Proficiency/Placement Examinations and Placement Policies
Proficiency/Placement Assessments
To assist students in succeeding in aspects of their education where coursework is heavily dependent on prior knowledge and skills, the University specifies certain proficiency exams and sequences of coursework. These proficiency exams are given during orientation, at the beginning of each semester, and at other scheduled times in the year. It is the responsibility of the student to take the placement assessment(s) before enrolling in the course(s), and to take any recommended preparatory courses.
Math Placement
This policy assumes the CORE Quantitative Literacy and Social Issues (QL) requirement, which may be fulfilled by completing one of the following courses: MATH 1400 (College Algebra, 3 units), MATH 1450 (Mathematical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning, 3 units), or PSY 3187 (Statistics for the Health and Behavioral Sciences, 4 units), or BUS 3045 (Business Statistics & Data Analytics, 3 units).
For further information regarding the CORE QL requirement, including specific math courses applicable to certain majors, please see the applicable CORE Curriculum section of this catalog. For Adult Degree Completion (ADC) Program General Education requirements, please see the ADC section of this catalog).
Students who are exempt from Math placement:
Students who meet one of the following criteria are exempt from math placement, and are considered to have met the CORE requirement; students who meet either of the first two criteria are exempt from taking the math placement exam:
- Pass one course that fulfills the IGETC Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Area 2A (Math), with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
- Pass one 3 unit university-level math course, comparable to College Algebra (or higher), MATH 1400, MATH 1450, or PSY 3187, articulated and approved by the University, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
- Pass one of the following exams with the corresponding minimum score:
- AP Calculus AB: 3 or higher
- AP Calculus BC: 3 or higher
- AP Statistics: 3 or higher
- CLEP College Mathematics: 50 or higher
- CLEP College Algebra : 50 or higher
- CLEP Precalculus: 50 or higher
- Achieve an appropriate placement test score
Students who place directly into MATH 1400, MATH 1450, PSY 3187, or BUS 3045:
In order to place directly into MATH 1400, MATH 1450, PSY 3187, or BUS 3023, students must meet one of the following criteria:
- Pass a college-level Intermediate Algebra course, articulated and approved by the university, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
- Pass one of the following exams with the corresponding minimum score:
- SAT Reasoning Test in Mathematics (SATM): 600 or higher
- SATR Math: 620 or higher
- ACT Mathematics Test (ACTM): 26 or higher
- Achieve an appropriate placement test score
All Biology and Chemistry majors, regardless of their SATM or ACTM scores, will be required to take the math placement exam to determine accurate placement in MATH 1600 (Calculus I, 4 units) or MATH 1700 (Calculus II, 4 units); all other students may be waived from the math placement exam with the above minimum SATM or ACTM scores.
Students who place into MATH 1300:
In order to place into MATH 1300, students must meet one of the following criteria:
- Achieve an appropriate placement test score
- Pass a college-level Elementary Algebra course, articulated and approved by the university, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
Upon completion of MATH 1300, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher, students then enroll in MATH 1400, MATH 1450, or PSY 3187.
Chemistry
Students entering programs that require chemistry coursework must take the chemistry placement assessment unless they have met one of the conditions below. It is also recommended that undeclared students take the chemistry placement assessment.
Students who do not require Chemistry placement:
- Students who have passed one 3-4 unit university-level chemistry course plus lab, comparable to CHEM 1600/1605 (Chemistry for Health Sciences plus lab) or higher for majors in the health sciences, or CHEM 2000/2005 (General Chemistry plus lab) or higher for majors in the natural sciences, articulated and approved by Dominican, each with a grade of 'C' (2.0) or higher
- Students who have passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam with a minimum score of 4.
Depending on placement exam results and major, students will be placed into one of the following courses:
International Languages
Students who enroll in a language course may be given a proficiency test during the first course meeting.
Advanced or Applied Music (including Private Instruction)
Students who plan to enroll in academic music courses are required to schedule a discussion with the chair of the Music, Dance, and Performing Arts department, to ensure correct placement in advanced music courses or private instruction.