Advanced Placement Credit - Application to College and Major Requirements, 2026–27

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

This chart explains how Advanced Placement (AP) scores of 3 or higher are granted credit at the University of California, with notes on how credit can apply to minor or prerequisite coursework, general-education requirements, and elective units. It outlines restrictions on duplicate credit for courses, majors, and other exams, and clarifies what happens when multiple exams cover the same subject content. Placement credit references 2026–27 exams and advises consulting an academic adviser for questions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

AP Credit Rules and Policies

Credit limitations and duplication

Language exam opportunities

University Course Exemptions Chart

Exam and units for university credit

Advanced Placement Credit: Application to College and Major Requirements, 2026–27 The University of California grants credit for most College Board Advanced Placement Tests (AP) on which a student scores 3 or higher. The credit may be subject credit for use on a minor or prerequisite to a major, or credit toward general-education requirements or elective units toward graduation. The number of units granted for AP tests are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of an undergraduate major. Students who enter the university with AP credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students, nor are they required to graduate earlier. A student cannot receive credit for a UC San Diego course that duplicates AP credit. Where the chart says “exempt” or “equal to a UC San Diego course number,” that course may not be taken for credit. Students who are fluent in a language other than English that was not their high school language of instruction should not overlook the opportunity to get AP credit by taking the foreign language/literature exams. Students should be advised that college courses taken before or after attending UC might duplicate AP examinations. Additionally, exams might duplicate each other (for example, an AP or IB exam in the same subject area*) . If the student does duplicate an exam with another exam of the same subject content, and/or an exam with a college course, credit will be awarded only once. Note: Please see a college academic adviser for clarification of any questions you may have. Credit and/or placement listed is based on 2026–27 exams. | EXAM AND UNITS
FOR UNIVERSITY
CREDIT | UC SAN DIEGO
COURSE
EXEMPTIONS
(FOR USE ON
MAJOR) | REVELLE COLLEGE | JOHN MUIR
COLLEGE | THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE | EARL WARREN
COLLEGE | ELEANOR
ROOSEVELT
COLLEGE | SIXTH COLLEGE | SEVENTH
COLLEGE | EIGHTH
COLLEGE | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | African American Studies | None | 1 course of social science requirement. | 1 course in the“Culture, Society
and Social Justice”theme for social sciences. | Meets 1 course toward the humanities and cultural studies requirement. | 1 course for African American Studies PofC or area study. | 1 course for lower
division. Regional Specialization: Multiculturalism in North America. | 1 course toward narrative, aesthetic, and historical reasoning. | Elective credit only. | Score of 3, 4, or 5 meets 1 course
toward humanities requirement. | | Studio Art
Drawing—8
2D Art and Design—8
3D Art and Design—8
(8-unit maximum for all tests)
*same subject area as IB Visual Arts | None | Meets fine arts
requirement. | 3, 4, or 5 = 2 courses
in a visual arts theme in fine arts. Cannot
combine studio art and art history to clear a full year of fine arts—will still need one class. | Meets lower-division disciplinary breadth if noncontiguous to major. | 2 courses toward visual arts or humanities PofC or 1 course toward visual arts or humanities area study. | Score of 3, 4, or
5 meets fine arts requirement. | Score of 3, 4, or 5 =
2 courses toward art making. | Score of 3, 4,
or 5 meets arts
requirement. | Each score of 3, 4, or 5 meets 1 course toward arts requirement. | | Art History—8 | None | Meets fine arts
requirement. | 3, 4, or 5 = 2 courses
in a visual arts theme in fine arts. Cannot
combine studio art and art history to clear a full year of fine arts—will still need one class. | Meets fine arts requirement and 1 lower-division disciplinary breadth if noncontiguous to major. | 2 courses toward visual arts or humanities PofC or 1 course toward visual arts or humanities area study. | Score of 3, 4, or
5 meets fine arts requirement. | Score of 3, 4, or 5 = 2 courses toward narrative, aesthetic, and historical reasoning. | Score of 3, 4,
or 5 meets arts
requirement. | Score of 3, 4,
or 5 meets arts
requirement. | |

FAQs

What AP score is required to receive UC credit?

UC grants credit for most College Board AP tests when a student scores 3 or higher. The resulting credit can apply to different requirement types listed in the chart.

Can a student receive credit for a UC San Diego course that duplicates AP credit?

No. A student cannot receive credit for a UC San Diego course that duplicates AP credit. If the chart marks a course as “exempt” or “equal to a UC San Diego course number,” that course may not be taken for credit.

How is credit handled if multiple exams cover the same subject content?

Credit is awarded only once when the student duplicates an exam with another exam in the same subject area and/or with a college course. The chart advises students that exams might overlap (including AP or IB exams) and duplication affects credit.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Finn