Policies for Advanced Placement Examinations
At Brown, a number of academic departments recognize Advanced Placement (AP) examinations either for placement into an advanced course, and/or satisfaction of a concentration requirement, and/or for credit toward academic standing. The particular scores required are determined by individual academic departments.
Note: AP credits do not count towards the 30 courses required to graduate from Brown.
Some departments offer AP credit retroactively, only upon successful completion of one of their advanced courses. Students must request notation for these contingent AP credits from the dean responsible for AP’s in the Office of the Dean of the College when they have successfully completed these courses. The form required is available online (see right) and from the dean. AP credit will not be granted without this formal request.
In certain instances, use of AP credits toward advanced standing may allow a student to graduate in fewer than 8 semesters if all other degree requirements are met (30 courses, a concentration, and writing competency). For further information, contact the dean responsible for advanced standing in the Office of the Dean of the College.
Academic departments that do not grant academic credit for AP exams:
Computer Science
English: Language and Composition
English: Literature and Composition
Government and Politics
Human Geography
Music: Listening, Literature, and Theory
Visual Art: Studio Drawing and Studio General
Chemistry: No credit, but students with a score of 4 or 5 may enroll in Chemistry 33 without taking the placement exam. Students with a score of 3 or lower should take the placement exam to determine if Chemistry 33 or 10 is more appropriate.
Environmental Science: No credit, but concentrators with a score of 5 may, with permission of a concentration advisor, waive out of ENVS 0110 or ENVS 0490. Concentrators who waive out of ENVS 0110 or ENVS 0490 must still complete the same number of classes expected of all concentrators. The waiver does not reduce the total number of courses required for concentrations in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science, so students should take an additional focus course or intermediate science course in place of ENVS 0110 or ENVS 0490.
Policies for departments granting AP credit:
Listed below are AP policies for departments that give immediate or contingent credit based on AP examination scores. Since these policies are subject to change, students are advised to confirm AP credit policies with the appropriate department(s). Additional information may be found on department websites or by consulting the departmental AP advisor. The policies below apply to all incoming Brown undergraduates, including transfer students.
American History
5: earns credit for History 0510 and 0520 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 1000-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward the concentration requirement in History.
Art History
4 or 5: earns credit for History of Art 0010, but does not count toward concentration credit.
Biology
4 or 5: earns credit for Biomed 0200.
Economics
4 or 5 in Macroeconomics plus 4 or 5 in Microeconomics: credit for Economics 0110 and placement into Economics 0111. Students granted such credit may count the credit toward the concentration's requirement of Economics 0110.
European History
5: earns credit for History 0010 and 0020 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 1000-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward the concentration requirements in History.
French Language and Literature
4: earns credit for French 0400 and placement into French 0500 or 0520. 5: earns credit for French 0500 only. Students may take French 0520 for credit. Placement in French 0600 (language) or French 0750 or 0760 (literature) to be confirmed during Orientation week or the first week of classes after consultation with the senior language coordinator or concentration advisor.
Students with a 5 in AP Literature and very strong language skills may be allowed to take a 1000-level course with permission. All incoming students with a score of 5 should consult a faculty member regarding appropriate placement.
German Language
4 or 5: earns credit for German 0400.
Italian Language and Culture
5: earns credit for ITAL 0400.
4: earns credit for ITAL 0300.
Latin
4 or 5: may earn one credit at the 1000-level in Latin upon successful completion of an appropriate advanced course. This policy applies both to the examination in lyric and in epic. Credit may be earned for two courses if the student successfully completes two advanced courses in Latin at Brown.
Mathematics
AB Calculus 4 or 5: earns credit for Math 0090.
BC Calculus 4 or 5: earns credit for both Math 0090 and Math 0100.
BC Calculus 3: earns credit for Math 0090.
Physics
5 in Physics C (Mechanics exam 2):
or 4 in Physics C (Mechanics exam 2) PLUS 5 in Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism exam 3):
or 5 in Physics B:
Students with these scores who then successfully complete either Physics 0040, 0060, 0080, 0470, 0500, or an appropriate 1000-level physics course may receive retroactive credit for Physics 0030. While these are the requirements for earning an AP credit, they are not necessarily required for placement in a Physics course when a student enters Brown.
Students considering skipping Physics 0030, 0050, or 0070 should consult with their first-year advisor or Prof. Jay Tang, the Physics Placement Coordinator.
Psychology
4 or 5: earns credit for Psychology 0010. The AP credit may not be used for concentration requirements in Psychology.
Spanish Language or Literature
4 or 5: may earn one unassigned credit in Spanish language upon successful completion of Spanish 500, 600, or a 700-level course. See the Spanish Placement Guide.
1–3: No credit. Placement in Spanish courses at Brown depend on the results of the Brown Placement Test.
Statistics
4 or 5: contingent on department approval, a score of 4 or 5 may earn credit for Psychology 0090 or Cognitive Science 0090. An AP score does not automatically count toward meeting the PY0090/CG0090 requirement. Students seeking credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 must submit course materials showing that their AP course covered the range of topics covered in PY0090/CG0090, including one-way or two-way analysis of variance.
World History
5: earns credit for History 0010 and 0020 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 1000-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward concentration requirements in History.