There are three levels of undergraduate writing courses at NSU:
COMP 1000 - Basic Writing
COMP 1500 - College Writing
COMP 2000/2020 - Advanced College Writing/Writing
about Literature
COMP 1500 and either COMP 2000/2020 are required for most NSU undergraduate
students (education majors are required to take COMP 1500 only). COMP 1000 prepares
students for COMP 1500.
Professional and Liberal Studies (PALS) Student Writing Placement
If you are a Professional and Liberal Studies (PALS) student, you will be placed into your first semester
of writing at NSU based on standardized test scores. Placement in COMP
1500 requires a minimum SAT verbal score of 520, a minimum ACT English
score of 22, or a minimum TOEFL score of 650 (paper) or 280 (computer).
If you have a score lower than these, you will automatically be placed
in COMP 1000.
Career Development Student Writing Placement
If you are a Career Development student with standardized
test scores, the same placement guidelines listed above apply to
you. If you are a Career Development student without standardized test scores, you will automatically be
placed in COMP 1000.
Online Student Writing Placement
If you are an online student without standardized test scores, you will automatically be placed in COMP 1000.
Writing Challenge Exams
If you wish to challenge your writing course placement, you have the option to take a
45-minute writing challenge exam that consists of writing a 500-word essay. This essay will be
evaluated by the Writing Program coordinator, who will then make the final decision regarding your placement.
If you wish to challenge placement, you must:
- Inform your academic advisor.
- Arrange your writing challenge exam by making an appointment with Testing
Services in the Office of Academic Services at (954) 262-8374.
- Schedule AND complete your writing challenge exam no later
than the end of the first week of classes -- the drop/add period. Be aware that if you attempt to make your appointment too late, you may be unable to secure an
appointment in time to meet the deadline. Any challenges requested after the first week of classes will not be considered.
- Online students who wish to challenge their writing placement, and who are not local to an NSU campus, may take the writing challenge exam in a WebCT environment. Online academic advisors will direct students on how to complete the writing challenge exam in this manner. The same time limit for completion applies, no later than the end of the first week of classes applies.
