Submitting your IB transcript

The easiest way to ensure that UW Tacoma receives your IB transcript is to name the UW as a recipient when you sign up for IB program exam(s). If you do not name the UW as a recipient when you take your exam, contact the IB Organization to request that an official IB transcript be sent directly to the UW Office of Admissions. When you enroll at the UW, you may be eligible for UW course credit; if so, the courses and credits awarded will be accessible to you via MyUW.

IB Policy overview

(beginning autumn quarter 2019)

The UW recognizes the IB curriculum as a challenging academic program that provides excellent preparation for university study.

In most cases, credits are awarded for subjects in which the student has earned a grade of 4 or higher. Consult the table below for specific information about credit awards in particular subjects.

Additionally, students who earn an IB diploma (not a certificate) will be awarded 5 more quarter credits toward UW graduation requirements.

A maximum of 45 quarter credits may be awarded for IB.

Students who complete two exams with duplicate or overlapping content (e.g. AP and IB), or who complete an exam and a college course with duplicate or overlapping content will be awarded credit for only one exam or course.

For students who entered prior to Autumn 2019 see the previous IB exam credit award schedule

NOTE: Students who first entered the UW beginning autumn quarter 2018 should contact the Office of Admissions if they wish to have their IB credit awards re-reviewed based on the 2019 policy.

Applicability toward UW graduation requirements

The following abbreviations show which graduation requirements apply to the course assignments indicated for each subject exam in the table below.

Areas of Knowledge

  • I&S = Individuals and Society
  • NW = Natural World
  • VLPA = Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts

Basic Skills:

  • C = Composition
  • QSR = Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning
  • FL = Foreign (World) Language

Useful Links

International Baccalaureate (IB) exams

Anthropology

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Social & Cultural Anthropology HL 4, 5, 6, 7 ANTH 202 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Social & Cultural Anthropology SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ANTH 202 (5 CR.) I&S

Arabic

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Arabic A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Arabic B HL 6, 7 ARAB 201, 202, 203 (15 CR.) FL, VLPA
Arabic B HL 5 ARAB 201, 202 (10 CR.) FL, VLPA
Arabic B HL 4 ARAB 201 (5 CR.) FL, VLPA

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Arabic A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Arabic B SL 6, 7 ARAB 201 (5 CR.) FL, VLPA
Arabic B SL 4, 5 ARAB 103 (5 CR.) FL

 

Art

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Arts: Visual HL 4, 5, 6, 7 ART 105 (5 CR.) VLPA

Standard Level

Name Level:SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Art History SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ART H 204 (5 CR.) VLPA
Arts: Visual SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ART 105 (5 CR.) VLPA

Biology

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Biology HL 5, 6, 7 BIOL 161, 162 (10 CR.) NW
Biology HL 4 BIOL 161 (5 CR.) NW

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Biology SL 7 BIOL 161, 162 (10 CR.) NW
Biology SL 4, 5, 6 BIOL 161 (5 CR.) NW

Business and Management

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Business and Management HL 4, 5, 6, 7 BA 110 (6 CR.)  

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Business and Management SL 4, 5, 6, 7 BA 110 (4 CR.)  

Chemistry

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Chemistry HL 7 CHEM 142, 152, 162 (5, 5, 5 CR.) NW, QSR
Chemistry HL 6 CHEM 142, 152 (5, 5 CR.) NW, QSR
Chemistry HL 4, 5 CHEM 142 (5 CR.) NW, QSR

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Chemistry SL 4, 5, 6, 7 CHEM 110 (3 CR.) NW
Students with IB scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level Chemistry exam who plan to major in chemistry or biochemistry are strongly encouraged to discuss the option of enrolling in the honors introductory chemistry sequence with the undergraduate advisers in the Chemistry department.

Chinese

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Chinese A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Chinese B HL 6, 7 CHIN 330 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Chinese B HL 5 CHIN 230 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Chinese B HL 4 CHIN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific CHIN courses.

 

The CHIN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other CHIN sequences, including CHIN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Standard Level

Chinese BSL6, 7CHIN 330 (15 CR.)VLPA, FL

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Chinese B SL 4, 5 CHIN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
Chinese, Mandarin AB SL 6, 7 CHIN 131 (15 CR.) FL
Chinese, Mandarin AB SL 5 CHIN 130 (10 CR.)  
Chinese, Mandarin AB SL 4 CHIN 130 (5 CR.)  
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific CHIN courses.

 

The CHIN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other CHIN sequences, including CHIN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Computer Science

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Computer Science HL 4, 5, 6, 7 CSE 142, 143 (4, 5 CR.) QSR

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Computer Science SL 4, 5, 6, 7 CSE 142 (4 CR.) QSR

Design Technology

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Design Technology HL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGR 100 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Design Technology SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGR 100 (5 CR.) I&S

Economics

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Economics HL 6, 7 ECON 200, 201 (5,5 CR.) I&S, QSR
Economics HL 5 ECON 200 (5 CR.) I&S, QSR
Economics HL 4 ECON 100 (5 CR.) I&S, QSR

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Economics SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ECON 100 (5 CR.) I&S, QSR

English

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
English B HL   No credit for 2nd language  
English A Language and Literature HL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGL 107 (5 CR.)  
English A Literature HL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGL 107 (5 CR.)  

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
English A Language and Literature SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGL 107 (5 CR.)  
English B SL   No credit for 2nd language  
English A Literature SL 4, 5, 6, 7 ENGL 107 (5 CR.)  

Film

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Film HL 4, 5, 6, 7 CMS 270, 297 (10 CR.) VLPA

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Film SL 4, 5, 6, 7 CMS 270 (5 CR.) VLPA

French

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
French A HL   No credit for 1st language  
French AB HL 6, 7 FRENCH 103 (5 CR.) FL
French AB HL 5 FRENCH 102 (5 CR.)  
French B HL 7 FRENCH 201, 202, 203 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
French B HL 6 FRENCH 201, 202 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL
French B HL 5 FRENCH 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
French A SL   No credit for 1st language  
French B SL 6, 7 FRENCH 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
French B SL 5 FRENCH 103 (5 CR.) FL

Geography

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Geography HL 4, 5, 6, 7 GEOG 100 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Geography SL 4, 5, 6, 7 GEOG 100 (5 CR.) I&S

German

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Germanics A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Germanics B HL 6, 7 GERMAN 201, 202, 203 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Germanics B HL 5 GERMAN 201, 202 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL
Germanics B HL 4 GERMAN 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Germanics A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Germanics B SL 6, 7 GERMAN 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Germanics B SL 4, 5 GERMAN 103 (5 CR.) FL
German AB SL 6, 7 GERMAN 103 (5 CR.) FL
German AB SL 4, 5 GERMAN 102 (5 CR.)  

Global Politics

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Global Politics HL 4, 5, 6, 7 POL S 203 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Global Politics SL 4, 5, 6, 7 POL S 203 (5 CR.) I&S

History

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
History: Africa & the Middle East HL 4, 5, 6, 7 HIST 108 (5 CR.) I&S
History: Americas HL 5, 6, 7 HSTAA 101 (5 CR.) I&S
History: Americas HL 4 HSTAA 108 (5 CR.) I&S
History: Asia & Oceania HL 4, 5, 6, 7 HSTAS 108 (5 CR.) I&S
History: Europe HL 5, 6, 7 HIST 113 (5 CR.) I&S
History: Europe HL 4 HSTEU 108 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
History SL 4, 5, 6, 7 HSTRY 108 (5 CR.) I&S

Italian

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Italian A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Italian B HL 7 ITAL 201, 202, 203 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Italian B HL 6 ITAL 201, 202 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL
Italian B HL 5 ITAL 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Italian A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Italian B SL 6, 7 ITAL 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Italian B SL 5 ITAL 103 (5 CR.) FL
Italian AB SL 6, 7 ITAL 103 (5 CR.) FL
Italian AB SL 5 ITAL 102 (5 CR.)  

Japanese

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Japanese A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Japanese B HL 6, 7 JAPAN 330 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Japanese B HL 5 JAPAN 230 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Japanese B HL 4 JAPAN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific JAPAN courses.

 

The JAPAN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other JAPAN sequences, including JAPAN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Japanese A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Japanese B SL 6, 7 JAPAN 230 (15 CR). VPLA, FL
Japanese B SL 4, 5 JAPAN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
Japanese AB SL 6, 7 JAPAN 131 (15 CR.) FL
Japanese AB SL 5 JAPAN 130 (10 CR.)  
Japanese AB SL 4 JAPAN 130 (5 CR.)  
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific JAPAN courses.

 

The JAPAN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other JAPAN sequences, including JAPAN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Korean

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Korean A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Korean B HL 6, 7 KOREAN 330 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Korean B HL 5 KOREAN 230 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Korean B HL 4 KOREAN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific KOREAN courses.

 

The KOREAN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other KOREAN sequences, including KOREAN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Korean A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Korean B SL 6, 7 KOREAN 230 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Korean B SL 4, 5 KOREAN 131 (5 CR.), 230 (10 CR.) FL
NOTE: Credit for 130, 131, 230, 330 does not imply placement into specific KOREAN courses.

 

The KOREAN 130, 131, 230, 330 sequence has parallel content with other KOREAN sequences, including KOREAN 101, 102, 103; 201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303. Credit is not allowed for courses with parallel content.

Latin

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Latin HL 5, 6, 7 LATIN 305, 306, 307 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Latin HL 4 LATIN 305, 306 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Latin SL 4, 5, 6, 7 LATIN 305 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Marine Science

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Marine Science SL 6, 7 OCEAN 200 (3 CR.), 201 (2 CR.) NW
Marine Science SL 4, 5 OCEAN 101 (5 CR.) NW

Mathematics

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Math, Further HL 4, 5, 6, 7 See Dept.  
Mathematics HL 6, 7 MATH 124 (5 CR.) NW, QSR
Mathematics HL 4, 5 MATH 120 (5 CR.) NW, QSR

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Mathematics SL 6, 7 MATH 120 (5 CR.) NW
Mathematics SL 4, 5 MATH 109 (5 CR.) NW
Mathematical Studies SL 5, 6, 7 MATH 108 (5 CR.) NW

Music

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Music HL 4, 5, 6, 7 MUSIC 121 (2 CR.) VLPA

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Music SL 4, 5, 6, 7 MUSIC 121 (2 CR.) VLPA

Philosophy

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Philosophy HL 6, 7 PHIL 100 (5 CR.), PHIL 200 (5 CR.) I&S
Philosophy HL 5 PHIL 100 (5 CR.) I&S
Philosophy HL 4 UW 108 (5 CR.)  

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Philosophy SL 6, 7 PHIL 200 (5 CR.) I&S
Philosophy SL 4, 5 UW 108 (5 CR.)  

Physics

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Physics HL 6, 7 PHYS 114/117, 115/118, 116/119 (15 CR.) NW, QSR
Physics HL 4, 5 PHYS 101, 102 (10 CR.) NW, QSR

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Physics SL 6, 7 PHYS 101, 102 (10 CR.) NW, QSR

Portuguese

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Portuguese B HL 6, 7 PORT 201, 202, 203 (15 CR. VLPA, FL
Portuguese B HL 5 PORT 201, 202 (10 CR. VLPA,FL
Portuguese B HL 4 PORT 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Portuguese B SL 6, 7 PORT 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Portuguese B SL 4, 5 PORT 103 (5 CR.) FL

Psychology

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Psychology HL 4, 5, 6, 7 PSYCH 101 (5 CR.) I&S

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Psychology SL 4, 5, 6, 7 PSYCH 101 (5 CR.) I&S

Russian

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Russian A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Russian B HL 7 RUSS 303 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B HL 6 RUSS 302 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B HL 5 RUSS 301 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B HL 4 RUSS 203 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Russian A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Russian B SL 7 RUSS 203 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B SL 6 RUSS 202 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B SL 5 RUSS 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Russian B SL 4 RUSS 103 (5 CR.) FL
Russian AB SL 6, 7 RUSS 103 (5 CR.) FL
Russian AB SL 5 RUSS 102 (5 CR.)  
Russian AB SL 4 RUSS 101 (5 CR.)  

Spanish

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Spanish A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Spanish B HL 6, 7 SPAN 201, 202, 203 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Spanish B HL 5 SPAN 201, 202 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL
Spanish B HL 4 SPAN 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Spanish A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Spanish B SL 6, 7 SPAN 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Spanish B SL 4, 5 SPAN 103 (5 CR.) FL
Spanish AB SL 6, 7 SPAN 103 (5 CR.) FL
Spanish AB SL 4, 5 SPAN 102 (5 CR.)  

Swahili

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Swahili A HL   No credit for 1st language  
Swahili B HL 6, 7 SWA 201, 202, 20 (15 CR.) VLPA, FL
Swahili B HL 5 SWA 201, 202 (10 CR.) VLPA, FL
Swahili B HL 4 SWA 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Swahili A SL   No credit for 1st language  
Swahili B SL 6, 7 SWA 201 (5 CR.) VLPA, FL
Swahili B SL 4, 5 SWA 103 (5 CR.) FL
Swahili AB SL 6, 7 SWA 103 (5 CR.) FL
Swahili AB SL 4, 5 SWA 102 (5 CR.)  

Theater Arts

Higher Level

Name Level: HL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Theater Arts HL 5, 6, 7 DRAMA 101, 201 (10 CR.) VLPA
Theater Arts HL 4 DRAMA 101 (5 CR.) VLPA

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
Theater Arts SL 5, 6, 7 DRAMA 101, 201 (10 CR.) VLPA
Theater Arts SL 4 DRAMA 101 (5 CR.) VLPA

World Religions

Standard Level

Name Level: SL Grade Course(s) and credits Meets UW requirement
World Religions SL 4, 5, 6, 7 RELIG 104 (5 CR.) I&S