Proficiency/Placement Examinations and Placement Policies

Proficiency/Placement Examinations

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 examination(s) before enrolling in the course(s), and to take any recommended preparatory courses.

For how these exams relate to the English, Math, and other placement policies, please see below.

English Placement

This policy assumes the General Education (GE) requirements of two English courses: ENGL 1004 (Expository Writing, 3 units, lower division), and ENGL 3200 (Advanced Writing and Research, 3 units, upper division). For specific information regarding the GE English requirement, please see the applicable General Education section of this catalog (either under Undergraduate Education for day program students or Adult Degree Completion Program).

Students who do not require English placement:

The following students do not need English placement, and are considered to have fulfilled both parts of the GE English requirement:

Students who have passed two 3 unit university-level writing courses, comparable to ENGL 1004 and ENGL 3200, articulated and approved by the University, each with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
Students who have passed one exam comparable to ENGL 1004 and one 3 unit university-level writing course comparable to ENGL 3200, articulated and approved by the University, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent), from a regionally-accredited university in the United States

Students who place directly into ENGL 3200:

Students who place directly into ENGL 3200 are considered to have met the Expository Writing part of the English GE requirement. In order to place directly into ENGL 3200, a student must meet one of the following criteria:

Pass one 3 unit university-level writing course, comparable to ENGL 1004, articulated and approved by the University, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
Pass one course that fulfills the IGETC English Communication Area 1A (English Composition), with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher
Pass one of the following exams with the corresponding minimum score:
- AP English Language and Composition exam or English Literature and Composition: 3 or higher
- SAT Critical Reading exam: 600 or higher (old SAT) or 33 or higher on new SAT Reading Test
- ACT English exam: 26 or higher
- CLEP College Composition: 50 or higher
- CLEP College Composition Modular: 50 or higher

All other students:

Students who have not passed one 3 unit university-level course with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher or an exam may be required to take the English Placement Exam, depending on their SAT Critical Reading exam score. Based upon their demonstrated writing skills and the subsequent proficiency assessment, students are placed into one of the following courses:

ENGL 1004: Upon successful completion of ENGL 1004, these students have met the Expository Writing part of the English GE, and then enroll in ENGL 3200.
ENGL 1003 (Developmental Writing)
WRIT 1001 (Language Practicum I) or WRIT 1002 (Language Practicum II)

Math Placement

This policy assumes the GE Mathematical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning 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).

For further information regarding the GE math requirement, including specific math courses applicable to certain majors, please see the applicable General Education section of this catalog (either under Undergraduate Education for day program students or Adult Degree Completion Program).

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 GE math 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, or PSY 3187:

In order to place directly into MATH 1400, MATH 1450, or PSY 3187, 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 (old SAT) or 620 or higher on new SAT
- 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.

Students who place into MATH 1210:

Students are placed into MATH 1210 based on their placement test score. Upon completion of MATH 1210, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or higher, students then enroll in MATH 1400, MATH 1450, or PSY 3187.

Students who place into MATH 1100:

Students are placed into MATH 1100 (Understanding College Mathematics, 4 units) based on their placement test score. Upon completion of MATH 1100, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0 or higher), students enroll in MATH 1210. Following successful completion of MATH 1210 (see above), students then enroll in MATH 1400, MATH 1450, or PSY 3187.

Chemistry

Students entering programs that require chemistry coursework must take the chemistry placement exam; it is also recommended that undeclared students take the chemistry placement exam. Depending on placement exam results and major, students will be placed into one of the following courses:

CHEM 1500/CHEM 1505 (Introduction to Chemistry plus lab, 3 + 1 units)
CHEM 1600/CHEM 1605 (Chemistry for Health Sciences plus lab, 2 + 1 units)
CHEM 2000/CHEM 2005 (General Chemistry plus lab, 3 + 1 units)

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.