Credit from Away: International Baccalaureate (IB) IB credit equivalencies for each W&L department
Washington and Lee University will consider for credit or advanced placement only IB courses with Higher-Level examination results of 5, 6 or 7. Standard-Level results do not receive W&L credit. Specific credit and placement policies are available on this page, accessible at go.wlu.edu/IB.
Official IB transcripts must be received prior to August 15 in order for registration prerequisites to be satisfied and credits to be awarded. W&L`s IB reference ID is N001515.
Students are responsible to request an official transcript be sent directly to the W&L University Registrar. IBO only accepts the request on an IBO transcript request form submitted to them by mail (not fax) and full details and fees are outlined on the IBO website. Transcripts are forwarded electronically from the IB office to the W&L University Registrar once students have authorized the release of results to W&L.
IB scores and credit can be viewed on your Student profile in Workday using the "Academics" screen; W&L course equivalencies earned are viewable on the "Transfer Credit" and "Academic History" views. Only scores that earn W&L credit are posted on your W&L record.
The Faculty has set a deadline: In order to receive Washington and Lee credit, all documentation (official transcript of IB work) must be received by the University Registrar before the end of the first term in which the student is enrolled at W&L.
Recently awarded credits: Credit is granted at the discretion of the department head(s) involved, according to the following departmental policies in place for the coming fall term. "FDR" refers to W&L's Foundation and Distribution Requirements. If you receive credit for any of the following, make sure you don't register for the same W&L course number or you will lose your IB credit:
| W&L Discipline - IB Higher-Level Test | Score | W&L Equivalency and Credit, with notation of FDR earned, if any | Registration Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art & Art History - Visual Arts | 5,6,7 | ARTS 1-HA-M (3-credit 100-level HA elective) | exempt from HA; take a different art history or studio art course |
| Biology | 5,6,7 | BIOL 1-SL-N (4-credit 100-level SL elective, but not the major) | if biology, neuroscience or environmental science major or pre-health, take BIOL 111/113 |
| Chemistry | 5,6,7 | CHEM 100 (4) SL | if science major or pre-health, take CHEM 110 |
| Chinese Language A | 5,6,7 | CHIN 262 (4) FL |
exempt from FL, take CHIN 301 |
| Computer Science | 6, 7 | CSCI 101 (4) FM | take CSCI 111 |
| Economics | 6,7 taken in 2021 or after | ECON 100(3): SS1 | consider taking a 200-level course |
| Economics | 6,7 taken in 2020 | no credit | take ECON 100 |
| English Language & Literature A or English Literature A |
6,7 | WRIT 100 (3) FW | exempt from FW; consider taking a 200-level literature course to fulfill HL or a 200-level creative writing course to fulfill HA |
| French Language A or B | 6,7 | If test date of 2020 or earlier, or if 2021 or 2022 results confirmed by W&L placement test, FREN 164 (3) FL | exempt FL; take 200-level French course |
| French Language A or B | 6,7 | If test date of 2021 or 2022 and not confirmed by W&L placement test, no credit but... | placement in FREN 164 for Fall to meet FDR FL requirement |
| Geography | 6,7 | GEN 10N (3-credit, 100-level, non-FDR, non-major elective) | consider politics, sociology, or geology course |
| German Language B | 6,7 | If confirmed by W&L placement test, GERM 262 (4) FL | take GERM 311 |
| German Language B | 6,7 | If not confirmed by W&L placement test, no credit but... | placement in GERM 261 |
| Global Politics | 5,6,7 | POL 105 (3) SS2 | consider another 100-level politics course |
| History - Americas | 5,6,7 | HIST 107 (0) & 108 (3), if no AP credit HU | any other 100-level HIST, but do not register for either HIST 107 or 108 |
| History - Asia/Oceania | 5,6,7 | HIST 103 (0) & 104 (3) HU | any other 100-level HIST, but do not register for either HIST 103 or HIST 104 |
| History - Europe | 5,6,7 | HIST 101 (0) & 102 (3), if no AP credit HU | any other 100-level HIST, but do not register for either HIST 101 or HIST 102 |
| Italian A: Literature | 6,7 | ITAL 163 (4) FL | exempt from FL; see Romance Languages for additional course suggestions |
| Japanese Language A | 5,6,7 | JAPN 262 (4) FL | exempt from FL, take JAPN 301 |
| Mathematics | 5,6,7 taken before 2021 | MATH 101(3) FM and 102(3) SC and the major intro sequence | MATH 201, 221, or 222 |
| Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches | 5,6,7 | MATH 101(3) FM | MATH 102 |
| Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation | 5,6,7 | MATH 101(3) FM | MATH 102 |
| Physics | 6,7 | 6 receives PHYS 1-SC-N (6-credit 100-level, SC elective), a non-major intro sequence without labs; 7 receives PHYS 1-SC-M (6-credit 100-level, SC elective), a major intro sequence without labs | appeals for higher credit should be made as soon as possible to the department head, preferably prior to beginning of fall classes |
| Psychology | 5,6,7 | CBSC 1-SS3-M (6-credit 100-level SS3 elective) | may be used toward the major with department head's permission |
| Spanish Language A or B | 6,7 | If test date of 2020 or earlier, or if 2021 or 2022 results confirmed by W&L placement test, SPAN 164 (3) FL | exempt FL; take 200-level Spanish course |
| Spanish Language A or B | 6,7 | If test date of 2021 or 2022 and not confirmed by W&L placement test, no credit but... | Placement in SPAN 164 for Fall to meet FDR FL requirement |
| Theater | 5,6,7 | THTR 1-HA-N (3-credit 100-level HA elective) | exempt from HA; take a different theater or dance course |
At this time, no W&L credit is awarded in the following IB areas or for SL results:
- Business & Management
- Design Technology
- English B
- Film
- Information Technology in Global Society
- Music
- Philosophy
To date, no Higher-Level results have been presented to W&L for the following IB areas, so no credit determination has been made:
- Classical Languages (Greek, Latin)
- Dance
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
Course numbering:
Courses with a number such as 2-FL-N or 1-SC-N represent a subject and if the course counts toward the major and/or meets a foundation and distribution requirement. Example: CHEM 1-SC-N = Chemistry elective, 100-level, meets FDR-SC, non-major course. A second example: SPAN 2-FL-M = Spanish elective, 200-level, meets FDR-FL, may be used for the major.
FAQ
IB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)