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Liberal Arts

Meeting Liberal Arts Requirements

Liberal Arts Program Requirements can be met in the following ways:

  • Take the Academy course and earn a passing grade
  • Transfer in a comparable course from a previous post secondary institution
  • Waiver through passing score on Academy Placement Exam
  • Waiver through passing score on AP, IB or SAT exam

Transfer of Coursework from a Previous Institution:

Students transferring courses from a previous college or university will be placed out of the corresponding Academy degree requirement and receive the appropriate unit credit for each course transferred. Official transcripts should be sent as early as possible to allow for ample processing time. Transcripts received after a student’s first semester or unofficial transcripts will not be reviewed for transfer credit.

Placement Exam and Waiver Options

NOTE: Students who place out of a required course via the Academy of Art University Placement Exam, AP, IB, or SAT will have that requirement waived but must make up the units with a Liberal Arts elective.

Undergraduate Liberal Arts Placement
Academy of Art University recognizes the scores listed below for Liberal Arts course placement.

Written Communication

Academy of Art University Written Communications Placement Exam
SCORE PLACEMENT
1 or 2 Place into LA 108
3 or 4 Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202
5 or 6 Place out of both LA 108 and LA 202 and into LA 110
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in English Composition or English Literature
SCORE PLACEMENT
3 or higher Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202

NOTE: Students who score 3 or higher on both the English Composition exam and the English Literature exam should contact the Liberal Arts Department for options to place out of both LA 108 and LA 202.
International Baccalaureates Exam (IB) Exam in English Composition
SCORE PLACEMENT
5 or higher Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
SAT II (Writing Subject Test)
SCORE PLACEMENT
660 or higher Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202
SAT I (Written) exam before April 1995
SCORE PLACEMENT
510 or higher Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202
SAT I (Written) after April 1995
SCORE PLACEMENT
590 or higher Place out of LA 108 and into LA 202

Quantitative Literacy

Academy of Art University Quantitative Literacy Placement Exam
SCORE PLACEMENT
100 - 199
  • Non-ARH & Non-LAN students: place into the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
  • ARH & LAN students: place into the Math for Environmental Design Requirement (LA255 College Math)
200 - 299
  • Non-ARH & Non-LAN students: place out of the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
  • ARH & LAN students: place out of the Math for Environmental Design Requirement (LA255 College Math) and into the Applied Math Requirement (LA271 College Algebra with Geometry)
300 - 399
  • Non-ARH & Non-LAN students: place out of the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
  • ARH students: place out of both the Math for Environmental Design Requirement (LA255 College Math) and the Applied Math Requirement (LA271 College Algebra with Geometry) and into the Advanced Math Requirement (LA293 Precalculus)
  • LAN students: place out of both the Math for Environmental Design Requirement (LA255 College Math) and the Applied Math Requirement (LA271 College Algebra with Geometry)
400 - 499
  • Non-ARH & Non-LAN students: place out of the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
  • ARH & LAN students: place out of all math requirements. (LA255, LA271, LA293)
Notes
  • Students with a score of 200 or more have satisfied the prerequisite for LA271 College Algebra with Geometry
  • Students with a score of 300 or more have satisfied the prerequisite for LA293 Precalculus
American College Test (ACT)
Completion of ACT Level I or II
SCORE PLACEMENT
Pass Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
Pass ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271
ACT Exam
SCORE PLACEMENT
28 or higher Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
28 or higher ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271
Advanced Placement Exam (AP)
AP Exam in Calculus AB or BC or Statistics or Computer Science AB
NOTE: Other exam subject areas may be considered. Contact the LA Department for applicable tests]
SCORE PLACEMENT
3 or higher Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
3 or higher ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271
International Baccalaureates Exam (IB)
(IB) Exam in Mathematics
SCORE PLACEMENT
5 or higher Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
5 or higher ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
SAT II Mathematics Subject Examination (Mathematics Achievement Test)
SCORE PLACEMENT
500 or higher Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
500 or higher ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271
SAT I (Mathematics)
SCORE PLACEMENT
600 or higher Place out the Quantitative Literacy Requirement
600 or higher ARH & LAN students place out of LA 255 and into LA 271

Art History, Historical Awareness and Cultural Ideas and Influences

Advanced Placement Exam (AP)
SCORE PLACEMENT
3 or higher Place out of the equivalent course
International Baccalaureates Exam (IB)
SCORE PLACEMENT
5 or higher Place out of the equivalent course

Employment Communications and Practices

Students with professional experience in their field wishing to be considered for waiver from LA291 should submit the following documents with a waiver request to the Liberal Arts Office:

Students with less than 5 years of industry experience may submit:

  • Professional resume
  • Cover or Query letter addressed to a specific party
  • Unsolicited business proposal with the following components:
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Background
    • Procedures
    • Qualification
    • Request for Approval

Students with 5 years or more of industry experience may submit:

  • Professional resume (clearly indicating 5 years or more of industry experience)
  • Cover or Query letter addressed to a specific party
  • Project proposal* with the following components:
    • Background/Problem Description
    • Proposed Solution
    • Approach
    • Deliverables
    • Outcome

*May be for a project completed as part of industry experience. If citing a past project, include your role in the project.

How to Schedule an Academy of Art University Placement Exam:

Exams are offered once a week on the AAU Campus. Call the Liberal Arts Department 415.618.3664 to schedule an appointment. Exams are by appointment (No drop-ins).

Online Students: call or e-mail liberalarts@academyart.edu for information on how to take the exam in your area.

Upcoming English and Quantitative Placement exams on the AAU campus:

Placement Exam Dates During June Intersession 2013

  • May 29, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • June 5, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • June 12, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)

Placement Exam Dates During Summer 2013

  • June 21, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • June 26 , 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • July 5, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • July 10, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • July 19, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • July 24, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • August 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • August 7, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)

Exams are by appointment (No drop-ins).

Please contact the Liberal Arts Department (415) 618-3664 or email liberalarts@academyart.edu to reserve a seat.
Academy of Art University - Liberal Arts
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