2022-2023 College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 College Catalog

Credit for Prior Learning



Advanced Placement (AP) Exam

Saddleback College will grant credit for each Advanced Placement (AP) Examination satisfactorily passed with a score of 3, 4, or 5. For AP credit to be awarded, an official score report must be on file in the Office of Admissions and Records prior to the Counselor review.

Students can make an appointment to see a Saddleback College counselor for review of their AP exam scores and processing of an Advanced Placement Examination Credit Petition. Admissions and Records evaluators will assign AP Exam credit as applicable when a student applies for a degree, CSUGE or IGETC certification.

All California State University (CSU) campuses will accept the minimum units as stipulated below toward full or partial CSUGE certification. The CSU campus to which the student is transferring determines the applicability of the examination to other campus-specific graduation requirements including the major.

All University of California (UC) campuses will accept the minimum units as stipulated below toward full or partial IGETC certification. The UC campus to which the student is transferring determines the applicability of the examination to other campus specific graduation requirements including the major. Students who earn credit from an AP exam should not take a comparable college course because transfer credit will not be granted for both.

AP credit granted by Saddleback College for either elective or specific course credit does not necessarily transfer as such to other colleges or universities.  Students planning to use AP credit toward transfer requirements will need to consult with appropriate campus representatives of the transfer institution for specific information regarding its policies and procedures.

College Credit for AP Exams

Credit will be given for AP exams passed with a score of 3 unless otherwise noted.


*AP exams in Environmental Science, Physics C: Mechanics and Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism will be given 3 semester or 4 quarter units for Areas 5A and 5C for IGETC Certification. Students who complete these exams will be required to complete at least 4 semester or 5 quarter units in Area 5B or 3 semester or 4 quarter units in Area 5B plus an additional course in either Areas 5A or 5B to satisfy the minimum required units for IGETC Certification Area 5.

Advanced
Placement Exam

Saddleback
College AA/AS
Credit Awarded
for GE, Major
and/or Elective Units

CSU GE
Certification
Area/Semester Units

CSU Minimum
Admission
Semester Units

IGETC Certification
Area/Semester Units

UC Admissions
Semester Units

Art History

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C1 or C2
3
6 Area 3A or 3B
3
5.3

Biology

Natural Sciences - 4
Credit for BIO 20  

Area B2 and B3
4
6 Area 5B and 5C (lab)
4
5.3

Chemistry

Natural Sciences - 4
Credit for CHEM 3  

Area B1 and B3
4
6 Area 5A and 5C (lab)
4
5.3

Chinese -
    Language & Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3

Computer Science -
     A Exam

Elective - 3

N/A 3
(only one CS Exam may be applied)
N/A

1.3
(prior to Fall ‘18)

5.3
(Fall ‘18 and later)

(2.6 maximum credit for both Computer Science A and Computer Science AB exams)

Computer Science -
     AB Exam Only

N/A

N/A 6
(only one CS Exam may be applied)
N/A

2.6

(2.6 maximum credit for both Computer Science A and Computer Science AB exams)

Computer Science -
     Principles

Language/Rationality
1C-3

B4
3
 

6
(only one CS exam may be applied)
N/A 5.3

Economics -
     Macro Exam

Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3

  Credit for ECON 2  with a score of 5

Area D
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

Economics -
     Micro Exam

Social/Behavioral Sciences 3

  Credit for ECON 4  with a score of 5

Area D
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

English -
     Language and Composition

Language/Rationality 1A - 3
Credit for ENG 1A  and
Matriculation placement in ENG 1B /1BH  

Area A2
3
6 Area 1A
3
5.3 (max credit for both English Lang/Comp & Lit/Comp)

English -
     Literature and Composition

Language/Rationality 1A - 3 and
Arts/Humanities - 3
Credit for ENG 1A  and
Matriculation placement in ENG 1B /1BH  

Area A2 and C2
6
6 Area 1A or 3B
3
5.3 (max credit for both English Lang/Comp & Lit/Comp)

Environmental Science

Natural Sciences - 4

Area B1 and B3
4
4 Area 5A and 5C (lab)
3*
2.6

French -
    Language & Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3

German -
    Language & Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3

Government and Politics -
     United States

Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3

Area D and US-2
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

Government and Politics -
     Comparative

Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3
Credit for PS 12  with a score of 5

Area D
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

History -
     United States

Social/Behavioral Sciences or Arts/Humanities - 3
Credit for HIST 22  
(C2 & US-1) or (D & US-1)
3
6

Area 3B or 4
3

5.3

History -
     European

Social/Behavioral Sciences or Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2 or D
3
6 Area 3B or 4
3
5.3

History -
     World: Modern

Social/Behavioral Sciences or Arts/Humanities - 3
Credit for HIST 5  

Area C2 or D
3
3 Area 3B or 4
3
5.3

Human Geography

Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3

Area D
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

Italian -
     Language & Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3

Japanese -
     Language & Culture

 

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3

Latin -
     Virgil

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
(only applies if taken before Fall 12)
3
(only applies if taken before Fall 12)
Area 3B and 6A
3
2.6

Latin

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6

Area 3B and 6A
3

N/A

Mathematics -
     Calculus AB Exam

Language/Rationality 1C - 3
Credit for MATH 2  and Matriculation placement in MATH 3A /3AH  with a score of 3.
Credit for MATH 3A  and Matriculation placement in MATH 3B  with a score of 4 or 5.

Area B4
3
3 (only one Calculus AP exam applied toward degree) Area 2A
3

2.6


5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Calculus

Mathematics -
     Calculus BC Exam

Language/Rationality 1C - 3
Credit for MATH 3A  and Matriculation placement in MATH 3B  with a score of 3.
Credit for MATH 3A  and MATH 3B  and Matriculation placement in MATH 3C  with a score of 4 or 5.

Area B4
3
6 (only one Calculus AP exam applied toward degree) Area 2A
3

2.6

5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Calculus

Mathematics -
     Calculus BC/AB Subscore

Language/Rationality 1C - 3

Area B4
3
3 (only one Calculus AP exam applied toward degree) Area 2A
3

2.6

5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Calculus

Music Theory

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C1
3
(only applies if taken before Fall 09)
6
(only applies if taken before Fall 09)
N/A 5.3

Physics 1

Natural Sciences - 4
Credit for PHYS 2A  

Areas B1 and B3
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 4units max for GE
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 6 units max
Area 5A and 5C (lab)
4

5.3

5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Physics

Physics 2

Natural Sciences - 4

Areas B1 and B3
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 4units max for GE
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 6 units max
Area 5A and 5C (lab)
4

5.3

5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Physics

Physics C -
     Mechanics

Natural Sciences - 4

Areas B1 and B3
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 4units max for GE
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 6 units max
Area 5A and 5C (lab)
3*
2.6
5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Physics

Physics C -
     Electricity/Magnetism

Natural Sciences - 4

Areas B1 and B3
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 4units max for GE
4
If more than one AP exam in Physics, only 6 units max
Area 5A and 5C (lab)
3*
2.6
5.3 max if more than one AP exam in Physics

Psychology

Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3
Credit for PSYC 1  

Area D
3
3 Area 4
3
2.6

Spanish -
     Language and Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Area 3B and 6A
3
5.3
Seminar N/A N/A 3 N/A N/A

Spanish -
     Literature and Culture

Arts/Humanities - 3

Area C2
3
6 Areas 3B and 6A
3
5.3

Statistics

Language/Rationality 1C - 3
Credit for MATH 10 with a score of 3

Area B4
3
3 Area 2A
3
2.6

Studio Art
2D Design
3D Design
Drawing

Elective - 3
Elective - 3
Elective - 3

N/A 3 N/A 5.3
(Max credit if more than one AP exam in Studio Art)

The Standardized Examination information was prepared based upon data available at the time of publication and is subject to change.

Note: In some cases, credit towards specific major requirements is also awarded by the UC/CSU campuses. Refer to the catalog of the campus of intended transfer for further information.