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California Institute of the Arts

Credit by Examination

Academic Policies

See also Transfer Credit.

California Institute of the Arts grants credit toward the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree for successful completion of examinations in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board and for examinations for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Students presenting scores of 3 or better on AP exams are granted 4 semester units toward the Critical Studies requirement for each examination in the Humanities or Sciences as they relate to Critical Studies requirements.

Students scoring 4 or better on International Baccalaureate Higher Level exams will be granted 4 semester units toward the Critical Studies requirement for each examination in the Humanities or Sciences as they relate to Critical Studies core curriculum requirements. A maximum of 38 semester units will be allowed for transfer toward the CalArts Critical Studies requirements.

Critical Studies

Critical/Intellectual Skills credit

  • AP English Language and Composition 

Computing & Research Skills credit

  • AP Computer Science A 

Humanities credit

  • AP English Literature and Composition 

Social Science credit

  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP European History
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Psychology
  • AP United States Government and Politics
  • AP United States History
  • AP World History 

Science & Math credit

  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  •  AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Physics B
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • AP Physics 1
  • AP Physics 2

Metier Studies/Other Metier Studies credit

  •  AP Art History 

Critical Studies Elective credit

  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Chinese Language and Culture
  • AP French Language and Culture
  • AP German Language and Culture
  • AP Italian Language and Culture
  • AP Japanese Language and Culture
  • AP Latin
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture
  • AP Spanish Literature and Culture

Non-Critical Studies

Studio credit

  • AP Music Theory
  • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
  • AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
  • AP Studio Art: Drawing

Revised Date: May 2014

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