Bring Credits to GW

First-year and transfer applicants may earn college credit before they matriculate at the George Washington University (GW), which may be applied to their degree requirements.

Assuming there is no duplication of coursework, a maximum of 24 credits may be awarded on the basis of work completed while enrolled in high school through examinations such as AP/IB/A-Levels.

Students enrolled in college coursework while in high school should apply as a first-time student. There is no limit to the number of pre-matriculation credits a student can bring to GW from a post-secondary institution. (See "Colleges Courses Taken in High School" below for details.)

For transfer students, an evaluation of your courses taken at other institutions is completed when you have been admitted to GW and comes with your letter of admission. This evaluation will give you an idea of which credits will transfer to GW. However, a final determination of how this credit will be applied to a degree must be obtained from your academic adviser.

These policies are made in collaboration with the faculty, Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Academic Planning and Assessment and are in effect for incoming students to Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (including Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and School of Media and Public Affairs), Elliott School of International Affairs, School of Business, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and School of Public Health. Students entering into other schools should refer to "Assignment of Credits for Transfer Students" in the University Bulletin. Requests for changes to these policies should be submitted via petition to the Office of the Registrar.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

In order to receive credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, you must have official score results forwarded directly to us from the College Board. GW's College Board code is 5246. Official AP scores and International Baccalaureate (IB) results should be sent as soon as they are available, but no later than the end of a student's first year at GW.

AP Equivalents

Arts

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Art:Art History

4 or 5

6 hours

AH 1031 & 1032

Art:Studio Art-Drawing

4 or 5

3 hours

CSA 1301

Art:Studio Art- 2D or 3D Design

4 or 5

3 hours

FA 1099

Music Theory

4 or 5

3 hours

MUS 1101

 

Sciences

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Biology

4 or 5

8 hours

BISC 1115, 1125, 1116 & 1126

Chemistry

4 or 5

8 hours

CHEM 1111 & 1112

Computer Science A

4 or 5

3 hours

CSCI 1111

Environmental Science

4 or 5

3 hours

GEOL 1099

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

4 or 5

4 hours

PHYS 1011

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

4 or 5

4 hours

PHYS 1012

Physics C: Mechanics

4 or 5

4 hours

PHYS 1021

Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

4 or 5

4 hours

PHYS 1022

 

Maths

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Mathematics: Calculus AB

4 or 5

3 hours

MATH 1231

Mathematics: Calculus BC

4 or 5

6 hours

MATH 1231 & 1232

Statistics

4 or 5

3 hours

STAT 1051

 

Languages

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Chinese Language and Culture

 

5

8 hours

CHIN 2003 & 2004

4

4 hours

English Language and Composition

4 or 5

3 hours

UW 1099

English Literature and Composition

4 or 5

3 hours

ENGL 1050

French Language and Culture

5

6 hours

FREN 1004 & 2005

German Language and Culture

5

6 hours

GER 2009 & 2010

4

3 hours

GER 1099

Italian Language and Culture

5

6 hours

ITAL 1004 & 2005

Japanese Language and Culture

5

8 hours

JAPN 2003 & 2004

4

4 hours

JAPN 2003

Latin

4 or 5

3 hours

LATN 2002

Spanish Language and Culture

5

6 hours

SPAN 1014 & 2005

Spanish Literature and Culture

4 or 5

3 hours

SPAN 2006

 

Social Sciences

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Government & Politics: Comparative

4 or 5

3 hours

PSC 1001

Government & Politics: United States

4 or 5

3 hours

PSC 1002

History: United States

4 or 5

6 hours

HIST 1310 & 1311

History: European

4 or 5

3 hours

HIST 1120

History: World

4 or 5

3 hours

HIST 1011

Human Geography

4 or 5

3 hours

GEOG 1001

Psychology

4 or 5

3 hours

PSYC 1001

 

Business

Examination

Score

Credit
Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Economics: Microeconomics

4 or 5

3 hours

ECON 1011

Economics: Macroeconomics

4 or 5

3 hours

ECON 1012

The university reserves the right to change policy regarding AP credit without advance notice.

IB Equivalents

Studies in Language and Literature

Examination

 Score

 

 Credits Awarded

 

GW Course Equivalent

Arabic A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

 6 or 7

 

 3 hours

 

Arabic 1099

English A1- Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

English 1340
French A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

 

6 or 7

6 hours

French 2005-2006

5

6 hours

French 1004 & 2005

French A1 (Literature: Language and Literature) - Standard Level

7

6 hours

French 1004 & 2005

German A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

German 1099

Indonesian A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Interdisciplinary Studies 1099
Italian A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

 

6 or 7

6 hours

Italian 2005-2006

5

6 hours

Italian 1004 & 2005

Italian A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Standard Level

7

6 hours

Italian 1004 & 2005
Spanish A1(Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

 

6 or 7

6 hours

Spanish 2005-2006

5

6 hours

Spanish 1004 & 2005

Spanish A1(Literature; Language and Literature) - Standard Level

7

6 hours

Spanish 1004 & 2005

Russian A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Slavic 1099

Turkish A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Interdisciplinary Studies 1099

Persian A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Interdisciplinary Studies 1099

Latin (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Latin 1099

Greek (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Greek 1099

Korean A1 (Literature; Language and Literature) - Higher Level

6 or 7

3 hours

Korean 1099


Language Acquisition

Examination

Score

Credits Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Arabic B - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Arabic 1099

English B

--

None given

None
French B - Higher Level

 

7

6 hours

French 2005-2006

6

6 hours

French 1004 & 2005

German B - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

German 1099
Italian B - Higher Level

 

7

6 hours

Italian 2005-2006

6

6 hours

Italian 1004 & 2005

Japanese B - Higher Level

6 or 7

8 hours

Japanese 2003-2004

Mandarin B - Higher Level

6 or 7

8 hours

Chinese 2003-2004
Spanish B - Higher Level

 

7

6 hours

Spanish 2005-2006

6

6 hours

Spanish 1004 & 2005

Portuguese B - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Portuguese 1099


Individuals and Societies

Examination

Score

Credits Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Business and Organization - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Business
Administration 1099

Economics - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Economics 1011-1012

Geography - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Geography 1099

History - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of Africa - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of the Americas - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of East & SE Asia - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of Europe - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of the Islamic World - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

History of West & South Asia - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

History 1099

Information Technology in a Global Society - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Interdisciplinary Studies 1099

Philosophy - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Philosophy 1099

Psychology - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Psychology 1099

Social Anthropology - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Anthropology 1099


Experimental Sciences

Examination

Score

Credits Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Biology - Higher Level

6 or 7

8 hours

Biology 1099

Chemistry - Higher Level

6 or 7

8 hours

Chemistry 1099

Computer Science - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Computer Science 1099

Design Technology - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Interdisciplinary Studies 1099

Physics - Higher Level

6 or 7

8 hours

Physics 1099


Mathematics

Examination

Score

Credits Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Mathematics - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Math 1099


The Arts

Examination

Score

Credits Awarded

GW Course Equivalent

Art/Design - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Fine Art 1099

Film - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Film 1099

Music - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Music 1099

Theatre Arts - Higher Level

6 or 7

6 hours

Theatre and Dance 1099
Visual Arts - Higher Level 6 or 7 6 hours Fine Art 1099


The university reserves the right to change policy regarding IB credit without advance notice.

College Courses Taken in High School

Assignment of credit for college courses taken during high school depends on the grade earned, the appropriateness of the coursework, the standing of the institution at which the coursework was completed, and the regulations of the school or college to which the student is transferring. For Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (including Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and School of Media and Public Affairs), Elliott School of International Affairs, School of Business, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health coursework completed at another institution must have received a grade of “C-“ or above to be accepted for transfer credit.

In order to receive credit, you should have official transcripts sent to the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible. While there is no limit to the number of credits that can be transferred to GW, students must complete at least 60 of the total credits required for their degree at or through GW. School-specific regulations on transfer credit can be found in the University Bulletin or by contacting the appropriate Dean’s office.

Transfer Credit

Assignment of credit for transfer applicants depends on the grade earned, the appropriateness of the coursework, the standing of the institution at which the coursework was completed, and the regulations of the school or college to which the student is transferring. For Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (including Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and School of Media and Public Affairs), Elliott School of International Affairs, School of Business, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health coursework completed at another institution must have received a grade of “C-“ or above to be accepted for transfer credit.

A meeting with your adviser upon acceptance is encouraged to help you determine which courses will fulfill degree requirements for your intended major. While there is no limit to the number of credits that can be transferred to GW, students must complete at least 60 of the total credits required for their degree at or through GW. School-specific regulations on transfer credit can be found in the University Bulletin or by contacting the appropriate Dean’s office.