Waivers and Exemptions

***Our online services will be unavailable from December 22, 2025, through January 4, 2026. During this period, no evaluations will be processed. Services will resume on January 5, 2026. Please note that processing times may be longer than usual following our reopening. Thank you for your understanding and patience.***

Please review our waiver process and submit a placement/prerequisite waiver to the appropriate Department as noted below. Contact the appropriate department (not the Success and Engagement Center) for questions.

Review times vary and may take up to 10 business days. Waiver submissions during holidays and over weekends will be reviewed once the campus reopens.

Important Notice:Approval of a prerequisite waiver to enroll in a higher-level course at SMC does not guarantee course equivalency at any transfer institution. Transfer universities may still require you to repeat coursework or submit additional documentation, such as a course syllabus, for review, regardless of the waiver granted by SMC.

Expand the relevant area below for instructions/information.

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English, ESL, Math, Stat, Anatomy 1, Biology 21, Chem 11, Business 32

Waiver Requests Processed by the Counseling Department

Click on the "SMC Waiver Form" link below.
Enter your SMC username and password.
Complete and submit the form. Attach appropriate documentation.

SMC WAIVERS FORM

For placement/prerequisite questions, contact the Counseling Department.

Chemistry, Physics & Biological Science

Waiver Requests Processed by the Life and Physical Sciences Departments

Directions for waiver requests:

Anatomy 2, Biology 22, 23, Microbiology 1, Nursing 17, Physiology 3, course prerequisite waivers can only be granted by the Life Sciences Department (a course syllabus may be required).
Chemistry 12, 21, 22, 24, 31, and Physics 7, 9, 22, 23, 24, course prerequisite waivers can only be granted by the Physical Sciences Department (a course syllabus may be required).

Send waiver requests to ScienceWaivers@smc.edu. Be sure to include scanned transcripts, web links to official course descriptions or course outlines, scanned syllabi (optional but recommended), and anything else you think would assist in verifying your waiver. Clearly state your waiver request, and provide your complete name and SMC student ID#.

If you have questions regarding your waiver request, use the email above or contact the Sciences Department Office located in (SCI 258) at 310-434-4788. You may also contact the appropriate Life Sciences or Physical Sciences Chair with questions about the process.

Contact Life Sciences
Contact Physical Sciences

ACCT 6 or 7

Waiver Requests Processed by Business Department

To request a prerequisite course waiver for Acct 6 & 7, please email the Business department chair, Dana Nasser at at Nasser_Dana@smc.edu. Please note it may take 10 business days to review the Acct 6 & 7 requests.

If you completed the prerequisite at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, email the following:

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name
Your full name and SMC ID number
The specific SMC course you want to enroll in

AP Score Placement

Placement/prerequisite course waivers will be issued according to the following:

A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Language & Composition or Composition & Literature exam will qualify you for English 2;
A score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam will qualify you for Math 8;
A score of 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify you for Math 8;
A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify you for Math 10, 11, 13, and 15.
A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam will qualify a student for Chemistry 11.

Architecture & Interior Architectural Design

Waiver Requests Processed by Design Technology Department

The Architecture and Interior Architectural Design studio courses at Santa Monica College are uniquely designed and sequenced for our program. Prerequisite substitutions beyond ARC 10-Studio 1 are rarely considered.

If you completed the prerequisite course at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, you may request a prerequisite waiver by emailing the following to the Design Technology Department Chair: cordova_sheila@smc.edu

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name

Your full name and SMC ID number

The specific SMC studio course you wish to enroll in

Examples of your studio project work or a request to schedule a meeting to review your portfolio

Important Disclaimer:
Approval of a prerequisite waiver to enroll in a higher-level ARC/IARC studio course at SMC does not establish course equivalency at any transfer institution. Transfer universities may require you to repeat coursework or submit additional materials for portfolio or course reviews, regardless of the waiver granted by SMC. Students should always consult with CMD Counselors to understand how coursework completed at other institutions may impact their individual transfer plans.

Computer Science 20A or 20B

Waiver Requests Processed by the Computer Science Department

To request a prerequisite course waiver for Computer Science 20A or 20B please contact the CSIS Department or email the CS department chair. Email: Stahl_Howard@smc.edu.

If you completed the prerequisite at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, email the following:

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name
Your full name and SMC ID number
The specific SMC course you want to enroll in

Early Childhood Education 21 or 22

Waiver Requests Processed by ECE Department

To request a prerequisite course waiver for Early Childhood Education 21 or 22, please contact the Early Childhood Education Department or email the ECE department chair. Email: Gary Huff, huff_gary@smc.edu.

If you completed the prerequisite at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, email the following:

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name
Your full name and SMC ID number
The specific SMC course you want to enroll in

Film 32 or 33

Waiver Requests Processed by the Communication and Media Studies Department

To request a prerequisite course waiver for Film 32 or 33 please contact the Communication and Media Studies Department or email the CMD department chair Redelia Shaw, shaw_redelia@smc.edu. To request the Film 31 Challenge Exam please contact Drew Davis, davis_drew@smc.edu.

If you completed the prerequisite at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, email the following:

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name
Your full name and SMC ID number
The specific SMC course you want to enroll in

IxD Upper Division

Waiver Requests Processed by the IxD Counselor

Upper division courses (Com St 310, Engl 300, IxD 330-470, or Psych 320) are only available to students admitted into the Interaction Design (IxD) B.S. program. For waivers, please contact the CMD Counselor Amanda Garcia at Garcia_Amanda@smc.edu or Ashley Adjei at Adjei_Ashley@smc.edu. For information on applying to IxD, please visit ixd.smc.edu.

Photography

Waiver Requests Processed by Photography Department

For Photography waivers, email Photography Chair, Josh Sanseri, at sanseri_josh@smc.edu.

If you completed the prerequisite at another accredited institution with a grade of C or higher, email the following:

A clear copy of your transcript showing your name and the college name
Your full name and SMC ID number
The specific SMC course you want to enroll in

Processing Waivers Time

Due to high demand, processing can take up to 10 business days. You will receive an email to your SMC email account letting you know the outcome of your waiver.

You can also review your results by going to Corsair Connecthomepage, scroll down and click on "Placement" under "Success Steps."

You may go to the General Counseling Center to request your waiver in person for English, ESL, Math, Anatomy 1, Biology 21, and Chemistry 11.

Note: If using college coursework from a regionally accredited institution or AP test scores to qualify for an AA degree, Cal-GETC, IGETC, or CSU GE Certification, you must request that your official transcript be sent from the college you attended and/or request that the College Board send your official AP test score report to SMC's Admissions. Speak with a counselor in the General Counseling & Transfer Services Center to request the evaluation and to avoid taking classes you don’t need.