Placement
First-time Stevenson University students may need to complete one or more Stevenson University placement assessments prior to registration. Information regarding placement requirements is sent to all students after they submit their deposit to attend the University.
Placement in English Courses
All incoming students (freshmen and transfer) must complete the directed self-placement instrument before registering for classes unless they have completed an English course equivalent to or higher than ENG 150.
Results of the directed self-placement are valid until the end of the add/drop period of the semester in which the student enrolls at the university. Students cannot change their course selection after they are placed. Students are not permitted to take the directed self-placement after enrolling in an English course at SU.
Students may not enroll in an English course higher than their placement level, but they may opt to enroll in a course lower than their placement level. Before registration, students will meet with their academic advisor who will help them choose the appropriate English course for their major and placement level.
Transfer students who have not earned credit for ENG 151 will be placed into ENG 150 if their overall transfer GPA is below a 2.0.
Placement in Foreign Language Courses
Stevenson University offers elementary and intermediate level courses in French and Spanish. Enrollment in first-semester foreign language classes (101) does not require a placement assessment. Students with two or more years of high school study are not eligible to enroll in first-semester foreign language courses.
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.
Specific questions regarding foreign language placement should be directed to the chair of the Department of English and Humanities. Native speakers may not earn foreign language course credit in their native language.
Placement in Mathematics Courses
All incoming students (freshmen and transfer) must take the mathematics placement assessment before registering for classes unless they have completed
- a foundational mathematics course equivalent to or higher than MATH 005# and earned a grade of "C" or better, or
- a college credit-bearing mathematics course equivalent to or higher than MATH 135 and earned a grade of "D" or better.
Results of the placement assessment are valid until the end of the add/drop period of the semester in which the student enrolls at the university. Students are not permitted to take the math placement assessment after enrolling in a math course at SU.
Stevenson’s foundational course in mathematics, MATH 005#, is designed to improve skills in mathematics. Successful completion of this foundational course is required of students who do not demonstrate proficiency in the skills covered on the placement assessment. Students who are placed into MATH 005# must take it during their first year at Stevenson. This course does not receive college credit and is not calculated in a student's GPA. However, it does count toward full-time student status for financial aid and other purposes.
Students may not enroll in a mathematics course higher than their placement level, but they may opt to enroll in a course lower than their placement level. Before registration, students will meet with their academic advisor who will help them choose the appropriate mathematics course for their major and placement level.