FAQs for New Students

• All incoming students should take the NDSU English Placement Survey to help choose their first English course. This is a survey, not a test, and only takes 10-20 minutes. After completing the survey, you'll get an email with your course options. Please talk to your advisor to make sure you enroll in the right course.

While you can use ACT, SAT, or other test scores for placement, we recommend the survey as the best way to find the right fit for you. For more information, please contact your advisor or the Office of Registration & Records.

• If you are placed directly into ENGL 120 and get a “C” or better, you will receive 3.0 placement credit hours for ENGL 110. This means you won't need to take ENGL 110, as the credit will fulfill the General Education requirement for the course. For more details, please see the NDSU Bulletin.

• The AP English Literature and Composition Exam tests your understanding of literature. ENGL 120/122 is a writing and rhetoric course, not a literature course. A score of 3 on this exam gives you credit for ENGL 220 only. A score of 4 or 5 shows you have the writing skills for ENGL 110/112, in addition to literature.

• In this case, you should talk to your advisor or the Director of First-Year Writing to find the best option for you:
• Option 1: You can retake English 120/122 right away. If you get a C or higher, you'll also get credit for English 110/112. If you got a D or F because you missed class, didn't turn in work, or didn't give your best effort, you should probably repeat ENGL 120/122, attend class, and turn in your work.
• Option 2: You can take English 110/112 and then think about retaking English 120/122. If you went to class, turned in your best work, and still got a D or F in English 120/122, you'll likely benefit from taking English 110/112 to build the skills you need for your major and 300-level writing class.

• No. You need to have junior standing (at least 60 credits) to take your 300-level writing class. You'll also benefit from spacing out these two writing classes over your university career instead of taking them both in your first year.

The English Department suggests that all first-year students take ENGL 120/122. This course will introduce you to:

• NDSU-specific research databases
• A genre-based, rhetorical approach to writing (not often taught in high schools)
• How to combine visual and verbal communication
• Strategies for writing collaboratively

• All transfer students who haven't received credit for English 110 or 120 (or equivalent) should take the NDSU English Placement Survey. This will help you choose the right first course. This is a survey, not a test, and takes 10-20 minutes. After you take the survey, you'll get an email with your course options. Please talk to your advisor to make sure you enroll in the right course. If you already have credit for English 110 (or equivalent), you can enroll in English 120/122 right away.

• Yes. In most majors, a 300-level writing class is required for graduation. It's also an upper-level general education requirement and is not covered by the agreement for your lower-level general education courses. If you have a previous bachelor's degree, you'll still need to take a 300-level writing class if it's required for your program and you haven't already earned credit for it.

• Maybe. This is a question for your advisor and your department. They may be able to help you with a course substitution.

• You can get credit for English 110/112 by completing an upper-division (300-level) writing course for General Education with a grade of C or better. If you don't get at least a C, you won't automatically get credit for ENGL 110/112. Your options would be:
• Option 1: Enroll in and pass ENGL 110/112.
• Option 2: Retake your upper-division writing course, or take a different one, and get a C or better. Note: Some programs require a C or better to graduate.

• The 300-level writing classes require junior standing (at least 60 credits). This makes sure you're ready for the writing and research in your major.

• Yes. You'll need to take English 120/122 before your 300-level upper-division writing course. Another option for juniors or seniors is to appeal to take two 300-level writing courses instead of 120/122 and a 300-level writing course.