Freshman Admission
Advanced Credit
The University of Wisconsin grants advanced credit for the successful completion of college-level course work while in high school and for high achievement on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College-Level Examination Program exams.
Credits earned may be awarded toward general education requirements, degree requirements, or elective credit. The purpose of awarding advanced credit is to recognize advanced high-quality work, to preclude the duplication of courses, and to provide increased flexibility for students who wish to complete two majors, earn a certificate, or graduate early.
Be aware that every semester, each student is given an enrollment appointment time based on credit hours (students with the most credit hours get the earliest appointment times). Spring enrollment times are determined early in the fall semester and distributed to students late in the semester. In order to have your advanced credit hours taken into consideration in the enrollment process and get the earliest appointment time possible, the Office of Admissions must receive your official transcripts and test scores at the start of your first semester, by September 15.
Credit for College Course Work
Students who take college courses prior to high school graduation will receive
advanced credit at UW–Madison as long as the credit is: 1) transferable, 2)
earned at an accredited college, and 3) listed on an official transcript generated
by the college.
To be awarded credit at UW–Madison, enrolling students must have their official college-level transcript(s) sent to the Office of Admissions. Students taking courses at a UW System school may consult the Transfer Information System (TIS) to determine exactly how credit will be awarded.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
The University of Wisconsin participates in the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program and awards course exemptions and college credit to entering students with qualifying scores. Close to 90 percent of Wisconsin freshmen submit AP scores each year. Credit is awarded for exam grades of 3, 4, or 5. Review the chart below to see how AP credit will be awarded.
To earn AP credit, students must have their official AP grade report sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the College Board. For more information on grade reporting services, visit the College Board’s Web site. UW–Madison’s AP code is 1846.
| AP Exam | Score | UW-Madison Credit/Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Art | ||
| History of Art | 3 | 3 credits, humanities electives |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits, Art History 101 | |
| Studio Art | 3, 4, 5 | 3 credits, general electives |
| Biology | ||
| 3 | 3 credits, biological science electives | |
| 4, 5 | 5 credits, biological science electives | |
| Calculus | ||
| AB | 3 | 3 credits, mathematics electives (exempt from GER Quantitative Reasoning Part A) |
| 4, 5 | 5 credits, Mathematics 221 | |
| BC | 2 | 5 credits, Mathematics 221 |
| 3, 4, 5 | 10 credits, Mathematics 221 and 222 | |
| Chemistry | ||
| 3 | 3 credits, chemistry electives | |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, Chemistry 103 | |
| Chinese | ||
| 3 | 3 credits*, East Asian Studies electives | |
| 4, 5 | 6 credits*, East Asian Studies electives | |
| Computer Science | ||
| A | 3 | 3 credits, computer science electives |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, Computer Science 302 | |
| AB | 3 | 3 credits, computer science electives (natural science) |
| 4 | 6 credits, Computer Science 302 (3 credits) and computer science electives (3 credits, natural science) | |
| 5 | 6 credits, Computer Science 302 and 367 | |
| Economics | ||
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 credits, social studies electives |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits, Economics 102 | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 credits, social studies electives |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits, Economics 101 | |
| English | ||
| Language and Composition | 3 | 3 credits, English composition electives (not exempt from GER Communication Part A) |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, English composition electives (exempt from GER Communication A) | |
| Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 credits, literature electives (not exempt from GER Communication Part A) |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, literature electives (exempt from GER Communication Part A) | |
| Environmental Science | ||
| 3, 4, 5 | 3 credits, biological science electives | |
| French | ||
| Language | 3 | 4 credits*, French 204 |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits*, French 227 | |
| Literature | 3 | 3 credits*, French electives (X13) |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits*, French 271 | |
| German | ||
| Language | 3 | 3 credits*, German electives |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits*, German 226 | |
| Government and Politics | ||
| Comparative | 3 | 3 credits, political science electives |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits, Political Science 106 | |
| United States | 3 | 3 credits, political science electives |
| 4, 5 | 4 credits, Political Science 104 | |
| History | ||
| European History | 3 | 3 credits, general electives |
| 4, 5 | 6 credits, History 119 and 120 | |
| United States History | 3 | 3 credits, general electives |
| 4, 5 | 6 credits, History 101 and 102 | |
| World History | 3 | 3 credits, general electives |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, History 135 | |
| Human Geography | ||
| 3 | 3 credits, geography electives | |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, geography electives (social science) | |
| Italian | ||
| Language | 3, 4 | 4 credits*, Italian 204 |
| 5 | 4 credits*, Italian 452 | |
| Japanese | ||
| 3 | 3 credits*, East Asian Studies electives | |
| 4, 5 | 6 credits*, East Asian 104 | |
| Latin | ||
| Literature | 3, 4, 5 | 8 credits*, Latin 103 and 104 |
| Vergil | 3, 4, 5 | 8 credits*, Latin 103 and 104 |
| Music Theory | ||
| 3, 4, 5 | 3 credits, Music 111 (music majors must take placement test) | |
| Physics | ||
| B | 3 | 3 credits, physics electives |
| 4, 5 | 8 credits, Physics 103 and 104 | |
| C Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 credits, physics electives |
| 4, 5 | 5 credits, Physics 202 or 208 (proposed major determines equivalency) | |
| C Mechanics | 3 | 3 credits, physics electives |
| 4, 5 | 5 credits, Physics 201 or 207 (proposed major determines equivalency) | |
| Psychology | ||
| 3 | 3 credits, psychology electives | |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, Psychology 202 | |
| Spanish | ||
| Language | 3, 4 | 4 credits*, Spanish 204 |
| 5 | 3 credits*, Spanish 226 | |
| Literature | 3 | 4 credits*, Spanish 204 |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits*, Spanish 224 | |
| Statistics | ||
| 3 | 3 credits, statistics electives | |
| 4, 5 | 3 credits, Statistics 301 | |
* In some schools and colleges, it is possible to earn retroactive language credits for prior work completed in a foreign language. Contact the language department to learn more about retroactive credits and to determine which type of credit (AP or retroactive) will best meet your needs.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit
Results of higher-level International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations are evaluated for academic credit at UW–Madison. Advanced standing credit is awarded for scores of 4–7 on the exams. Students who receive the full IB Diploma with a minimum score of 28 are eligible for 3 additional elective credits. Review the chart below to see how IB credit will be awarded.
IB transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the IB Organization. For information on having your results sent, visit the IB Web site.
| IB Higher Level Exam | Score | UW-Madison Credit/Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 4 | 5 credits, zoology electives (biological science, elementary) (consult with department for possible Zoology 151 credit) |
| Chemistry | 4 | 9 credits, Chemistry 103 (4 credits) and Chemistry 104 (5 credits) |
| Computer Studies | 4 | 6 credits, Computer Science 302 (3 credits) and Computer Science 367 (3 credits) |
| Economics | 4 | 8 credits, Economics 101 (4 credits) and Economics 102 (4 credits) |
| English A1 | 5 | 6 credits, English literature electives (elementary) (exempt from GER Communication Part A) |
| 4 | 3 credits, English literature electives (elementary) (exempt from GER Communication Part A) | |
| Foreign Language A1 | 4 | 6 credits, literature electives (advanced) (up to 6 credits possible following departmental review) |
| Foreign Language A2 or B (not English) | 4 | 6 credits, language electives (advanced) or retroactive language credits* |
| French A1 | 4 | 6 credits, French literature electives (advanced) |
| Geography | 4 | 8 credits, Geography 104 (3 credits) and Geography 127 (5 credits) |
| History | 4 | 6 credits, history electives (social studies, elementary) |
| Italian A1 | 4 | 6 credits, Italian literature electives (advanced) |
| Math | 4 | 5 credits, Math 221 |
| Math with Further Math | 4 | 10 credits, Math 221 (5 credits) and Math 222 (5 credits) |
| Philosophy | 4 | 4 credits, Philosophy 101 |
| Physics | 4 | 8 credits, Physics 103 (4 credits) and Physics 104 (4 credits) |
| Portuguese A1 | 4 | 6 credits, Portuguese literature electives (advanced) |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 credits, Psychology 201 (consult with department for possible additional and/or more specific credit) |
| Social Anthropology | 4 | 3 credits, Anthropology 104 |
| Spanish A1 | 4 | 6 credits, Spanish literature electives (advanced) |
| Theatre Arts | 4 | 3 credits, Theatre and Drama 170 |
| Visual Arts | 4 | 3 credits, general electives (elementary) |
* In some schools and colleges, it is possible to earn retroactive language credits for prior work completed in a foreign language. Contact the language department to learn more about retroactive credits and to determine which type of credit (IB or retroactive) will best meet your needs.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows students who have gained knowledge through independent study, advanced high school courses, noncredit adult courses, or professional development to take examinations for possible college credit. Students must earn a minimum score of 65 and take CLEP exams before completing 16 semester hours of college credit in order to receive credit. Review the chart below to see how CLEP credit will be awarded.
| CLEP Exam | Min. Score | Credit/Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| American Government | 65 | 3 credits, political science electives |
| American Literature | 65 | 3 credits, English literature electives |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 65 | 3 credits, English electives |
| Biology | 65 | 3 credits, biology electives |
| Calculus | 65 | 3 credits, math electives |
| English Literature | 65 | 3 credits, English literature electives |
| Humanities | 65 | 3 credits, humanities electives |
| Principles of Macroeconomics* | 65 | 3 credits, economics electives |
| Principles of Microeconomics* | 65 | 3 credits, economics electives |
| Natural Sciences | 65 | 3 credits, natural science electives |
| Introduction to Psychology | 65 | 3 credits, psychology electives |
| Social Sciences and History | 65 | 3 credits, social studies electives |
| Introduction to Sociology | 65 | 3 credits, sociology electives |
*Credit will be awarded for only one economics exam (Macroeconomics or Microeconomics).
Questions?
If you have questions regarding advanced credit at UW–Madison, please contact the Office of Admissions at onwisconsin@admissions.wisc.edu or 608–262–3961.
On This Page
- Printable Versions
- AP Credit Policy
(PDF, 289K) - IB Credit Policy
(PDF, 39K) - CLEP Credit Policy
(PDF, 595K)
