Course Placement & Testing

Many OU majors require some level of math coursework. Students are strongly encouraged to submit SAT/ACT scores or complete the math placement assessment to determine their first math course. To find out if you will need math placement for your major, review the “Majors Requiring Math Placement” chart.

To take the math placement assessment, follow the step by step directions. Please complete the placement assessment at least a week before your orientation. To request accommodations for the placement assessment, reach out to Disability Support Services before scheduling.  

The placement chart below indicates your starting math course based on your SAT/ACT score and/or math placement assessment score. If you are unsatisfied with your math placement, you have the option to re/attempt OU’s math placement assessment up to five times to try to place at a higher level.

For additional math placement information, visit the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Placement and Prerequisites page. 

Majors Requiring Math Placement

** No more than 16 credits in courses numbered 0050-0099 may count toward graduation requirements.

To fulfill Oakland University’s general education writing foundations requirement, students must complete WRT 1060 (Composition II), or its equivalent, with a C or higher.

For writing placement, most students will complete the Writing Placement Questionnaire. Students are exempt from this process if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• SAT Writing or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 620 or higher
• ACT English score of 28 or above
• AP English and Language Composition score of 3 or higher
• International Baccalaureate Extended Essay (IBEE) test grade of B or higher
• Course from another institution deemed equivalent to WRT 1050 or WRT 1060

If you don’t meet one of the criteria above, please complete the Writing Placement Questionnaire at least a week before your orientation.

Important note: students can only take the Writing Placement Questionnaire once.

While the Writing Placement Questionnaire is the primary way OU places students into writing, we also accept other placement options, including test scores and transfer credits. We place students into the highest writing course allowed following the placement criteria below.

*Students receive four credits that satisfy the general education writing foundation requirement, equivalent to WRT 1060.

Oakland University has a language requirement for all students as a part of the general education curriculum. Students who have taken a college-level language class at an accredited institution have satisfied this requirement. Read below about placement testing for modern languages or American Sign Language.