The Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) was developed by ACT in conjunction with universities and accrediting bodies around the world to prepare students for university study in English-speaking countries.

We accept GAC program credit
The University of Iowa is one of the GAC program’s Pathway Universities. We accept credit toward a bachelor’s degree for the courses below. GAC courses may not be used to satisfy course requirements specific to majors in the College of Engineering.

Application Requirements & Deadlines
The University of Iowa accepts both the GAC Standard Program and GAC Top Up Program (TopUP). A GAC Academic Transcript is required to award transfer credit. Please have the academic transcript sent from your school to The University of Iowa when applying. 

If you are completing the GAC while still in high school, an overall high school grade point average of 3.00 is required. Submit a first-year student application.

If you are completing the GAC after high school graduation, a cumulative 2.60 grade point average is required in all GAC courses. Submit a transfer student application.

  • If you have less than 24 semester hours of transferable coursework from GAC, please also provide your high school transcript for our review .
  • Official ACT/SAT scores (if you have them) must be sent from the testing agency. Iowa's institutional codes are 1356 for the ACT and 6681 for the SAT.
  • Meet our English Proficiency Requirement.
GAC Program Credit Policies
GAC Course Number/TitleCredit Awarded and Other Information
GAC005 Computing I: Introduction to Computing for Academic Study3 semester hours (s.h.)—May be applied to the College of Business Core Requirements: Business Computing Essentials, or used as elective hours. NOTE: Students must also complete GAC011: Computing II: Web Development.
GAC010 Mathematics II: Probability, Statistics, and Finance3 s.h.— May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning hours, or used as elective hours.
GAC011 Computing II: Web Development3 s.h.— May be applied to the College of Business Core Requirements: Business Computing Essentials, or used as elective hours. NOTE: Students must also complete GAC005 Computing I: Introduction to Computing for Academic Study
GAC012 Business II: Business Studies3 s.h.— May be used as elective hours.
GAC014 Academic English III: Listening and Speaking Skills3 s.h.—May be used as elective hours.
GAC016 Mathematics III: Calculus & Advanced Applications3 s.h.— May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning hours; accepted as first-semester calculus; or used as elective hours. May be applied toward the College of Business Calculus for Business prerequisite. NOTE: a grade of C or higher is required.
GAC017 Computing III: Data Science and Web Apps3 s.h.—May be used as elective hours.
GAC022 Business III: International Business3 s.h.—May be used as elective hours.
GAC023 Science III: General Science3 s.h.—May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Business General Education Program: Natural Sciences (nonlab) hours, or used as elective hours.
GAC027 Social Science II: Identity and Interaction in Society3 s.h.— May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and College of Business General Education Program: Social Sciences, or used as elective hours. May be applied to the College of Engineering General Education Program: Social Sciences.
GAC028 Social Science III: Research Skills & Global Issues3 s.h.— May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Business General Education Program: International and Global Issues, or used as elective hours. May be applied to the College of Engineering General Education Program: Social Sciences.
GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology3 s.h.— Completion of GAC029 Psychology II and GAC030 Psychology III will satisfy PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology. May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program, College of Business: Social Sciences, College of Engineering General Education component, or used as elective hours. 
GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology3 s.h.— Completion of GAC029 Psychology II and GAC030 Psychology III will satisfy PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology. May be applied to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program, College of Business: Social Sciences, College of Engineering General Education component, or used as elective hours.