Credit Earned through Examinations

Credit for the same course will only be awarded once (i.e. no duplicate credit for the same class from two different exams) 

A maximum of 45 quarter hours can be awarded for all AP and IB credit.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Through the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) program, the University of Denver grants credit to second­ary school students who complete an AP examination with appropriate scores.  Placement and/or credit is granted in courses commonly taught at the first-year level.  Depart­ments of the University vary in their score requirements for credit and placement.  The following table identifies the amount and placement of AP credit, please pay particular attention to the footnotes1.

Courses listed as 1XXX or 2XXX signify elective credit within that subject.

Note: This table was prepared based on Spring 2024 exams.  The credit in this table is for students who begin classes at DU in the 2024-2025 academic year.  Students who started at DU in previous academic years must refer to the tables in the catalog for that year to find the appropriate credit.

AP score 5 4 3 Common Curriculum
African American Studies2 4 credits, (HIST 1XXX) 4 credits, (HIST 1XXX) Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture and/or Critical Race & Ethnic Studies minor credit
Art History 4 credits (ARTH 2801), & 4 credits (ARTH 2802) 4 credits (ARTH 2801) Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Studio Art (2D Design) 4 credits (ARTS 1100) 4 credits (ARTS 1100)
Studio Art (3D Design) 4 credits (ARTS 1200) 4 credits (ARTS 1200)
Studio Art (Drawing) 4 credits (ARTS 1250) 4 credits (ARTS 1250)
Biology 5 credits (BIOL 1011/ BIOL 1021); & 5 credits (BIOL 1010/ BIOL 1020) 5 credits (BIOL 1011, BIOL 1021) Scientific Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Calculus AB 4 credits (MATH 1951)3 4 credits (MATH 1951)3 Analytical Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Calculus BC 4 credits (MATH 1951)3; & 4 credits (MATH 1952); & 4 credits (MATH 1953) 4 credits (MATH 1951)3; & 4 credits (MATH 1952) 4 credits (MATH 1951)3 Analytical Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Chemistry 4 credits (CHEM 1010, CHEM 1240); & 4 credits (CHEM 1020, CHEM 1250); & 4 credits (CHEM 1XXX) 4 credits (CHEM 1010, CHEM 1240) Scientific Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Computer Science A 4 credits (COMP 1351); & 4 credits (COMP 1XXX) 4 credits (COMP 1351) Analytical Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Computer Science Principles 4 credits (COMP 1XXX) 4 credits (COMP 1XXX)
Macroeconomics 4 credits (ECON 1020) 4 credits (ECON 1020) Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Microeconomics 4 credits (ECON 1030) 4 credits (ECON 1030)
English Language 4 credits (ENGL 1XXX); & 4 credits (WRIT 1122)3 4 credits (WRIT 1122)3 Advanced Standing 4
English Literature 4 credits (ENGL 1110); & 4 credits (WRIT 1122)3 4 credits (ENGL 1110) Advanced Standing 4 ENGL 1110 earns Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Environmental Science 4 credits, (ENVI 1XXX) 4 credits, (ENVI 1XXX) Scientific Inquiry: The Natural & Physical World
Language5 or Literature5 4 credits (LANG 2XXX); & 4 credits (LANG 2XXX); & 4 credits (LANG 2XXX) 4 credits (LANG 2XXX); & 4 credits (LANG 2XXX) 4 credits (LANG 2XXX) Subject code will change to reflect specific language (ex. French = FREN 2XXX)
History2 (U.S., European, or World)2 4 credits, (HIST 1XXX) 4 credits, (HIST 1XXX) Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Human Geography 4 credits (GEOG 1410); & 4 credits (GEOG 1XXX) 4 credits (GEOG 1410) Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Music6 4 credits (MUAC 1XXX); & 4 credits (MUAC 1XXX) 4 credits (MUAC 1XXX); & 4 credits (MUAC 1XXX)
Physics 1 5 credits (PHYS 1111) 5 credits (PHYS 1111) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Physics 2 5 credits (PHYS 1113) 5 credits (PHYS 1113) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Physics 1 and 2 5 credits (PHYS 1111); & 5 credits (PHYS 1112); & 5 credits (PHYS 1113) 5 credits (PHYS 1111); & 5 credits (PHYS 1112); & 5 credits (PHYS 1113) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Physics C (Mechanics) 5 credits (PHYS 1211) 5 credits (PHYS 1211) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Physics C (Elec/Mag) 5 credits (PHYS 1213) 5 credits (PHYS 1213) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Physics C (Mech & Elec/Mag) 5 credits (PHYS 1211); & 5 credits (PHYS 1213) 5 credits (PHYS 1211); & 5 credits (PHYS 1213) Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Government & Politics (U.S.) 4 credits (PLSC 1000) 4 credits (PLSC 1000) Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Government & Politics (Comparative) 4 credits (PLSC 1110) 4 credits (PLSC 1110) Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Psychology 4 credits (PSYC 1001); & 4 credits, (PSYC 1XXX) 4 credits (PSYC 1001) Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Research 4 credits (WRIT 1133) 4 credits (WRIT 1133)
Seminar 4 credits general elective 4 credits general elective
Spanish Language 5 or Spanish Literature 5 4 credits, (SPAN 1XXX); & 4 credits, (SPAN 1XXX); & 4 credits, (SPAN 2XXX) 4 credits (SPAN 1XXX); & 4 credits (SPAN 1XXX) 4 credits (SPAN 1XXX) Only SPAN 2XXX counts towards the Spanish major/minor
Statistics 4 credits (INFO 1020) 4 credits (INFO 1020)
1

The Common Curriculum attributes listed in Notes (ex. Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture) mean that the credits will count towards those requirements but might not complete them.  

2

A maximum of 4 credits of HIST elective can be awarded

3

Credit for the same course will only be awarded once (i.e. no duplicate credit for the same class from two different exams)

4

Eligible to register for the advanced level of WRIT credit; additional information found here: https://academicaffairs.du.edu/writing/first-year-writing/advanced-honors-courses

5

Credit can be awarded for one exam (either AP or IB) in one language only; no AP credit can count towards the Foreign Language (FOLA) requirement

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB credit is granted under the guidelines stated below; please pay particular attention to the footnotes1.

For most subjects, credit is only awarded for Higher Level (HL) exams. For foreign languages, credit is awarded for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

Courses listed as 1XXX or 2XXX signify elective credit within that subject.

IB Score 7 6 5 4 Common Curriculum
Visual Art 8 credits ARTS 1XXX 8 credits ARTS 1XXX 4 credits ARTS 1XXX
Social & Cultural Anthropology 4 credits ANTH 1010; 4 credits ANTH 1XXX 4 credits ANTH 1010; 4 credits ANTH 1XXX 4 credits ANTH 1010 Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Biology 5 credits BIOL 1011/ BIOL 1021; & 5 credits BIOL 1010/ BIOL 1020 5 credits BIOL 1011/ BIOL 1021; & 5 credits BIOL 1010/ BIOL 1020 5 credits BIOL 1011/ BIOL 1021 Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Business Management2 4 credits BUS 1440 4 credits BUS 1440 4 credits BUS 1440
Chemistry 4 credits CHEM 1010/ CHEM 1240; 4 credits CHEM 1020/ CHEM 1250; 4 credits CHEM 1XXX 4 credits CHEM 1010/ CHEM 1240; 4 credits CHEM 1020/ CHEM 1250; 4 credits CHEM 1XXX 4 credits CHEM 1010/ CHEM 1240 Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Computer Science 4 credits COMP 1351; 4 credits COMP 1XXX 4 credits COMP 1351; 4 credits COMP 1XXX 4 credits COMP 1351 Analytical Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Design Technology 4 credits, BUS 1XXX 4 credits, BUS 1XXX 4 credits BUS 1XXX
Economics 4 credits ECON 10202; 4 credits ECON 1030 4 credits ECON 10202; 4 credits ECON 1030 4 credits ECON 1030 ECON 1020 earns Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
English A: Language & Literature 4 credits WRIT 11222 4 credits WRIT 11222 4 credits WRIT 11222 Advanced standing3
English A: Literature only 4 credits WRIT 11222 Advanced Standing3 Advanced Standing3
Film 4 credits MFJS 2000; 4 credits MFJS 1XXX 4 credits MFJS 2000; 4 credits MFJS 1XXX 4 credits MFJS 2000 4 credits MFJS 2000 Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Language (A2 or B)4 12 credits LANG 2XXX 12 credits LANG 2XXX 8 credits LANG 2XXX 4 credits LANG 2XXX Subject code will change to reflect specific language (ex. French = FREN 2XXX)
Geography 4 credits GEOG 1410; 4 credits GEOG 1XXX 4 credits GEOG 1410; 4 credits GEOG 1XXX 4 credits GEOG 1410 Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
Global Politics 4 credits PLSC 1110 4 credits PLSC 1110 4 credits PLSC 1110 Scientific Inquiry: Society and Culture
History6 (Americas, Europe, Africa & ME, Asia & Oceania)6 4 credits HIST 1XXX 4 credits HIST 1XXX 4 credits HIST 1XXX Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Mathematics2 (Analysis & Approaches or Applications & Interpretation) 4 credits MATH 1951 4 credits MATH 1951 4 credits MATH 1951 Analytical Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Music 8 credits MUAC 1XXX 8 credits MUAC 1XXX 4 credits MUAC 1XXX
Philosophy 8 credits PHIL 1XXX 8 credits PHIL 1XXX 8 credits PHIL 1XXX Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture
Physics 5 credits PHYS 1211; 5 credits PHYS 1213 5 credits PHYS 1211; 5 credits PHYS 1213 5 credits PHYS 1211; 5 credits PHYS 1213 Scientific Inquiry: Natural & Physical World
Psychology 4 credits PSYC 1001; 4 credits PSYC 1XXX 4 credits PSYC 1001; 4 credits PSYC 1XXX 4 credits PSYC 1001 Scientific Inquiry: Society & Culture
HL Spanish (A2 or B) 4 4 credits SPAN 2XXX; 8 credits SPAN 1XXX 4 credits SPAN 2XXX; 8 credits SPAN 1XXX 8 credits SPAN 1XXX 4 credits SPAN 1XXX Only SPAN 2XXX counts towards the Spanish major/minor
SL Spanish (A2 or B)4 4 credits SPAN 2XXX; 8 credits SPAN 1XXX 8 credits SPAN 1XXX 4 credits SPAN 1XXX Only SPAN 2XXX counts towards the Spanish major/minor
Theatre Arts 8 credits THEA 1XXX 8 credits THEA 1XXX 4 credits THEA 1XXX
1

The Common Curriculum attributes listed in Notes (ex. Analytical Inquiry: Society & Culture) mean that the credits will count towards those requirements but might not complete them. 

2

Credit for the same course will only be awarded once (i.e. no duplicate credit for the same class from two different exams)

3

Eligible to register for the advanced level of WRIT credit.

4

Credit can be awarded for one exam (either AP or IB) in one language only; no IB language credit can count towards the Foreign Language (FOLA) requirement

5

Counts toward the Business Core

6

A maximum of 4 credits of HIST elective can be awarded

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) 

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a group of standardized tests created and administered by the College Board. These tests assess college-level knowledge in thirty-six subject areas and provide a mechanism for earning college credits without taking college courses. The University of Denver will consider awarding college credit for exams in disciplines we teach. All credit awarded for CLEP exams is contingent on departmental approval. Scores below 50 will not be considered.