Freshman Admission Requirements

Course Requirements for Regular Admission
Students who are considering Southern Polytechnic State University should plan their high school schedule to include the following courses:
 

Course (Units) Instructional Emphasis
English (4) Grammar and usage 
Literature (American and World) 
Advanced composition skills
Mathematics (3) Two courses in Algebra and one in Geometry
Science (3) Physical Science 
At least two laboratory courses from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or related areas of science
Social Science (3) Three courses in social science
Foreign Language (2) Two courses in one language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing
 
Students who do not complete the above College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) in the area(s) of science, social science, or foreign language will be required to make up the deficiencies upon enrolling at Southern Polytechnic State University. All course work required as a result of a deficiency must be completed prior to the accumulation of 20 hours. Courses taken for these purposes will not apply toward a degree. Students who have CPC deficiencies in English and/or math will not be accepted. Freshmen applicants who have been out of high school for five years or longer will not be subject to CPC requirements, but they must meet other admission requirements. All freshmen applicants must be high school graduates or possess the equivalent (GED). The number of CPC deficiencies allowed for admission is two in summer 1998, one in summer 1999, and none in summer 2000.

 
Test Requirements
All freshman applicants for admission to Southern Polytechnic State University are required to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board or the ACT from the American College Testing Program. Minimum scores for admission currently are 430 verbal and 400 math on the SAT and 18 English and 16 math on the ACT. Scores must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline date for the semester they plan to enroll. In summer 1999, these minimum scores for admission will increase to 430 verbal and 450 math on the SAT and 18 English and 19 math on the ACT.

Application blanks for the SAT may be obtained from high school counselors or by writing the College Entrance Examination Board, P.O. Box 592, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Application blanks for the ACT may be obtained from high school counselors or by writing the American College Testing Program, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52244. The CEEB code assigned to Southern Polytechnic State University is 005626.

 
High School Grade Point Average
To be considered for admission as a freshman, an applicant must have a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.

 
Admission Procedure

Freshman
Applicants for freshman admission to Southern Polytechnic State University must submit the following to the Admissions Office: 

(a) an application for admission,
(b) an official high school transcript, if not a high school graduate, an official high school transcript and an official copy of scores on the GED (General Educational Development) test,
(c) official SAT or ACT scores, and
(d) the certificate of immunization. All application credentials must be on file in the Admissions Office by the application deadline date for the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll.

A freshman applicant may apply as early as the end of his or her junior year in high school. After the receipt of the application, and official high school transcript through the junior year with senior subjects indicated, official SAT/ACT scores, and the certificate of immunization, the Admissions Office will notify the applicant of his or her admission status.

Students considering Southern Polytechnic State University are advised to take the SAT or ACT as early as possible, preferably during the junior year in high school.
 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students may receive college credit for certain courses based on scores on the College Level Examination Program offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. The criteria for credit awarded under this program are as follows:
 

CLEP Exam
Minimum Score Required
SPSU Course for which credit is given
 Credit Hours
American Government
50
 POLS 1101*
3
American History
50
 HIST 2111 or 2112*
3
College Algebra
50
 MATH 1111
3
English Composition    
 
(Essay Edition)      
General Exam
500
 ENGL 1101
3
English Literature
50
 ENGL 2120
3
General Psychology
50
 PSYC 1101
3
Introductory Calculus
50
 MATH 2253
4
Introductory Micro/      
Macro Economics
50
 ECON 1101
3
Trigonometry
50
 MATH 1113
4
Western Civilization
50
 HIST 2201 or 2202 or 2203
3
 
*In order to receive credit for HIST 2111 or 2112, or POLS 1101 and satisfy the constitution requirement for graduation, the student must also complete HIST 2911 with a grade of "C" or better.
 
Advanced Placement Program
Students may receive college credit for certain courses based on scores of the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam as follows:
 
AP Exam
Minimum Score Required
 SPSU Course for which credit is given
Credit 
Hours
American Government
3
 POLS 1101*
3
AB Calculus Test
3
 MATH 1111, 1113, and 2253 or 2240
10 or11
BC Calculus Test
3
 MATH 1111, 1113, 2253 or 2240, 2254
14 or15
Computer Science A
3
 CS 1301
4
Computer Science AB
3
 CS 1301,1302
8
English-Language/      
Composition
3
 ENGL 1101
3
English-Language/      
Composition
5
 ENGL 1101, 1102
6
English-Literature/      
Composition
3
 ENGL 1101
3
English-Literature/      
Composition
5
 ENGL 1101, 1102
6
United States History
3
 HIST 2111*
3
United States History
5
 HIST 2111, 2112*
6
 
* In order to receive credit for HIST 2111 or 2112, or POLS 1101 and satisfy the constitution requirement for graduation, the student must also complete HIST 2911 with a grade of "C" or better.
 
Official results must be sent directly from the Admissions Testing Board of the College Board to SPSU for credit to be awarded.
 
International Baccalaureate Program
Students may receive college credit for certain courses based on scores of the International Baccalaureate Exam as follows:
 
Subject Taken at the Higher Level
Minimum Score Required
 SPSU Course for which credit is given
Credit Hours
American History
4
 HIST 2111, 2112
6
Biology
4
 BIOL 2107 or 2108
4
Biology
5
 BIOL 2107, 2108
8
Chemistry
5
 CHEM 2211, 2212
8
English
4
 ENGL 1101
3
Foreign Language
5
 Free Elective
3
Mathematics
4
 MATH 1111, 1113, and 2253 or 2240
10 or 11
Mathematics
5
 MATH 1111, 1113, 2253 or 2240, 2254, and four additional credit hours based on exam content
18 or 19
Physics
5
 PHYS 1111, 1112 or 
8
    PHYS 2211, 2212  
 
Early Admission and Joint Enrollment
The early admission program allows highly qualified students to begin their freshman year of college without having graduated from high school. It is expected that all students who enroll under early admission will sit for the GED exam when eligible or will arrange to successfully complete high school graduation requirements.

The joint enrollment program is for superior high school juniors or seniors who may earn high school and college credit concurrently. With prior high school approval, students may fulfill high school graduation requirements by enrolling in freshman college courses at Southern Polytechnic State University.

Postsecondary Options (PSO) is a joint enrollment program designed for juniors and seniors in Georgia public high schools. Under PSO regulations, students simultaneously receive high school Carnegie unit credit(s) and college credit hours. Under the PSO program, tuition for classes taken by the student at Southern Polytechnic State University is paid for with funds generated by the Quality Basic Education funding formula. Interested students should contact their high school counselor.

To be considered for early admission or joint enrollment, the admission requirements are 1) minimum scores of 500 on the SAT verbal and 500 on the SAT math or minimum scores of 22 on ACT English and 22 on ACT math, 2) a minimum high school GPA of 3.0, 3) written recommendation of the high school counselor or principal, 4) written consent of the parent or guardian (if student is a minor), 5) being on track for completion of CPC requirements by the end of the senior year in high school, and 6) submission of the certificate of immunization, an official high school transcript, and official SAT or ACT scores with the application for admission.