English & Math Course Placement
Undergraduate Assessment for Course Placement
To improve the accuracy of the course placement processes, MSUM is using multiple assessments to place students, rather than a single high-stakes test. Measurements include ACT, SAT, MCA, High school GPA and Accuplacer. This process will allow for accurate placement of students into courses that meet their level of academic abilities.
These course placements are not just based on your ACT/SAT score(s). These placements can range from developmental coursework to prepare you for classes required for your major, to placement directly into higher level courses. If you have more questions, please contact us.
ACT/SAT English Sub-score or Accuplacer English Score
- ACT/SAT/Accuplacer English placement scores are valid for five years.
English Course Placement Chart
English & Reading Placement Information
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 600
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 480
SAT Writing score ≥ 501
Accuplacer NG Reading score > 264
Classic Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score ≥ 97
- ACT English 16-17
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 440-479
- Accuplacer NG Reading 236-249
- Classic Accuplacer 78-85 on Reading Comprehension
- ACT ≤ 17
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing < 480
- SAT Writing < 430
ACT/SAT Math sub-score, Accuplacer Math scores, or MCA Mathematics score
Any student with an ACT Math score < (less than) 19 or SAT Math score < (less than) 510 must take the Accuplacer to be place into the appropriate course at MSUM. Any student who receives a college-ready benchmark on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) is not required to take a developmental course in that subject area. MCA Mathematics scores may be used for MATH 105 and MATH 127 placement.
- ACT, SAT, and MCA Math placement scores are valid for five years.
- Accuplacer Math placement scores are valid for two years.
Mathematics Course Placement Flow Chart
Placement for LASC 4 Mathematics & Logical Reasoning
Undeclared
Majors: Undeclared
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
OR
MATH 134
SAT ≥ 540
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- ACT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
OR
MATH 105
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016-Present SAT Math ≥ 580; Pre-March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560)
OR
MATH 143
OR
MATH 229
OR
MATH 261
Calculus Track
Majors:
BioChem BioTech, Biosciences-Ecology & Evol., Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science Teaching, Geosciences-Geology, Geosciences-Geoarchaeology, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Pre-Architecture, Pre-Engineering, Professional Management degrees
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
SAT ≥ 540
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- ACT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016 Present SAT Math ≥ 580; Pre-March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560)
OR
MATH 143
OR
MATH 261
Algebra Track
Majors:
Accounting, Biosciences –Health & Medical Sci., Life Science – Teaching, Medical Laboratory Sci., Business Administration, Business Minor, Community Health, Computer Info Systems, Computer Info Technology, Construction Management, Economics, Finance, Health Services Admin., Marketing, Medical Technology, Operations Management, Psychology
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
SAT ≥ 540
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- ACT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
SAT 560
(March 2016 Present SAT Math sub-score of 560 or above; Pre-March 206 SAT Math sub-score of 540 or above)
OR
MATH 227
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016 Present SAT Math ≥ 580; Pre-March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560)
(See major for details)
Statistics Track
Majors:
Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Speech/Language/Hearing
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
SAT ≥ 540
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- CT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560)
Education Track
Majors:
Elementary Inclusive Education, Early Childhood, Special Education
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
SAT ≥ 530
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- ACT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016 Present SAT Math ≥ 580; Pre-March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560)
Liberal Arts Track
Majors:
Amer. Multicult. Studies, Anthropology, Art, Communication Studies (Mass Comm), Criminal Justice, East Asian Studies, English, Film Studies, Geoscience-Geographic Science only, Gerontology, Graphic Communications, Health, History, International Studies, Languages, Legal Studies, Music, Nursing, Paralegal, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Theatre, Women’s Studies
SAT ‹ 510
510 ≤ SAT ≤ 530
OR
PHIL 340
SAT ≥ 540
MCA ≥ 1158
OR
Cumulative HS GPA of 2.7 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 520
- ACT ≥ 20
- 1152 ≤ MCA ≤ 1157
- ACCUPLACER NextGen Advanced Algebra and Functions ≥ 236 or Classic Accuplacer Intermediate Algebra ≥ 60
OR
MATH 127
OR
MATH 134
OR
PHIL 340
SAT ≥ 580
(March 2016 Present SAT Math ≥ 580; Pre-March 2016 SAT Math ≥ 560
OR
MATH 127 or higher Math
OR
PHIL 340
Accuplacer for LASC 4 Placement Next Gen Accuplacer Scores (NGA)
OR
Math 261 (if accompanied by prereq knowledge of trigonometry)
OR
Math 095
AAF ≥ 234
*Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS), Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)
Classic Accuplacer Test Scores
OR
AR + EA ≥ 100
OR
*MATH 095
OR
MATH 261 (See LASC 4 Table for details)
*Arithmetic (AR), Elementary Algebra (EA), Intermediate Algebra (IA), College Mathematics (CLM)