C.4.a. Entrance Credit

Types of Credits and Limits

A limited amount of course credit may be awarded in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences on the basis of precollege examination and/or credits earned of the following three types: Advanced Placement (AP), international placement credit (IPC), and prematriculation college credit (PMC). Trinity College will record on students’ permanent Duke records courses of these three types completed prior to their matriculation at Duke. The three types of precollege work are regarded as equivalent and may be used for placement into higher-level coursework and to satisfy departmental major and minor requirements in Trinity to the extent allowed by the individual departments. It should be noted that Trinity College students may be granted a maximum of two credits toward the degree requirement of 34.0 course credits for any combination of AP, IPC, or PMC credits.

Pratt students may count multiple Entrance credits to satisfy departmental major and minor requirements in Pratt and Trinity to the extent allowed by the individual department. Pratt students may be granted a maximum of four PMC credits to count towards their 34.0 course credit requirements.

Acceleration Credits for Trinity Students

Up to six additional Entrance credits may be awarded for acceleration toward the Trinity degree. These are call Acceleration credits. Acceleration is defined as completing the requirements for the bachelor’s degree one or two semesters earlier than the original expected graduation date. Specifically, the two allowed Entrance credits, as well as up to two Acceleration credits, may be included in the graduation total for students graduating in seven consecutive semesters. The two allowed Entrance credits, as well as up to six Acceleration credits, may be included in the graduation total for students graduating in six consecutive semesters. Students may not use Acceleration credits in order to compensate for time taken away from their studies due to a leave of absence, voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from the university, or a period of practice-oriented education that does not include credit-bearing coursework taken to satisfy graduation requirements.

Application to General Education Requirements

Entrance credits (AP, IPC, and PMC credits) may not be used to satisfy Arts & Science Curriculum General Education requirements.

Entrance credits (AP, IPC, and PMC credits) may not be used to satisfy the Engineering Design & Communication, Digital Computation, Writing, or Liberal Arts requirements of the Pratt BSE degree.

Forfeiture of Entrance Credit Awarded

Students who successfully complete a course at Duke for which they received entrance credit may not use that or any higher entrance credit in that subject to satisfy degree requirements. The entrance credit work will remain on the Duke transcript. A Trinity College student who enrolls in a course for which entrance credit was awarded and who subsequently fails or withdraws from the course after the Drop/Add deadline will be allowed to apply the entrance credit toward graduation requirements according to the policy governing use of such credits (see above). A Pratt School of Engineering student enrolled in a course for which entrance credit was awarded and who subsequently fails or withdraws from the course after the Drop/Add period will not be allowed to use the entrance credit nor any higher credit in that subject to satisfying degree requirements.

Prematriculation credit (PMC)

College-level courses taken elsewhere before matriculation at Duke may be considered for prematriculation credit (PMC) provided they meet each of the following criteria:

was taken after the commencement of the junior year of high school
yielded a grade of B- or better
was not used to meet high school diploma requirements
was taken on the college campus in competition with degree candidates of the college
was taught by a regular member of the college faculty and part of the regular curriculum of the college
was not taken on a study abroad program completed before matriculation at Duke
was not a precalculus or English composition course

A formal review of courses meeting these criteria will proceed after an official transcript of all college courses taken and documentation pertaining to these criteria are received by the University Registrar. (See also the section on entrance credit on this page for a discussion of the number of prematriculation credits that can transfer and how they may be used at Duke.)

Test-Based Credit (AP/IB/IPC)

College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) Examinations

A score of four or five on College Board Advanced Placement Program Examinations, taken prior to matriculation in college, is the basis for consideration of placement in advanced courses in some departments. Departmental policies regarding Advanced Placement may vary. Approval of the director of undergraduate studies or supervisor of first-year instruction in the appropriate department is required before final placement is made. Scores must be submitted directly from the appropriate testing service to the Office of the University Registrar.

Advanced Placement courses completed with a score of four or five will be recorded on a student’s permanent Duke record. Students may use all of these courses for placement into higher-level courses and to satisfy departmental major and minor requirements at Duke to the extent allowed by individual departments.

International Placement Credit (IPC)

Duke University recognizes the International Baccalaureate Program; the French Baccalaureate; the British, Hong Kong, or Singapore A-Level Examinations; the Cambridge pre-U; the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination; the German Abitur; the Swiss Federal Maturity Certificate; the All India Senior School Certificate Examination; the Indian School Certificate examination; and the Israeli Matriculation Certificate. Scores acceptable for consideration are determined by the faculty and evaluated by the university registrar. Course equivalents for these programs may be recorded on a student’s permanent Duke record for placement and credit according to the same policy governing the use of AP and prematriculation credits (see above).

C.4. Credit for Courses Taken Elsewhere (Entrance & Transfer Credit)

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C.4. Credit for Courses Taken Elsewhere (Entrance & Transfer Credit)

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