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

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.

Some transfer credits for that count towards Mason Core and Mason Foundation classes may count for equivalent Honors  College classes. This chart lists those courses:

Mason Core or Foundation Credit

Honors College Course Exemption

Arts

HNRS 122 Reading the Arts

Global Understanding/Social Science

HNRS 131 Contemporary Society in Multiple Perspectives

Western Civilization/World History

HNRS 240 Reading the Past

Non-western/Social Science BA requirement

HNRS 131: Contemporary Social Issues

Philosophy/Religion BA requirement

HNRS 130 Identity, Community, and Difference