Santa Monica College provides placement recommendations and prerequisite waivers to
students on the basis of their past college coursework. For example:
- Students may be exempt from the English or ESL placement process if they have completed
a collegelevel English or ESL composition course with a grade of C (2.0) or better;
- Students may be exempt from the math placement process if they have completed a college-level
math course with a grade of C (2.0) or better;
- Students may be exempt from selected English or math prerequisites if they have completed
applicable college-level courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better (or P, if they
took the courses on a P/NP basis) and the courses are equivalent to SMC courses that
recommend English or math preparation;
- Students may be exempt from assessment or from selected prerequisites if they have
completed applicable college-level courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better (or P,
if they took the courses on a P/NP basis) and the courses are equivalent to SMC courses
that require or recommend the assessment of skill levels;
- Students may be exempt from the placement process or may receive waivers for selected
prerequisites if they received a particular score on an applicable College Board AP
test (see Waivers Based on Advanced Placement Exam Results, below).
For detailed instructions on how to obtain a waiver or request an exemption, students
should visit smc.edu/waivers and then consult with a counselor in the General Counseling
& Transfer Services. Prerequisite waiver requests are reviewed on an individual basis.
PLEASE NOTE: Students who may be exempt from the placement process still must successfully
complete — or receive waivers for — any prerequisite courses (or their equivalent)
that are required for classes in English (or ESL), math, Anatomy 1, Biology 21/22/23,
Chemistry 11/12/21/22/24, Film 31/32/33/34, Microbiology 1, Nursing 17, Physics 7/9/22/23/24,
and Physiology 3 (among other courses). Students should consult a counselor in the
General Counseling & Transfer Services for further information. Courses in other disciplines
may first require the completion of a prerequisite course in that discipline. Placement/
prerequisite waivers may be requested directly from the department chair in that discipline,
as required.
Waivers Based on Completed Coursework
Placement recommendations and permits to enroll in selected English, ESL, math, chemistry,
life sciences, and physics courses may be issued to students if they have completed
a relevant college-level course with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Students seeking a placement waiver for selected English, ESL, and math courses, as
well as Chemistry 11 or Anatomy 1 should take a copy of their college transcript and
course description to General Counseling & Transfer Services. A counselor will evaluate
the course in question and, if appropriate, issue a waiver.
Students seeking a placement waiver for selected English, ESL, and math courses, as
well as Chemistry 11 or Anatomy 1 should take a copy of their college transcript and
course description to General Counseling & Transfer Services. A counselor will evaluate
the course in question and, if appropriate, issue a waiver.
Students seeking a waiver to repeat a course at Santa Monica College due to a substandard
grade (i.e., F, D, NC, NP) or a W, MW, or FW from another institution must demonstrate
that the relevant prerequisite for that course was completed successfully.
Waivers Based on Advanced Placement Exam Results
College Board Advanced Placement test results may be used to determine the eligibility
of students for English, math, and chemistry courses. Students must bring their original
AP test results to the Success & Engagement Center or to General Counseling & Transfer
Services. Placement/prerequisite waivers will be issued under the following conditions:
- A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Language & Composition or Composition & Literature
exam will qualify students for English 2 and give 3 units of credit for English 1;
- A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Statistics exam will give 4 units of credit for Math
54 [Note: A placement waiver for Math 54 only may be issued if a student wishes to
enroll in Math 54 and the student has NOT been granted AP Statistics credit at SMC.
Duplication of course credit (Advanced Placement and SMC coursework) will not be permitted.];
- A score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam will qualify students for Math 7 and give
5 units credit for Math 2;
- A score of 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify students for Math 8 and give
5 units credit for Math 7;
- A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam will qualify students for Math 8 and
give 5 units credit for Math 7;
- A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify students for Math 10/11/13/15
and give 5 units credit for Math 8; and
- A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam will qualify students for Chemistry
11 and give 5 units credit for Chemistry 10 (no lab requirement met).
It is VERY IMPORTANT for students to have their AP scores evaluated by a Santa Monica
College counselor. The evaluation will determine whether the scores are transferable
and — more importantly — will help determine whether they satisfy a requirement relevant
to the student’s education goals. While students can sometimes receive an immediate
evaluation and decision from a counselor, the evaluation process can take 5-10 days
for a decision. To avoid taking classes they don’t need, students should start the AP score evaluation
process with a counselor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
