West Valley College will grant college credit toward an AA/AS degree to students who earn scores of 3, 4, or 5 on advanced placement examinations given by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). To receive credit, students must send an official copy of the AP results to West Valley for evaluation. The units earned from AP credit cannot be used to satisfy the 12-unit residency requirement.
The list below shows how Advanced Placement credit is awarded at West Valley College. Also included are how AP subject exams are used for both the CSU general education pattern and IGETC. UC and CSU limitations may apply. Be aware that transfer or credit (UC and CSU) based on AP Exams may differ from the units allowed for transfer general education. Also a maximum of one course per AP exam can be cleared when used on the IGETC pattern.
In order for students to receive subject area credit for a specific AA or AS major, students must make an appointment with the Department Chair of the subject area.
A student may receive credit toward AA and AS general education requirements by earning an AP score of 3, 4, or 5.
The Advanced Placement examinations may be incorporated into the certification of CSU General Education-Breath requirements. All CSU campuses will accept the minimum units shown and apply them toward fulfillment of the designated General Education-Breath area.
AP exams must be used in the area indicated by UC campuses regardless of where West Valley College locates the specific discipline.
Foreign Language AP Exams can be used to meet this specific area requirement (Area 6A) for IGETC certification.
Transfer credit requested for major requirements based on AP exams are determined by the individual transfer college/university.
Course credit and units granted at West Valley College may differ from course credit and units granted by other community colleges and transfer institutions.
| Exam | WVC AA/AS GE Subject Credit | WVC GE | WVC Units Earned toward AA | CSU GE | CSU - Units Earned toward Transfer | IGETC | UC – Units Earned toward Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | ARTS 001A and 001B (6 units) | Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C1 or C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3A or 3B 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Biology | BIOL 010 (4 units) |
Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
6 semester units | Area B2 and B3 4 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 5B and 5C 4 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Calculus AB | MATH 003A (5 units) |
Language and Rationality 3 semester units |
3 semester units^ | Area B4 3 semester units |
3 semester units* | Area 2A 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units** |
| Calculus BC | MATH 003A (score of 3) 5 units MATH 003A + 003B (score of 4 or 5) 10 units |
Language and Rationality 3 semester units |
6 semester units^ | Area B4 3 semester units |
6 semester units* | Area 2A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units** |
| Calculus BC/AB Subscore | MATH 003A (score of 3) 5 units MATH 003A + 003B (score of 4 or 5) 10 units |
Language and Rationality 3 semester units |
3 semester units ^ | Area B4 3 semester units |
3 semester units* | Area 2A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units** |
| AP CALCULUS EXAM LIMITATIONS | ^ Maximum of one exam, per subject, can be used for credit | *Only one exam may be used toward transfer | **Maximum credit 5.3 semester units for both | ||||
| Chemistry | Areas B1 and B3 (If taken prior to Fall 2009) 6 semester units |
6 semester units | N/A | N/A | |||
| Chemistry | CHEM 001A (5 units) | Natural Science 4 semester units |
6 semester units | Areas B1 and B3 4 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 5A (with lab) 4 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Chinese Language & Culture | Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units | |
| Comparative Government & Politics | Area D series 1 – Social Science 3 units |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| Computer Science A | CIST 004A / 004A1 (4 units) |
N/A | 3 semester units^ | N/A | 3 semester units** | N/A | 1.3 semester units*** 5.3 semester units**** |
| Computer Science Principles (AB) | CIST 004B / 004B1 (4 units) |
N/A | 6 semester units^ | Area B4 (starting Spring 2020) 3 semester units |
6 semester units** | N/A | 5.3 semester units |
| AP CS Exam Limitations | ^ Maximum of one exam, per subject, can be used for credit | **Maximum one exam toward transfer | ***Students entering UC prior to Fall 2018 ****Students entering UC Fall 2018 and after. |
||||
| Economics - Macroeconomics | ECON 001A (3 units) |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| Economics - Microeconomics | ECON 001B (3 units) |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| English Language & Composition | ENGL 001A (3 units) |
Language and Rationality 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area A2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 1A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units* |
| English Literature & Composition | ENGL 001A + 3 units toward Area C of WVC GE |
Language and Rationality or Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area A2 and C2 6 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 1A or 3B 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units* |
| AP English Exam Limitations | *5.3 semester units maximum for both exams | ||||||
| Environmental Science | Area B – Natural Science 3 units |
Natural Science 4 semester units |
4 semester units | Area B1 and B3 4 semester units |
4 semester units | Area 5A (with lab) 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| European History | Area D series 1 – Social Science 3 units |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 or D6 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B or 4F 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| French Language | Area C2 (if taken prior to Fall 2009) 6 semester units |
N/A | N/A | ||||
| French Language & Culture | FRNC 002A (5 units) |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| French Literature | Area C2 (if taken prior to Fall 2009) 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A | 5.3 semester units | |||
| German Language | Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 (if taken prior to Fall 2011) 3 semester units |
6 semester units | N/A | N/A | |
| German Language & Culture | GERM 002A 5 units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units | |
| Human Geography | Area D series 1 – Social Science 3 units |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4E 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| Italian Language & Culture | Area C – Humanities 3 units |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Japanese Language & Culture | Area C – Humanities 3 units |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Latin Literature | Area C2 (if taken prior to Fall 2009) 3 semester units |
6 semester units | N/A | N/A | |||
| Latin | Area C – Humanities 3 units |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Latin: Vergil | Area C2 (if taken prior to Fall 2012) 3 semester units |
3 semester units | N/A | N/A | |||
| Music Theory | Area C – Humanities 3 units |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C1 (if taken prior to Fall 2009) 3 semester units |
6 semester units | N/A | 5.3 semester units |
| Physics 1 (Phy B replaced by Phy 1 & 2 (14-15) | Department approval required | Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
4 semester units | B1 and B3 4 semester units |
4 semester units | Area 5A and 5C | 5.3 semester units |
| Physics 2 (Phy B replaced by Phy 1 & 2 (14-15) | Department approval required | Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
4 semester units | B1 and B3 4 semester units |
4 semester | Area 5A and 5C | 5.3 semester units |
| Physics B | PHYS 002A 5 units |
Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
6 semester units^ | B1 and B3 4 semester units* |
6 semester units* | Area 5A and 5C 4 semester units |
5.3 semester units** |
| Physics C – Electricity/Magnetism | PHYS 004A + 004B 10 units | Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
4 semester units^ | Area B1 and B3 4 semester units* |
4 semester units* | Area 5A and 5C 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units** |
| Physics C - Mechanics | PHYS 004A + 004B 10 units |
Natural Sciences 4 semester units |
4 semester units^ | Area B1 and B3 4 semester units* |
4 semester units* | Area 5A and 5C 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units** |
| AP PHYSICS EXAM LIMITATIONS: | ^ Maximum of one exam, per subject, can be used for credit | *Maximum 4 semester units toward GE and 6 semester units toward transfer | *Maximum 4 semester units toward GE and 6 semester units toward transfer | **Maximum 5.3 semester units for both | |||
| Precalculus | Language and Rationality | 3 semester units | Area B4 3 semester units |
3 semester units | |||
| Psychology | PSYC 001 3 units |
Social /Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| Seminar | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | ||
| Spanish Language | Area C2 (if taken prior to SU 2014) 6 semester units |
6 semester units | |||||
| Spanish Language & Culture | SPAN 002A 5 units |
Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B and 6A 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |
| Statistics | MATH 010 3 units |
Language and Rationality 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area B4 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 2 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| Studio Art – 2D Design | Department approval required | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 5.3 semester units** |
| Studio Art – 3D Design | Department approval required | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 5.3 semester units** |
| Studio Art - Drawing | Department approval required | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 3 semester units | N/A | 5.3 semester units** |
| AP STUDIO ART EXAM LIMITATIONS: | *Maximum 4 semester units toward GE and 6 semester units toward transfer | **Maximum 5.3 semester units for all three | |||||
| U.S. Government and Politics | POLI 001 3 units |
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area D and US 2 3 semester units |
3 semester units | Area 4 3 semester units |
2.6 semester units |
| U.S. History | Area D series 2 – Social Science 3 units |
Social/Behavioral Sciences or Humanities 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area C2 or D+US-1 3 semester units | 6 semester units | Area 3B or 4 3 semester units | 5.3 semester units |
| World History | Area D series 1 – Social Science 3 units | Social/Behavioral Sciences or Humanities 3 semester unit |
6 semester units | Area C2 or D 3 semester units |
6 semester units | Area 3B or 4 3 semester units |
5.3 semester units |