Advanced Placement (AP)
Students may earn credit for the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement (AP) Tests with scores of 3, 4, or 5. AP credit can be used to meet IGETC, CSU/GE and A.A. general education (GE) and/or major requirements. [Local/Non-transfer Degree Exceptions to the minimum AP score are the PHYS G120 Algebra Based Physics: Mechanics and PHYS G125 Algebra Based Physics: Electricity/Magnetism courses (AP Physics 1 and 2) which require a score of 5 for GWC unit and subject credit. Also, students who score 5 in Calculus BC can earn 10 units and subject credit for MATH G180 + G185].
Students must have the College Board send AP exam results to Admissions and Records (hand carried copies will not be accepted) for use on the A.A. or GE patterns. Course credit and units granted at Golden West College may differ from course credit and units granted by a transfer institution. See a GWC counselor for more information.
The AP Chart is based on the most current information available. Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, make sure to use the links at the end of the section for the original documents.
| AP Examination | GWC Subject Credit | GWC AA/AS Local GE Area | CSU GE Area & Units for Certification | CSU Semester Transfer Units | IGETC Area & Units for Certification | UC Semester Transfer Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | ART G105 (3) + ART G106 (3) | C | C1 or C2 (3) | 6 | 3A or 3B (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Biology | BIOL G100 (4) | B | B2 + B3 (4) | 6 | 5B + 5C (4) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Calculus AB | MATH G180 (4) | A | B4 (3) 1 | 3 1 | 2A (3) | 4 quart/2.6 sem.2 |
| Calculus BC | MATH G180 (4) | A | B4 (3) 1 | 6 1 | 2A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem.2 |
| Calculus BC3 | MATH G180 (4) + MATH G1853 (4) | A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Calculus BC/ AB Subscore4 | MATH G180 (4) | A | B4 (3) | 3 | 2A (3) | N/A |
| Chemistry | CHEM G130 (4) | B | B1 + B3 (4)5 | 6 | 5A + 5C (4) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Chinese Language and Culture | CHIN G185 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Computer Science A | CS G153 (4) | N/A | 31 | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem.6 (after F18) | |
| Computer Science AB | CS G154 (4) | N/A | 61 | N/A | N/A | |
| Computer Science Principles | N/A | A (3) | B4 (3) | 6 | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| English Language and Composition | ENGL G100 (4) | A | A2 (3) | 6 | 1A (3) | 5.3 sem.7 |
| English Literature and Composition | ENGL G100 (4) + ENGL G110 (4) | A + C (no critical thinking) | A2 + C2 (6) | 6 | 1A or 3B (3) | 5.3 sem.7 |
| Environmental Science | (4) | B | B1 + B3 (4)8 | 4 | 5A +5C (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| European History | HIST G180 (3) + HIST G185 (3) | C or D | C2 or D (3) | 6 | 3B or 4 (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| French Language | FREN G185 (5) | C | C2 (6) (before F09) | 6 (before F09) | N/A | N/A |
| French Language | FREN G185 (5) | C | C2 (3) (before F11) | 6 (before F11) | N/A | N/A |
| French Language and Culture | FREN G185 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| French Literature | (3) | C | C2 (3) (before F09) | 6 (before F09) | N/A | N/A |
| German Language | (5) | C2 (6) (before F09) | 6 (before F09) | N/A | N/A | |
| German Language | (5) | C2 (3) (before F11) | 6 (before F11) | N/A | N/A | |
| German Language and Culture | GRMN G180 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Government and Politics: Comparative | PSCI G185 (3) | D | D (3) | 3 | 4 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Government & Politics: United States | (3) | D | D + US29 (3) | 3 | 4 + US2 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Human Geography | (3) | D | D (3) | 3 | 4 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Italian Language and Culture | ITAL G180 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Japanese Language and Culture | JAPN G180 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Latin | (3) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. (2013 and after) |
| Latin Literature | (3) | C | C2 (3) (before F09) | 6 (before F09) | N/A | N/A |
| Latin: Vergil | (3) | C | C2 (3) (before F12) | 3 (before F12) | 3B + 6A (3) | N/A |
| Macroeconomics | ECON G175 (3) | D | D (3) | 3 | 4 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Microeconomics | ECON G170 (3) | D | D (3) | 3 | 4 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Music Theory | MUS G115 (3) | C | C1 (3) (before F09) | 6 (before F09) | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | PHYS G12014 (4) | B | B1 + B311 (4) | 411 | 5A + 5C (4) | 8 quart./5.3 sem.12 |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | PHYS G12510 (4) | B | B1 + B311 (4) | 411 | 5A + 5C (4) | 8 quart./5.3 sem.12 |
| Physics B | PHYS G110 (4) + PHYS G11110 (4) | B | B1 + B311 (4) (before F09) | 611 (before F09) | 5A + 5C (4) | 8 quart./5.3 sem.12 |
| Physics B | PHYS G110 (4) + PHYS G11110 (4) | B | B1 + B3 11 (4) (before F13) | 611 (before F13) | N/A | N/A |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS G125 (4) | B | B1 + B315 (4) | 4 | 5A + 5C (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem.12 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | PHYS G120 (4) | B | B1 + B315 (4) | 4 | 5A + 5C (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem.12 |
| Precalculus | MATH G170 (4) | A | B4 (3) | 3 | N/A | N/A |
| Psychology | PSYC G100 (3) | D | D (3) | 3 | 4 (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| Seminar | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 | N/A | N/A |
| Spanish Language | SPAN G180 (5) + SPAN G185 (5) | C | C2 (6) (before S14) | 6 (before F14) | N/A | (Spanish Language no longer offered) |
| Spanish Language and Culture | SPAN G180 (5) + SPAN G185 (5) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Spanish Literature | (3) | C | C2 (6) (before S13) | 6 (before S13) | N/A | N/A |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | (3) | C | C2 (3) | 6 | 3B + 6A (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| Statistics | MATH G160 (4) | A | B4 (3) | 3 | 2A (3) | 4 quart./2.6 sem. |
| 2D Art and Design | ART G107 (3) | C | N/A | 3 | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem.13 |
| 3D Art and Design | ART G109 (3) | C | N/A | 3 | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem.13 |
| Drawing | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 | N/A | 8 quart./5.3 sem.13 |
| United States History | HIST G170 (3) + HIST G175 (3) | C or D | C2 or D+US-1 (3) | 6 | 3B or 4 + US1 (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
| World History: Modern | HIST G161 (3) + HIST G162 (3) | C or D | C2 or D (3) | 3 | 3B or 4 (3) | 8 quart./5.3 sem. |
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CSU: If a student passes more than one AP exam in calculus or computer science, only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate
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UC: AP Calculus Exam Limitation: Maximum 8 quart./5.3 sem. units for both
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GWC: AP Calculus Exam Limitations: score 5 for MATH G180 Calculus 1 + MATH G185 Calculus 2 credit
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UC: Students who take the Calculus BC examination and earn a subscore of 3 or higher on the Calculus AB portion will receive credit for the Calculus AB examination, even if they do not receive a score of 3 or higher on the BC examination (note that the maximum credit awarded for both exams is 8 quarter units).
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CSU: AP Chemistry Exam Limitation: 6 sem. units if taken prior to F09
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UC:Computer Science A: 2 (students entering UC prior to fall 2018)
Computer Science A: 5.3 sem/8 qtr (students entering UC fall 2018 and after)- 7
UC: AP English Exam Limitation: Maximum 5.3 sem. units for both
- 8
CSU: Students who pass AP Environmental Science earn 4 units of credit. Tests prior to Fall 2009 may apply to either B1+B3 or B2+B3 of GE Breadth. Fall of 2009 or later, those credits may only apply to B1+B3
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AP Govt. Exam Limitations: Doesn’t fulfill Calif. Gov. Requirement.
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GWC: AP Physics Exam Limitations: score 5 for PHYS G120 Algebra Based Physics: Mechanics or PHYS G125 Algebra Based Physics: Electricity/Magnetism credit (Physics 1 or 2)
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CSU: If a student passes more than one AP exam in physics, only six units of credit may be applied to the baccalaureate, and only four units of credit may be applied to a certification in GE Breadth.
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UC:Physics B replaced by Physics 1 & 2 – 2015
(5.3 sem/8 qtr maximum for all tests)
- 13
UC: AP Studio Art Exam Limitations: Maximum 8 quart./5.3 sem. units for all three
# Many Colleges or Universities may apply AP credit toward satisfaction of subject or specific requirements (e.g., major). AP policies vary by institution. See the transfer institution’s application of AP major preparation credit. See individual UC and CSU campuses for AP major preparation credit. See a counselor to discuss how AP is applied.
AA: Students should be aware that AP test credit is evaluated by corresponding it to an equivalent GWC course, e.g. HIST G170 History Of The United States To 1876. A student who receives AP credit and then takes the equivalent GWC course will have the unit credit for such duplication deducted prior to being awarded the A.A. degree. Credit by Advanced Placement exam is noted and listed first on a student’s transcript, with units assigned and no grade.
Course credit and units granted to the local AA may differ from course credit and units granted by a transfer institution. See Counselor.
AP Credit: See the transfer institution’s application of AP major preparation credit. See individual UC and CSU campuses for AP major preparation credit.
CSU GE: The Advanced Placement examinations may be incorporated into the certification of CSU General Education-Breadth requirements by any certifying institution. All CSU campuses will accept the minimum units shown and apply them toward fulfillment of the designated General Education-Breadth area if the examination is included as part of a full or subject-area certification. Please note that individual CSU campuses may choose to grant more units than those specified toward completion of General Education-Breadth requirements.
IGETC: AP exams may be used in area indicated regardless of where the certifying CCC’s discipline is located.
The AP Chart is based on the most current information available. Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, make sure to use the links below for the original documents.
College Board: AP Courses & Exams
CSU: AP Chart (for current CSU AP information).
CSU: Historical CSU AP exam credit and changes
IGETC GE: IGETC Standards 2.3
UC Transfer Credit: UC Credit granted for AP exams