University of Southern California AP credit

What each AP score earns at University of Southern California: 28 exams, credit shown in semester hours. Always confirm with the school before you plan your schedule.

Rules that apply to every exam

Elective credit: 4 semester units for each AP exam with a score of 4 or 5, if taken before matriculation at a two-year or four-year college.
No credit for projected scores, partial scores, or subscores such as Calculus AB Subscore, Music: Aural Subscore, or Music: Nonaural Subscore.
AP Capstone Seminar with a score of 4 or 5 earns 4 semester units; no credit is given for AP Capstone Research.
AP scores do not earn USC course equivalence.
No credit for both an AP exam and a college course taken before high school graduation covering the same subject, nor for both AP and IB exams covering the same subject.
Students may receive a combined maximum of 32 elective units for pre-graduation college courses and exams taken before matriculation.
Scores must be sent directly from the College Board, not from the high school or in any other format.
Prerequisite or degree requirement waivers using AP scores are at department discretion; contact the teaching department or major advisor.
Many medical schools do not accept AP exam credit in lieu of college course credit for admission requirements.

AP exam	Score	Credit	Courses
AP African American Studies	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations.
AP Art History	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-A: Arts.
AP Biology	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-D: Life Sciences. Prerequisite BISC 120 or BISC 220 may be waived; see undergrad advisor in Biological Sciences.
AP Calculus AB	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite MATH 118 or 125 may be waived; not the AB subscore.
AP Calculus BC	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite waiver depends on score: 4 waives MATH 118 or 125; 5 waives MATH 118, or 125 and MATH 126.
AP Capstone Seminar	4+	4	—Elective credit only; no credit for AP Capstone Research.
AP Chemistry	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences. Prerequisite CHEM 105aL may be waived; take CHEM 105bL.
AP Chinese Language and Culture	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP European History	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations.
AP French Language	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP French Literature	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP German Language	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP Italian Language and Culture	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP Japanese Language and Culture	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP Macroeconomics	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite ECON 205 may be waived; take certain upper-division ECON courses.
AP Microeconomics	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite ECON 203 may be waived; take certain upper-division ECON courses.
AP Physics 1	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences.
AP Physics 2	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences.
AP Physics B	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences.
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences.
AP Physics C: Mechanics	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-E: Physical Sciences.
AP Precalculus	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite MATH 108 may be waived; take MATH 118 or MATH 125.
AP Psychology	4+	4	—Prerequisite PSYC 100 may be waived; take certain upper-division PSYC courses, see advisor.
AP Spanish Language	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP Spanish Literature	4+	4	—Satisfies third-level foreign language requirement if taken spring 2007 or later; no course equivalence.
AP Statistics	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning.
AP U.S. History	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations.
AP World History	4+	4	—Satisfies GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations.

Source: University of Southern California official AP credit policy . Read on October 22, 2026. Compare AP credit across colleges