Swarthmore College AP credit

What each AP score earns at Swarthmore College: 27 exams, credit shown in credits. Always confirm with the school before you plan your schedule.

Rules that apply to every exam

Credit and placement are distinct; departmental credit awards are provisional until official College Board scores are received and the department validates the credit.
There is no College-wide maximum limit on the amount of AP or IB credit that can be received.
Credit awarded for work done elsewhere appears on the student transcript.
Swarthmore NSEP credit is not awarded for AP tests, International Baccalaureate examinations, or other advanced placement work.
Most departmental credit decisions are made after the first semester; students not hearing a decision by the end of the second semester should contact the department.
Swarthmore's CEEB (College Board) number is 2821 for sending official AP scores.
Departmental policies are subject to change; the English Literature and Mathematics and Statistics policies were updated for students who matriculate in 2019.

AP exam	Score	Credit	Courses
AP African American Studies	4+	1	HIST 001-0111 credit per exam, 2 maximum across History exams. Requires a straight C or better in one HIST course (001-011) for first AP/IB credit. No AP/IB credit counts toward the History major or minor. Possible advanced course placement with instructor permission.
AP Art History	5	1	—Credit granted upon completion of an art history course in the department.
AP Biology	5	1	BIOL 001, BIOL 002Credit awarded after completion of one Swarthmore Biology course with lab (e.g. BIOL 001 or 002). If both Biology 001 and 002 are taken, the AP credit is dropped from the transcript.
AP Calculus AB	4+	1	MATH 015Equals MATH 015. Applies to the Calculus AB exam or the AB subscore.
AP Calculus BC	4+	2	MATH 015, MATH 025Equals MATH 015 and 025. Possible advanced placement up to two semesters via the Department Calculus placement exam.
AP Chemistry	5	—	—No credit; allows direct access to the CHEM 010 Placement exam. Students must indicate this score through the Chemistry Preparedness process on the Deans Office online Orientation forms.
AP Chinese Language and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 credit per language. Awarded after completing a 1.0 credit course in that language at the College. Placement test required.
AP Comparative Government and Politics	5	1	—Maximum 1 credit for the Political Science exams; cannot be combined with United States Government and Politics.
AP Computer Science A	4+	1	CPSCMaximum 1 credit; awarded after completion of one Swarthmore CPSC course. Complete the CS AP form for approval.
AP Computer Science Principles	4+	1	CPSCMaximum 1 credit; awarded after completion of one Swarthmore CPSC course. Complete the CS AP form for approval.
AP Economics	5	—	ECON 001Macro and Micro exams both required. Option to place out of ECON 001; if used, another Econ course must be taken before ECON 011 or 021.
AP English Literature and Composition	5	1	ENGL 009 or higherCredit awarded after completion of one English course (ENGL 009 or higher). Counts toward the major.
AP Environmental Science	5	1	—Does not satisfy college divisional distribution requirements. Usable as an ENVS major or minor elective but not for divisional credit. A passing ENVS-listed course at Swarthmore is also required.
AP European History	4+	1	HIST 001-0111 credit per exam, 2 maximum across History exams. Requires a straight C or better in one HIST course (001-011) for first AP/IB credit. No AP/IB credit counts toward the History major or minor. Possible advanced course placement with instructor permission.
AP French Language and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 credit per language. Awarded after completing a 1.0 credit course in that language at the College. Placement test required.
AP German Language and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 credit per language. Awarded after completing a 1.0 credit course in that language at the College. Placement test required.
AP Japanese Language and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 credit per language. Awarded after completing a 1.0 credit course in that language at the College. Placement test required.
AP Latin	5	1	—Advanced placement for listed score (Vergil exam); possible advanced placement with a lower score.
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism	5	1	PHYS 004Equals PHYS 004 credit if the student passes a representative Physics 004 test administered by the department. Possible advanced placement.
AP Physics C: Mechanics	5	1	PHYS 003Equals PHYS 003 credit if the student passes a representative Physics 003 test administered by the department. Possible advanced placement.
AP Psychology	5	—	PSYC 001No credit. Possible placement out of Intro Psychology; consult the department for exemption from PSYC 001.
AP Spanish Language and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 Spanish credit per student across Spanish exams. Spanish placement test required. Awarded after successful completion of a Spanish course at the College. Not counted toward the Spanish major or minor.
AP Spanish Literature and Culture	4+	1	—Maximum 1 Spanish credit per student across Spanish exams. Spanish placement test required. Awarded after successful completion of a Spanish course at the College. Not counted toward the Spanish major or minor.
AP Statistics	4+	1	STAT 011Equals STAT 011.
AP United States Government and Politics	5	1	—Maximum 1 credit for the Political Science exams; cannot be combined with Comparative Government and Politics.
AP United States History	4+	1	HIST 001-0111 credit per exam, 2 maximum across History exams. Requires a straight C or better in one HIST course (001-011) for first AP/IB credit. No AP/IB credit counts toward the History major or minor. Possible advanced course placement with instructor permission.
AP World History	4+	1	HIST 001-0111 credit per exam, 2 maximum across History exams. Requires a straight C or better in one HIST course (001-011) for first AP/IB credit. No AP/IB credit counts toward the History major or minor. Possible advanced course placement with instructor permission.

Source: Swarthmore College official AP credit policy . Read on October 22, 2026. Compare AP credit across colleges