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Freshmen: Advanced Placement

We understand the strong study skills and commitment needed to succeed in Advanced Placement-level coursework and recognize a grade of 3, 4 or 5 on certain Advanced Placement (AP) tests as equivalent to classes offered at UC Davis. See below to find how your AP scores can help you get ahead.

College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examination Credit



ENGLISH
Examination Score UC Davis Course Equivalencies Continuing Course Credit Toward Degree
A score of 3, 4 or 5 on the English AP examination satisfies the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement (formerly known as the Subject A requirement).
English
(English Literature or English Language exam) 		5, 4 English 3, University Writing Program 1   8 units*
College of Agricultural and Environmental Science: 4 units--Satisfies first half of English composition requirement.
College of Engineering: 8 units--Satisfies English 3, University Writing Program 1.
College of Letters and Science: Satisfies first course toward English Composition requirement.
English
(English Literature or English Language exam) 		3     8 units*
* Maximum credit allowed: 8 units for all English exams
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Examination Score UC Davis Course Equivalencies Continuing Course Credit Toward Degree
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: 4 units of credit allowed toward Breadth requirement or Unrestricted electives for each foreign language examination passed.
College of Biological Sciences: Examinations (except for Latin) satisfy the Foreign Language requirement for the A.B. degree.
College of Letters and Science: Examinations (except for Latin), and the Literature examinations in French and Spanish, satisfy the Foreign Language requirement.
Chinese
(Chinese Language and Culture) 		5, 4, 3   Determined in consultation with adviser 8 units
French
(French Language exam)		 5 French 22 French 23, or consultation with adviser 8 units
French
(French Language exam)		 4 French 21 French 22 8 units
French
(French Language exam)		 3 French 3 French 21 8 units
French
(French Literature exam)		 5, 4, 3 upper division French 100, or consultation with adviser 8 units
German Language 5 German 21 German 22, or consultation with adviser 8 units
German Language 4 German 20 German 21, or consultation with adviser 8 units
German Language 3 German 3 German 20, or consultation with adviser 8 units
Latin: Vergil 5, 4, 3 Latin 2 Determined by consultation with Classics adviser 4 units
Latin Literature 5, 4, 3   Determined by consultation with Classics adviser 4 units
Spanish
(Spanish Language exam)		 5 Spanish 22 Spanish 23, or consultation with adviser 8 units
Spanish
(Spanish Language exam)		 4 Spanish 21 Spanish 22, or consultation with adviser 8 units
Spanish
(Spanish Literature or Spanish Language exam)		 3 Spanish 3 Spanish 21, or consultation with adviser 8 units
Spanish
(Spanish Literature exam)		 5, 4, 3 upper division Spanish 100, or consultation with adviser 8 units
HUMANITIES
Examination Score UC Davis Course Equivalencies Continuing Course Credit Toward Degree
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: 8 units of credit allowed toward Breadth requirement or Unrestricted electives for each humanities examination passed.
STUDIO ART: Drawing Portfolio
STUDIO ART: 2D Design Portfolio
STUDIO ART: 3D Design Portfolio
Studio Art 5 Art Studio 2, 5   8 units*
College of Biological Sciences: partially satisfies Breadth requirements for A.B. degree.
College of Letters and Science: partially satisfies Area (breadth) requirements for A.B. degree.
Studio Art 4 Art Studio 2   8 units*
College of Biological Sciences: partially satisfies Breadth requirements for A.B. degree.
College of Letters and Science: partially satisfies Area (breadth) requirements for A.B. degree.
Studio Art 3     8 units*
Art History 5 Art History 1A, 1B, 1C   8 units
College of Biological Sciences: partially satisfies Breadth requirements for A.B. degree.
College of Letters and Science: partially satisfies Area (breadth) requirements for A.B. degree.
Art History 4, 3     8 units
United States History 5, 4, 3 History 17A, 17B   8 units
Satisfies the university American History and Institutions requirement. History 17A and 17B may be taken for full credit.
European History 5, 4, 3 History 4B, 4C   8 units
All colleges: History 4A and 4B may be taken for full credit.
World History 5, 4, 3     8 units
Music Theory 5, 4, 3 Music 10   8 units
College of Biological Sciences: partially satisfies Breadth requirements for A.B. degree.
College of Letters and Science: partially satisfies Area (breadth) requirements for A.B. degree.
* Maximum credit allowed: 8 units for all Studio Art exams
NATURAL SCIENCES
Examination Score UC Davis Course Equivalencies Continuing Course Credit Toward Degree
All colleges: 4 units of credit toward Natural Sciences Credit or Preparatory Course Work allowed for science majors for each Natural Sciences examination passed, except 8 units of credit allowed for Mathematics BC and Physics B examinations.
Biology 5, 4, 3 Biological Sciences 10   8 units
Biological Sciences 2A is the first course taken by most students contemplating majors in the life sciences.
Chemistry 5 Chemistry 2A Determined by consultation with adviser 8 units
Although Chemistry 2A may be taken for full credit, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the 2HA, 2HB, 2HC sequence.
Chemistry 4, 3 Chemistry 10   8 units
Computer Science AB 5, 4 Engineering: Computer Science 30 Engineering: Computer Science 40 4 units*
Credit for Computer Science and Engineering 30 may serve as prerequisite for Computer Science and Engineering 40 with consent of instructor.
Computer Science AB 3     4 units*
College of Engineering: examination awards units towards the unrestricted electives requirement.
Computer Science A 5, 4, 3   Engineering: Computer Science 30 2 units*
Environmental Sciences 5, 4, 3 Environmental and Resource Sciences 10, 10G Environmental and Resource Sciences 60 4 units
Calculus AB 5, 4 Mathematics 12, 16A, 17A or 21A Mathematics 16B, 17B or 21B 4 units**
Mathematics 16A , 17A or 21A may be taken for full credit. Credit for Mathematics 16A, 17A  or 21A equivalents may serve as prerequisite for Mathematics 16B, 17B or 21B.
Calculus AB 3   Mathematics 16A, 17A or 21A 4 units**
Calculus BC 5 Mathematics 12, 16A-16B, 17A-17B or 21A-21B Mathematics 16C, 17C or 21C 8 units**
Mathematics 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B , 21A, or 21B may be taken for full credit.
Mathematics 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B , 21A, or 21B equivalents may serve as a prerequisite for Mathematics 16B, 16C, 17B, 17C, 21B, or 21C.
Calculus BC 4, 3 Mathematics 12, 16A, 17A or 21A Mathematics 16B, 17B or 21B 8 units**
Mathematics 16A, 17A or 21A may be taken for full credit. Credit for Mathematics 16A, 17A or 21A equivalents may serve as prerequisite for Mathematics 16B, 17B or 21B.
Physics B 5 , 4 Physics 1A, 1B   8 units***
Physics B 3     8 units***
Physics CI Mechanics 5, 4 Physics 1A   4 units***
Physics CI Mechanics 3     4 units***
Physics CII,
Electricity and Magnetism 		5, 4     4 units***
Physics CII,
Electricity and Magnetism 		3     4 units***
Statistics 5, 4 Statistics 13   4 units
Statistics 13 may be taken for full credit.
Statistics 3     4 units
* Maximum credit allowed: 4 units for all Computer Science exams
** Maximum credit allowed: 8 units for all Mathematics exams
*** Maximum credit allowed: 8 units for all Physics exams
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Examination Score UC Davis Course Equivalencies Continuing Course Credit Toward Degree
College of Agricultural and Environmental Science: 4 units of credit allowed toward Breadth requirement or Unrestricted electives for each Social Science examination passed.
United States Government and Politics 5, 4, 3 Political Science 1   4 units
Political Science 1 satisfies American History and Institutions requirement.
Comparative Government and Politics 5, 4, 3 Political Science 2   4 units
Microeconomics 5, 4, 3 Economics 1A Economics 100 4 units
Macroeconomics 5, 4, 3 Economics 1B Economics 101 4 units
Human Geography 5, 4, 3     4 units
Psychology 5 Psychology 1   4 units
Psychology 4, 3     4 units