Northeastern State University

English Proficiency

English proficiency is required of all students graduating from NSU. English proficiency consists of three components. All three components must be successfully completed in order to demonstrate English proficiency.

Component 1. Placement of Students

A. Students with high school deficiencies will be required to complete English 0123 during the first semester of enrollment or successfully score at or above the qualifying score on the Test of CPT-Sentence Skills Test.
B. All students scoring less than 19 on the ACT-English sub-test and less than 3.25 high school GPA in English will be required to take the CPT-Sentence Skills Test. Transfer students who have not completed English 1113, Freshman Composition I, will be required to take the CPT-Sentence Skills Test if their ACT English sub-test is less than 19 and high school GPA in English is less than 3.25.
C. Students scoring above the qualifying score on the CPT-Sentence Skills Test will be allowed to enroll in English 1113.
D. Students scoring below the qualifying score on the CPT-Sentence Skills Test must successfully complete English 0123 with a grade of “C” or better prior to enrollment in English 1113.
E. Students taking English 0123 must take the CPT-Sentence Skills Test at the end of the course. Students who do not pass the course with a grade of “C” or better must re-enroll in English 0123 until they are successful in passing the course.
F. All students must complete Component 1 of English Proficiency (achieving a qualifying score on the CPT-Sentence Skills Test or passing English 0123) within the first 24 hours. Failure to meet this requirement may block registration with the exception of enrollment in English 0123.
G. Students who are unsuccessful in passing English 0123 are advised to undertake additional educational experiences to improve their skills in addition to continued enrollment in English 0123 each semester until this requirement is satisfied. These experiences may include but are not limited to:
a. attending tutorial sessions in a writing lab
b. personal individualized study.

Component 2. Completion of English 1113 and 1213 with grades of “C” or better or demonstrated competency through Advanced Standing.

A. After completing English 0123, all students must continue in the appropriate courses each succeeding semester until the English composition requirements are satisfied in full.
B. All students who have not completed English 1113 and English 1213 with a grade of “C” or better will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English composition by:
a. re-enrolling in English 1113 and/or English 1213 and passing with a “C”
or better, or
b. passing the CLEP test for English composition.
c. complete the WritePlacer online test with a score of 9 or 10 for proficiency in ENGL 1113 or a score of 11 or 12 for proficiency in ENGL 1113 and ENGL 1213.
C. Students who take English 1113 by CLEP will meet the requirements of Component 2 of English Proficiency by making a “C” or better in English 1213. Students who successfully complete English 1213 by CLEP will meet the requirements of Component 2 of English Proficiency.
D. All students should complete the English requirements at the earliest opportunity. It is advisable for students to complete component 2 in the first 60 credit hours.
E. Writing ability of students will be assessed as part of the Mid-Level General Education assessment.

Component 3. Writing Intensive Experience in the Major

A. All students are required to complete a writing intensive experience in their major.
B. At a minimum, all students will experience at least one upper division course that has extensive writing assignments.

Note: English proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Approved February 1992
Amended September 15, 1992
Amended February 17, 1994
Revised February 8, 1995 due to CEPC changes
Revised July 8, 1999
Revised March 23, 2004