Transfer
If you are an incoming student (that is, you are transferring to Penn from another institution, or are a first-year student who has taken courses for college credit before matriculation) or if you would like credit for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests, you should contact Penn's Office of Transfer Credit and Advanced Placement (215 898.6080 or xfer@admissions.upenn.edu).
The Department of History will generally accept transfer credit from most four year liberal arts colleges and research universities. No matter what College you are enrolled in, all transfer courses must meet the SAS minimum of 39 course hours. Be aware that courses taken on the quarter system typically do not reach this minimum and therefore will not receive full credit. Credits WILL NOT be accepted from community colleges or junior colleges. Transfer credits may be used for the distributional requirement and approved by the history department in the HIST 190-series (see below for further details). Transfer credits MAY NOT be used for the general requirement nor for core courses in the History Major. Whenever possible, seek approval in advance.
If you wish to apply for transfer credit from the Department of History, complete the appropriate form for your college and attach a complete course syllabus, showing class and reading schedule, semester and year, university and instructor. Submit it to the Study Abroad and Transfer Credit Advisor, Professor Phoebe Kropp, pkropp@history.upenn.edu, College Hall 313.
HIST 190-series
- HIST 191: European pre-1800
- HIST 192: European post-1800
- HIST 193: American pre-1800
- HIST 194: American post-1800
- HIST 195: World pre-1800
- HIST 196: World post-1800
Please note that these numbers do not reflect course level, but rather their content. History majors should consult with their faculty advisors to determine the appropriate level and which requirement a given course may fulfill in their major program. Your faculty advisor should note this information on your worksheet when allocating the course to the proper requirement.
Advanced Placement
Students who have passed the Advanced Placement exam in European history with a grade of 5, or the International Baccalaureate exam with a grade of 5, 6, or 7, will be given 1 c.u. of credit for History 41.
Students who have passed these exams in American or World history with similar grades will be given 1 c.u. of credit for History 42 or History 44 respectively.
AP Jewish History (History 43): The AP Jewish History exam consists of 3 parts (ancient, medieval, modern). In order to receive credit for History 43, students must receive a score of 5 in TWO of the three exams.
History 41, 42, and 43 are numbers assigned only to transferred advance placement credits and do not replace any courses offered through the Penn Department of History.
Credit in History 41, 42, or 43 will not count toward the General Requirement. Students who declared their major before September 1, 2006 may count one AP credit toward the twelve courses required for the history major. Students who declared the major after September 1, 2006 may NOT count History AP credit toward the major. AP credit may NOT be counted for the history minor.
Completion of the German Abitur in history, with appropriate marks, qualifies a student for Hist 041 credit. Credit for "A" levels is determined by scores and by content of courses taken. Please bring a written description of topics studied for "A" levels.
If you have earned AP credit which is not indicated on your transcript, contact the Office of Transfer and Advanced Placement Credit (215 898.6080 or xfer@admissions.upenn.edu).
