All students at NAU are required to meet their composition requirement by taking English 105, Critical Reading and Writing in the University Community, before they graduate. English 105 is a four hour college credit course that students should take either of their first two semesters at NAU. Transfer students who have completed English 101 and English 102, or their equivalent, with a grade of "C" or better, at another institution, have met this requirement and will not be required to take English 105.
English 105 provides students with a coherent, cohesive course that directly addresses their need to learn, read and write in response to academic texts. Advisers can direct students according to preference and schedules, and students are placed into English 105, or prerequisites, according to the following standardized test scores:
| ACT at or below 14 SAT at or below 280 |
take Eng 060X* and then Eng 100X* |
| ACT at 15 or 16 SAT at 290 to 330 |
take Eng 100X* |
| ACT at or above 17 SAT at or above 340 |
take English 105 |
| ACT at or above 23 SAT at or above 530 |
take English 105 may take the Composition Challenge Exam |
* To progress, you must receive a C or better in these courses. Please note that 060X and 100X are taught by Coconino Community College at NAU Flagstaff’s campus. Register for these courses through NAU.
Students without ACT/SAT scores are required to take a placement exam through the Counseling and Testing Center. Students are placed according to the following standardized scores.
| ENG 205 | WritePlacer Plus Electronic Scoring | greater than 9.0 |
| ENG 105 | WritePlacer Plus Electronic Scoring WritePlacer Plus Electronic Scoring |
less than 10.0
greater than 6.0 |
| ENG 100X | WritePlacer Plus Electronic Scoring Reading Comprehension Sentence Skills |
less than 7.0
greater than 73.7 greater than 64.9 |
| ENG 090X | WritePlacer Plus Electronic Scoring
Reading Comprehension Sentence Skills |
less than 7.0 less than 73.8 less than 65.0 |
Composition Challenge Exam
The challenge exam is a written test of student ability to critically read
and write academic prose. Students qualify for the exam either by their
standardized test scores (above) or by transfering to NAU with English
101, or its equivalent, and with a grade of B or higher. Students who do
not have ACT or SAT scores need to contact the Counseling and Testing Center.
Passing this exam grants students two credit hours and entrance to English 205 for a total of four credit hours of composition required for graduation.
Advanced Placement
An English Advanced Placement Test score of:
| 3 | grants no additional credit; students take English 105 |
| 4 | grants 2 credit hours, and students take English 205 |
| 5 | grants 4 credit hours, and students complete the Composition Requirement |
Transfer Students
Students who transfer to NAU who have completed English 101 and 102, or their
equivalent, have satisfied the composition requirement. These courses must
be listed as equivalent within the Arizona state system.
Transfer students who qualify may take the Composition Challenge exam (above).
NAU students who complete English 105 and then transfer to UA or ASU will be required to take English 102 to complete the composition requirement. NAU students who complete 105 and 205 satisfy the requirements of UA and ASU.
For more information about placement in composition courses, the challenge exam, or transfer credit, contact:
NAU University Writing Program
PO Box 6032
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
(928) 523-6842
FAX (928) 523-7074