<p>You are correct, a score of 3 will not provide credit or prerequisite waivers at USC. [USC</a> ARR : Articulation : AP Exam Credit at USC](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/apexamcredit.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/apexamcredit.html)</p>
<p>If however, you take a math course at your CSU that transfers as a higher level math course (higher than the courses a 4 or 5 on the AP test would waive: Math 4, 5, 118, 125 or 126) and pass it with a C or better, no, you would not then have to go back and take the prerequisite math course.</p>