Advanced Placement

First-year students at Roger Williams University are eligible to receive advanced credit. Roger Williams University recognizes the following exams/coursework to be academically and intellectually rigorous, and awards advanced credit for:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
  • International Baccalaureate Examinations
  • French Baccalaureate Examinations
  • GCE Advanced-Level Examinations
  • College courses completed in high school

Advanced credit offers students more options and opportunities, which can be helpful when:

  • Completing a double major 
  • Enrolled in a combined B.S./ Master’s or B.S./J.D. Program
  • Enrolled in the Honors Program
  • Incorporating an internship or research project into an academic plan
  • Planning for an early graduation

Credit that a student receives may be applied toward:

  • Foundation requirements
  • Elective credit requirements
  • Prerequisites for the major

Evaluation Requirements

To receive advanced credit, students must request the authorized examining body that administered the exam to send an official copy of the examination results directly to the Registrar’s Office. Only official exam reports will be evaluated for advanced credit. Students may also be required to submit the corresponding course syllabi.

Based on the evaluation, students will be given appropriate credit and standing in the areas in which they qualify. Credit is granted for the equivalent course(s) at the University, but no grade is assigned and the credit is not included in calculating the grade point average. Notice of the advanced credit evaluation is sent to the student and is recorded on the student’s record.

Credit for courses in a particular major will be transferred at the discretion of the respective College or School under which the specific major is housed.

Transfer credit is not granted for physical education, health, ROTC courses, non-academic activities or courses not germane to a program at RWU.

Advanced Placement Examination

Roger Williams University participates in the Advanced Placement Program administered by the College Board. Depending upon the program, credit is awarded for test scores of 3, 4 and 5. Refer to the course and credit equivalency chart located in the Academic Regulations and Requirements section of the catalog.

To receive Advanced Placement Credit, official examination scores must be submitted to Roger Williams University by the College Board. Roger Williams University’s College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) code is 3729.

Academic Policies, Regulations and Requirements for Undergraduate Students - Advanced Placement Credit Awards

International Baccalaureate Examination

Roger Williams University awards advanced credit to students who have successfully completed the IB Diploma or IB Certificate program.

  • Credit is only awarded for scores of 4, 5, 6 and 7. Refer to the course and equivalency chart located in the Academic Regulations and Requirements section of the catalog.
  • IB Math HL is awarded a maximum of 8 credits.
  • Credit is not awarded for CAS or TOK.

IB Diploma

  • A maximum of 6 credits is awarded for Higher Level completed.
  • A maximum of 3 credits is awarded for Standard Level completed.
  • IB Diploma students can earn a maximum of 31 advanced credits.

IB Certificate

  • A maximum of 3 credits is awarded for Higher Level courses completed.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

Credit only awarded for Higher Level (HL) courses completed. No credit awarded for Standard Level (SL) courses completed.

This table shows the minimum score, credits earned, and RWU equivalent course and core concentration for IB exams.
IB ExamMinimum ScoreCredits EarnedRWU Equivalent CourseCore Concentration
Biology4 or 64BIO.104BIO.104
Biology78BIO.103 & BIO.104BIO.103 & BIO.104
Business & Management53MGMT.200N/A
Chemistry5 or 64CHEM.191CHEM.191
Chemistry78CHEM.191 & CHEM.192CHEM.191 & CHEM.192
Computer Science54COMPSC.110COMPSC.110
Dance53DANCE.150N/A
Economics56ECON.111 & ECON.112ECON.111 & ECON.112
FIlm53FILM.101N/A
Geography53RWU.900N/A
European & Islamic World History53HIST.101HIST.101
20th Century World History53HIST.900N/A
Language A (Literature)53ENG.900N/A
Language B (Language Acquisition)53Target Language 101Target Language 101
Language B (Language Acquisition)76Target Language 101 & 102Target Language 101 & 102
Literature & Performance53ENG.900N/A
Mathematics44MATH.136N/A
Mathematics5 or 6 4MATH.213MATH.213
Mathematics78MATH.213 & MATH.214MATH.213 & MATH.214
Music Theory54MUSIC.270 & MUSIC.271N/A
Philosophy53PHIL.100PHIL.100
Psychology53PSYCH.100PSYCH.100
Physics5 or 64PHYS.109N/A
Physics78PHYS.109 & PHYS.110N/A
Social & Cultural Anthropology53ANTH.100ANTH.100
Theatre53THEAT.130THEAT.130
IB Higher Level CertificateN/A3RWU.900N/A

French Baccalaureate Examinations

Roger Williams University awards advanced credit to students who have successfully completed the French Baccalaureate program and who have obtained a grade of 12 or higher, with a coefficient of 4 or 5.

  • A maximum of 3 credits is awarded for courses passed with a grade of 12 or higher, and with a coefficient of 4.
  • A maximum of 6 credits is awarded for courses passed with a grade of 12 or higher, and with a coefficient of 5.

GCE Advanced Level Examinations

Roger Williams University awards advanced credit to students who have successfully completed the GCE Advanced Level program.

  • Credit is only awarded for grades of C or better.
  • Credit is awarded for a maximum of 4 A-level courses.
  • A maximum of 6 credits is awarded for an A-Level course completed.
  • A maximum of 3 credits is awarded for an AS-Level course completed.
  • Students who have completed only O-Level exams are not eligible for advanced credit.

Credit for College Coursework

Matriculating students who earned college credit while enrolled in high school may have that credit transferred into Roger Williams University if the following conditions are satisfied:

  • The course was completed at or under the auspices of a regionally accredited postsecondary institution.
  • The content and vigor of the course is similar to a course offered at Roger Williams University.
  • The grade earned is C/2.0 or better.

Roger Williams University operates on a semester system and the unit of credit is the semester hour. Transferable coursework completed under a semester credit-hour system is awarded with an equal number of credit hours. Coursework completed under a quarter-hour system is converted by awarding approximately two-thirds of the total number of quarter hours.

To request credit for college coursework completed, students should submit official college transcripts to the Registrar’s Office at the time of admission or after making an enrollment deposit.

Roger Williams University Challenge Examinations

Enrolled students who demonstrate competence in material covered by certain scheduled courses may be waived from or obtain credit for such courses by passing a “challenge” examination. Students should consult the dean of the college or school for specific information and any limitations. Challenge examinations are not offered for University Core Curriculum interdisciplinary and seminar course requirements.

Enrolled students who have paid the applicable tuition and fees for the course and can demonstrate evidence of expertise are eligible to apply for a challenge examination, which has been approved by the appropriate college or school.

Challenge examinations may not be repeated and may not be taken for the purpose of a grade replacement for previously completed courses with grades of C- or below.

A student may test out of no more than 25 percent of the courses needed for graduation. Interested and eligible students should be aware of the following:

  1. Students must complete a Challenge Examination Request form available from the secretary of the appropriate college or school.
  2. Students must pay a $50 non-refundable fee for each examination to the Bursar after approval has been obtained but before the examination date.
  3. Students must request permission during the first week of classes to take challenge exams in courses in which they are enrolled. Such examinations must be administered during the first two weeks of the semester and graded before the end of the third week of the semester.
  4. Successful completion of a challenge examination results in the listing on the student’s permanent record of the course equivalent, the notation “credit by examination,” and the amount of credit granted.