Advanced Placement

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, as well as results from the German Abitur, and the Swiss Maturité and Italian Maturità. Official results from all testing should be sent to the Office of Transfer Admission for evaluation. Students seeking Advanced Standing, which is the option to complete their undergraduate studies in six semesters of full-time study, shall be in touch with their Academic Dean no sooner than the completion of their first semester at BC. Qualifying scores will be assigned advanced placement units as outlined in the tabs below.

For current Boston College students:

If your Advanced Placement scores are not reflected on your record on the Agora Portal, please order a new score report from the College Board and have it sent to Boston College. Our code is 3083. Please keep in mind that scores take approximately two weeks to arrive from the College Board. If you have questions about your scores and/or placement, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at uadmit@bc.edu. Thank you.

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 Advanced Placement policy. Boston College reserves the right to change this policy, as 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 University Core Curriculum. You will still be required to take the full 120 credits necessary for graduation unless you have the equivalency of 30 AP credits, in which case you may qualify for advanced standing and would be eligible to graduate from Boston College in 3 years.

Advanced Placement ExamExam Score MinimumAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
Art History43Arts Core
Biology462 Natural Science Core
Calculus AB (or AB sub score)43Math Core / Math 1100 or Math 1102 course equivalent
Calculus BC46Math Core / Math 1100, Math 1101, Math 1102 or Math 1103 course equivalent
Chemistry462 Natural Science Core
Chinese Language and Culture462 Slavic Language Electives and Language Proficiency
Comparative Government and Politics431 Social Science Core
Computer Science (A or Principles)N/AN/AStudents must consult with the department to determine if any placement within the major is appropriate.
**Economics (Macro)431 Social Science Core / no placement for ECON1101
**Economics (Micro)431 Social Science Core / no placement for ECON1101
English Language and Composition43Writing Core
English Literature and Composition43Literature Core
Environmental Science431 Natural Science Core
European History46History Core I and II
French Language and Culture30Demonstrates Language Proficiency
French Language and Culture431 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency
German Language and Culture46Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Human GeographyN/AN/ANo BC equivalent
Italian Language and Culture30Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Italian Language and Culture431 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency
Japanese Language and Culture462 Slavic Language Electives and Language Proficiency
Latin462 Classical Language Electives and Language Proficiency
Music Theory43Arts Core
Physics 1431 Natural Science Core
Physics 2431 Natural Science Core
Physics C E+M431 Natural Science Core
Physics C Mechanics431 Natural Science Core
Psychology431 Social Science Core. Please consult with the department to determine if any placement within the major is appropriate.
ResearchN/AN/ANo BC equivalent
SeminarN/AN/ANo BC equivalent
Spanish Language and Culture30Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Spanish Language and Culture431 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency
Spanish Literature and Culture30Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Spanish Literature and Culture431 Romance Language Elective and Language Proficiency
Statistics53Fulfills Business Statistics Requirement for CSOM students beginning with Class of 2024
Studio Art431 Fine Arts Elective
U.S. Government and Politics431 Social Science Core
U.S. History46Units included when students apply for Advanced Standing .  No University Core / department placement earned.
World History46History Core I and II

*Students in the Connell School of Nursing fulfill their Natural Science and Mathematics Core Curriculum requirements through coursework taken during their freshman year. Therefore, qualifying exam scores cannot be used to fulfill those requirements for nursing students.

**Beginning with students entering the Spring 2022 term and later, a qualifying score in both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics earns placement for ECON1101 Principles of Economics, which fulfills 1 Social Science Core. Students with qualifying scores in both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics would still need to satisfy the second Social Science Core requirement.

Each score of 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will earn advanced placement units and will generally satisfy a core requirement. You will still be required to take the full 120 credits necessary for graduation, unless you have the equivalency of 30 credits, in which case you may qualify for advanced standing and would be eligible to graduate from Boston College in 3 years. Please reference the table below for specific exams.

IB ExamExam ScoreAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
DanceN/AN/AN/A
Film6/731 Arts Core
Music6/731 Arts Core
Theatre6/731 Arts Core
Visual Arts6/731 Arts Core
Individuals and Societies
IB Exam
Exam ScoreAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
Business and ManagementN/AN/AN/A
Economics6/731 Social Science Core. For Economics majors/minors, will also satisfy Principles of Economics (ECON 1101).
GeographyN/AN/AN/A
Global Politics6/731 Social Science Core
History of the Americas6/76History Core I and II
History of Asia and Oceania6/76History Core I and II
History of Europe6/76History Core I and II
Information Technology in a Global SocietyN/AN/AN/A
Islamic History6/73No Core; 1 History Elective
Philosophy6/731 Philosophy Core
Psychology6/73No Core; 1 Psychology Elective
Social and Cultural Anthropology6/731 Social Science Core
World Religion6/731 Theology Elective
Sciences
IB Exam
Exam ScoreAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
Biology6/762 Natural Science Core
Chemistry6/762 Natural Science Core
Computer Science6/731 Computer Science Elective**
Design TechnologyN/AN/AN/A
Environmental Systems6/731 Natural Science Core
Physics6/762 Natural Science Core
Math
IB Exam
Exam ScoreAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
Mathematics6/731 Math Core
Further Mathematics6/731 Math Core
Analysis and Approaches6/731 Math Core
Applications and Interpretation6/731 Math Core
Language
IB Exam
Exam ScoreAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
English A Literature6/731 Literature Core
English A Language and Literature6/731 Writing Core
English B Language ***N/AN/AN/A
Foreign Language6/76MCAS Language Proficiency
Modern Classical Language6/76MCAS Language Proficiency

* IB elective units cannot be used to fulfill the four arts and sciences electives required for CSOM, but can count toward the 30 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.

** Students interested in the Computer Science major must consult with the Computer Science Department to determine if these electives can in any way apply to the major.

*** Beginning with students entering the Fall 2023 term and later, a qualifying score in English B Language will no longer earn advanced placement.  

Sports, Exercise and Health Science IB is not recognized by Boston College.

All students in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language in order to graduate from Boston College. The SAT Subject Test scores below demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency at Boston College.

SAT Subject TestExam Score MinimumRequirements Fulfilled
Chinese700Demonstrates Language Proficiency
French550Demonstrates Language Proficiency
German600
700*
Demonstrates Language Proficiency (*beginning with the Class of 2025)
Italian550Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Japanese700Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Korean700Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Latin600Demonstrates Language Proficiency
Spanish550Demonstrates Language Proficiency
A-Level ExamExam Score MinimumAdvanced Placement UnitsRequirements Fulfilled*
AccountingN/AN/AN/A
Ancient HistoryA/B/C31 History Core
Art and DesignN/AN/AN/A
Art HistoryA/B/C31 Arts Core
Art (Fine Art)A/B/C31 Arts Core
AstronomyA/B/C31 Natural Science Core
BiologyA/B62 Natural Science Core
BiologyC31 Natural Science Core
BusinessN/AN/AN/A
Business StudiesN/AN/AN/A
ChemistryA/B62 Natural Science Core
ChemistryC31 Natural Science Core
Computer ScienceA/B/C31 Computer Science Elective
EconomicsA/B61 Social Science Core / Placement for ECON1101
EconomicsC31 Social Science Core
English LanguageA/B/C3Writing Core Only
English LiteratureA/B/C3Literature Core Only
Film StudiesA/B/C31 Arts Core
GeographyN/AN/AN/A
HistoryA/B/C62 History Core
Islamic StudiesN/AN/AN/A
Languages other than EnglishA/B/C31 Foreign Language Elective / Language Proficiency
Maths/Further MathsA/B61 Math Core / 1 Math Elective
Maths/Further MathsC31 Math Core
MusicN/AN/AN/A
PhotographyN/AN/AN/A
PhysicsA/B62 Natural Science Core
PhysicsC31 Natural Science Core
PsychologyA/B/C31 Psychology Core
Religious StudiesA/B/C31 Theology Core
SociologyA/B/C31 Social Science Core
StatisticsN/AN/AN/A
Theatre StudiesA/B/C31 Arts Core

 

* There are other A-Level courses offered that do not apply to a degree at Boston College. If the course is not listed here, no advanced placement units can be earned.

Scores of 14 or higher* will be considered for a maximum of six placement units for each 12th grade Spécialité subject.

A minimum score of 12* for each 12th grade Spécialité subject will be considered for a maximum of three placement units.

Students completing the French Baccalaureate with International Option (OIB) may earn advanced placement units in English and history for corresponding exam scores.

Scores below 10 do not qualify.

Units may be used to fulfill corresponding University Core or major requirements.

*Advanced Placement is based on the French Baccalaureate exam results and is considered in the context of departmental review. Boston College reserves the right to change this policy, as is determined by campus administrators.

For students who earn an exam score of 70 or higher on the final exam, advanced placement units will be awarded only for subjects in which the written exam was taken (no placement for oral exams) and the average score for the final exam over the last two years is 7 or higher. No advanced placement units can be earned for English.

Placement will be considered for the four subjects scored in the Abitur final exams. For two subjects listed as the "main subject," scores of 10 or higher will earn 6 advanced placement units in corresponding subject areas. For two additional "basic courses" with scores of 10 or higher, 3 advanced placement units will be earned in the corresponding subject areas. No advanced placement units can be earned for English.

Advanced placement units can be earned for exam scores of 4 or better. No advanced placement units can be earned for English.

Students who earn a total of 30 Advanced Placement units may be eligible for Advanced Standing and have the option to complete their undergraduate studies in three years. Students interested in this option should be in touch with their Dean following completion of their first semester at BC. No decisions on Advanced Standing will be made prior to that time. Students seeking Advanced Standing must be able to complete all degree requirements by the proposed graduation date and be approved for Advanced Standing by the Dean before the start of their third year of undergraduate study.

Advanced placement units can be earned for college courses taken during high school according to the following guidelines:

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 cannot be used to earn advanced placement units for these courses.

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. Students will still be required to take the full 120 credits necessary for graduation, unless they have the equivalency of 30 credits, in which case they may qualify for Advanced Standing and would be eligible to graduate from Boston College in 3 years. College transcripts for these courses should be submitted to the Office of Transfer Admission by August 1. 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.