Assessment and Placement

Learning Support Assessment and Placement


All incoming students are assessed for Learning Support requirements based on:

- ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer scores (less than 5 years old)




- AP scores
- Transfer/Dual Enrollment credit


The following are the minimum scores required to be exempt from Learning Support:

Subject ACT Subscore SAT Subscore ACCUPLACER Subscore
Reading 19 500 250
Writing 18 490 250
Math* 19 500 250

Note: Students with a valid composite ACT score of 26 or above (or SAT score of 1170 or above) are exempt from all Learning Support requirements, regardless of subscores. Placement is determined based on the highest of any qualifying documentation in order to be the least restrictive to students. Students may be exempt from any combination of the three Learning Support requirements (Reading, Writing, and Math). * In addition to the criteria mentioned above, students may also be exempt from Learning Support Math if they previously completed the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) program or Bridge Math in high school.





For students who do not have valid standardized test scores, AP scores, or transfer credit (as listed above), ACCUPLACER testing will be required.

Completing Learning Support Requirements

Learning Support requirements are met by successful completion of a specific Learning Support section of the General Education course(s) respective to the individual student needs. Academic Advisors assist students in the appropriate registration to satisfy their Learning Support requirements.

Reading: COMM 2025-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Reading requirement must enroll in COMM 2025 - Fundamentals of Communication (applicable sections L01-L99).

Students with a Learning Support Reading requirement must be advised in the University Advisement Center, until the Reading requirement has been satisfied, as the Reading requirement is a prerequisite for the majority of the courses offered at ETSU. Students with a Reading requirement will be able to take a full course load. However, depending on the student's major, they may not be able to enroll in major-specific courses (as defined by the respective major) until the Learning Support Reading requirement has been satisfied.

Writing: ENGL 1010-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Writing requirement must enroll in ENGL 1010 - Critical Reading and Expository Writing (applicable sections L01-L99). Students required to meet the Learning Support Writing (or Writing and Math) requirement can be advised in their respective major.

Math: MATH 1530-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Math requirement must enroll in MATH 1530 - Probability and Statistics - Noncalculus (applicable sections L01-L99). Students required to meet the Learning Support Math (or Math and Writing) requirement can be advised in their respective major.

  • Transfer Credit (or Dual-Enrollment)

    Transfer (or dual-enrollment) students with the following coursework will be exempt from Learning Support requirements:

    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Reading if they have a passing grade in any General Education course
    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Writing if they have a passing grade in any college level English course
    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Math if they have a passing grade in any college level Mathematics course

    Transfer (or dual-enrollment) students with the absence of one or more of the following coursework and the absence of ACT/SAT subscore will be required to test ACCUPLACER for the respective subject:

    • ACCUPLACER Reading must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any General Education course (and no ACT/SAT scores)
    • ACCUPLACER Writing must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any college level English course (and no ACT/SAT scores)
    • ACCUPLACER Math must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any college level Mathematics course (and no ACT/SAT scores)

    If ACCUPLACER testing is required, please refer to our ACCUPLACER website for more details.

  • Updating Learning Support Placement

    ETSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives and processes official ACT and SAT scores (and transcripts from other colleges and universities) sent to the institution. If you have newer scores or transfer course credit, not yet on file, please send them to Undergraduate Admissions through the testing company's website.


    If you believe Undergraduate Admissions has received newer scores or transfer credit than the University Advisement Center has reviewed for placement purposes, please contact our office using the Contact Us page on our website. We will review your latest scores on file and update your placement as needed.

  • Learning Support Course Drop Policy

    Course Drop Policy
    Once a Learning Support course is added to a student's schedule it cannot be dropped without written permission of the Director of the University Advisement Center. Contact the University Advisement Center for more information.

  • Learning Support Attendance Policy

    Attendance Policy
    The attendance policy for Learning Support courses follows the University class attendance policy as outlined in the ETSU catalog. The maximum number of allowable absences depends on departmental absentee policies; see your syllabus for your instructor's exact policy.

    Students with excessive absences realistically need to consider the distinct possibility that they may not be able to complete the course successfully. Consulting with their Academic Advisor is recommended. Learning Support faculty have the authority to assign an "F" grade to students who exceed the maximum number of absences.

  • Placement Prior to 2012


    Completing Developmental Studies Program (DSP) requirements
    Prior to May 2012, a student may have been assessed for the Developmental Studies Program (DSP). Any coursework completed under the previous DSP program will be converted to placement  in accordance with the current Learning Support program. Please contact our office with questions about previous progress towards the Developmental Studies Program requirements.