Which Course Do I Take?

Learn how to determine which English and math course(s) you will take when you start at Central Piedmont.

Depending on your experience, you might start by taking either:

  • college-level course(s)
  • college-level course(s), plus a supplemental (co-requisite) course at the same time
  • transition course(s) that will help you prepare to take college-level courses

Once you have determined which level course you can start with, contact an advisor for more details and finish enrolling.

If English is not your first language, explore how you can learn English at Central Piedmont.

Determine Your Placement

You only need to meet one criteria (GPA, test, etc.) for a course level to place into that level (college-level, transition, etc.). If you meet multiple criteria, use the criteria which places you in the higher level.

  • Degree(s) You Have Earned

    If you have earned an associate degree or higher, you can take college-level English and math.

  • Your High School GPA

    Unweighted (4.0 scale) High School GPA Course(s) You Will Start With
    At least 2.6 College-level English and math
    At least 2.2 College-level English and math + co-requisite
    Under 2.2 Transition
  • Courses You Have Completed (At Central Piedmont or Elsewhere)

    Course(s) Completed Minimum Grade Course(s) You Will Start With
    College-level English C- College-level
    College-level math
    ENG 002 at Central Piedmont (or an equivalent course with a passing grade) P2
    MAT 003 at Central Piedmont (or equivalent course with a passing grade) P3
    Career and College Ready Graduate High School Development English A
    Career and College Ready Graduate High School Development math
    Developmental Reading and English (DRE) 098 (or have North Carolina credit for) Passing grade
    Required Developmental Math (DMA) modules (or equivalents)
    ENG 002 at Central Piedmont (or an equivalent course with a passing grade) P1 College-level + co-requisite
    MAT 003 at Central Piedmont (or an equivalent course with a passing grade) P2
    Career and College Ready Graduate High School Development English B
    Career and College Ready Graduate High School Development Math
    Developmental Reading and English (DRE) 097 (or equivalent) Passing grade
    Developmental Math (DMA) 010-030 (or equivalent)
    Developmental Math (DMA) 010-050 (or equivalent)
    None of these Transition

    If you completed ENG 002 or MAT 003, contact an academic advisor to confirm which course you place into.

    To learn more about any Central Piedmont course, visit the college catalog.

  • Tests You Have Taken

    Test Minimum Score Course(s) You Will Start With
    ACT® English 18 College-level
    ACT® Reading 22
    ACT® Math 22
    SAT® Reading/Writing 480
    SAT® Math 530
    SAT® English or Reading (taken before March 2016) 500
    SAT® Math (taken before March 2016) 500
    GED® (taken since 2014) 165
    HiSET® 15; 4 on essay
    Placement Test English Tiers 1 and 2 70
    Placement Test Math Tiers 1–3
    ACT® English 16 or 17 College-level + co-requisite
    ACT® Reading 20 or 21
    ACT® Math 20 or 21
    GED® (taken since 2014) 145–164
    Placement Test English Tier 1 70
    Placement Test Math Tiers 1 or 2
    None of these Transition

    Learn more about the placement test

Course Information

To learn more about any Central Piedmont course, visit the college catalog at catalog.cpcc.edu.

  • College-Level Courses

    College-level courses include ENG 111 for English and MAT 110, MAT 121, MAT 143, MAT 152, and MAT 171 for math.

    To determine which specific course you will take, contact an academic advisor or email placementadvising@cpcc.eduOrientation is a required part of the enrollment process for all degree-seeking and transfer students. Students who go through orientation will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor.

  • Co-Requisite Courses

    A co-requisite course is a course that you take at the same time as your college-level course in order to reinforce the material in and support you throughout the college-level course. When you register for your classes for the term, you must register for both the college-level course and its corresponding co-requisite course.

    Co-requisite courses include ENG 011, for English and MAT 010, MAT 021, MAT 043, MAT 052, and MAT 071 for math.

    To determine which specific course you will take, contact an academic advisor or email placementadvising@cpcc.eduOrientation is a required part of the enrollment process for all degree-seeking and transfer students. Students who go through orientation will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor.

  • Transition Courses

    If you do not meet the requirements to start with a college-level course or to start with taking a college-level course with a co-requisite course, you can start with taking a transition course. A transition course is a 16-week (semester-long) course that will help you strengthen your foundational skills before you move on to take the college-level course. There are no pre-requisites (requirements) to register for the transition courses — you can enroll in the transition course(s) right away.

    The transition courses are ENG 002 and MAT 003.

    For more information on your course placement, contact an academic advisor or email placementadvising@cpcc.eduOrientation is a required part of the enrollment process for all degree-seeking and transfer students. Students who go through orientation will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor.