VCU Orientation

Depending upon your major, you may need to take placement tests in order to register for some of your classes.  Please refer to your recommended first-semester course lists to learn which placement tests may be required for your major.

Math Placement

If your major requires MATH 141, MATH 151 or MATH 200 or higher, you will need to take the math placement test unless:

1. You are submitting any math AP or IB exam scores to VCU 
2. You have dual enrollment math credits from another university/college that either satisfy your degree's math requirements or satisfies the prerequisite for your next math course.
3. You are submitting  SAT or ACT scores and are content with the course placement you are assigned based on those standardized test score(s).

You can view your math placement score in your Student Profile in eServices. Please click on “Testing” to see if a score has been posted for you. 

Please visit the VCU Math Placement website for more information and to access the math placement test. You must complete Math Placement prior to your advising appointment.

Chemistry placement

The chemistry placement test is an online test used to place students into an appropriate general chemistry course based on their background knowledge. All students planning on registering for CHEM 101 General Chemistry I are required to take the test. Please review the table above to see if your major requires CHEM 101.

The Chemistry Placement Test is a prerequisite for CHEM 101. Those earning a passing score on the test will be eligible to register for CHEM 101. Those not earning a passing score have two options:

1. Complete the ALEKS online unit. After successfully completing one of these options students are eligible to register for CHEM 101. ALEKS must be completed by no later than July 31 (for fall semester) or Jan. 10 (for spring semester).
2. Enroll in CHEM 100 – Introductory Chemistry and earn a B or better.

Please visit the VCU Chemistry Placement website for more information and to access the chemistry placement test. You must complete Chemistry Placement prior to your advising appointment.

Foreign language placement

Students who plan to study a language at VCU must take the language placement test to determine the appropriate beginning language class (unless they want to begin in the entry level course). Only students with transfer credit from other educational institutions are eligible to enroll in the next course within their language sequence without completing the foreign language placement test. The foreign language placement test must be taken online before the first week of classes.

Students who have completed level three of a foreign language at an accredited U.S. public or private high school have fulfilled the Humanities and Sciences foreign language requirement through the 102 level. Learn more on the College of Humanities and Sciences high school foreign language waiver webpage.

Learn more about and sign up for foreign language placement testing.

 

Help your advisor get to know more about you, your educational goals and your academic background by completing this two-part survey.

• The first part of the survey will confirm your major, allow you to request a change of major (if desired), ask questions about your incoming AP/IB or Dual Enrollment Credits, and learn more about your course preferences.
  
• The second part of the survey, the College Student Inventory, identifies your academic strengths and connects you to the offices and services that can help you to make the most out of your degree.

Click to Access Survey

Review our recommended first-semester courses for your major and learn more about each course by reviewing course descriptions in the VCU Bulletin.  Some programs require you to take higher level courses in math and chemistry.  Others may require taking a foreign language. Your recommended first-semester course sheet will provide more information on this for you.

Next, select which sections you want to register for.  Many courses will have multiple sections that meet at different times or in different teaching modalities (e.g., face-to-face, hybrid or online, etc). The College Scheduler can help you build the best first-semester class schedule for you by taking into consideration your scheduling preferences and outside obligations.  Send your ideal schedule to your shopping cart in eServices to make registration very easy!

Write down which courses you plan to register for, including a few alternate course options.  You should plan to register for at least 15 credits, since you need to earn 15 credits per semester for 8 fall and spring semesters in order to graduate in 4 years. In addition most financial aid and scholarships require you to be registered full time, which is at least 12 credit hours.

Using these helpful guides, register yourself for classes in eServices as early as Dec. 4th. We encourage you to register for classes as early as possible for the best course days and times. 

Make sure to write down any questions that you have after registering so that you can bring them to your academic advising appointment. Note: Your class schedule is not confirmed until you attend orientation, so make sure to register for and attend orientation!

SAT / ACT Math Scores and VCU Math Placement equivalents

SAT Math Score	ACT Math Score	ALEKS Score	VCU Math Placement Score	Course(s) You Are Eligible to Enroll In
Scores below 530	Scores below 21	0-44	131 or no placement score	MATH 129 or MATH 131
530-579	21-23	45-59	141	MATH 141 or STAT 208
580-589	24	60	139	MATH 139, MATH 141 or STAT 208
590-649	25-28	61-75	151	MATH 151, STAT 210 or BUSN 212
650+	29+	76-100	200	MATH 200, MATH 211, CMSC 255 or STAT 212, and BUSN 212

 

VCU Math Course Progressions (each course is a prerequisite for the course(s) listed below it)
MATH 131	MATH 129 with C or higher	MATH 141 with C or higher
	MATH 139 with C or higher
	BUSN 212 or MATH 151 with a C or higher
		MATH 200  (via MATH 151 not BUSN 212)

Click the link to learn more about and sign up for foreign language placement testing.

First-year academic advising appointments will be held virtually or in-person starting on Dec. 4. Incoming students will be able to start making their appointments via Navigate as early as Dec. 1.

To prepare for your appointment, please make sure that you have completed all of the previous steps in this list and have registered for as many courses as you are able to.

Take some time to review our Major Maps to see how we propose mapping out your career and degree success at VCU.

During your appointment, you and your academic advisor will begin to get to know each other by discussing your academic goals.  You will also review the classes that you have registered for and make any needed adjustments. Your advisor will also answer any questions you have about your first-semester on campus and let you know when you’ll next meet in the fall.  

Note: You can download Navigate two business days after VCU processes your tuition deposit.

 

Session Date	Session Time
Monday, Dec. 4	1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 12	9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 15	4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 21	12:00 p.m. -12:30 p.m.
Friday, January 5	2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 10	4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.