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Suggested Follow-Up Courses

If you are considering further study in the fields below, review the broad course suggestions in the final column.

300-level courses in some departments may be appropriate starting points for interested, well-prepared students with AP credit.

Remember, the department will always be the best source of information for your individual registration plans.

AP tests and recommended courses
Exam Score Suggested Next Step
African American Studies 5 Any 200-level Black Studies course.
Art History 5 Any 200-level Art History course.
Art (including 2-D, 3-D and Drawing) 5 Art 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250
Biology 5 For premeds or Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 (most students) or Bio 239 (see Research Track) in Spring first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course.
Chemistry 5 All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam.
Chinese Language and Culture 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Computer Science A   4, 5 Students qualify for honors course GEN_ENG 151, but may choose to take COMP_SCI 150 (non-honors).
Computer Science Principles 4, 5 Students should start with COMP_SCI 150
Economics-Macro 5 Econ 202. If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern). 
Economics-Micro 5 Econ 201If both 201 and 202 are complete, Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern).  
English (Language) 5 Any 200-level English literature course.
English (Literature) 5 Any 200-level English literature course.
Environmental Science 5 Earth 210, 211, 212, or 213.
French Language and Culture 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Geography (Human) 5 Any introductory-level course. Geography study spans areas including (but not limited to) Anthropology and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science.
German Language and Culture 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Government and Politics (United States) 5 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can request to skip Poli Sci 220 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.
Government and Politics (Comparative) 5 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can request to skip Poli Sci 250 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.
History (European) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
History (U.S.) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
History (World) 5 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in AP area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
Italian Language and Culture 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Japanese Language and Culture 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Latin 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Mathematics AB, or the AB subscore of Mathematics BC

1-3

MATH 220-1; possibly MATH 218-1 after consultation with a departmental adviser. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

4 MATH 220-2. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.
5 MATH 230-1 (MATH 228-1 for engineering students), or MATH 290-1 (MENU, by invitation); possibly MATH 226-0 (for students majoring in math or statistics or who are applying to the Kellogg Certificate programs). MATH 291-1 if recommended by the Director of MENU. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.
Mathematics BC 1-3 Based on AB subscore; see Mathematics AB, above.
4

MATH 230-1 (MATH 228-1 for engineering students), or MATH 290-1 (MENU, by invitation); possibly MATH 226-0 (for students majoring in math or statistics or who are applying to the Kellogg Certificate programs). MATH 291-1 if recommended by the Director of MENU. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

5

MATH 230-1 (MATH 228-1 for engineering students), or MATH 290-1 (MENU, by invitation). MATH 291-1 if recommended by the Director of MENU. Consult department for more details. All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

Music Theory 5 Consult department.
Physics 1 5 Physics 130-2
Physics 2 5 Physics 130-3
Physics C (Mechanics) 5 Physics 135-2
Physics C (E&M) 5 Physics 135-1 or 135-3
Psychology 5 Any 200-level psychology course.  Psych 313 is also an option. First-year students may NOT take Psych 301 in Fall quarter.
Spanish (Language and Culture or Literature and Culture) 4, 5 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Statistics 4, 5 Stat 201-0 or Stat 232 (Math 220-1 is prerequisite) or Stat 320-1 (co-requisites Math 226-0 & Math 230-2).
IB tests and recommended courses
Exam Score Suggested Next Step
Arts (visual) 6, 7
Art 210, 220, 230, 240, or 250
Biology 6, 7
For premeds or Bio Sci majors: Bio 201 (most students) or Bio 239 (see Research Track) in Spring first year. For others, any 100-level Bio course.
Chemistry 5, 6, 7
All students must take the Chemistry initial assessment. If students want to place above Chem 151, they need to take the Chemistry placement exam.
Computer Science 5, 6, 7 Students qualify for honors course GEN_ENG 151, but may choose to take COMP_SCI 150 (non-honors).
Dance 6, 7

Consult department.

Economics 6, 7

Math 220-1, Stat 210, or Econ 310-1 Intermediate Micro (not recommended for students in their first term at Northwestern).

Film

6, 7 Consult department.

Geography

6, 7 Any introductory-level course. Geography study spans areas including (but not limited to) Anthropology and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science.

History (European, American, Asia and Oceania, or Africa and Middle East

6, 7 Any 200-level History course; 300-levels in IB area; other 300s in consultation with instructor.
Language A (English Literature or Language) 6, 7 Any 200-level English course.
Language A (all languages other than English - Literature or Language) 6, 7 Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.
Language B 

6, 7

Refer to Language Resource Center: AP and IB Language Credit.

Mathematics

6, 7

All students who plan to take Math must take the placement exam.

Music

6, 7 Consult department.

Philosophy

7 Any 100- or 200-level course.

Physics

6, 7 Physics 130-3.

Politics (Global)

6, 7 Any 200-level Poli Sci course. If you pursue the major or minor, you can place out of 240 and replace it with a 300-level course. This does not reduce the total number of courses required for the major or minor.

Psychology

6, 7 Any 200-level psychology course.  Psych 313 is also an option. First-year students may NOT take Psych 301 in Fall quarter.