Advanced Standing (AP, IB, A-Level, and Transfer Credit)
If you earned AP, IB, A-Level, College in High School, or other college credit before arriving at Pitt, you may be eligible for Advanced Standing Credit in the Swanson School. The guidelines below cover the different ways incoming students can earn Pitt credit prior to enrolling.
Note: Students may receive credit for an unlimited number of math and science courses through AP, IB, or A-Level exams. No more than two humanities or social science elective requirements may be satisfied through any combination of AP, IB, or A-Level credit. No more than three humanities or social science electives may be satisfied through community college transfer credit.
Advanced Placement (AP)
The College Board's Advanced Placement program allows students to take college-level courses in high school. Students follow a prescribed AP curriculum and take an examination graded on a 5-point scale at the end of the course. The Swanson School accepts a wide array of AP courses for students who achieve qualifying scores, including many in math and science.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate program is similar to AP in that high school students take college-level courses and are examined to assess their mastery of a given subject. The University of Pittsburgh only awards credit for satisfactory scores on Higher Level (HL) IB exams.
Concurrent Enrollment Programs
Concurrent enrollment programs allow students to take college classes for credit during the regular school day, taught in their high schools by their regular teachers. Pitt's College in High School program is one example. College transcripts from these programs will be evaluated by an academic advisor for transfer eligibility. In general, courses must have similar content to a Pitt course and be offered for an equal number of credits at a semester-calendar institution.
Transfer Credit from Another Institution
High school students who take classes at another college, university, or community college can have those courses evaluated by an academic advisor for transfer eligibility. Courses must have similar content to a Pitt course and be offered for an equal number of credits at a semester-calendar institution.
GCE A-Level Exams
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education (GCE A-Levels) are internationally recognized exams administered by educational agencies in Great Britain. To find out whether a particular A-Level exam is accepted by the Swanson School, contact your First-Year Engineering advisor.