Course Placement Information
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT/ORIENTATION COURSE PLACEMENT
The University of the Pacific is committed to your academic success, including ensuring that you are placed in the appropriate course to support your learning. The following information will assist you and your faculty adviser in the planning of your program of study.
Entering students are required to demonstrate competency in the areas of writing, reading, and quantitative analysis (math). Students taking language and general chemistry courses are also required to complete an assessment to determine appropriate course placement. Please read the information below carefully. It describes the various types of placement assessments available and provides options for completion of these assessments.
For questions about Course Place Assessments please contact Student Academic Support Services
at 209-946-2177 or by email at sacenter@pacific.edu.
COURSE PLACEMENT ASSESSMENTS
Criteria for Writing Course Placement:
First year students will be placed into the writing sequence based upon their SAT Writing score. The following grid describes the various course placements and corresponding scores. (Note: If a student has not taken the SAT, an ACT combined English/Writing score of 22 or above will satisfy the fundamental skills requirement in writing.)
Transfer students can fulfill the writing requirement with a transferable course or an ACT or SAT test score.
Criteria for Reading Course Placement:
First year students can place into the reading course or fulfill the basic skills requirement in reading based upon their SAT Critical Reading score. A score of 510 or above on the SAT Critical Reading assessment will fulfill the University Reading Requirement. A score below 510 places the student into one of the reading courses offered by the Educational Resource Center. Completion of the skills requirement in reading is a pre-requisite for courses in Biological Sciences.
(Note: If a student has not taken the SAT, an ACT English Subtest score of 22 or above will satisfy the fundamental skills requirement in reading.)
Transfer students must complete the reading assessment at one of the placement sessions listed below if they have not submitted SAT or ACT scores to the University. This assessment determines the fulfillment of the reading requirement or placement into one of the reading courses offered by the Educational Resource Center.
Criteria for Analytical Skills Requirement and Placement in Mathematics Courses:
All Pacific students are required to demonstrate competency in intermediate algebra to fulfill the Fundamental skills requirement.
First year students can meet the fundamental skills requirement in math by scoring 540 or above on the Mathematics Level 1 SAT Subject Test or 520 or above on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT Subject Test. Pacific math assessments are available at new student orientation or at a pre-orientation session to provide competency and placement information.
Transfer students can fulfill the fundamental skills requirement in math or be placed into subsequent mathematics courses based on a transferable course or by completing the Pacific math assessment at transfer orientation or at a pre-orientation session. Course admission guidelines for mathematics are listed below.
Examples of the Pacific tests and fundamental skills placement and course information are found at the website of the Educational Resource Center: http://go.pacific.edu/ERCSKILLS
Criteria for Chemistry Course Placement:
All students who wish to enroll in General Chemistry (all science majors including all pre-health majors, sport science majors with a concentration in sports medicine, and earth and environmental science majors) are placed based on two possible assessments:
- score of 550 or above on teh SAT Chemistry subject test or
- passing score on the Pacific Chemistry Assessment.
Engineering majors will receive information about Chemistry Placement from the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Criteria for Language Course Placement:
Transfer students can be placed into foreign language courses based on prior college coursework in the language.
COURSE PLACEMENT ASSESSMENTS DATES
Orientation Assessment Administration:
The following dates and locations are being offered for Course Placement Assessments prior to New Student Orientation, reservations are required:
On the Stockton Campus in the University Library from 3PM - 9PM on the following Thursdays:
- December 8
- December 15
For your convenience, you may also participate in course placement for fundamental skills (reading and ESL) at an ACT COMPASS remote testing site, for more information please call (209) 946-2177.
If you are unable to attend any of the sessions above, please plan to participate in the course placement testing sessions scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 4th. Please check in at the Pacific Library beginning at 3:00PM, but no later than 6:00PM.
If you are a student with a documented disability, who requires a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities by calling (209) 946-2879 or email dnuss@pacific.edu.
To learn more about Pacific's placement exams or to RSVP for the early assessment opportunities, please call (209) 946-2177 or email sacenter@pacific.edu. You may learn more about Pacific's Fundamental Skills requirements at http://go.pacific.edu/ERCSKILLS.