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Policies for Advanced Placement Examinations

At Brown, the use of AP examinations for placement in certain courses or for credit is determined by individual academic departments. In some instances, an AP score may earn both placement into an advanced course and credit toward advanced standing. Some departments offer credit retroactively, only upon successful completion of one of their advanced courses. Some concentrations accept an AP credit towards the concentration requirements; others allow a student to substitute a more advanced course towards the concentration requirement. For further information on departmental procedures regarding a particular score, contact the departmental AP advisor.

Please note that AP credits do not count towards the 30 courses required to graduate from Brown. They may, however, in certain instances, allow a student to graduate in fewer than 8 semesters if all other degree requirements are met (30 courses, a concentration, and writing competency).

Students receiving approval for AP credits contingent on their taking one or more courses at Brown must inform the Registrar’s Office (Room 312, University Hall) when they have successfully completed these courses. AP credit will not be granted until the Registrar’s Office is notified.

Academic departments that DO NOT grant academic credit for AP exams:
Computer Science
English: Language and Composition
English: Literature and Composition
Government and Politics
Human Geography
Music: Listening, Literature, and Theory
Visual Art: Studio Drawing and Studio General

Chemistry: No credit, but students with a score of 4 or 5 may enroll in Chemistry 33 without taking the placement exam. Students with a score of 3 or lower should take the placement exam to determine if Chemistry 33 or 10 is more appropriate.

Policies for departments granting AP credit:
Listed below are AP policies for departments that give immediate or contingent credit based on AP examination scores. The policies are current as of April 2006 and are subject to change. Students are advised to confirm AP credit policies with the appropriate department(s). The policies apply to all incoming Brown undergraduates, including transfer students.

American History
5: earns credit for History 51 and 52 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 100-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward the concentration requirement in History.

Art History
4 or 5: earns credit for History of Art 1, but does not count toward concentration credit.

Biology
4 or 5: earns one unassigned credit in biology and placement beyond Biomed 20.

Economics
4 or 5 in Macroeconomics plus 4 or 5 in Microeconomics: credit for Economics 11 and placement into Economics 111. Students granted such credit may count the credit toward the concentration's requirement of nine economics courses.

Environmental Science
5: earns credit for Environmental Studies 11 or Environmental Studies 49, with permission of the concentration advisor. However, this AP credit does not reduce the total number of courses required for concentrations in Environmental Studies (14) or Environmental Science (17-19), so students should take an additional focus course or intermediate science course in place of ES 11 or ES 49.

European History
5: earns credit for History 1 and 2 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 100-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward the concentration requirements in History.

French Language and Literature
4: earns credit for French 40 and placement into French 50 or 52. 5: earns credit for French 50 only. Students may take French 52 for credit. Placement in French 60 (language) or French 75 or 76 (literature) to be confirmed during Orientation week or the first week of classes after consultation with the senior language coordinator or concentration advisor.

Students with a 5 in AP Literature and very strong language skills may be allowed to take a 100-level course with permission. All incoming students with a score of 5 should consult a faculty member regarding appropriate placement.

German Language
4 or 5: earns credit for German 40.

Latin
4 or 5: may earn one credit at the 100 level in Latin upon successful completion of an appropriate advanced course. This policy applies both to the examination in lyric and in epic. Credit may be earned for two courses if the student successfully completes two advanced courses in Latin at Brown.

Mathematics
AB Calculus 4 or 5: earns credit for Math 9.
BC Calculus 4 or 5: earns credit for both Math 9 and Math 10.
BC Calculus 3: earns credit for Math 9.

Physics
5 in Physics C (Mech. exam 2):
or 4 in Physics C (Mech.) plus 5 in Physics C (Elec. and Mag. exam 3):
or 5 in Physics B:

Students with these scores who then successfully complete Physics 4, 6, 8, 47, 50, or a 100-level physics course may receive retroactive credit for Physics 3. While these are the requirements for earning an AP credit, they are not necessarily required for placement in a Physics course when a student enters Brown. Students considering skipping Physics 3, 5, or 7 should consult with their first year advisor or Prof. Jay Tang, the Physics Placement Coordinator

Psychology
4 or 5: earns one unassigned credit in Psychology, placement out of Psychology 1, and permission to enroll in higher-level courses. The AP credit may not be used for concentration requirements in Psychology.

Spanish Language or Literature
4 or 5: may earn one unassigned credit in Spanish language upon successful completion of Spanish 50, 60, or a 70-level course. See the Spanish Placement Guide.
1–3: No credit. Placement in Spanish courses at Brown depend on the results of the Brown Placement Test.

Statistics
4 or 5: may earn one unassigned credit in statistics. The guidelines for AP courses on statistics do not include one-way or two-way analysis of variance. Because these methods are emphasized in experimental psychology, an AP score does not automatically count toward meeting the PY9/CG9 requirement. Students seeking credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 must submit course materials showing that their AP course covered the range of topics covered in PY9/CG9.

World History
5: earns credit for History 1 and 2 contingent upon the successful completion of any two 100-level one-semester courses in the history department. Successful completion of one course will earn one credit. In no case, however, will it count toward concentration requirements in History.