Advanced Placement Regulations

2008-2009

Individual academic departments at Bowdoin vary widely in how they award credit for students who have taken AP exams. This information outlines the standard policies established by participating departments. A few departments assign credit and/or placement only after evaluation of a student’s scores and exam booklets. AP credit will not meet a distribution or divisional requirement.

Should you desire further explanation, please consult the appropriate department. You will also have time during New Student Orientation to discuss your concerns with the appropriate individuals, including your academic advisor. First-year students may apply a maximum of eight course credits toward their Bowdoin degree from the following sources: Advanced Placement Program, International Baccalaureate Program, and college credits from other institutions earned prior to matriculation.

Art History:
Students who receive a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination in Art History are exempt from taking Art History 101 upon successful completion of any art history course numbered above 200 with a grade of B or better. Art History majors and minors and Interdisciplinary majors in Art History and Archaeology and in Art History and Visual Arts who earn a 5 on the AP exam must still complete the full number of courses as described in the Course Catalogue, counting a course above Art History 101 in place of Art History 101. No AP credit will be given. (Contact Art Department: 207-725-3697)
 
Biology:
Students who receive AP scores of 5 may enroll in Biology 109. Upon successful completion of Biology 109, with a grade of B- or better, one AP credit will be awarded. (Contact Biology Department: 207-725-3582)
 
Chemistry:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher may enroll in any of the following: Chemistry 210, 225, or 240 in consultation with and with permission from the instructor. Upon successful completion of any of these courses with a grade of C- or better, one AP credit will be awarded. Students who enroll in Chemistry 109 and successfully complete this course with a grade of B- or better will receive one AP credit. Otherwise eligible students will not receive AP credit if they take Chemistry 101. (Contact Chemistry Department: 207-725-3218)
 
Computer Science:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on the Computer Science A or the Computer Science AB Exams will be awarded one AP credit upon successful completion of a course, level 210 or higher, with a grade of C or better. Students should consult the department regarding placement. (Contact Computer Science Department: 207-725-3567)
 
Economics:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on the Economics Micro AP Exam will be awarded one credit and will meet the prerequisite for courses requiring Economics 101. Students who received scores of 4 or higher on the Economics Macro AP Exam will be awarded one credit and will meet the prerequisite for courses requiring Economics 102. Students who received scores of 3 should consult with the department about placement. Otherwise eligible students will not receive AP credit for microeconomics if they take Economics 101. Otherwise eligible students will not receive AP credit for macroeconomics if they take Economics 102. (Contact Economics Department: 207-725-3340)
 
English:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on the English Literature AP Exam (not the English Language exam) will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of an English first-year seminar or literature course with a grade of B or higher. This credit does not count toward a major or minor in English. (Contact English Department: 207-725-3552)
 
Environmental Studies:
Students who received a score of 5 on the Environmental Science AP Exam meet the prerequisite for ES 201--Perspectives in Environmental Science. Upon successful completion of ES 201 with a grade of C- or higher, one AP credit will be awarded. This credit is in addition to and does not preclude the students from receiving credit for other courses taken to fulfill the prerequisite for ES 201. (Contact Environmental Studies Program: 207-725-3396)
 
German:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on the German Language AP Exam will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of an upper-level German course. Students should consult the department regarding proper placement. (Contact German Department: 207-725-3357)
 
Government:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on either the American Government or the Comparative Government AP Exam will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of a B-level course in the same sub-field (American government or comparative politics) with a grade of B or higher. Only one AP credit will be awarded even if the student took both exams. (Contact Government Department: 207-725-3295)
 
History:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on either or both of the AP History Exams (U.S. or European) will receive one AP credit for each exam upon the successful completion of a Bowdoin history course with a grade of B or higher. Students will not receive duplicate credit for AP and IB exams that cover similar fields of history, nor will these credits count toward the major. (Contact History Department: 207-725-3291)
 
Latin:
Students who have received scores of 4 or higher on one Latin AP Exam (either Vergil or Latin Literature) will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of one Latin course, Latin 205 or above, with a grade of B or higher. Students who have taken both AP Latin exams and received scores of 4 or higher on both will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion, with a grade of B or higher, of one Latin course, Latin 205 or above, and a second AP credit after the successful completion, with a grade of B or higher, of one Latin course at the 300 level. Students should consult with the department regarding proper course placement. (Contact Classics Department: 207-725-3782)
 
Mathematics:
Advanced placement work in Mathematics or Statistics, which a student has done before enrolling at Bowdoin, will be used for placement only and not for credit. Moreover, department permission is required for any student who wishes to enroll in a first course different from the placement recommendation. (Contact Mathematics Department: 207-725-3567)
 
Music:
Students who received scores of 4 or 5 on the Music AP Exam will receive one AP credit. (Contact Music Department: 207-725-3321)
 
Physics:
Students who received a score of 4 or higher on the Physics B or the Physics C: Mechanics exam will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of Physics 104 with a grade of C- or better. If a student does not meet the minimum C- grade requirement, the student may retake the course. In order to receive AP credit, students should complete their course requirements before the end of their junior year.

No AP credit will be awarded if a student takes Physics 103. No AP credit will be awarded for the Physics C: E&M exam. The AP contact person in the Physics Department is Professor Stephen Naculich. (Contact Physics Department: 207-725-3308)
 
Psychology:
Students who received an AP score of 4 or higher on the Psychology exam will receive one AP credit, will have met the prerequisite for courses requiring Psychology 10 or 101, and will earn one course credit toward the major/minor. No AP credit for Psychology will be awarded if a student takes Psychology 10 or 101 or receives IB credit for Psychology. (Contact Psychology Department: 207-725-3339)
 
Romance Languages:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher will be awarded one AP credit upon the successful completion of a course, level 205 or higher, with a grade of B or higher. Credit will not be given if a student elects to take a course lower than 205. Only one AP credit may be earned per person per language. Students who earned scores of 4 or 5 should still attend the placement test and consult with faculty. (Contact Romance Languages Department: 207-725-3357)
 
Visual Arts:
Students who received scores of 4 or higher on any Studio Art AP Exam will receive one AP credit upon the successful completion of Visual Arts 150, 180, 190, or 195 with a grade of B- or higher. AP credit will not typically apply to the major or serve as a prerequisite or waiver to the normal sequence of the studio art curriculum. (Contact Art Department: 207-725-3697)