Placement

Placement Testing Requirements for Mathematics, English, and Reading

First-time Stevenson University students, excluding those who meet the exemptions listed in the next section, will need to complete one or more Stevenson University placement tests prior to registration.

Mathematics Placement

All incoming students are required to take the mathematics placement test prior to registering for classes (see exemptions in next section). For additional information, including instructions on accessing the math placement test, visit Stevenson.edu/placement.

English Placement

English course eligibility will be determined by the student’s SAT Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) or ACT combined English and Reading subject test score.

• Students who earn a 500 or above on the SAT EBRW (or 37 or above on the ACT English & Reading test) will be placed into ENG-151: Composition and Writing from Sources. Honors students also have the option of taking ENG 153: Honors Writing Seminar.
• Students who earn a 490 or below on the SAT EBRW (or 36 or below on the ACT English & Reading test) will be placed into ENG-150: Introduction to Composition and Writing from Sources.

Reading Placement 

Students who earn a 490 or below on the SAT EBRW (or 36 or below on the ACT English & Reading test) will be required to register for ENG 006: College Reading Lab. Students have the option to test out of this course by completing the Reading Challenge Exam. For more information, visit Stevenson.edu/placement.

Placement Testing Exemptions for Mathematics

Incoming students who meet any one of the following conditions are not required to complete the mathematics placement test: 

1. Completed a foundational mathematics college course at another college/university equivalent to or higher than Stevenson's developmental MATH 005# course and earned a grade of "C" or better, or completed a college credit-bearing mathematics course at another college/university equivalent to or higher than Stevenson's MATH 135 course and earned a grade of "D" or better. 
2. Received an Advanced Placement score report of a 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam (exempts students unless their intended major is medical laboratory science or within the School of the Sciences), a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exams (exempts all students regardless of intended major.) 

Placement Information in Developmental Courses

Developmental courses in the areas of mathematics and English (MATH 005# and ENG 006#) are designed to improve skills in these content areas. Placement in and successful completion of developmental courses are required of students who do not demonstrate proficiency in the basic skill areas on the SAT, ACT, or the Stevenson placement tests. Students who are placed into developmental courses are required to complete them during their first year at Stevenson. These courses do not receive college credit, are not calculated in a student's GPA nor do they count toward the calculation of dean's list, but they do count toward enrollment status for financial aid and full-time student status.

Placement Testing for Transfer Students

Transfer students are subject to the same mathematics placement testing requirements as first-time Stevenson University students unless they qualify for any one of the aforementioned mathematics testing exemptions previously outlined in this section. Transfer students who are not bringing in credit for ENG-151, will be placed in to ENG-150 if their overall transfer GPA is below a 2.0.  Placement tests (if needed) must be taken prior to registration.

Placement in Foreign Language Courses

Stevenson University offers elementary and intermediate level courses in French and Spanish. First-semester foreign language classes (101) are not open to native speakers or students with two or more years of high school study. Placement is required for second-semester classes (102) and intermediate levels (201 and 202). Incoming freshmen who have scored 500+ on the appropriate SAT subject test or who have completed three or more years of high school language within two years will be placed in an intermediate-level class. Placement can also be determined by scores on the Advanced Placement test, by International Baccalaureate achievement levels, or by a test or interview with an instructor. Full-time students interested in languages other than French and Spanish are eligible to participate in the Baltimore Student Exchange Program (BSEP) at area colleges and universities. Additional information about BSEP can be found in the Courses at Another Institution section under "Academic Information" in this catalog. Specific questions regarding foreign language placement should be directed to the chair of the English department.