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Catalog 2024-2025

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College Credit for Advanced Placement (AP) Tests

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 ¿´Æ¬ÊÓƵ AA/AS GE Subject Credit ¿´Æ¬ÊÓƵ GE ¿´Æ¬ÊÓƵ 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) Arts & 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   Arts & 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 A-4 – Social/ Behavioral 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 2019)
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 A-3 of ¿´Æ¬ÊÓƵ 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 A-5 – 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 A-4  – Social / Behavioral 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)
Arts & 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   Arts & 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 A-4 – Social/ Behavioral 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 A-3 – Arts &  Humanities
3 units
Arts & 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 A-3 – Arts & Humanities
3 units
Arts & 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 A-3 – Arts & Humanities
3 units
Arts & 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
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 C – Electricity/Magnetism PHYS 004B             5 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 
5 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
Arts & 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 A-4 – Social/ Behavioral 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 A-4 – Social/ Behavioral 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
World History Modern Area A-4 – Social / Behavioral Science 3 units Social/Behavioral Sciences or Humanities
3 semester unit
3 semester units Area C2 or D
3 semester units
3 semester units Area 3B or 4
3 semester units
5.3 semester units