Minot State University Department of English
Interpretation of ACT English Score, SAT English Score COMPASS English
Placement Test Score and Prerequisite Course
Before enrolling in an English course at MSU, a student must meet one of the following four requirements—
qualifying ACT English score, qualifying SAT English score, qualifying COMPASS placement test score*, or
qualifying prerequisite course. Students age 25 or older at the start of the term and students transferring 24 or
more credits are exempt from these requirements.
ACT English
Score
0-13
14-17
18 or higher
SAT English COMPASS Course Details
Score
Writing
Skills Score
Less than
Less than 77 Taken through
430
Dakota College at
Bottineau
collaborative
student.**
NA
NA
Taken through
Dakota College at
Bottineau
collaborative
student.**
430 or
higher
77 or higher
Placement at MSU
ASC87 College
Writing Prep, 3
credits. No college
credit is obtained for
this course.
Enroll in English 110 at
Minot State University.
Co-enroll in ASC 88,
Composition Lab, 1
credit. No college
credit is obtained for
this course.
Enroll in English
110 at Minot State
University.
Effective Fall 2012, students with an ACT English sub-test score of 18 or higher or an equivalent assessment
approved by the chancellor are deemed college ready and may enroll in English 110 or any other non-developmental
English courses. Students with ACT English subtest scores of 14-17 may take ENGL 110 if co-enrolled in a
developmental English course. Students with an English subtest score less than 14 must complete a developmental
course, prior to taking ENGL 110. Students age 25 or older at the start of the term OR students transferring 24 or
more credits are exempted from these requirements.
* COMPASS Placement Test: Please contact the Center for Extended Learning to set up a time to take the
COMPASS Placement test (701) 858-3990.
** Collaborative Student Enrollment: Please contact the Center for Extended Learning to co-enroll (701) 8583822.
Dakota College at Bottineau Courses:
ASC 87 College Writing Prep (3CR); Prerequisites: None. A precollege writing course that prepares students for
College Composition 110. Provides instruction in writing error-free sentences, solid paragraphs and well-organized
essays.
ASC 88 Composition Lab (1CR); Prerequisites: Qualifying score on ACT, SAT, or COMPASS placement
test, or completion of ASC 87 with a C or better. This course provides supplemental and developmental
instruction for students taking ENGL 110 College Composition I and is taken during the same semester as ENGL
110.
Minot State University Courses:
ENGL 110 College Composition I; (3CR); Prerequisites: Qualifying score on ACT, SAT, or COMPASS
placement test, or completion of ASC 87 with a C or better. Guided practice in college-level reading, writing,
and critical thinking. Emphasis on writing process, and on approaches to critical reading. Does not apply toward
English major/minor.