International Baccalaureate (IB) Policy
International baccalaureate CREDIT
For credit eligibility, Western Michigan University requires a minimum score of 5 or higher for exams.
Note for students taking IB classes in spring 2020: WMU will honor our existing policy of awarding IB credit for scores of 5 or higher.
The following table lists IB score requirements, along with the equivalent course(s) awarded for each exam. Please review the table carefully. This information is subject to change without notice.
| Exam | Required Score | Credit Award | Semester Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English HL | 5 | ENGL 1050 | 3 | ||
| 6 or 7 | ENGL 1050 or 1100 | 3 or 4 | |||
| History of Americas HL | 5 | HIST 2000 | 3 | ||
| History of Europe HL | 5 | HIST 1010 | 3 | ||
| Business and Management HL | 5 | BUS 1750 | 3 | ||
| Biology HL | 5 | BIOS 1600 | 3 | ||
| French HL | 5 | FREN 2000, 2010 | 8 | ||
| Music HL | 5 | MUS 1500 and 1590 | 6 | ||
| Physics HL | 5 | PHYS 1130, 1140, 1150, 1160 | 10 | ||
| Chemistry HL | 5 | CHEM 1100, 1110 | 4 | ||
| 6 or 7 | CHEM 1100, 1110, 1120, 1130 | 8 | |||
| Mathematics HL | 5 | MATH 1220 and STAT 2600 | 8 | ||
| Psychology HL | 5 | PSY 1000 | 3 | ||
| Philosophy HL | 5 | PHIL 2000 | 4 | ||
| Spanish HL | 5 | SPAN 1000, 1010 | 8 | ||
| 6 | SPAN 1000, 1010, 2000 | 12 | |||
| 7 | SPAN 1000, 1010, 2000, 2010 | 16 | |||
| Latin HL | 5 | Credit determined by department | 8 |
About the International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate is a widely recognized two-year comprehensive program for high school grades 11 and 12. It offers an intellectually rigorous and academically demanding curriculum based on internationally recognized standards. IB students may complete coursework for the diploma or they may receive course certificates without meeting those requirements. In either case, the Higher Level IB courses include two years of instruction and are viewed on par with Advanced Placement coursework.
Learn more about the International Baccalaureate Diploma program
To receive IB credit
It is the policy of WMU to award college credit for HL exam scores of 5 and higher. Standard Level (SL) exams are not awarded credit. An IB transcript must be sent to the WMU Admissions Office for credit consideration.
Instructions for ordering IB transcripts
English credit
Students receiving a score of 6 or 7 on the English HL examination will have a choice of course credit at WMU. Students will be emailed a form that allows them to choose which course for which they want credit but they are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor first to determine which course best meets the needs of their academic program.