Credit for Prior Learning
Depending on exam scores, past coursework, and educational experiences, you may be able to receive college credit or placement in higher-level KU courses. Below are approved methods of receiving credit and exemptions, along with tables that show potential outcomes based on performance.
Info on Credit and Exemption for High School Work
This table outlines credit or placement based on AP test scores per subject. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. If you have not taken the AP course in a specific subject, you may still take its exam. For more information, contact College Board.
For more information on the KU Core 34, visit kucore.ku.edu.
| Subject | AP Score | Credit or higher placement | KU Core 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design: 2-D Design | 3+ | 3 hours, ART AH | AH |
| Art and Design: 3-D Design | 3+ | 3 hours, ART U | |
| Art and Design: Drawing | 3+ | 3 hours, ART U | |
| Art History | 4+ | 3 hours, HA 100 | AH |
| African American Studies | 3+ | 3 hours, AAAS 104 | SBS |
| Biology | 3-4 | 3 hours, BIOL 100 | NLEC |
| Biology | 5 | 5 hours, BIOL 150 & 154 | NPS |
| Calculus AB | 3+ | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
| Calculus AB subscore on BC exam | 3+ | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
| Calculus BC | 3+ | 4 hours, MATH 126 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 5 hours, CHEM 130 | NPS |
| Chemistry | 4+ | 10 hours, CHEM 130 & 135 | NPS |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 hours, CHIN 204, placed in CHIN 208 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4+ | 5 hours, CHIN 208, placed in CHIN 504 | |
| Computer Science A | 3+ | 3 hours, EECS 138 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3+ | 3 hours, EECS U | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | ENG |
| English Literature and Composition | 4+ | 6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102 | ENG |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | ENG |
| English Language and Composition | 4+ | 6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102 | ENG |
| Environmental Science | 3+ | 4 hours, EVRN 140 & 160 | NPS |
| European History | 3 | 3 hours, HIST AH | AH |
| European History | 4+ | 6 hours, HIST AH & HIST 115 | AH |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 hours, FREN 120 & 230, placed in FREN 240 | AH & GLBC |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 11 hours, FREN 120, 230, & 240, placed in FREN 301 | AH & GLBC |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 14 hours, FREN 120, 230, 240 & 301, placed in FREN 302 and/or 326 | AH & GLBC |
| Germanic Language and Culture | 3 | 8 hours, GERM 108 & 201, placed in GERM 202 | GLBC |
| Germanic Language and Culture | 4 | 11 hours, GERM 108, 201, & 202, placed in GERM 301 | GLBC |
| Germanic Language and Culture | 5 | 14 hours, GERM 108, 201, 301, & 302, placed in GERM 401 | GLBC |
| Government & Politics (Comparative) | 3+ | 3 hours, POLS 150 | SBS |
| Government & Politics (U.S.) | 3+ | 3 hours, POLS 110 | SBS |
| Human Geography | 3+ | 3 hours, GEOG 102 | SBS |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 hours, ITAL 120 & 230, placed in ITAL 240 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4+ | 11 hours, ITAL 120, 230, & 240, placed in ITAL 300 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 hours, JPN 204, Placed in JPN 208 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4+ | 5 hours, JPN 208, Placed in JPN 504 | |
| Latin | 3 | 5 hours, LAT 108 | |
| Latin | 4+ | 3 hours, LAT 112 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3+ | 3 hours, ECON 144 | SBS |
| Microeconomics | 3+ | 3 hours, ECON 142 | SBS |
| Music: Listening & Lit | 3+ | 3 hours, MUSC 136 | AH |
| Music Theory | 3+ | 3 hours, MTHC 105 | |
| Physics 1 | 4+ | 4 hours, PHSX 114 | NPS |
| Physics 2 | 4+ | 4 hours, PHSX 115 | NPS |
| Physics B | 4+ | 8 hours, PHSX 114 & 115 | NPS |
| Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) | 4+ | 4 hours, PHSX 212 & 236 | NPS |
| Physics C (Mechanics) | 4+ | 4 hours, PHSX 211 & 216 | NPS |
| Precalculus | 3+ | 5 hours, MATH 104 | MTS |
| Psychology | 3+ | 3 hours, PSYC 104 | SBS |
| Research | 3+ | 3 hours elective, LA&S U | |
| Seminar | 3+ | 3 hours elective, LA&S U | |
| Spanish Language and Culture or Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 8 hours, SPAN 108 & 212, Placed in 216 | AH |
| Spanish Language and Culture & Spanish Literature and Culture | 4+ | 11 hours, SPAN 108, 212, & 216, Placed in Spanish 324 & 328 | AH & GLBC |
| Statistics | 3+ | 3 hours, MATH 365 | MTS |
| United States History | 3 | 3 hours, HIST 128 | AH |
| United States History | 4+ | 6 hours, HIST 128 & 129 | AH |
| World History | 3+ | 3 hours, HIST AH | AH |
This table outlines credit for ACT test scores for Math and English subjects for students starting at KU in Fall 2024. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. To send ACT scores to KU, please contact ACT.
| Subject | ACT Score | Credit | KU Core 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 26 or higher | 3 hours, MATH 101 | Math & Statistics |
| English | 27 or higher | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | English |
For current students who update their catalog term to Fall 2024 to follow the new KU Core 34, please email transfercredit@ku.edu to have your ACT or SAT scores posted for credit if needed.
Students who started at KU prior to Fall 2024 may qualify for an ACT exemption. Learn more at KU Core exemptions.
Cambridge A-Level and AS-Level scores can be found on CredTran under the Location: International, School: Cambridge A-Level or AS-Level. For questions related to Cambridge A-Levels, please contact International Admissions at world@ku.edu.
CLEP exams let you test out of introductory courses and can be taken at any time. This table outlines credit or placement based on CLEP test scores per subject. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. For more information, contact College Board. For more information on the KU Core 34, please visit kucore.ku.edu.
| Subject | Score | Credit or higher placement | KU Core 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50+ | 3 hours, POLS 110 | SBS |
| American Literature | 50+ | 3 hours, ENGL U | |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50+ | 3 hours, ENGL U | |
| Biology, general | 50+ | 3 hours, BIOL 100 | NLEC |
| Calculus | 50+ | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
| Chemistry, general | 50+ | 5 hours, CHEM 130 | NPS |
| College Algebra | 50+ | 3 hours, MATH 101 | MTS |
| College Composition | 50+ | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | ENG |
| College Composition Modular | NA | No equivalent course | |
| College Mathematics | 50+ | 3 hours, MATH 105 | MTS |
| English Literature | 50+ | 3 hours, ENGL U | |
| Financial Accounting | 50+ | 3 hours, ACCT U | |
| French Language, Level 1 & 2 | 41-49 | 3 hours, FREN 110 | AH |
| French Language, Level 1 & 2 | 50+ | 6 hours, language satisfied | |
| German Language, Level 1 & 2 | 41-49 | 3 hours, GERM 108 | GLBC |
| German Language, Level 1 & 2 | 50+ | 6 hours, language satisfied | |
| History of the United States 1 | 50+ | 3 hours, HIST 128 | AH |
| History of the United States 2 | 50+ | 3 hours, HIST 129 | AH |
| Human Growth and Development | 50+ | 3 hours, PSYC SBS | |
| Information Systems | 50+ | 3 hours, IST U | |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50+ | 3 hours, EPSY U | |
| Introduction to Psychology | 50+ | 3 hours, PSYC 104 | SBS |
| Introduction to Sociology | 50+ | 3 hours, SOC U | |
| Introductory Business Law | 50+ | 3 hours, BLAW U | |
| Natural Science | 50+ | 3 hours, PHSX NP | |
| Precalculus | 50+ | 5 hours, MATH 104 | MTS |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50+ | 3 hours, ECON 144 | SBS |
| Principles of Management | 50+ | 3 hours, MGMT 310 | |
| Principles of Marketing | 50+ | 3 hours, MKTG 310 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50+ | 3 hours, ECON 142 | SBS |
| Social Sciences & History | 50+ | 3 hours, Social Science Elective | |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 & 2 | 41-49 | Placement in SPAN 212 | AH |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 & 2 | 50+ | 5 hours, SPAN 108 | AH |
| Spanish with Writing, Level 1 & 2 | 50+ | 5 hours SPAN 108. Placement in SPAN 212 | AH |
| Spanish with Writing, Level 1 & 2 | 60+ | 11 hours SPAN 108, SPAN 212, & SPAN 216. Placement in SPAN 322 | AH & GLBC |
| Western Civilization 1 | 50+ | 3 hours, HUM AH | |
| Western Civilization 2 | 50+ | 3 hours, HUM AH |
This table outlines the scores needed per subject based on the level of IB exam taken: higher level (HL) or standard level (SL).
For more information on the KU Core 34, visit kucore.ku.edu.
| Subject | Score | Level | Credit or higher placement | KU Core 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic A | 4-7 | HL, SL | 3 hours, ARAB 320 | |
| Arabic B | 4-5 | HL | 6 hours, ARAB 210 & 220 | |
| Arabic B | 6-7 | HL | 9 hours, ARAB 210, 220 & 310 | |
| Arabic B | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, ARAB 120, placed in ARAB 210 | |
| Arabic B | 6-7 | SL | 8 hours, ARAB 120 & 210, placed in ARAB 220 | |
| Arabic ab initio | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, ARAB 110 | |
| Arabic ab initio | 6-7 | SL | 5 hours, ARAB 120 | |
| Astronomy | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, ASTR 191 | NLEC |
| Biology | 4-6 | HL | 5 hours, BIOL 150 & 154 | NPS |
| Biology | 7 | HL | 8 hours, BIOL 150, 152, & 154 | NPS |
| Biology | 4-6 | SL | 4 hours, BIOL 100 & 102 | NPS |
| Biology | 7 | SL | 5 hours, BIOL 150 & 154 | NPS |
| Business Management | 4+ | SL, HL | 3 hours, MGMT 310 | |
| Chemistry | 4+ | HL | 10 hours, CHEM 130 & 135 | NPS |
| Chemistry | 4+ | SL | 5 hours, CHEM 110 | NPS |
| Chinese A (Mandarin) | 4+ | HL, SL (Lit or Lang + Lit) | 5 hours, CHIN 508 | |
| Chinese B (Mandarin) | 6 to 7 | HL | 5 hours, CHIN 504, placed in CHIN 508 | |
| Chinese B (Mandarin) | 4 to 5 | HL | 5 hours, CHIN 208, placed in CHIN 504 | |
| Chinese B (Mandarin) | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, CHIN 204, placed in CHIN 208 | |
| Chinese B (Mandarin) | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, CHIN 108, placed in CHIN 204 | |
| Chinese ab initio (Mandarin) | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, CHIN 108, placed in CHIN 204 | |
| Chinese ab initio (Mandarin) | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, CHIN 104, placed in CHIN 108 | |
| Classical Greek | 4+ | HL | 3 hours, GRK 375, Language Satisfied | |
| Classical Greek | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, GRK 301 | |
| Computer Science | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, EECS 138 | |
| Dance | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, DANC U | |
| Design Technology | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, SCM U | |
| Economics | 4+ | HL | 6 hours, ECON 142 & 144 | SBS |
| Economics | 4+ | SL | 4 hours, ECON 104 | SBS |
| English A | 4-5 | HL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit) | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | ENG |
| English A | 6-7 | HL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit) | 6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102 | ENG |
| English A | 4+ | SL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit) | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | ENG |
| Environmental Systems and Societies | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, EVRN 148 | NLEC |
| Film | 4+ | HL. SL | 3 hours, FMS 100 | GE 1.1 |
| French A | 4+ | HL, SL (Lang + Lit) | 3 hours, FREN 302, placed in FREN 326 | |
| French A | 4+ | HL, SL (Lit) | 3 hours, FREN 326 | AH |
| French B | 4-5 | HL | 6 hours, FREN 230 & 240, placed in FREN 301 | GLBC |
| French B | 6-7 | HL | 9 hours, FREN 230, 240 & 301, placed in FREN 302/326 | GLBC |
| French B | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, FREN 120, placed in FREN 230/234 | AH |
| French B | 6-7 | SL | 8 hours, FREN 120 & 230, placed in FREN 240 | AH & GLBC |
| French Language ab Initio | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, FREN 110, placed in FREN 120 | AH |
| French Language ab Initio | 6-7 | SL | 5 hours, FREN 120, placed in FREN 230 | AH |
| Geography | 4+ | HL, SL | 5 hours, GEOG 104 & 105 | NPS |
| German A | 4-5 | HL, SL (Lang + Lit) | 3 hours, GERM 302, placed in GERM 401 | GLBC |
| German A | 6-7 | HL, SL (Lang + Lit) | 3 hours, GERM 401, placed in GERM 402 or higher | |
| German B | 4-5 | HL | 6 hours, GERM 201 & 202, placed in GERM 301 | GLBC |
| German B | 6-7 | HL | 9 hours, GERM 201, 202 & 301, placed in GERM 302 | GLBC |
| German B | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, GERM 108, placed in GERM 201 | GLBC |
| German B | 6-7 | SL | 8 hours, GERM 108 & 201, placed in GERM 202 | GLBC |
| German Language B Initio | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, GERM 104, placed in GERM 108 | GLBC |
| German Language B Initio | 6-7 | SL | 5 hours, GERM 108, placed in GERM 201 | GLBC |
| Global Politics | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, POLS 170 | SPS |
| Hebrew B | 4-5 | HL | 8 hours, HEBR 110 & 210 | GLBC |
| Hebrew B | 6-7 | HL | 13 hours, HEBR 110, 120 & 210 | GLBC |
| Hebrew B | 4+ | SL | 5 hours, HEBR 110 | |
| Hindi B | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, HNDI 120, placed in HNDI 210 | |
| Hindi B | 6-7 | SL | 8 hours, HNDI 120 & 210, placed in HNDI 220 | |
| History: U.S. History | 4-5 | HL | 3 hours, HIST 128 | AH |
| History: U.S. History | 6-7 | HL | 6 hours, HIST 128 & 129 | AH |
| History: U.S. History | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, HIST 128 | AH |
| History: Non-U.S. History | 4+ | HL | HIST AH | AH |
| History: Non-U.S. History | 4+ | SL | HIST U | |
| Information Technology in a Global Society | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, GIST U | |
| Japanese A | 4+ | HL, SL (Lit or Lang + Lit) | 5 hours, JPN 508 | |
| Japanese B | 6 to 7 | HL | 5 hours, JPN 504, placed in JPN 508 | |
| Japanese B | 4 to 5 | HL | 5 hours, JPN 208, placed in JPN 504 | |
| Japanese B | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, JPN 204, placed in JPN 208 | |
| Japanese B | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, JPN 108, placed in JPN 204 | |
| Japanese ab initio | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, JPN 108, placed in JPN 204 | |
| Japanese ab initio | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, JPN 104, placed in JPN 108 | |
| Korean A | 4+ | HL, SL (Lit or Lang + Lit) | 5 hours, KOR 508 | |
| Korean B | 6 to 7 | HL | 5 hours, KOR 504, placed in KOR 508 | |
| Korean B | 4 to 5 | HL | 5 hours, KOR 208, placed in KOR 504 | |
| Korean B | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, KOR 204, placed in KOR 208 | |
| Korean B | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, KOR 108, placed in KOR 204 | |
| Korean ab initio | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, KOR 108, placed in KOR 204 | |
| Korean ab initio | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, KOR 104, placed in KOR 108 | |
| Latin | 4 to 5 | HL | 3 hours, LAT 112 | |
| Latin | 6 to 7 | HL | 3 hours, LAT 375 | |
| Latin | 4 to 5 | SL | 5 hours, LAT 108 | |
| Latin | 6 to 7 | SL | 5 hours, LAT 112 | |
| Literature and Performance | 4+ | SL (English Only) | 3 hours, ENGL AH | AH |
| Math Further (discontinued after 2020) | 4+ | HL | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
| Math Studies (discontinued after 2020) | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, MATH U | |
| Mathematics (discontinued after 2020) | 4+ | HL | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
Mathematics | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, MATH 101 | MTS |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches | 4+ | HL | 4 hours, MATH 125 | MTS |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, MATH 115 | MTS |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations | 4+ | HL | 3 hours, MATH 115 | MTS |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations | 4+ | SL | 5 hours, MATH 104 | MTS |
| Music | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, MUSC 136 | AH |
| Philosophy | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, PHIL 140 | AH |
| Physics | 4+ | HL | 8 hours, PHSX 114 & 115 | NPS |
| Physics | 4+ | SL | 4 hours, PHSX 111 & 116 | NPS |
| Psychology | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, PSYC 104 | SBS |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, ANTH 108 | SBS |
| Spanish A | 4+ (Lang), (Lit) and (Lang + Lit) | HL, SL | 9 hours, SPAN 212, 216 & 322 | AH & GLBC |
| Spanish B | 4-5 | HL | 6 hours, SPAN 212 & 216 | AH & GLBC |
| Spanish B | 6-7 | HL | 9 hours, SPAN 212, 216 & 322 | AH & GLBC |
| Spanish B | 4-5 | SL | 5 hours, SPAN 108 | AH |
| Spanish B | 6-7 | SL | 8 hours, SPAN 108 & 212 | AH |
| Spanish Language B Initio | 4+ | SL | 5 hours, SPAN 104 | AH |
| Sports, Exercise, and Health Science | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, HSES 269 | |
| Theatre Arts | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, THR 100 | AH |
| Visual Arts | 4+ | HL, SL | 3 hours, ART U | |
| World Religions | 4+ | SL | 3 hours, REL 104 | AH |
Students in the Fall 2024 class with two high school courses in speech (totaling two semesters) with a grade of B or higher may apply for 3 hours of COMS 130: Speaker Audience Communication credit. Please note: debate and forensics courses will not be considered for students entering in Fall 2020 or after.
To petition for retroactive credit, complete the Retroactive Credit: Communication online form. A $50.00 fee will be charged to your account when the credit is posted to your record.
Students with experience in a non-English language but no prior college or university course credits may be eligible for retroactive credit. After successful completion of a KU language course with a grade of C- or better, students may apply for retroactive credit through the department offering the language.
To begin the process, take a placement exam to determine proper course placement. Initial placement is based on actual ability in the language rather than years of high school study. You can currently earn retroactive language credit in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. For other languages, contact the individual department.
A $50.00 fee will be charged to your account when the credit is posted to your record. KU does not currently determine placement or award credit for the Seal of Biliteracy.
This table outlines credit for SAT test scores for Math and English subjects for students starting at KU in Fall 2024. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. To send SAT scores to KU, please contact the CollegeBoard.
| Subject | SAT Score | Credit | KU Core 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 610 or higher | 3 hours, MATH 101 | Math & Statistics |
| English or Verbal | 630 or higher | 3 hours, ENGL 101 | English |
For current students who update their catalog term to Fall 2024 to follow the new KU Core 34, please email transfercredit@ku.edu to have your ACT or SAT scores posted for credit if needed.
Students who started at KU prior to Fall 2024 may qualify for an SAT exemption. Learn more at KU Core exemptions.
KU awards a minimum of four credits of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science credits for the completion of basic training for the United States Armed Forces.
If military affiliation is noted on the KU application, we automatically request a Joint Service Transcript. Students can also request one themselves and send it to us at transfercredit@ku.edu.
KU only awards transfer credit for courses that fall within the level, scope and content offered in our undergraduate curriculum. Many courses on military transcripts are technical or occupational in nature and are not accepted. KU does not award transfer credit based on ACE or Dantes recommendations.