Advanced Placement

Freshmen who have had the opportunity for advanced-level work and would like academic credit as well as advanced placement are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board prior to beginning their first term at Towson University. Arrangements to take the tests are made through the high school counselor or through College Board.

The following standards are used for determining advanced placement credit. 

Advanced Placement Credit

Examination A.P. Score Policy

African American Studies

 3, 4, 5 3 units, AFST 201

Art History

 3, 4, 5 3 units, ART Elective (10T)
Art Studio: 3-D Design

3, 4, 5

3 units, ART Elective (10T)
Art Studio: 2-D Design

3, 4, 5

3 units, ART Elective (10T)
Biology

3

4, 5

4 units, BIOL 120 and BIOL 120L

8 units, BIOL 200/200L and BIOL 206/206L
Calculus AB

3

 

4, 5

4 units, MATH 119 OR 4 units, MATH 273 upon completion of MATH 274 with a grade of 2.0 or higher ¹ ²

4 units, MATH 273
Calculus BC

3

 

4, 5

4 units, MATH 273 AND an additional 4 units, MATH 274 upon completion of MATH 275 with a grade of 2.0 or higher ¹ ²

8 units, MATH 273 and MATH 274.

Note: Credit will not be awarded for both Calculus AB and Calculus BC. When both have been taken, the higher course equivalencies will apply.

Capstone (Research & Seminar)

3, 4, 5

3 units, TSEM 102

Note: Students must take both AP Research and AP Seminar exams to receive credit.
Chemistry

3

4

5

4 units, CHEM 121 and CHEM 121L

4 units, CHEM 131 and CHEM 131L

8 units, CHEM 131/131L and CHEM 132/132L
Chinese Language and Culture 3, 4, 5 3 units, CHNS Elective (TLL)
Comparative Government and Politics

3

 

4, 5

Upon completion of an upper-level POSC course with a grade of 2.0 or higher, 3 units will be awarded for POSC 105 ¹

POSC 105 
Computer Science

3

4, 5

4 units, COSC 175

4 units, COSC 236
Computer Science Principles 3, 4, 5 3 units, COSC 109
English Literature Composition 

3

4, 5

3 units, ENGL Elective (TLL) ³

3 units, ENGL 102
English Language Composition

3

4, 5

3 units, ENGL Elective (TLL) ³

3 units, ENGL 102
Environmental Science

3, 4, 5

3 units, BIOL 105
European History

3

4, 5

3 units, HIST Elective (TLL)

6 units, HIST 102 and HIST 103
French Language and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, FREN 102

6 units, FREN 102 and FREN 201

6 units, FREN 201 and FREN 202
German Language and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, GERM 102

6 units, GERM 102 and GERM 201

6 units, GERM 201 and GERM 202
Human Geography 3, 4, 5 3 units, GEOG 109
Italian Language and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, ITAL 102

6 units, ITAL 102 and ITAL 201

6 units, ITAL 201 and ITAL 202
Japanese Language and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, JPNS 102

6 units, JPNS 102 and JPNS 201

6 units, JPNS 201 and JPNS 202
Latin

3

4

5

3 units, LATN 102

6 units, LATN 102 and LATN 201

6 units, LATN 201 and LATN 202
Macroeconomics 3, 4, 5 3 units, ECON 202
Microeconomics 3, 4, 5 3 units, ECON 201
Music Theory 3, 4, 5 3 units, MUSC 105
Physics 1 3, 4, 5 4 units, PHYS 211
Physics 2 3, 4, 5 4 units, PHYS 212
Physics C: Elect/Magnetism

3

4, 5

4 units, PHYS 212

4 units, PHYS 242

Physics C:

Mechanics

3

4, 5

4 units, PHYS 211

4 units, PHYS 241
Precalculus

3

4, 5

3 units, MATH 115

4 units, MATH 119
Psychology 3, 4, 5 3 units, PSYC 101
Spanish Language and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, SPAN 102

6 units, SPAN 102 and SPAN 201

6 units, SPAN 201 and 202
Spanish Literature and Culture

3

4

5

3 units, SPAN 102

6 units, SPAN 201 and SPAN 202

6 units, SPAN 202 and SPAN 305
Statistics

3, 4, 5

 3 units, MATH 231
United States History

3

4, 5

3 units, HIST Elective (TLL)

6 units, HIST 145 and HIST 146
United States Government and Politics

3

 


4, 5

Awarded as lower-level credit in Political Science. Upon completion of an upper-level Political Science course, student may request conversion to POSC 103

POSC 103
World History

3

4, 5

3 units, HIST Elective (TLL)

3 units, HIST 161

Chart updated as of 3/15/2023.

¹ It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Admissions Office when the next higher level course is completed to receive credit.

² Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education and Elementary Education and Special Education majors should consult the policy on AP in the Department of Mathematics section.

³ Students who take both English Language and Literature exams and score a “3” or higher will receive six credits.

Prior to the change of schedule period, students are notified about advanced placement and credit. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Admissions or the appropriate departmental chair.

Test Credit

TU will only accept officially submitted test scores for credit within one year of the student’s enrollment. Any test scores submitted after the student's first year may not be eligible for awarded credit.

More Information

A bulletin of information about Advanced Placement Tests may be secured from:

College Entrance Examination Board
P.O. Box 592
Princeton, N.J. 08540