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 |
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 |
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.