U.S. News & World Report ranks Rowan University 28th | More

Program helps Rowan freshmen make connections | More

Basic Skills

The scores of the Rowan University Placement Tests identify skill deficiencies in reading and mathematics. If students' scores on the placement tests indicate that they need to strengthen skills in certain areas, they will be advised to enroll in the appropriate basic skills courses. Students are required to register for these courses the first semester of their freshman year.

Courses

The basic skills courses offered are as follows:

Reading

Improving Personal Reading Skills - 3.0 credits

This basic skills course helps students whose reading skills need improvement in order to cope with the demands of college course work. Instruction in the full semester course emphasizes vocabulary, comprehension, and study skills. It is a required course for entering students who do not pass the Rowan University Placement Test in Reading.

Writing

Writing placement is determined by SAT scores.

Improving Personal Writing Skills - 3.0 credits

This developmental writing course helps students eliminate major writing problems with easy organization, support, and mechanics. The course improves students' writing prior to enrollment in College Composition I.

Algebra

Basic Algebra - 3.0 Credits

This full semester basic skills course includes signed numbers, first degree equations, factoring, exponents, roots and radicals, rational expressions, system of equations, and graphing. Use of calculators is required.

NOTE: Students do not receive graduation credit for passing basic skills courses. Tuition for basic skills courses is the same as for college-level courses.

Grades

Pass

A "P" grade satisfies the university's basic skills requirement in each area.

In Progress

An "IP" grade indicates that the student has completed the first level of the requirement and is ready to enroll in the second level.

No Credit

An "NC" is a failing grade which indicates the student must enroll the following quarter or semester in the same class.

These grades are not included in the Grade Point Average.

Policy

Students who do not complete the basic skills requirement within one year will be recommended for suspension from the university.