College Level Academic Skills (CLAS) Requirement
The College Level Academic Skills (CLAS) requirement is part of Florida’s system of educational evaluation/accountability and is mandated by Florida Statute. CLAS is intended to ensure that students have attained college-level communication and mathematics skills. Undergraduate students seeking either an A.A. or baccalaureate degree from a public institution of higher education in Florida are required to meet, prior to graduation, minimum requirements in reading, English language skills, essay, and mathematics. The CLAS requirement took effect on July 1, 2009, and replaces the previous College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST). Students who already satisfied the CLAST requirements are deemed to have satisfied the new CLAS requirements.
Based on state guidelines regarding exemptions and waiver policy, Florida Atlantic University has determined that students can meet the CLAS requirement in one of the following ways:
1. Reading:
Option 1: Attain a 2.5 GPA in any two of the following courses: ENC 1101, ENC 1102, ENC 1930, ANT 1471, NUR 1016, and CHM 2051C. Alternatively, students may attain a 2.5 GPA in two courses, one from among the above courses AND any one WAC-certified course. Normally, students meet this requirement through grades attained in ENC 1101 and ENC 1102.
Advanced Placement scores apply in the following manner. A score of 3 on the AP English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition exam is equivalent to 3 credits of ENC 1101. For GPA equivalency purposes, a letter grade of "C" (2.0) shall be assigned. An AP score of 4 or higher is equivalent to 6 credits of ENC 1101 and 1102, thus meeting the CLAS Reading requirement.
International Baccalaureate scores apply in the following manner. A score of 4 on the IB English exam is equivalent to 3 credits of ENC 1101. For GPA equivalency purposes, a letter grade of "C" (2.0) shall be assigned. An IB score of 5 or higher is equivalent to 6 credits of ENC 1101 and 1102, thus meeting the CLAS Reading requirement.
Option 2: Attain the minimum score on one of the below exams:
22 on Enhanced ACT in Reading;
20 on Composite of original ACT;
500 on Verbal section of recentered SAT-I or Reading SAT Reasoning Test;
93 on ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension
Students who did not attain the above minimum ACT or SAT scores to gain admission to Florida Atlantic University or another university should take the ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension exam, which is administered by the Office of Testing and Evaluation (http://www.fau.edu/testing). Registration for the test is completed online.
2. English Language Skills and Essay:
Option 1: Attain a 2.5 GPA in any two of the following courses: ENC 1101, ENC 1102, ENC 1930, ANT 1471, NUR 1016, and CHM 2051C. Alternatively, students may attain a 2.5 GPA in two courses, one from among the above courses AND any one WAC-certified course. Normally, students meet this requirement through grades attained in ENC 1101 and ENC 1102.
Advanced Placement scores apply in the following manner.
A score of 3 on the AP English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition exam is equivalent to 3 credits of ENC 1101. For GPA equivalency purposes, a letter grade of "C" (2.0) shall be assigned. An AP score of 4 or higher is equivalent to 6 credits of ENC 1101 and 1102, thus meeting the CLAS English Language Skills and Essay requirements.
International Baccalaureate scores apply in the following manner. A score of 4 on the IB English exam is equivalent to 3 credits of ENC 1101. For GPA equivalency purposes, a letter grade of "C" (2.0) shall be assigned. An IB score of 5 or higher is equivalent to 6 credits of ENC 1101 and 1102, thus meeting the CLAS English Language Skills and Essay requirements.
Option 2: Attain the minimum score on one of the below exams:
21 on ACT in English;
20 on original ACT;
500 on Verbal section of recentered SAT-I or Reading SAT Reasoning Test;
105 on ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills
Students who did not attain the above minimum ACT or SAT scores to gain admission to Florida Atlantic University or another university should take the ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills exam, which is administered by the Office of Testing and Evaluation (http://www.fau.edu/testing). Registration for the test is completed online.
3. Mathematics:
Option 1: Attain a 2.5 GPA in any two of the following college-level courses: MAC*102 or higher, MGF*106, MGF*107, MGF*113, MGF*114, MGF*118, MGF*202 or higher, and STA *014 or higher.
Advanced Placement scores apply in the following manner. A score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB and/or Calculus BC exam is equivalent to 4 credits of math at the calculus level (MAC 2311). For GPA equivalency purposes, a letter grade of "C" (2.0) shall be assigned. An AP score of 4 or higher on the BC exam is equivalent to 8 credits of math at the calculus level (MAC 2311 and 2312), thus fulfilling the CLAS mathematics requirement.
Option 2: Attain the minimum score on one of the below exams:
21 on Enhanced or original ACT in mathematics;
500 on SAT Reasoning Test (recentered SAT I);
92 on ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
Students who did not attain the above minimum ACT or SAT scores to gain admission to Florida Atlantic University or another university should take the ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra exam, which is administered by the Office of Testing and Evaluation (http://www.fau.edu/testing). Registration for the test is completed online.
Current students who attempted but failed one or more subtests on the old CLAST exam will need to attain a designated score on the appropriate ACCUPLACER exam.
No student will be allowed to graduate without having met the CLAS requirements, so students should strive to meet the requirements early. Students should address concerns or questions to their academic advisors.
