Academic Credit by Exam

Course credits received before a student attends George Mason University can be used to fulfill some of the requirements of the Honors College.

Honors College students will receive the same credit for their AP and IB coursework as all other students at Mason: this page demonstrates which of these credits are accepted as substitutes for Honors curriculum courses (e.g. HNRS classes).  

For information about AP or IB credit departmental courses not offered by the Honors College please see the Admissions Office website. The Admissions Office page includes information concerning necessary scores required for academic credit by exam for all mathematics and science courses, as well as many other courses. 

See below for examples of how credit earned before matriculation can be applied to Honors College course requirements.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

AP Exam

Score

Honors College Course Substitution
Art History
 3 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Music Theory
 3 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Studio Art 2-D or 3-D Design
 4 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Studio Art Drawing
 4 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
English Language and Composition
 5 HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
English Literature and Composition
 5 HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Latin
 5 HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Spanish Literature and Culture
 3 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
African American Studies
 3 or higher HNRS 130: Identity, Community, and Difference
Government and Politics: Comparative
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Human Geography
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Macroeconomics
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Microeconomics
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Psychology
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Government and Politics: United States
 3 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
World History
 4 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past
United States History
 4 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past
European History
 4 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past

International Baccalaureate (HL)

IB Credit

Score

Honors College Course Substitution
English A: Language and Literature HL
 6 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
English Literature HL
 6 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Music HL
 5 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Visual Arts HL
 4 or higher HNRS 122: Reading the Arts
Philosophy HL
 4 or higher HNRS 130: Identity, Community, and Difference
Economics HL
 4 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Geography HL
 5 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Psychology HL
 4 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Social and Cultural Anthropology HL
 4 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
Global Politics
 4 or higher HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues
History: Americas HL
 5 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past
History: Africa HL
 5 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past
History: East & Southeast Asia & Oceania HL
 5 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past and
History: Europe HL
 5 or higher HNRS 240: Reading the Past
History: Islamic History HL
 5 or hither HNRS 240: Reading the Past

Transfer and Dual Enrollment Credit

The Honors College only accepts transfer credit for Honors College Courses prior to students taking classes at Mason. Students who take classes at other universities or colleges after taking classes at Mason may not apply those classes to the Honors College Curriculum; even if they receive permission to from Mason to study elsewhere.

The following guidelines will be used to evaluate what Dual Enrollment credits might fulfill Honors College requirements.  

  • All DE courses must transfer to George Mason as at least 3 credits. If students would like to request to have this credit also fulfill an Honors College requirement, they must request this within their first year of enrollment at the university. 

  • DE courses evaluated as literature or arts courses may fulfill the HNRS 122 requirement. Literature courses may be in any language and arts courses may include art, music, theater, and dances courses. English composition (e.g. ENGH 101) cannot be used to fulfill the HNRS 122 requirement.  

  • DE courses that focus on identity may be used to fulfill the HNRS 130 requirement. Such courses might include, religion, philosophy, gender studies, cultural studies, African studies and some sociology courses.  

  • DE courses evaluated as ECON 103, ECON 104, PSYC 100, SOCI 101, GOVT 103, GOVT 133, or CRIM 100 may fulfill the HNRS 131 requirement.  

  • DE courses evaluated as any HIST course may fulfill the HNRS 240 requirement.