Advanced Placement Credit

Advanced Credit

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

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.

Academic Placement using AP/IB Scores

Students who take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level tests and score well, may earn RWU course credits that may affect placement. AP test scores do not arrive at RWU until early July, and IB test scores don’t arrive at RWU until August. Once they are arrive they are processed and posted to the students account by the Registrar's office. 

Students who plan to take AP or IB tests should also complete any RWU online placement tests that are required for their major. The results of the fall online placement testing will provide an initial placement, which can be used to assign these students a course for the fall semester schedule that they receive in June at orientation.

Students who receive RWU course credits as a result of their AP or IB testing will have their fall semester course schedules changed to reflect that fact. This will occur after RWU receives their official test scores from the College Board and the scores have been processed and posted by the Registrar's office.