of “B+” or higher
Japanese4



5
Potential placement into JPNS 152, credit granted for 151 upon completion of 152 with grade of B+ or higher.

Potential placement into JPNS 201, Credit for 151 and 152 with completion of 201 with grade B+ or higher.
NOTE: The actual placement is subject to the result of the placement test. All students are required to take our placement test, and the credit granted will be adjusted according to the actual placement. No credit will be granted if the student does not place into JPNS 152 or higher.
Spanish (Literature and Languages)4



5
Placement by department in SPAN 152. Credit granted for SPAN 151 upon completion of SPAN 152 with grade of “B+” or better.

Placement by department in SPAN 200. Credit granted for SPAN 151 and SPAN 152 upon completion of SPAN 200 with grade of “B+” or better.
NOTE: All students are required to take the placement exam available through the MLC department website. The actual course placement of the student is subject to the result of that placement exam in addition to other factors that include number of years of prior study, time abroad, or whether the language is spoken at home. Any credit granted for previous study will be adjusted according to actual placement. No credit will be granted if the student does not place into SPAN 152 or 200. 
Music
Music Theory4 or 5Credit for MUSC 110. See department for placement.
Physics
C (Mechanics)4



5
Conditional credit granted for PHYS 113 or PHYS 121. Can be placed into PHYS 114, PHYS 122, or PHYS 1421.

Credit granted for PHYS 113 or PHYS 121, and students can be placed into PHYS 114, PHYS 122 or PHYS 1421.
C (Electromagnetism)4


5
Conditional credit2 granted for PHYS 122. Can be placed into PHYS 123 or PHYS 1431.

Credit for PHYS 114, conditional credit for PHYS 122, and students can be placed into PHYS 123 or PHYS 1431.
Test B (General)5Four general college hour credits; these credits cannot be used to satisfy any of the requirements for the PHYS/ASTR major or minor.
Physics 1 (Mechanics)5Four general college hour credits; these credits cannot be used to satisfy any of the requirements for the PHYS/ASTR major or minor.
Physics 2 (Electromagnetism)5Four general college hour credits; these credits cannot be used to satisfy any of the requirements for the PHYS/ASTR major or minor.

1 Placement into honors sequence courses PHYS 141, PHYS 142, and PHYS 143 requires permission of the instructor.
2 Conditional credit means that credit will be granted if at least a grade of B- is received in the course into which the student is placed.
Credit: Students can either earn general elective credit from physics 1 and 2 exams or course equivalent credit from Physics C or B, not both. 
NOTE: Students who will be pursuing a physics or physics and astronomy degree, and who receive AP credit for PHYS 121, are still strongly encouraged to take PHYS 141 regardless of their AP score. Students with questions about AP credit should see the department’s website or the director of undergraduate studies.

Political Science
Comparative Government and Politics or US Government and Politics4 or 5Four credits in political science for either exam. No additional credit if both exams are taken. For details, see the international relations and political science major pages.
Psychology
Psychology3

4 or 5
PSYC 101 no longer waived for a score of 3.

Credit for PSYC 101.
Religion and Classics
Latin4 or 5Credit for LATN 102.
NOTE: Students who complete a second Latin exam with a score of 4 or 5 earn credit for LATN 208 upon completion of a Latin course numbered 103 or above with a “B” or better grade.
Statistics
Statistics4 or 5Credit awarded for STAT 212.

NOTE: Students can earn credit for only one of the following courses: STAT 211, STAT 212, STAT 213, and BIOL/STAT 214. Students wishing to receive credit for STAT 213 should arrange to take the statistics equivalency exam by making arrangements with Program in Statistics.

Students intending to pursue an economics major are advised to enroll in ECON 230 or MATH 203 to fulfill the statistics requirement for the major.