Multiple Measures for Placement in GE A2 (English)

All first-year students are required to complete 39 lower-division and 9 upper-division units (or quarter-unit equivalent) of General Education (GE) coursework to complete a bachelor’s degree. GE English Area A2 (written communication) is one of the GE requirements students will take in their first year of college. The diagram below displays the criteria used to place students in their first-year GE English course.

 

Multiple Measures

Assessment Tests  
(CAASP-EAP, ACT, SAT, AP,  
IB, and CLEP)

High school grades  
and coursework

 

Please Note:

  • The CSU no longer uses ACT or SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses.
  • If accepted to a CSU campus, ACT or SAT test scores can be used as one of the measures for students to enroll in the appropriate mathematics or English (written communication) courses.  
  • For more information on admission criteria, please visit the First-Year Student Guidance  and the First-Year Student Frequently Asked Questions  pages.

Placement in GE A2 English Course

*CSU campuses will use high school and college coursework to evaluate a student's placement in GE English courses when assessment test scores are not available.

Explore the criteria's the CSU utilizes to place students in their first-year GE English course.

Students who have met one of the following criteria have fulfilled the GE CSU A2 English requirement and will enroll in the next required GE English course:

Advanced Placement (AP) Test:

  • 3 or above: AP Language and Composition
  • 3 or above: AP Composition and Literature

College Transfer Coursework:
 

  • Completed an approved college course with a grade of C- or better that satisfies GE CSU Area A2 (written communication)

Students who have met one of the following criteria will be placed in a GE A2 English course. 
CAASPP/EAP English Test Score:

  • Standard Exceeded (Level 4)
  • Standard Met (Level 3) and completion of a 12th-grade approved year-long English course with a grade of C- or better. Approved year-long English courses include CSU ERWC, AP and Weighted Honors English

High School Courses and GPA:

  • Weighted GPA 3.3 or above
  • Weighted GPA 3.0 or above and completion of a 12th grade approved year-long English course with a grade of C- or better.
  • Weighted GPA 3.0 or above and completion of Honors English course
  • Weighted GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school English

Optional Assessment Scores If Available:

Note: ACT and SAT Scores are not required but will be considered for English placement if the student submits test scores.

SAT English Test Score:

  • 550 or above
  • 510 – 540 and completion of a 12th-grade approved year-long English course with a C- or better. Approved year-long English courses include CSU ERWC, AP and Weighted Honors English

ACT English Test Score:

  • 22 or above
  • 19-21 and completion of a 12th grade approved year-long English course with a C- or better. Approved year-long English courses include CSU ERWC, AP and Weighted Honors English

Students that meet any or none of the criteria below will enroll in GE A2 English Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program.

High School Courses and GPA:

  • Weighted high school GPA 3.0 or above and 4 or more years of English

Optional Assessment Scores If Available:

Note: ACT and SAT Scores are not required but will be considered for English placement if the student submits test scores.

SAT English Test Score:

  • 510 – 540 and 4 or more years of high school English

ACT English Test Score:


  • 19-21 and 4 or more years of high school English

OR, if none of the above criteria is met, students will also enroll in GE A2 Supportive Pathways Program.