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Pre-Matriculation Credits

Students who clearly demonstrate the capacity for upper-level course work will ordinarily be granted credit and advanced standing at the discretion of the department concerned. Any credits received for academic work completed before enrolling at Tufts are considered "credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents," and each is equal to 3 or more credits. Students in the School of Arts and Sciences may receive up to five credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents towards their degree, and may apply one course equivalent towards each of the five areas for distribution requirements. Students in the School of Engineering may use up to eight credit-bearing pre-matriculation course equivalents towards their degree. Most pre-matriculation course equivalents will carry three credits, but some course equivalents may carry more credit. In several cases, pre-matriculation scores may yield placement into a higher level course or fulfillment of a requirement but receive no credit; these scores are marked with 0 in the charts below. 

Note: this is a simplified chart intended for prospective students. Current students should use the information on the Student Services website, which can be found by clicking here.

Jump to the Appropriate Chart

Advanced Placement (AP) - Arts and Sciences  and Engineering

British Certificate of Education (A-Level) - Arts and Sciences and Engineering

International Baccalaureate - Arts and Sciences and Engineering

SAT Subject Tests - Arts and Sciences and Engineering

College Coursework - Click here!

Advanced Placement (AP) - Arts and Sciences

For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available course equivalents from Advanced Placement exams:

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Art History 4, 5 3  
Biology 5 5 Earns the equivalent of BIO13 or BIO14. 
Chemistry 5 10 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab"
    5 If "General Chemistry II with Lab" or "General Chemistry 2" is taken
Chinese 5 0 Place out of 4 semesters of Chinese
  4 0 Place out of 3 semesters of Chinese
Computer Science 4, 5 3 Place out of Computer Science 5
Economics 5 3 For either Macroeconomics or Microeconomics
  5/5 7 With both Economics exams place out of "Principles of Economics"
English 5 3 For either English exam, exempt from First Year Writing Requirement
  4 3 For either English exam, place out of "Expository Writing"
Environmental Science 4, 5 3 Place out of "Environmental Biology"
French 5 4 Place out of 5 semesters of French
  4 0 Place out of 4 semesters of French
  3 0 Place out of 3 semesters of French
German 5 4 Place out of 5 semesters of German
  4 0 Place out of 4 semesters of German
  3 0 Place out of 3 semesters of German
History 4, 5 3 Maximum of 2 course equivalents awarded for AP History Exams if multiple exams are taken
Human Geography 4, 5 3 Course equivalent awarded through the Anthropology Department
Italian 5 0 Place out of 4 semesters of Italian
  4 0 Place out of 3 semesters of Italian
  3 0 Place out of 2 semesters or Italian
Latin 5 3 Place out of 3 semesters of Latin
Mathematics AB 4, 5 4 Place out of "Calculus I"
Mathematics BC 5 8 Place out of "Calculus II"
  4 4 Place out of "Calculus I" 
Music 5 0 See department for placement
Physics 1 5 5 Place out of "Introductory Physics"
  4 5 Place out of "Introductory Physics"
Physics 2 5 5 Place out of "Introductory Physics II"
Physics C (E or M) 5 5 Place out of "General Physics I"
  4 5 Place out of "General Physics II"
Physics C (E&M) 5 10 Place out of "General Physics I & II"
Political Science 4, 5 3 Either Political Science exam may be taken, maximum of one course equivalent
Psychology 4, 5 3 Exempt from "Introduction to Psychology"
Spanish 5 0 Place out of 4 semesters of Spanish
  4 0 Place out of 3 semesters of Spanish
  3 0 Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish
  2 0 Place out of 1 semester of Spanish
Statistics 4, 5 3 Place out of "Introductory Statistics"
Studio Art 4, 5 4  

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Advanced Placement (AP) - Engineering

For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from Advanced Placement exams:

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Biology 5 5  
Chemistry 5 10 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab"
Computer Science 4, 5 3 Course equivalent given for either the Computer Science A or AB exam, not both. 
Economics 5 3 Either Macro or Micro exam, 1 social science course equivalent
  5/5 7 Both Economics exams, 2 social science course equivalents
English 4, 5 3 Place out of Introductory Writing Requirement
Environmental Science 4, 5 3  
French 5 4 1 Humanities Credit
German 5 4 1 Humanities Credit
Latin 5 4 1 Humanities Credit
History 4, 5 3 Maximum of 2 course equivalents given for history exams, counts for social science or humanities
Mathematics AB 5 4 Place out of "Calculus I"
Mathematics BC 5 8 Place out of "Calculus I & II"
  4 4 Place out of "Calculus I"
Physics C (M) 5 5 Place out of "General Physics I"
  4 5 Place out of "General Physics I"
Physics E&M 5 5 Place out of "General Physics II"
Political Science 4, 5 3 1 social science course equivalent
Statistics 4, 5 3  

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British Certificate of Education (A-Level) - Arts and Sciences

For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available course equivalents from British Certificate of Education exams:

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Anthropology A, B 3 Place out of "Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology"
Biology A, B 5 Earns equivalent of BIO13 or BIO14
Chemistry A 10 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab"
  B 5 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab"
Classics A, B 3  
Computer Science A, B 3 Place out of Computer Science 05
Economics A, B 7 Place out of "Principles of Economics"
English A 3 Exempt from First Year Writing Requirement
  B 3 Place out of "Expository Writing"
Environmental Science A, B 3 Place out of "Environmental Biology"
French A 4 Place out of French 0021
History A, B 3  
Mathematics A 4 Place out of "Calculus II"
  B 4 Place out of "Calculus I"
Music A, B 3 See department for placement
Physics A 5 Place out of "Introductory Physics II"
  B 5 Place out of "Introductory Physics I"
Political Science A, B 3 This course equivalent cannot count towards a major in Political Science
Psychology A, B 3 Place out of "Introduction to Psychology"
Sociology A, B 3 Place out of "Introduction to Sociology"
Statistics A, B 3 Place out of "Introductory Statistics"

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British Certificate of Education (A-Level) - Engineering

For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from British Certificate of Education exams:

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Biology A, B 5  
Computer Science A, B 3 Counts as free elective
English A, B 3 Place out of "Expository Writing"
Environmental Science A, B 3 Counts as free elective
Foreign Languages A, B 4 Humanities course equivalent; place out of 4 semesters of the language
Mathematics A, B 3 Place out of "Calculus I"
All other subjects A, B - Case by case basis - contact Student Services at 617-627-2000

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International Baccalaureate (IB) - Arts and Sciences

For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available course equivalents from International Baccalaureate exams (all tests are Higher Level except where otherwise noted):

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Anthropology 6, 7 3 Place out of "Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology"
Biology 6, 7 5 Place out of BIO13 or BIO14
Chemistry 7 10 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab"
  7 5 If "General Chemistry II with Lab" or "General Chemistry 2" is taken
  6 5 Place out of "Chemical Fundamentals with Lab"
Classics 6, 7 3  
Computer Science 6, 7 3 Place out of "Computer Science 05" 
Economics 6, 7  7 Place out of "Economic Principles" 
English 7  3 Exempt from First Year Writing Requirement 
  6  3 Place out of "Expository Writing" 
Environmental Science 6, 7  3 Place out of "Environmental Biology" 
French 7  4 Place out of 5 semesters of French 
  6  0  Place out of 4 semesters of French 
  5  0  Place out of 3 semesters of French 
German (Higher Level only) 7  4 Place out of 5 semesters of German 
  6  0  Place out of 3 semesters of German 
  5 0 Place out of 2 semesters of German
History 6, 7  3  
Italian 7  4 Place out of 5 semesters of Italian 
  6  0  Place out of 3 semesters of Italian 
Latin 6,7 3 Place out of 3 semesters of Latin
Music 6, 7  3 See department for placement 
Physics 7  5 Place out of "Introductory Physics II" 
  6  5 Place out of "Introductory Physics I" 
Political Science 6, 7  3 This course equivalent cannot be applied to the Political Science major
Psychology 6, 7  3  Place out of "Introduction to Psychology" 
Sociology 6, 7  3  Place out of "Introduction to Sociology" 
Spanish 7  0  Place out of 5 semesters of Spanish 
  6  0  Place out of 3 semesters of Spanish 
  5  0  Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish 
Spanish (Standard Level) 6, 7  0  Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish 
  5  0  Place out of 1 semester of Spanish 
Studio Art 6, 7 4  
Theater 6,7 3  

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International Baccalaureate (IB) - Engineering

For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from International Baccalaureate exams (all tests are Higher Level except where otherwise noted):

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
Biology 6, 7 5 Place out of BIO13 or BIO14
Chemistry 7 10 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab" and "General Chemistry II with Lab"
    5 If "General Chemistry II with Lab" or "General Chemistry 2" is taken
  6 5 Place out of "General Chemistry I with Lab"
Computer Science 6, 7 3  
English 6, 7 3 Place out of "Expository Writing"
English (Standard Level) 7 3 Place out of "Expository Writing"
Environmental Science 6, 7 3  
Foreign Languages 6, 7 4 See this site for specific foreign languages
Mathematics 6, 7 3 Place out of "Calculus I"
Psychology 6, 7 3 Social sciences course equivalent; place out of "Introduction to Psychology"
All other subjects     Case by case basis - contact Student Services at 617-627-2000

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SAT Subject Tests - Arts and Sciences

For the School of Arts and Sciences, these are the available credits from SAT Subject tests:

Exam Score Credit Equivalents Notes
French 770-800 4 Place out of 6 semesters of French
  720-760 0  Place out of 5 semesters of French 
  660-710 0  Place out of 4 semesters of French 
  590-650  0  Place out of 3 semesters of French 
  500-580  0  Place out of 2 semesters of French 
  420-490  0  Place out of 1 semester of French 
German 770-800  4 Place out of 6 semesters of German 
  720-760  0  Place out of 5 semesters of German 
  660-710  0  Place out of 4 semesters of German 
  600-650  0  Place out of 3 semesters of German 
  490-590  0  Place out of 2 semesters of German 
  410-480  0  Place out of 1 semester of German 
Hebrew 770-800  4  Place out of 6 semesters of Hebrew 
  720-760  0  Place out of 5 semesters of Hebrew 
  660-710  0  Place out of 4 semesters of Hebrew 
  600-650  0  Place out of 3 semesters of Hebrew 
  490-590  0  Place out of 2 semesters of Hebrew 
  410-480  0  Place out of 1 semester of Hebrew 
Italian 770-800  4  Place out of 6 semesters of Italian 
  720-760  0  Place out of 5 semesters of Italian 
  660-710  0  Place out of 4 semesters of Italian 
  590-650  0  Place out of 3 semesters of Italian 
  500-580  0  Place out of 2 semesters of Italian 
  420-490  0  Place out of 1 semester of Italian 
Spanish 770-800  4  Place out of 6 semesters of Spanish 
  720-760  0  Place out of 5 semesters of Spanish 
  660-710  0  Place out of 4 semesters of Spanish 
  590-650  0  Place out of 3 semesters of Spanish 
  500-580  0  Place out of 2 semesters of Spanish 
  420-490  0  Place out of 1 semester of Spanish 

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SAT Subject Tests - Engineering

For the School of Engineering, these are the available course equivalents from SAT Subject Tests:

Exam Score Credit Notes
Chinese 760-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of Chinese
French 770-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of French
German 770-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of German
Hebrew 770-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of Hebrew
Italian 770-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of Italian
Spanish 770-800 4 Place out of 5 semesters of Spanish

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College Coursework

Students who took college courses while still in high school may request transfer of credit for those courses. Course equivalents are awarded only for those courses taken at a college with regularly enrolled college students. Course equivalents will not be given for college courses offered at a secondary school composed entirely of secondary school students. Students requesting these course equivalents should provide a letter from their principal or guidance department stating that the course was not used to complete requirements for the high school diploma.

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Tufts University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
2 The Green
Medford, MA 02155

617-627-3170

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