The Advanced Placement Program allows the College Board to offer national examinations for you to qualify for advanced placement or academic credit at Iowa State. These exams are administered each May. Official scores must be sent to Iowa State University directly from the College Board. For specific equivalencies, see the chart below.
Art
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Art History | 3-4 | Art History 280 | 3 |
| 5 | Art History 280, 281 | 6 |
Drawing | | No Credit | |
2-D Art & Design | | No Credit | |
3-D Art & Design | | No Credit | |
Biology
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Biology | 4-5 | Biology 100 | 4 |
Chemistry
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Chemistry | 4-5 | Chemistry 177, 178 | 7 |
Depending upon the Chemistry Department's review of the student's AP Chemistry lab notebook, students may receive up to two additional credits: one credit for CHEM 167L, or one credit for CHEM 177L, or two credits for CHEM 177L and 178L.
Computer science
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Computer Science A | 4 | Computer Science 127 | 4 |
Computer Science A | 5 | Computer Science 127 and 227 | 8 |
Computer Science Principles | 4-5 | Computer Science 100 | 3 |
Economics
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Macroeconomics | 3-5 | Economics 102 | 3 |
Microeconomics | 3-5 | Economics 101 | 3 |
English
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
English Language & Composition | 3-5 | English 150 | 3 |
English Literature & Composition | 4-5 | English 100 or 150 | 3 |
If you have earned an ACT English score of at least 24 or an SAT ERW score of at least 600, you do not need to take the English Language/Composition Exam as you will automatically be placed into English 250. If you earn a grade of C or better in English 250 taken at Iowa State University, you will be awarded test-out credit for English 150.
Environmental science
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Environmental Science | 3-5 | Environmental Studies 100 | 3 |
Foreign language
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Chinese Language & Culture | 3 | Chinese 101 | 4 |
Chinese Language & Culture | 4 | Chinese 101, 102 | 8 |
Chinese Language & Culture | 5 | Chinese 101, 102, 201 | 12 |
French Language & Culture | 3 | French 101, 102 | 8 |
French Language & Culture | 4-5 | French 101, 102, 201, 202 | 16 |
German Language & Culture | 3 | German 101, 102 | 8 |
German Language & Culture | 4-5 | German 101, 102, 201, 202 | 16 |
Italian Language & Culture | 3 | Italian 100P | 8 |
Italian Language & Culture | 4-5 | Italian 100P, Italian 200P | 16 |
Latin | 3 | Latin 101, 102 | 8 |
Latin | 4-5 | Latin 101, 102 | 8 |
Spanish Language & Culture | 3 | Spanish 101, 102 | 8 |
Spanish Language & Culture | 4-5 | Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202 | 16 |
Spanish Literature & Culture | 3-5 | Spanish 300* | 3 |
Students who plan to enroll in a foreign language course at Iowa State and who receive a score of 5 on a Foreign Language or Literature AP examination may qualify for foreign language credits in addition to those indicated above.
* Credits earned in Spanish 300 may be counted toward the following requirements: general education requirements in the humanities; international perspectives; requirements for the Spanish major or minor; Latin American Studies Certificate; or elective credit. NOTE: Students interested in applying these credits to the major or minor in Spanish or U.S. Latino/a Studies should consult with an advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Geography
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Human Geography | 3-5 | Social Science 100 | 3 |
Government and politics
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
U.S. Government and Politics | 4-5 | Political Science 111 | 3 |
Comparative Government/Politics | 4-5 | Political Science 125 | 3 |
History
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
African American Studies | 4-5 | African American Studies 201 | 3 |
European History | 4-5 | History 201, 202 | 6 |
United States History | 4-5 | History 221, 222 | 6 |
World History: Modern | 4-5 | History 100 | 6 |
Mathematics
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Calculus AB | 4-5 | Math 165 | 4 |
Calculus BC | 3 | Math 165 | 4 |
Calculus BC | 4-5 | Math 165, 166 | 8 |
Precalculus | 4-5 | Math 143 | 4 |
Note: All students are required to take a math placement exam prior to registering for classes. If the student’s math placement is not consistent with the credits awarded on the basis of their AP Calculus exam (as indicated above), the student should consult with their academic advisor to determine whether they still wish to accept the math credit they have been awarded.
Music
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Music Theory | 4-5 | Music 224 | 4 |
Physics
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Physics 1: Algebra-based | 5 | Physics 131, 131L | 5 |
Physics 1: Algebra-based | 4* | Physics 131, 131L | 5 |
Physics 2: Algebra-based | 5 | Physics 132, 132L | 5 |
Physics 2: Algebra-based | 4** | Physics 132, 132L | 5 |
Physics C: Mechanics | 4-5 | Physics 231, 231L | 5 |
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 4-5 | Physics 232, 232L | 5 |
* Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 2 exam
** Students must also earn a minimum score of 3 on the Physics 1 exam
Psychology
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Psychology | 4-5 | Psychology 101 | 3 |
Statistics
AP Exam | Score | ISU Course | Sem. Crs. Awarded |
---|
Statistics | 3 | Statistics 101 | 4 |
Statistics | 4-5 | Statistics 201 | 4 |