Suggested Follow-Up Courses
AP Tests and Course Suggestions
If you are considering further study in the fields below, review the broad course suggestions in the final column.
300-level courses in some departments may be appropriate starting points for interested, well-prepared students with AP credit.
Remember, the department will always be the best source of information for your individual registration plans.
| Exam | Score | Suggested Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 5 | Any 200-level Black Studies course. |
| Art History | 5 | Any 200-level Art History course. |
| Art (including 2-D, 3-D and Drawing) | 5 | Art 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250 |
| Biology | 5 | For premeds or Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 (most students) or Bio 239 (see Research Track) in Spring first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course. |
| Chemistry | 4, 5 | All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam. |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Computer Science A | 4, 5 | A score of 4 or 5 on AP CS A gives credit for Comp Sci 150. This does *not* mean that students should skip Comp Sci 111. All students should start in Comp Sci 111. |
| Computer Science Principles | 4, 5 | AP CS Principles does not count toward the CS major or minor or as a prerequisite to any NU CS course. All students should start in Comp Sci 111 (or alternatively Comp Sci 110 if they do not plan to major in CS). |
| Economics-Macro | 5 | Econ 202. If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern). |
| Economics-Micro | 5 | Econ 201. If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern). |
| English (Language) | 5 | Any 200-level English literature course. |
| English (Literature) | 5 | Any 200-level English literature course. |
| Environmental Science | 5 | Earth 210, 211, 212, or 213. |
| French Language and Culture | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Geography (Human) | 5 | Any introductory-level course. Geography study spans areas including (but not limited to) Anthropology and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science. |
| German Language and Culture | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Government and Politics (American) | 5 | Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major, you can Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 220 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor. |
| Government and Politics (Comparative) | 5 | Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 250 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor. |
| History (European) | 5 | Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor. |
| History (U.S.) | 5 | Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor. |
| History (World) | 5 | Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor. |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Latin | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Mathematics (Calculus) AB, or the AB subscore of Calculus BC |
1-3 |
Math 220-1; possibly Math 218-1 after consultation with a departmental adviser. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam. |
| 4 | Math 220-2. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam. | |
| 5 | Math 228-1, 230-1, 290-1; possibly Math 226-0 or 291-1. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam. | |
| Mathematics (Calculus) BC | 1-3 | See AP Subscore of Mathematics AB. |
| 4, 5 |
Math 228-1, 230-1, or Math 290-1; possibly Math 291-1. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam. |
|
| Music Theory | 5 | Consult department. |
| Physics 1 | 5 | Physics 130-2 |
| Physics 2 | 5 | Physics 130-3 |
| Physics C (Mechanics) | 5 | Physics 135-2. Students who took the AP exam in Spring 2020 should consult with the Physics department about next steps. |
| Physics C (E&M) | 5 | Physics 135-1 (if not receiving AP credit) or 135-3. Exception: Students who took the AP exam in Spring 2020 should consult with the Department of Physics and Astronomy about next steps. |
| Psychology | 5 | Any 200-level psychology course. Psych 313 is also an option. First-year students may NOT take Psych 301 in Fall quarter. |
| Spanish (Language and Culture or Literature and Culture) | 3, 4, 5 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
| Statistics | 4, 5 | Stat 201-0 or Stat 232-1 (Math 220-1 is prerequisite) or Stat 320-1 (co-requisites Math 226-0 & Math 230-2). |
IB Tests and Course Suggestions
| Exam | Score | Suggested Next Step | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts (visual) | 6, 7 |
Art 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250
|
|
| Biology | 6, 7 |
For premeds or Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 (most students) or Bio 239 (see Research Track) in Spring first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course.
|
|
| Chemistry | 5, 6, 7 |
All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam.
|
|
| Computer Science | 5, 6, 7 | Comp Sci 111. | |
| Dance | 6, 7 |
Consult department. |
|
| Economics | 6, 7 |
Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern). |
|
|
Film |
6, 7 | Consult department. | |
|
Geography |
6, 7 | Any introductory-level course. Geography study spans areas including (but not limited to) Anthropology and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science. | |
|
History (European, American, Asia and Oceania, or Africa and Middle East |
6, 7 | Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in IB area; other 300s in consultation with instructor. | |
| Language A (English Literature or Language) | 6, 7 | Any 200-level English course. | |
| Language A (all languages other than English - Literature or Language) | 6, 7 | Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. | |
| Language B |
6, 7 |
Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit. |
|
| Mathematics |
6, 7 |
All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam. |
|
|
Music |
6, 7 | Consult department. | |
|
Philosophy |
7 | Any 100- or 200-level course. | |
|
Physics |
6, 7 | Physics 130-3. | |
|
Politics (Global) |
6, 7 | Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 240 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor. | |
|
Psychology |
6, 7 | Any 200-level psychology course. Psych 313 is also an option. First-year students may NOT take Psych 301 in Fall quarter. | |