The following updated policies take affect with the class of 2011. All other class years should refer to the First Year Planning Guide or consult with the Dean of your undergraduate division.
Boston College reserves the right to reevaluate and update the following policies at any time.
Advanced placement units are generally used to place students out of requirements but are not awarded as credit toward graduation. There are a number of ways to earn advanced placement units at Boston College including qualifying scores on College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate exams, British A Level exams, French Baccalaureate exams, college courses, as well as results from the German Arbitur, and the Swiss Maturite and Italian Maturita. Official results from all testing should sent to the Office of Transfer Admission for evaluation. Qualifying scores will be assigned advanced placement units as outlined below.
AP EXAMS
Boston College participates in the Advanced Placement program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Applicants interested in advanced placement should make arrangements to take the Advanced Placement Examinations given by the College Board in May of each year.
The following table displays Boston College's current Advanced Placement policy. Boston College reserves the right to change this policy, which is determined by campus administrators. In general, a student scoring four or five on the exams will be awarded advanced placement. In some instances, a score of three will make a student eligible for advanced placement. In most cases, students do not earn actual credit, rather, they fulfill corresponding requirements in the Core Curriculum. Students who have taken multiple AP examinations and have earned the equivalent of 8 or more Boston College courses may apply for advanced standing. If granted, credit for these courses would be applied to the student's transcript, accelerating his/her date of graduation by one year. Students, therefore, who accept this option would graduate in three years.
A score of three or better in any foreign language exam (excluding Latin) will serve as a demonstration of intermediate level proficiency in that language and will satisfy the language requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management.
|
Advanced Placement Examination |
Exam Score Minumum |
Advanced Placement Units |
Requirements Fulfilled* |
|
Art History |
4 |
3 |
Fine Arts Core |
|
Biology |
4 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Calculus AB (or AB subscore) |
4 |
6 |
1 Math Core / 1 Math Elective |
|
Calculus BC |
4 |
6 |
1 Math Core / 1 Math Elective |
|
Chemistry |
4 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Computer Science (AB or A) |
4 |
3 |
1 Computer Science Elective |
|
Economics (Micro) |
4 |
3 |
1 Social Science Core (except LSOE) |
|
Economics (Macro) |
4 |
3 |
1 Social Science Core (except LSOE) |
|
English Language |
4 5 |
3 6 |
Writing Core Writing & Literature Core |
|
English Literature |
4 5 |
3 6 |
Literature Core Literature & Writing Core |
|
Environmental Science |
4 |
3 |
1 Natural Science Core |
|
European History |
4 |
6 |
2 Modern European History Core |
|
French Language/Literature |
3 4 |
0 6 |
Demonstrates Language Proficiency 2 Romance Language Electives & Language Proficiency |
|
German |
3 4 |
0 6 |
Demonstrates Language Proficiency 2 Romance Language Electives & Language Proficiency |
|
US Government and Politics |
4 |
3 |
1 Social Science Core (A&S or CSON only) |
|
Comparative Government and Politics |
4 |
3 |
1 Social Science Core (A&S or CSON only) |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | 1 Arts & Sciences Elective |
|
Latin: Vergil / Literature |
4 |
6 |
2 Classical Language Electives & Language Proficiency |
|
Music Theory |
4 |
3 |
1 Music Elective |
|
Physics B |
4 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Physics C |
4 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Psychology |
4 |
3 |
1 Psychology Elective |
|
Spanish Language / Literature |
3 4 |
0 6 |
Demonstrates Language Proficiency 2 Romance Language Electives & Language Proficiency |
|
Statistics |
5 |
3 |
Fulfills Statistics Requirement (CSOM) |
|
Studio Art |
4 |
3 |
1 Fine Arts Core |
|
US History |
4 |
6 |
2 History Electives |
|
World History |
4 |
6 |
2 Modern European History Core |
* Advanced placement elective units can be used to fulfill the three Arts and Sciences electives required for CSOM and count toward the 24 units required to be eligible to apply for advanced standing. Electives do not count toward the degree in any other scenario because Advanced Placement Units are generally used for placement only - not credit.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Each score of 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will earn 6 advanced placement units and will generally satisfy a corresponding core requirement. Students who earn three HL scores of 6 or 7 and a B or better on both CAS and TOK will earn a total of 24 advanced placement units and may be eligible for advanced standing as outlined below.|
International Baccalaureate Examination |
Exam Score |
Advanced Placement Units |
Requirements Fulfilled* |
|
ARTS |
|
|
|
|
Film |
6/7 |
3 |
Fine Arts Core |
|
Music |
6/7 |
3 |
Fine Arts Core |
|
Theatre |
6/7 |
3 |
Fine Arts Core |
|
Visual Arts |
6/7 |
3 |
Fine Arts Core |
|
INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES |
|
|
|
|
Business and Management |
N/A |
|
|
|
Economics |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Social Science Core (Micro/Macro Econ.) |
|
Geography |
N/A |
|
|
|
History of the Americas |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Modern European History Core |
|
History of Europe |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Modern European History Corere |
|
Islamic History |
6/7 |
6 |
No Core / 2 History Electives |
|
Philosophy |
6/7 |
6 |
1 Philosophy Core / 1 Philosophy Elective |
|
Psychology |
6/7 |
3 |
No Core / 1 Psychology Elective |
|
Social and Cultural Anthropology |
6/7 |
6 |
1 Social Science Core / 1 Social Science Elective |
|
EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES |
|
|
|
|
Biology |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Chemistry |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
Design Technology |
N/A |
|
|
|
Environmental Systems |
6/7 |
3 |
1 Natural Science Core |
|
Physics |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Natural Science Core |
|
MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE |
|
|
|
|
Computer Science |
6/7 |
6 |
2 Computer Science Electives |
|
Mathematics |
6/7 |
6 |
1 Math Core / 1 Math Elective |
|
LANGUAGE |
|
|
|
|
English |
6/7 |
6 |
1 Writing Core / 1 Literature Core |
|
Foreign Language |
6/7 |
6 |
A&S/CSOM Language Proficiency |
|
Modern Classical Language |
6/7 |
6 |
A&S/CSOM Language Proficiency |
* IB elective units can be used to fulfill the three arts and sciences electives required for CSOM and count toward the 24 units required to be eligible to apply for advanced standing. Electives do not count toward the degree in any other scenario because IB Units are generally used for placement only not credit.
BRITISH A LEVELS
|
A Level Examination |
Score |
Advanced Placement Units |
Requirements Fulfilled |
|
Accounting |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Ancient History |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 modern history I core/ 1 history elective 1 modern history I core |
|
Art and Design |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Art History |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 fine art core/ 1 fine art elective 1 fine art core |
|
Art (Fine Art) |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 fine art core/ 1 fine art elective 1 fine art core |
|
Astronomy |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 natural sci core/ 1 natural sci elective 1 natural science core |
|
Biology |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 natural science core 1 natural science core |
|
Business and Communication Systems |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Business Management |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Chemistry |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 natural science core 1 natural science core |
|
Communication Studies |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Drama and Theatre Studies |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 fine art core/ 1 fine art elective 1 fine art core |
|
Economics |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 social science core (except LSOE) 1 social science core (except LSOE) |
|
English Language |
A/B C |
6 3 |
writing and literature core writing core only |
|
English Literature |
A/B C |
6 3 |
writing and literature core literature core only |
|
Environmental Studies |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 natural science core 1 natural science core |
|
Film Studies |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 fine art core/ 1 fine art elective 1 fine art core |
|
Geography |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
History |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 modern history core 1 modern history core |
|
Islamic Studies |
A/B C |
N/A N/A |
|
|
Languages other than English |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 foreign lang. electives / lang. proficiency 1 foreign lang. elective / lang. proficiency |
|
Maths |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 math core / 1 math elective 1 math core |
|
Music |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 music core / 1 music elective 1 music elective |
|
Philosophy |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 philosophy core / 1 philosophy elective 1 philosophy elective |
|
Photography |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 fine art electives 1 fine art elective |
|
Physics |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 natural science core 1 natural science core |
|
Psychology |
A/B C |
6 3 |
2 psychology electives (no core) 1 psychology elective |
|
Religious Studies |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 theology core / 1 theology elective 1 theology core |
|
Statistics |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 statistics CSOM core 1 statistics CSOM core |
|
Theatre Studies |
A/B C |
6 3 |
1 fine art core / 1 fine art elective 1 fine art core |
FRENCH BACCALAUREATE
For all subjects with a coefficient of 5 or higher, advanced placement units will be assigned as follows:6 units for scores of 13 or higher
3 units for scores of 10-12
Scores below 10 do not qualify.
Units may be used to fulfill corresponding core or major requirements.
Information on the GERMAN ARBITUR, SWISS MATURITE and ITALIAN MATURITA will be available shortly.
COLLEGE COURSES TAKEN DURING HIGH SCHOOL
Advanced placement units can be earned for college courses taken during high school according to the following guidelines.
COURSES TAKEN AT A HIGH SCHOOL:
Students enrolled in courses designated as “college courses” that are taken at the high school with a high school teacher may only earn advanced placement units if corresponding College Board AP exams are taken and qualifying scores are earned. A college transcript alone can not be used to earn advanced placement units for these courses.
COURSES TAKEN ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS:
College coursework taken on a college campus with a college professor and with other college students either during the academic year or over the summer may be evaluated for advanced placement units. Only courses that are deemed equal in depth and breadth to coursework taught at Boston College and are being used to supplement high school coursework (and not to fulfill high school requirements) will be considered. Each 3 or 4 credit course with a grade of B or better will earn 3 advanced placement units. College transcripts for these courses should be submitted to the Office of Transfer Admission by August 1st. Students who enroll at a local college to satisfy high school graduation requirements are not eligible for advanced placement units unless they take the corresponding College Board AP exams and earn qualifying scores.
ADVANCED STANDING - GRADUATING IN THREE YEARS
Students earning 24 advanced placement units (equivalent to 8 courses) through any of the aforementioned methods are eligible to apply for advanced standing. If granted, credit for these courses would be applied to the student's transcript, accelerating his/her date of graduation by one year. Students, therefore, who accept this option must graduate in three years.
PLEASE NOTE: Boston College reserves the right to change these policies at any time, and without notice.