Learning Support

Learning Support (LS) is a program for students who need additional preparation in mathematics or English (reading/writing) to increase their chances of success in their majors. Freshmen students must be evaluated for Learning Support placement in English (reading/writing) and mathematics. Students placed in learning support may take the Accuplacer placement exam to exempt from learning support.

To exempt placement into Learning support, a student must meet one of the following criteria:

For English (reading/writing)

  • Credit for an Area A English course (must meet the minimum grade requirement for the course for the institution -- which may be a "C" or higher); OR
  • English Placement index (EPI) of 4230 or higher; OR
  • Final High school GPA of 3.1 or higher and completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in English; OR
  • SAT Verbal/Critical Reading score of 430 or higher on the "old" SAT; OR
  • SAT Reading test score of 24 or higher on the "new" SAT; OR
  • ACT English score of 17 or higher; OR
  • Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score of 61 or higher and an Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 4 or higher. 

For Non-Stem Mathematics

  • Credit for an Area A Mathematics course (must meet the minimum grade requirement for the course for the institution -- which may be a "C" or higher); OR
  • Math Placement index (MPI) of 1165 or higher; OR
  • Final High school GPA of 3.2 or higher and completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in Mathematics; OR
  • SAT Mathematics of 400 or higher on the "old" SAT; OR
  • SAT Mathematics test score of 22 or higher on the "new" SAT; OR
  • ACT Mathematics score of 17 or higher; OR
  • Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 67 or higher.

For Stem Mathematics (any program requiring MATH 1111 or higher)

  • Credit for an Area A Mathematics course (must meet minimum grade requirement for the course for the institution -- which may be a "C" or higher); OR
  • Math Placement index (MPI) of 1265 or higher; OR
  • Final High school GPA of 3.4 or higher and completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in Mathematics; OR
  • SAT Mathematics of 470 or higher on the "old" SAT; OR
  • SAT Mathematics test score of 25.5 or higher on the "new" SAT; OR
  • ACT Mathematics score of 20 or higher; OR
  • Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 79 or higher.


Designated Major for Students in Learning Support

Students with Learning Support requirements will be admitted into the Associate’s of Arts Core Curriculum (AACC) degree program. Students must meet with their academic advisor to discuss degree requirements and to be placed into classes.

Upon completion of all LS requirements and any RHSC deficiencies, students with LS requirements can change to another major.

Students with documented learning disorders as defined in the USG Academic Affairs Handbook, Section 3.11.1, who are required to enroll in LS, must fulfill all stated requirements, including Learning Support placement and course requirements.

LS English

Students who place into LS English must concurrently enroll in ENGL 0999 Support for English Composition I and ENGL 1101 English Composition I. Students must pass ENGL 1101 with a grade of "C" or better to exit LS English.

Students in LS English who receive a "D" or "F" grade in ENGL 1101 must retake ENGL 1101 with ENGL 0999, regardless of the grade in ENGL 0999

LS Mathematics

Students who place into LS Mathematics must concurrently enroll in MATH 0998 Support for Mathematical Modeling and MATH 1101 Mathematical Modeling. In order to exit LS Mathematics, students must pass MATH 1101 with a “C” grade or better. Students in LS Mathematics who receive a “D” or “F” grade in MATH 1101 must retake MATH 1101 with MATH 0998, regardless of the grade in Math 0998.

LS Registering for Courses

For each semester of enrollment, a student must meet with their academic advisor to register for all required LS courses.  Students are required to register for LS courses before being allowed to register for other courses. If a student is dropped from a LS course during the add/drop period, the student may be dropped from all other courses. This policy applies to both full-time and part-time students.

Students enrolled in LS courses are not permitted to enroll for credit or to audit in courses that require the content or skills of the LS course. Academic advisors shall inform students of those courses that have LS courses as prerequisites or co-requisites.

  • Completion or exemption from LS Mathematics is a prerequisite for Natural and Physical Science courses.
  • Completion or exemption from LS Mathematics is required for placement into college level math courses.
  • Completion or exemption from LS English is a prerequisite for Social, Natural, and Physical science courses. Students in LS English are permitted to take PSYC 1101, SOCI 1101, and SOCI 1160.
  • Completion or exemption from LS English is required for placement into college level English courses.
  • Any courses with prerequisite of any other college-level course would require exit or exemption from related Learning Support requirements.

Students who have acquired 30 or more credit hours and have not exited LS can only enroll in LS courses. Readmitted students who have not satisfied LS requirements and have acquired 30 or more hours during their previous period(s) of enrollment, can only enroll in LS courses. Transferred hours or hours completed in a prior earned certificate or degree program, will not count toward the 30 credit hours in the student’s current program.

Students who are not required to take LS courses in any disciplinary area, may elect to enroll in LS courses in the non-required area for institutional credit or on an audit basis. Such students are limited to two attempts if they enroll in Foundation English (reading/writing) or Foundation math but are not subject to the requirements assigned to students with LS requirements, e.g. the 30 hour rule.