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Freshman
for students who have not enrolled in college course work after high schoolRunning Start & Other Credit
Regardless of number of college credits earned while in high school, all students entering Western directly after high school graduation (excluding summer courses) are considered freshmen for admissions purposes. Freshmen entering with college credit are eligible for freshman scholarships and granted advanced standing and major course access when appropriate.
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Running Start and Other College Credit
College credit earned through the Running Start program in the state of Washington or any other college or university will be evaluated according to our general transfer guidelines. Western produces a list of all transferable courses as well as general education and major preparation equivalencies for each community college in the state of Washington, available on the web or by contacting the Office of Admissions.
Advanced Placement
Western grants credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams completed with a score of three 3 or higher. Credits are granted upon receipt of official scores (AP Transcript) from the College Board according to the following equivalency chart. If you did not designate that Western receive a copy of your scores at the time of your examination(s), then you will need to order a copy to have sent directly to Western using either of these two methods:
- Complete the right half of your AP Grade Report and send it to the address below; or
- Send a letter with your name, sex, birth date, AP number, the year(s) you took the AP Exams, and the name, city, and state of the college(s) to receive your transcript.
Send your written request and a check made out to AP Exams ($12 for each transcript) to:
- AP Services
- PO Box 6671
- Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
Western's AP code is #4947. To contact AP Services by phone, call (609) 771-7300.
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, credit awarded is considered elective, contributing to the total number of credits required for graduation (180 quarter credits). For more information on General University Requirements (GUR), see Western's GUR worksheet (PDF).
| Department | Minimum Score |
Subject Examination | WWU Courses/Credit/GUR |
| Art | 3, 4, 5 | Art History | Electives (4 credits) Humanities GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | Studio Art: Drawing | Electives (4 credits) | |
| 3, 4, 5 | Studio Art: 2-D or 3-D Design | Electives (4 credits) | |
| Biology | 3, 4, 5 | Biology | Biology 101, 102 (8 credits) Lab Science GUR |
| Chemistry | 3, 4, 5 | Chemistry | Chemistry 121, 122 (10 credits) Lab Science GUR |
| Computer Science | 3, 4, 5 | Computer Science A/AB | Comp. Science 141 (4 credits) Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning GUR |
| Economics | 3, 4, 5 | Microeconomics | Economics 206 (4 credits) Social Science GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | Macroeconomics | Economics 207 (4 credits) Social Science GUR |
|
| English | 3 | English Lit. & Composition or English Lang. & Composition* |
Electives (4 credits) Humanities GUR |
| 4, 5 | English Lit. & Composition or English Lang. & Composition* |
English 101 (5 credits) A-Communication GUR plus Electives (4 credits) Humanities GUR |
|
| *Student may receive credits for either English exam, but not both | |||
| Environmental Science | 3, 4, 5 | Environmental Science | Env. Science 101 (3 credits) Science GUR |
| Geography | 3, 4, 5 | Human Geography | Geography 201 (4 credits) Social Sciences GUR |
| History | 3, 4, 5 | U.S. History | History 103, 104 (8 credits) Humanities GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | European History | History 113 (4 credits) Humanities GUR |
|
| 3, 4, 5 | World History | Electives (4 credits) Humanities GUR |
|
| Mathematics | 3, 4, 5 | Calculus AB or BC** | Electives (5 credits) Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | Statistics | Math 240 (4 credits) Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning GUR |
|
| **Student may receive credit for either AB or BC, but not both unless recommended by Mathematics Department after placement. | |||
| Languages | 3 | Lang. or Lit. exam in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish*** | 101 (5 credits) |
| 4, 5 | Lang. or Lit. exam in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish*** | 101/102 (10 credits) | |
| 4, 5 | Italian Language & Culture | 101 (5 credits) plus Electives (5 credits) | |
| ***Student may receive credit for either Lang. or Lit., but not both | |||
| Music | 3, 4, 5 | Music Theory | Electives (3 credits) |
| Physics | 3, 4, 5 | Physics B | Physics 114 (5 credits) Science GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | Physics C: Mechanics | Physics 121, 131 (5 credits) Lab Science GUR |
|
| 3, 4, 5 | Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Physics 123, 133 (5 credits) Lab Science GUR |
|
| Political Science | 3, 4, 5 | U.S. Govt. & Politics | Pol. Science 250 (5 credits) Social Science GUR |
| 3, 4, 5 | Comparative Govt. & Politics | Pol. Science 291 (5 credits) | |
| Psychology | 3, 4, 5 | Psychology | Psychology 101 (5 credits) Social Science GUR |
International Baccalaureate
Western Washington University will grant credit for appropriate higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) subject examinations passed with a score of four (4) or above according to the chart below. A student may earn up to 15 credits per exam for a maximum of 45 total credits. Higher level subject exams may earn a student General University Requirement (GUR) credit or elective credit, according to the following chart. Not all subject exams earn credit. The departments of Art and Modern and Classical Language do not grant credit for IB exams, but may use the exam results for purposes of program placement and/or course waivers. Students who have passed higher level exams in subjects not listed on the chart will need to consult with the Registrar’s Office, such exams will be considered on an individual basis to determine eligibility for elective or GUR credit.
To earn credit, students must have an official Transcript of Grades sent directly from International Baccalaureate to Western’s Office of Admissions. Email transcripts.ibna@ibo.org and provide your name, birthdate or candidate reference number, high school, and the year the exams were taken, and ask that your scores be sent directly to Western’s Office of Admissions.
| Subject Exam | Score | Credits | WWU Credits |
| Biology | 4 or higher | 15 | Satisfies Natural Science GUR |
| Chemistry | 4 or higher | 15 | Satisfies Natural Science GUR |
| Economics | 4 or higher | 15 | 10 Credits Social Science GUR and 5 elective credits |
| English | 4 or higher | 15 | A-Communication GUR and 10 credits Humanities GUR |
| Geography | 4 or higher | 15 | 5 credits non-lab Science GUR and 10 credits Social Science GUR |
| History The Americas |
4 or higher | 15 | 10 credits Humanities GUR and 5 credits CGM Block B GUR |
| History European |
4 or higher | 15 | 10 Credits Humanities GUR and 5 credits CGM Block A GUR |
| History World |
4 or higher | 15 | 10 Credits Humanities GUR and 5 credits CGM Block A GUR |
| Physics | 4 or higher | 15 | Satisfies Natural Science GUR |
| Psychology | 4 or higher | 5 | 5 credits Social Science GUR |
ACT or SAT
Students achieving a 710 or higher verbal score on the SAT or 28 or higher on ACT English are granted an exemption from English 101 - Writing and Critical Inquiry, although college credit will not be granted.