Introduction
Students who excel in Advanced Placement (AP) exams have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. Harvard University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, offers a generous AP credit policy that allows students to potentially skip introductory-level coursework and advance their studies. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of Harvard’s AP credit policy, including eligible exams, credit awarded, and the application process.
Eligible AP Exams
Harvard University accepts scores from all AP exams offered by the College Board. The following table lists the eligible exams and the minimum score required for credit:
| AP Exam | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 4 |
| Calculus BC | 5 |
| Chemistry | 5 |
| Computer Science A | 4 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 |
| Economics: Macroeconomics | 4 |
| Economics: Microeconomics | 4 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 |
| Environmental Science | 4 |
| European History | 5 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 |
| Government and Politics: Comparative | 4 |
| Government and Politics: United States | 4 |
| History of Art | 4 |
| Human Geography | 4 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 |
| Latin | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 |
| Music Theory | 5 |
| Physics 1 | 4 |
| Physics 2 | 4 |
| Psychology | 4 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 |
| Statistics | 4 |
| Studio Art | Portfolio Review |
| United States History | 5 |
| World History | 4 |
Credit Awarded
The amount of credit awarded for each AP exam varies depending on the exam and the course it replaces at Harvard. The following table lists the AP exams that grant credit and the corresponding Harvard course:
| AP Exam | Harvard Course |
|---|---|
| Calculus AB | Math 19a: Calculus I |
| Calculus BC | Math 19b: Calculus II |
| Chemistry | Chemistry 10 |
| Computer Science A | Computer Science 50: Principles of Computer Science |
| Computer Science Principles | Computer Science 50: Principles of Computer Science |
| Economics: Macroeconomics | Economics 10a: Principles of Economics |
| Economics: Microeconomics | Economics 10b: Principles of Economics |
| English Language and Composition | English 10: Expository Writing |
| English Literature and Composition | English 10: Expository Writing |
| Environmental Science | Environmental Science and Public Policy 1 |
| European History | History 5: Modern European History |
| French Language and Culture | French 101 |
| German Language and Culture | German 101 |
| Government and Politics: Comparative | Government 10: Comparative Politics |
| Government and Politics: United States | Government 1: American Government |
| History of Art | History of Art 1 |
| Human Geography | Geography 1 |
| Italian Language and Culture | Italian 101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | Japanese 101 |
| Latin | Latin 50: Elementary Latin |
| Mathematics | Math 20a: Differential Equations |
| Music Theory | Music 20: Music Theory and Composition |
| Physics 1 | Physics 11: Mechanics |
| Physics 2 | Physics 12: Electricity and Magnetism |
| Psychology | Psychology 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | Spanish 101 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | Spanish 101 |
| Statistics | Statistics 100: Principles of Statistical Inference |
| Studio Art | Art 100 |
| United States History | History 21: American History I |
| World History | History 5: Modern European History |
Application Process
To apply for Harvard AP credit, students must submit their AP exam scores directly to Harvard College Admissions when they apply to the university. The deadline for submitting AP scores is January 1st of the year of matriculation.
Transferring AP Credit
Once enrolled at Harvard, students can request to have their AP credit transferred to their transcript. To do so, they must submit an official AP score report to the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE). The OUE will review the student’s scores and determine which courses, if any, the student can receive credit for.
Benefits of Harvard AP Credit
There are many benefits to earning AP credit, including:
- Skipping introductory-level coursework: Students who earn AP credit can skip introductory-level coursework at Harvard, allowing them to advance their studies and take more advanced courses.
- Saving time and money: Earning AP credit can save students time and money by reducing the number of semesters they need to complete their degree.
- Improving academic performance: Studies have shown that students who earn AP credit tend to perform better in college than those who do not.
Conclusion
Harvard University’s generous AP credit policy provides a significant opportunity for students to accelerate their studies and save time and money. By understanding the eligibility requirements, credit awarded, and application process, students can maximize the benefits of AP credit and enhance their academic experience at Harvard.