Orientation and Placement
Placement
Traditional standardized Math, English, and English as a Second Language (ESOL) assessments are no longer required in order to be placed into appropriate courses. If you have graduated high school within the past 10 years, have taken math/English/ESOL courses at a college, or have a copy of your high school or college transcript, please go to the Counseling Department to get placed in your Math/English/ESOL courses.
Self-placement
The Math, English, and ESOL departments welcome you to Berkeley City College!
We’re here to help you choose the courses in English, Math, and ESOL that are best for you. Taking these courses in your first semester will help you to succeed in college. Choose the link below to get started.
About English Self-Placement
English 1A is a course that gives you foundational college-level skills in writing, reading, and research -- skills which you will use throughout your college career and beyond. It’s required for transfer to U.C. and C.S.U. colleges and most private colleges, and it’s required in many A.A. and A.S. programs at BCC. We recommend that you take this course as early as you can because you will use these skills in many of your other college courses and because it’s a prerequisite to at least one other class that you will need to transfer or get your associate’s degree.
At Berkeley City College, we offer two ways that you can take English 1A. You can sign up for English 1A or for “English 1A PLUS.” If you enroll in English 1A PLUS, you will also sign up for English 508A, 508B, and 508C. There are no fees for these lab classes. They are designed to help you do well in your English 1A class by giving you the time and space to start assignments, check your learning, ask questions, and practice what you learn in English 1A lecture. You will receive guidance from your English 1A teacher and well-trained, supportive writing coaches in these lab classes.
About Math Self-Placement
Any student who plans to transfer to a 4-year college may immediately enroll in a college-level math course during their first semester at a community college.
Every student seeking to transfer is also highly encouraged to begin their college program with a college-level math course.
However, based on your high school GPA and the math courses you took in high school you may also be required to take (at the same time) a support course.
The support course will increase your chance of doing well in math.
This guided self-placement worksheet will assist you in determining which math course is appropriate for you based on your goals and background and whether or not you also need to take a support course.
About ESOL Self-placement
For placement into ESOL courses, please complete the ESOL Guided Self-Placement (GSP) process in Campus Solutions. After you complete the ESOL GSP process, you can select and directly enroll in an ESOL course.
Orientation
This optional orientation provides additional information regarding the college’s programs, services, and resources. Students also receive information regarding special programs and majors, degrees, certificates, transfer requirements, support services, and other useful information.
Orientation and Placement FAQs
How does placement work, and how can I prepare?
- For Math and English, please bring your high school transcript and go to the Orientation and Placement office, Room 121 for placement assistance.
- For ESOL Students, please schedule an appointment for Multiple Measure Placement (Click Here ).
- Special Admit students (students who are attending Middle school or High school) need to also have a Concurrent Enrollment Form completed by the middle or high school counselor and principal, along with the intended classes you need to take, signed by middle/high school counselor, the parent’s signature, and a copy of your middle/high school transcript(s).
- Students with disabilities: If you need special accommodations for the Orientation &/or Placement, please contact the Staff at Programs and Services for Students with Disabilities (PSSD) at (510) 981-2812 to make arrangements.
Who is Orientation for?
The online orientation is available to all students. Students are recommended for orientation because when you submit your admissions application you have noted an educational goal that identifies you as matriculating students. Matriculating student’s educational goals are one of the following: to obtain a bachelor’s degree (with or without an associate degree); to earn an associate degree, vocational degree, or vocational certificate or they are “undecided” on an educational goal. In the orientation, you learn to navigate in the college, calculate GPA, identify programs, services, and policies that support your success, learn study skills and time management skills.
What comes after the orientation and placement?
During the orientation session, we will review the next steps in the enrollment process, and students will receive program-planning materials. Your transcript(s) will be reviewed by a college academic counselor to confirm which of the recommended courses are best for you. The multiple measures placement, along with other information you provide, will be used to evaluate these recommendations. All students should read the descriptions of their recommended classes, and be prepared to discuss the courses you would like to take in the upcoming semester when meeting with a counselor.
Do I have to take the classes that are recommended?
Not always. At times a student and counselor will agree that another course is more useful or appropriate for the student. In some cases students may want to challenge a pre-requisite course (the required successful completion of a course before enrolling in another course); you may ask a counselor about the process to challenge a pre-requisite class. However, we highly recommend that you take math and English in your first semester. Tutoring and other support services are available.
Who is exempted from taking the orientation, and English and math in the first semester?
All incoming and returning students are required to take the online orientation. Some students are exempt from orientation because they already earned a degree from an accredited institution, have successfully completed recent transfer-level English and/or Math courses at another college, have an educational goal that does not require transfer level Math and English, or have Advance Placement (AP) scores from high school with a 3 or higher. In order to be approved for exemptions, bring your documents with you and see a counselor. Please see a full description of this information in the class schedule, college catalog, or ask counseling or placement staff for more details.
What is the schedule for Chemistry Placement?
To sign up for a Chemistry Placement Exam or if you have any questions regarding Chemistry related matters, please contact Sam Gillette: sgillette@peralta.edu.