Placement by Subject
RWU has placement guidelines to determine the appropriate entry-level course for new students.
About Placement at RWU
Welcome ALL incoming students!
Some of RWU's placement guidelines are based on a writing placement survey, while others are based on the results of online placements that new students take before their registration session.
The placement due date is midnight (EST) on May 7th, 2025. New students must complete all placement requirements before attending their registration session. Completing this step ensures you receive a correct schedule during your session.
All students must complete writing and modern language placement. Students who did not take a language in high school are not required to complete the modern language.
*The writing placement survey only takes 5 minutes.
Click here to see if your major requires Math placement.
- FYI: There are no business majors that require math placement.
Incoming Transfer Students
All new students transferring from another school will be looked at on a case-by-case basis depending on transfer credit and their chosen major at RWU. Please contact the Senior Transfer Student Advisor, Sarah Mayer at smayer@rwu.edu with any questions.
Placement Guidelines
Modern language placement is required for all new students who have skills in a modern language and/or have taken courses in a modern language in high school.
Students who are majoring in both the International Relations Major and the International Business Majors are also required to complete modern language placement.
If you are interested in pursuing a foreign language while attending RWU, we encourage you to take modern language placement to determine your placement level in that language.
Modern Language Instructions and Placement is available. How to access the Language Placement exam.
For more information regarding Modern Language Placement please contact the Modern Language Department Chair, Professor Min Zhou at 401-254-5719 or mzhou@rwu.edu.
For questions about waiving general education course requirements or for information on completing a placement test for ancient Greek, or American Sign Language, please contact the Dean's Office in the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences (School of Humanities, Arts, and Education)
Click here for additional information about modern language courses and placement.
Determining your best first mathematics course requires evaluating the quantitative skills you have acquired during your educational journey. RWU uses a comprehensive assessment tool developed and tested by the Mathematics Association of America. The exercises are designed to determine which math course is best for you to take in your first semester.
In addition, enrollment in some chemistry and biology courses require a minimum score on the math placement assessment. An accurate assessment of your current skills is therefore a key component to your initial success. Incoming students should complete the assessment before their registration appointment.
The assessments are taken online from your own computer at a time convenient for you. There are two parts, Algebra and Functions, each of which have a 90-minute time limit. You can take the two parts at different times, but once you have started an assessment, you must complete that part. Calculator use is allowed, and results are automatically sent to RWU.
Students who receive extended time for assessments, sometimes as part of an individualized education program (IEP), will be given a 3-hour time limit for each part. Students do not need to submit paperwork or request permission for extended time, simply choose the extended time options in the online portal. During the academic year, students who benefit from accommodations such as extended time are required to register with Jeremy Warnick Center for Student Accessibility (SAS).
Not all math classes require placement or have prerequisites. Visit this page to determine if your major requires a math placement.
RWU grants credit for students who score a 3 or greater on Advanced Placement examinations for Precalculus and Calculus. Your AP score will override your score on the math placement assessment. Please let your advisor know that you anticipate receiving credit via AP exam. RWU does not accept SAT or ACT scores, or high school transcripts in lieu of the math placement assessment.
Click here for details on content of the exam and registration instructions.
Writing Placement at RWU is determined by a directed self-placement survey. Directed self-placement helps students decide which first-year writing course will be best for them.
What are the writing course requirements at RWU?
The University Core Curriculum writing requirement consists of two courses--WTNG 102: How Writing Works and a second class at the 200 level.
For students who want more practice in reading and writing in academic settings before taking WTNG 102, they should consider taking WTNG 100: Introduction to Academic Writing.
Typically, students complete their two-course writing requirement during their first three semesters at RWU. The table below shows the two paths a student can take to fulfill their Writing Requirement, depending on whether they start with WTNG 100 or WTNG 102.
| If your first-year writing course is: | You will need to take the following courses to complete your Writing Requirement: |
|---|---|
| WTNG.100: Intro. to Academic Writing |
|
| WTNG.102: How Writing Works |
|
For course descriptions, please consult the RWU online catalog.
*RWU is test optional for admission, with the exception of students applying to the Elementary or Secondary Education programs in accordance with guidelines from the Rhode Island Department of Education.
The directed self-placement survey takes 5 minutes to complete. Please read carefully and answer questions as accurately as you can. The survey will help you choose the best first-year Writing course for you based on the answers you provide.
Click here to go to the Writing Placement page and take the directed self-placement survey.
For more information or questions, please contact the 100-Level Writing Program Coordinator, Dr. John Madritch, at jmadritch@rwu.edu.