Undergraduate Admissions

AP Credit

Western Illinois University participates in College Board's AP (Advanced Placement) program. WIU awards credit to students who complete AP courses with a score of 3 or higher on the exam. 

The below chart outlines how AP scores will transfer to WIU. 

General education abbreviation guide: 

  • Hum = Humanities and Fine Arts
  • Sci/Math = Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • SoSc = Social Sciences
  • Comm = Communication Skills

Click here to learn more about WIU's general education requirements. 

African American Studies
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
African American Studies 3, 4, or 5, AAS 100 3 Multicultural
Art
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Studio Art-General 3 Art Elective 1  
4 or 5 Art 101 3  
Studio Art-Drawing 3 Art Elective 1  
4 or 5 Art 140 3  
Art History 3 Arth Elective 3 Hum
4 Art 282 3 Hum
5 Art 282, 283 6 Hum
Biology
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Biology 3, 4 or 5 BOT 200 4 Sci/Math
3, 4 or 5 Zool 200 4 Sci/Math
Chemistry
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Chemistry 3 Chem 201 4 Sci/Math
4 or 5 Chem 201, 202 8 Sci/Math
Computer Science
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Computer Science A 3 CS Elec 3  
4 CS 114 & CS 214 6  Sci/Math
5 CS 114 & CS 214 6  Sci/Math
Computer Science AB 3 CS 114 & CS 214 6  Sci/Math
4 CS 114, CS 214 & CS 250 9  Sci/Math
5 CS 114, CS 214 & CS 250 9  Sci/Math
Computer Science Principles 3 CS Elec 3  
4 CS 114 3  Sci/Math
5 CS 114 3  Sci/Math
Economics
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Macro 3, 4 or 5 Econ 231 3 SoSc
Micro 3, 4 or 5 Econ 232 3 SoSc
English Language & Composition
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
English Language & Composition 3 Gen Elective, may appeal to receive credit for Eng 180, call (309) 298-2136  3  
4 or 5 Eng 180 3 Comm
English Literature & Composition
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
English Literature & Composition 3 Eng Elective 3  
4 or 5 Eng 195 3 Hum
Environmental Science
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Environmental Science 3, 4 or 5 Envr 201 3  
Foreign Language
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Fren, Germ, Span, Spanlit 3, 4 or 5 121, 122, 223, 224 language courses 14 Hum
Chin, Ital, Jpn,  Lati, Latinv 3, 4 or 5 121, 122, 223, 224 FL elective courses 14 Hum
History
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
US History 3, 4 or 5 History 105 3 Hum
3, 4 or 5 History 106 3 Hum
European History 3, 4 or 5 History 115 3 Hum
3, 4 or 5 History 116 3 Hum
World History 3, 4 or 5 History 115 3 Hum
3, 4 or 5 History 116 3 Hum
Human Geography
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Human Geography 3, 4 or 5 Geog 100 3 SoSc
Mathematics
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Calculus AB Exam 3, 4 or 5 Math 133 & placement in Math 134 4 Sci/Math
Calculus BC Exam 2, 3 w/AB subscore of 3 Math 133 & placement in Math 134 4 Sci/Math
4 or 5 Math 133 and 134 4 each Sci/Math
PreCalculus 3, 4 or 5 MATH 131 5  
Statistics 3, 4 or 5 Statistics 171 3 Sci/Math
Music Theory
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Music Theory 3 w/subscores 1 or 2 Mus Elec 3  
3 w/subscores 3 or 4 Mus 181 2  
3 w/subscores 3 or 4 Mus 183 1  
4 or 5 w/subscores 3 Mus 181 2  
4 or 5 w/subscores 3 Mus 183 1  
4 or 5 w/subscores 4 or 5 Mus 181 2  
4 or 5 w/subscores 4 or 5 Mus 183 1  
4 or 5 w/subscores 4 or 5 Mus 182 2  
4 or 5 w/subscores 4 or 5  Mus 184 1  
Physics
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Physics 1 or 2 3 Physics Elec 3 Sci/Math
Physics 1 4 or 5 Physics 114 4 Student's choice based on curriculum needs
Physics 124 5
Physics 2 4 or 5 Physics 115 4 Student's choice based on curriculum needs
Physics 125 5
Physics C Part 1: Mechanics 3, 4 or 5 Physics 211 4 Sci/Math
Physics C Part 2: Electricity & Magnetism 3, 4 or 5 Physics 213 4  
Political Science
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
US Gov't & Politics 3, 4, or 5 POLS 122 3 SoSc
Comparative Gov't 3, 4, or 5 POLS 267 3 SoSc
Psychology
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Psychology 3, 4 or 5 Psy 100 3 SoSc
Research
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Research 3 GEN Elec 3  
4 GEN Elec 3  
5 GEN Elec 3  
Seminar
AP Exam Score Equivalency Semester Hours Gen. Ed.
Seminar 3 GEN Elec 3  
4 GEN Elec 3  
5 GEN Elec 3