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Apply what you’ve earned.

Case Western Reserve University grants credit in many fields based on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and A-Level scores. In most cases, you also can apply transfer credits from other accredited institutions.

AP, IB and A-Level Exams

Except as noted, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and A-Level credit can replace specific courses for purposes of general education, major or minor requirements. 

Credit will be posted on your record upon admission and as we receive it. If, after admission to CWRU, you complete a course for which you received credit/exemption on the basis of AP, IB or A-Level examinations, the credit/exemption for that course will be forfeited and will not count toward graduation requirements.

The policies regarding the awarding of credit for Advanced Placement Examinations of The College Board and/or International Baccalaureate Examinations are reviewed annually by departments and are subject to change. The following information will apply to students who matriculate at CWRU for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Advanced Placement Score Equivalences, Exemptions & Placements

AP Research/Seminar

AP Research

CWRU does not award credit for AP Research

AP Seminar

CWRU does not award credit for AP Seminar

Art History

Art History

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ARTH 100-TR
This credit cannot be used to satisfy requirements for a major or minor in Art History.
CWRU Placement: ARTH 101

Art Studio

Drawing Portfolio

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ARTS 106 or ARTS 216
Final credit awarded to be determined after individual portfolio review by Art Studio Program Director.

2-D Design Portfolio

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ARTS 101 or ARTS 216
Final credit awarded to be determined after individual portfolio review by Art Studio Program Director.

3-D Design Portfolio

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ARTS 100-TR or ARTS 201, 214
Final credit awarded to be determined after individual portfolio review by Art Studio Program Director.

Biology

Biology (Score of 4)

Required score: 4
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: BIOL 114

Biology (Score of 5)

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: BIOL 200-TR
This credit will satisfy the BIOL 114 requirement for the nursing major.

Chemistry

Chemistry

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHEM 111
This course will meet a requirement of either CHEM 105 or CHEM 111.
CWRU Placement: CHEM 106 and 113; or ENGR 145

Computer Science

Computer Science A

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CSDS 132
CWRU Placement: CSDS 233 or 281

Computer Science Principles

CWRU does not award credit for Computer Science Principles

Economics

Microeconomics

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ECON 102

Macroeconomics

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ECON 103

English

Language/Composition

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ENGL 200-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for English AP scores and only after successful completion of a three-credit-hour 300-level ENGL course with a grade of C or better.

Literature/Composition

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ENGL 200-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for English AP scores and only after successful completion of a three-credit-hour 300-level ENGL course with a grade of C or better.

Environmental Science

Environmental Science

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: EEPS 100-TR

Foreign Languages

Chinese 

Required score:
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHIN 201, 202 
CWRU Placement: CHIN 301 

Chinese (Score of 5)

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHIN 201, 202, 301
CWRU Placement: CHIN 302

French

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: FRCH 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level FRCH

German

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: GRMN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level GRMN

Italian

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ITAL 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level ITAL

Japanese

Required score: 4
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: JAPN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: JAPN 301

Japanese

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: JAPN 201, 202, 301
CWRU Placement: JAPN 302

Latin

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: LATN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level LATN

Spanish Language & Culture

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: SPAN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level SPAN

Spanish Literature & Culture

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: SPAN 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level SPAN

Government and Politics

Comparative Politics

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: POSC 160

U.S. Government

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: POSC 109
Three credit hours as POSC 109 will be awarded for U.S. Government AP scores only after successful completion of a 300-level US politics course with a grade of B or better.

History

European History

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: HSTY 100-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for History AP scores and only after successful completion of the one-credit-hour HSTY 100.

U.S. History

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: HSTY 100-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for History AP scores and only after successful completion of the one-credit-hour HSTY 100.

World History

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: HSTY 100-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for History AP scores and only after successful completion of the one-credit-hour HSTY 100.

Human Geography

Human Geography

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ANTH 100-TR
 

Mathematics

Calculus AB

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MATH 121*
CWRU Placement: MATH 122 or 126

Calculus BC

Required score: AB subscore = 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MATH 121*
CWRU Placement: MATH 122 or 126

Calculus BC

Required score:  5
Credit earned: 8 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MATH 121, 122*
CWRU Placement: MATH 223

*Credit for MATH 121 will meet a requirement for either MATH 121 or MATH 125. Credit for MATH 122 will meet a requirement for either MATH 122 or MATH 126.

Music Theory

Music Theory

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MUTH 103.
This credit cannot be used to satisfy requirements for any music major program.

Physics

Physics 1

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 115*
CWRU Placement: PHYS 116

Physics 2

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 100-TR*

Physics B

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 115*
CWRU Placement: PHYS 116

Physics C-Mech

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 121*
CWRU Placement: PHYS 122

Physics C-E & M

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 100-TR*

*A student may not receive credit for more than one of Physics 1, Physics B, or Physics C-Mechanics (forfeiting the credit if they subsequently earn credit for PHYS 115, 121, or 123) and may not receive credit for more than one of Physics 2 or Physics C-E&M (forfeiting the PHYS 100-TR credit if they subsequently earn credit for  PHYS 116, 122, or 124). Students who earned a 4 or 5 on their AP Physics exam but who had little or no high school physics laboratory experience should consult with the department about taking PHYS 113A to build their laboratory skills before moving on to PHYS 116 or 122.

Psychology

Psychology

Required score: 4 or 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PSCL 101

Statistics

Statistics

Required score: 5
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: STAT 201

International Baccalaureate Score Equivalences, Exemptions & Placements

Biology

Biology

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: BIOL 200-TR

Chemistry

Chemistry

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 4 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHEM 111
This course will meet a requirement of either CHEM 105 or CHEM 111.
CWRU Placement: CHEM 106 and 113; or ENGR 145

Computer Science

Computer Science

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: EECS 132
CWRU Placement: EECS 233 or 281

Dance

Dance

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: DANC 121
CWRU Placement: DANC 122

Economics

Economics

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ECON 102, 103

English

English Language A

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: WLIT 290

History

History of Europe

Required score: HL 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: HSTY 100-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for History IB scores and only after successful completion of the one-credit-hour HSTY 100.

History of the Americas

Required score: HL 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: HSTY 100-TR
CWRU Placement: A maximum of three credit hours will be awarded for History AP scores and only after successful completion of the one-credit-hour HSTY 100.

Foreign Language

Chinese B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHIN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level CHIN

Chinese B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: CHIN 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level CHIN

French B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: FRCH 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level FRCH

French B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: FRCH 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level FRCH

German B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: GRMN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level GRMN

German B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: GRMN 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level GRMN

Italian B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ITAL 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level ITAL

Italian B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ITAL 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level ITAL

Japanese B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: JAPN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level JAPN

Japanese B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: JAPN 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level JAPN

Spanish B (HL 6)

Required score: HL 6
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: SPAN 201, 202
CWRU Placement: 300-level SPAN

Spanish B (HL 7)

Required score: HL 7
Credit earned: 9 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: SPAN 201, 202, 300-TR
CWRU Placement: 300-level SPAN

Mathematics

Mathematics

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 7 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MATH 121 and 100-TR
Credit for MATH 121 will meet a requirement for either MATH 121 or MATH 125.
CWRU Placement: MATH 122 or 126

Music

Music

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 6 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: MUTH 103 and MUGN 201
Credit for these courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements for any music major program.

Physics

Physics

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 7 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PHYS 121, PHYS 100-TR
CWRU Placement: PHYS 122

*A student who subsequently earns credit for PHYS 115, 121, or 123 will forfeit IB credit for  PHYS 121, and a student who subsequently earns credit for PHYS 116, 122, or 124 will forfeit IB credit for PHYS 100-TR. Students who earned a 5, 6, or 7 on their IB Physics exam but who had little or no high school physics laboratory experience should consult with the department about taking PHYS 113A to build their laboratory skills before moving on to PHYS 116 or 122.

Psychology

Psychology

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: PSCL 101

Social and Cultural Anthropology

Social and Cultural Anthropology

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ANTH 102

Theater Studies

Theater Studies

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: THTR 110
 

Visual Arts

Visual Arts

Required score: HL 5, 6 or 7
Credit earned: 3 hours
CWRU Equivalent/Exempt: ARTS 101

College Credit

Once you've been admitted to Case Western Reserve University and we've received your final transcript and course descriptions of the college-level work you have successfully completed, the Office of Undergraduate Advising Support will evaluate your transfer credits.

Credit can be awarded for courses:

  • Equivalent to courses offered by CWRU
  • Completed with a grade of C or better
  • Taken at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or technical institute

CWRU does not grant credit for college courses that were used to meet high school graduation requirements or that repeat courses completed in high school.

College Credit Plus

Ohio residents in grades 7 to 12 can begin their college educations early by enrolling in College Credit Plus at Case Western Reserve University. Earn college credit at CWRU and be a part of our world-renowned community before high school graduation.

Get the details

English Competency Credit

Transfer students who have completed the English Composition/Expository Writing requirement with a grade of C or higher at their previous institution will receive transfer credit for an Academic Inquiry Seminar (AIQS 100) at CWRU.

Nursing Credit

Students may apply for transfer admission for any term (fall, spring or summer). If you’re transferring into the second year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you must be able to transfer a minimum of 20 credit hours, including equivalents to the following CWRU courses:

  • BIOL 114
  • CHEM 119
  • BIOL 116 and BIOL 117 (Anatomy & Physiology I and II)
  • Academic Inquiry Seminar (AIQS)

Nursing transfer students also require additional credits beyond the courses listed above to attain second-year status. Equivalents to the following CWRU courses are recommended but not required:

  • SOCI 203 (Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan)
  • NURS 342 (Medical Microbiology)
  • NURS 201(Nutrition)
  • STAT 201 (Basic Statistics)

Cleveland-Area Community College Credit

Students applying for transfer admission from Cleveland-area community colleges should review the appropriate transfer credit guides.