Advanced Credit and Placement

DePauw awards credit for a number of advanced placement and dual enrollment programs, including College Board AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), dual enrollment, advanced college, and A Levels.

Many entering DePauw students have done work in high school or at other colleges that earns them advanced placement and/or course credit at DePauw. Figuring out the right placement or how much course credit to award can be a complicated process, so students should work closely with the staff in the Registrar's Office. A maximum of eight course credits (32 semester hours) may be awarded through dual enrollment, early college, and advanced placement programs. Following are some of the types of advanced placement or course credit programs recognized by DePauw.

Advanced Placement through high school course work

DePauw offers placement tests for foreign language and mathematics. The results from the test allow you to pick the course that matches your knowledge of the subject. If you score high enough, it is possible for you to test into higher levels. In some cases, credit for earlier courses is awarded upon the completion of an advanced course. Placement tests for calculus, computer science, and many modern languages -- and placement interviews for Japanese and Chinese -- are available during New Student Orientation.

Advanced placement through the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or A-Level programs

DePauw awards credit in a number of fields for AP scores of 4 or 5. In some fields (calculus and the languages) a score of 3 may qualify a student for advanced placement. IB scores of 5, 6 or 7 on higher level examinations often earn course credit. Examinations of C or better on A-Level areas may earn up to two course credits.

Unfortunately for incoming first-year students, scores for these tests are often not available before the end of DePauw's course request period. Students should have their scores sent to DePauw. We will adjust your registration as needed when the results of the examinations come in. Michele Cross (765-658-4142) in the Registrar's Office is the person to contact with any questions about AP, A-Level, or IB credit. A list of AP tests and credit awarded appears at the bottom of this page.

Transfer credit from another college

You may be able to receive credit for courses taken at another college. To receive credit, you should have your college transcript sent to the Registrar's Office, transcripts@depauw.edu or 2 E. Hanna Street, Greencastle, IN 46135. DePauw generally accepts for transfer credit courses taken at regionally accredited colleges (including junior and community colleges) in areas in which we have curricular offerings and in which the student earns a grade of C or better. The courses should be at a level parallel to DePauw offerings. For instance, our math curriculum begins with calculus and statistics. Courses like College Algebra and Finite Math are generally considered pre-calculus courses and do not receive transfer credit. 

Dual enrollment programs

For courses taken in a high school dual enrollment or early college program, unassigned, elective credit may be awarded. To receive credit the courses must be at a level equivalent to DePauw courses and the student must earn at least a B in the courses. Unassigned credit is listed as University Studies (UNIV) credit and is applicable to the credit required for graduation but not to majors, minors, competence and distribution requirements. To receive assigned credit (i.e., credit that is assigned to a particular department and counts toward a major or minor) the student must meet with the appropriate department chair or program director within the first semester. He/she will review the course content and the student’s performance and make the determination about awarding assigned, departmental credit.

AP Tests and Equivalent Credit

DePauw generally gives one course credit (four semester hours) for scores of 4 or 5 on the AP examinations. The courses awarded for those scores for the following tests are listed below. We do not give credit in studio art or in English language for international students. Questions about AP credit should be directed to the Registrar's Office.

Prospective students should request that their AP scores be sent to DePauw when they take the test. If this has not been done, please contact the AP Program to make that request so scores will be received in a timely manner. If the AP course was taken prior to the senior year, please specify that the score should also be included. Contact information follows:

AP Services
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
Toll-free phone (888) 225-5427

The CEEB code number for DePauw University is 1166.

Besides the College Board's AP program, DePauw accepts several other forms of advanced placement, including International Baccalaureate, A Levels, and dual enrollment college. See the University Catalog for the policies that govern these forms of advanced placement.