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College Credit

Have college credit to transfer?

Way to go! You have a jump start on your college education with credits to transfer to UNI. In order for this credit to count, any official test scores or transcripts need to be sent to the Office of Admissions. 

UNI accepts the following types of course credit:

  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • International Baccalaureate Credit 
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Iowa Seal of Biliteracy
Advanced Placement (AP)

UNI credit is typically granted for students who earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam. More detailed information is available below on how courses transfer into UNI and the General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry) category they satisfy: Written Communication (WC), Oral Communication (OC), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Human Condition-Domestic (HD), Human Condition-Global (HG), Scientific Reasoning (SR), Human Expression (HE), Responsibility (RE), and Connect Elective (CE).

 

AP Capstone Diploma Program

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes

AP Research

33 hoursENGLISH1000Z- 
4, 56 hours

ENGLISH1005

COMM1000

WC, OC 
AP Seminar3, 4, 53 hoursENGLISH1000Z- 

 

Art

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Studio Art: Drawing3, 4, 56 hours combined maximumART1000Z-

Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined

Studio Art: 2D Design3, 4, 56 hours combined maximumART1000Z-

Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined

Studio Art: 3D Design3. 4. 56 hours combined maximumART1000Z-

Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined

Art History3, 4, 53 hoursARTHIST1004HE 

 

Biology

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Biology3No credit---  
44 hoursBIOL2051SRMeets lab requirement
58 hoursBIOL2051, 2052SRMeets lab requirement

 

Chemistry

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Chemistry3No credit---  
44 hoursCHEM1110SRMeets  lab requirement
58 HoursCHEM1110, 1120SRMeets  lab requirement

 

Computer Science

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
AP Computer Science Principals3, 4, 53 hoursCS1000Z- 
Computer Science3No Credit---  
Computer Science A4, 53 hoursCS1160- 

 

Economics

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Macroeconomics3, 4, 53 hoursECON1041QR 
Microeconomics3, 4, 53 hoursECON1051QR 

 

English

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes

English Literature & Composition

33 hoursENGLISH1120HE 
4, 56 hoursENGLISH 1005, 1120WC, HE 

English Language & Composition

3, 4, 53 HoursENGLISH 1005WC 

 

Environmental Science

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Environmental Science3, 4, 54 hoursEARTHSCI1000SRSRMeets lab requirement

 

Human Geography

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Human Geography3, 4, 53 hoursGEOG1120HG 

 

History

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
United States History33 hoursHIST1000HDHD 
4, 56 hoursHISUS 1110, 1120HD 
European History3, 4, 53 hoursHIST1000HGHG 
World History3, 4, 53 hoursHIST1000HGHG 

 

Languages

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)
Chinese Language & Culture35 hoursCHIN1001- 
410 hoursCHIN1001, 1002- 
515 hoursCHIN1001, 1002, 1000Z- 
French Language35 hoursFREN1001, 1011- 
410 hoursFREN1001, 1002, 1101, 1012- 
515 hoursFREN1001, 1002, 1011, 1012, 2001, 2011- 
German Language35 hoursGER1001, 1011- 
410 hoursGER1001, 1001, 1011, 1012- 
515 hoursGER1001, 1002, 1011, 1012, 2001, 2011- 
Japanese Language & Culture35 hoursLANG1000Z- 
410 hoursLANG1000Z- 
515 hoursLANG1000Z- 
Latin: Vergil35 hoursLANG1000Z- 
410 hoursLANG1000Z- 
515 hoursLANG1000Z- 
Spanish Language35 hoursSPAN1001- 
410 hoursSPAN1001, 1002- 
515 hoursSPAN1001, 1002, 2001- 
Spanish Literature3, 4, 53 hoursSPAN1000HEHG 

 

Mathematics

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Calculus AB3, 4, 54 hoursMATH1420QR 
Calculus BC34 hoursMATH1420QR 
Calculus BC4, 58 hoursMATH1420, 1421QR 

 

Music

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Theory3, 4, 51-3 hours

Equivalency to be determined by Music Department

  

 

Physics

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Physics B3, 4, 58 hoursPHYSICS1511, 1512SRMeets lab requirement
Physics C Mechanics3, 4, 54 hoursPHYSICS1701SRMeets lab requirement
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism3, 4, 54 hoursPHYSICS1702- 
Physics I3, 4, 54 hoursPHYSIC1511SRMeets lab requirement
Physics II3, 4, 54 hoursPHYSICS1512- 

 

Political Science

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Government & Politics: United States3, 4, 53 hoursPOLAMER1014HD 
Government & Politics: Comparative3, 4, 53 hoursPOLCOMP1040HG 

 

Psychology

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Psychology3, 4, 53 hoursPSYCH1001HD 

 

Statistics

Dept./Subject Area ExamScoreCredit HoursUNI Course EquivalentGeneral Education (UNIFI)Notes
Statistics3, 4, 53 hoursSTAT1772                     QR 

 

Please note: This information is the best estimate value of how specific test scores will transfer to UNI. However, this document should not be considered a guarantee of transfer credit awarded. A formal course evaluation will be initiated once an official application for admission has been received and official test scores have been submitted. All test scores are subject to departmental approval and may change without notice.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
You may complete CLEP tests prior to enrollment to UNI. UNI credit is based upon scores earned by subject matter. See how CLEP scores transfer to UNI. You can learn more about CLEP by visiting Exam Services.
International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)

UNI provides advanced standing credit to students who earn a score of 4 or above on Higher Level (HL) subjects and 5 or above for Standard Level (SL) subjects. More detailed information is available below on how courses transfer into UNI and the General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry)  category they satisfy: Written Communication (WC), Oral Communication (OC), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Human Condition-Domestic (HD), Human Condition-Global (HG), Scientific Reasoning (SR), Human Expression (HE), Responsibility (RE), and Connect Elective (CE).

 

IB CourseMinimum Score RequiredUNI Course EquivalentUNI Credit HoursGeneral Education (UNIFI)
Biology HL4BIOL:2051 & BIOL:1000Z8SR
Biology SL5BIOL:1000SR4SR
Business Management HL4MGMT:1000Z6-
Business Management SL5MGMT:1000Z3-
Chemistry HL4CHEM:1110 & CHEM:1000Z8SR
Chemistry SL5CHEM:10104SR
Chinese B SL5CHIN:1000Z5-
Dance HL4PEMES:2034 & PEMES:1000Z6-
Dance SL5PEMES:20343-
Economics HL4ECON:1041 & ECON:10516QR
Economics SL5ECON:1000QR3QR
Environment & Society SL5SCI ED:1000RE3RE
French B SL5FREN:1000Z5-
Geography HL4GEOG:1000HG & GEOG:1000Z6HG
Geography SL5GEOG:1000HG3HG
German B SL5GERM:1000Z5-
Global Politics HL4POL INTL:1024 & POL INTL:1000Z6HG
Global Politics SL5POL INTL:10243HG
History HL: History Africa and Middle East4HIS:1000HG6HG
History HL: History Asia and Oceania4HIS:1000HG6HG
History HL: History of Europe4HIS:1000HG6HG
History HL: History of the Americas4HIS:1000HG6HG
History SL5HIS:1000HG3HG
Information Technology in a Global Society HL4UNIV:1000Z6-
Information Technology in a Global Society SL5UNIV:1000Z3-
Japanese B SL5LANG:1000Z5-
Language A: Language and Literature HL4ENGL:1000HE6HE
Language A: Language and Literature SL5ENGL:1000HE3HE
Language A: Literature HL4ENGL:1120 & ENGL:1000Z6HE
Language A: Literature SL5ENGL:11203HE
Math: Analysis & Approaches HL4MATH:1420 & STAT:17728QR
Math: Analysis & Approaches SL5MATH:1000QR4QR
Math: App & Interp HL4MATH:1100 & STAT:17728QR
Math: Apps and Interp SL5MATH:1000QR4QR
Philosophy HL4PHIL:1020 & PHIL1000Z6RE
Philosophy SL5PHIL:10203RE
Physics HL4PHYS:1511 & PHYS:15128QR
Physics SL5PHYS:15114QR
Psychology HL4PSYC:1001 & PSYC:1000Z6HD
Psychology SL5PSYC:10013HD
Spanish B SL5SPAN:1000Z5-
Sports, exercise science, and health sciences HL4KAHHS:1000Z6-
Sports, exercise science, and health sciences SL5KAHHS:1000Z3-
Swahili B SL5LANG:1000Z5-
Theatre HL4THEA: 1000HE6HE
Theatre SL5THEA: 1000HE3HE
Visual Arts HL4ART:1000HE6HE
Visual Arts SL5ART:1000HE3HE

 

Note: You must arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to the UNI Admissions Office. You can earn up to 32 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree through credit by examination.

Taking College Courses in High School (Dual Enrollment)

College credit earned in high school may be accepted at UNI. In order for you to receive credit for college courses you have taken, you must request an official college transcript to be sent to the UNI Admissions Office. Note: College credit listed on your high school transcript is not considered as official.

College Course Recommendations

If you are planning to transfer college credit earned while in high school to UNI, we recommend you focus on courses that meet UNI's General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry) category rather than major courses. See recommendations below.  [Note the General Education (UNIFI) category they satisfy as follows: Written Communication (WC), Oral Communication (OC), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Human Condition-Domestic (HD), Human Condition-Global (HG), Scientific Reasoning (SR), Human Expression (HE), Responsibility (RE), and Connect Elective (CE).]

For course by course equivalencies for Iowa community colleges, click here.  If you have questions about your credit, please email admissions@uni.edu.

 

All Majors

• Composition I & II  [Combined satisfy WC]
• Public Speaking OR Oral Communication [OC]
• World History courses (Each community college may have a different name for these courses) [HG]
• Introduction to Literature [HE]
​• Introduction to Philosophy [RE]
• Art Appreciation OR Music Appreciation [HE]

Business Majors

Majors include Accounting, Management, Marketing, Finance, Supply Management, Economics and Real Estate. In addition to the recommended courses listed above,  a good option for business majors includes:

• Introduction to Sociology [HD]

Early Childhood or Elementary Education Majors

In order to become a licensed early childhood or elementary teacher in the state of Iowa, specific course requirements (some also satisfy general education requirements) must be fulfilled. In particular, it is important to pay attention to the science and social science courses. It is best to work directly with the Office of Admissions to ensure the proper classes for licensure are taken.

Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pre-Med, Pre-Health, Biomedical Majors

It is recommended that students take General Biology I & II and Chemistry I & II at UNI. 

 

Iowa Seal of Biliteracy


Students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy will satisfy UNI's world language requirement. 

Up to 18 credits may be available for students who are eligible and complete SPAN 3006 (Spanish for Heritage Speakers).  See more here. 

Credit may be applied toward the major, minor, or certificate in Chinese, French, or Spanish.   Learn more about UNI's programs here.

Please note that duplicate credit will not be awarded if the student has already received credit via AP, IB, CLEP or dual enrollment.  To qualify, students should send a final transcript with the Seal of Biliteracy to the Office of Admissions. 

Other credit-related resources

Transfer Course Equivalencies Transfer Tools General Education Requirements
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