Satisfying Freshman English Requirement
Most freshmen take English 101 and 102 to complete the First-Year Composition requirement. However, there are some exceptions:
Transfer Students
If you are a transfer student you may have been exempted from all, or part, of this requirement based upon work you completed at your previous institution.
The Admissions Office will evaluate your transfer credits for you. If you did not receive credit for English 101 and/or 102 but feel you should have, you can petition for a waiver by contacting Dr. Mary Jo Reiff, the Director of First-Year Composition, in 311 McClung Tower; (865) 974-5401.
ESL Students
If you are a students whose first or strongest language is not English, you may be assigned to English 121, 131, or 132, depending on your score on the English Placement Exam. English 121 does not meet the First-Year Composition requirement. English 131 is equivalent to 101, and English 132 is equivalent to 102.
For information about the Placement Exam and about English 121, 131, and 132, see Learning English as a Second Language.
Advanced Placement
If you are a freshman who took the AP (Advanced Placement) exam in High School, you might have received credit in one of two ways:
- A score of 4 or 5 on the AP "Literature and Composition" examination gives you credit for both English 101 and 102.
- A score of 4 or 5 on the AP "Language and Composition" examination gives you credit for English 101 only.
If you did not receive AP credit but feel you should have, contact Dr. Reiff, the Director of Composition, in 311 McClung Tower; (865) 974-5401.
High SAT or ACT Scores - The First-Year Honors Sequence
High SAT or ACT scores cannot exempt you from First-Year Composition, but they might place you in our First-Year Honors sequence if they meet the following criteria:
- equal to or above 650 verbal and 1250 composite on the SAT;
- equal to or above 28 English and 28 composite on the ACT.
Click here for more information about the First-Year Honors sequence.