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Placement

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Placement at MiraCosta College

The MiraCosta placement process provides you with the information you need to get started in the math and English courses that best support your academic journey. 

Thanks to California legislation AB 705, California community college students are able to enroll in transfer-level courses in math and English (with or without integrated support) right away without any placement tests, saving you time and money. AB 1705 goes a step further by ensuring students, including those in STEM majors, get the chance to enroll in the transfer-level classes they need, like calculus, to stay on track for their academic goals. Both laws are designed to simplify the path to graduation and transfer! Visit our webpage on AB 705 and AB 1705 for more information.

Placement Information

We want to help you choose the right math and English/ESL courses for your major and educational goals, such as getting a certificate, your Associate's degree, or transferring to a university. Depending on your major, your placement will give you access to different types of math courses that align with your path.

There are a variety of ways to complete the placement process at MiraCosta. Read on to learn more about the different options and see some frequently asked questions.

Ways to Complete Placement

MiraCosta Application

Many students will automatically receive placement when they complete their CCCApply application for MiraCosta College. In addition to providing your intended major, the application may ask for the following multiple measures:

  • High School GPA
  • High School Math & English Coursework and Grades

Make sure you have your high school transcript information accessible while applying to help with this step. If you provide this information on your application, you will receive an email within a few days with information on how to view your math and English placement in your SURF Student Center.

  • High school GPA
  • Highest high school math/English course completed
  • High school math/English coursework and grades

If you didn’t provide this information on the application, you will receive an email with the next steps or read below for other options.
Placement through Testing Services

If you did not provide your high school GPA and coursework information on the application, or you need to update your information, you can either

  • Submit a copy of your official or unofficial high school transcript to Testing Services:
  • Drop off in person at any of our three campus locations:
Complete the Multiple Measures Self-Report Update Form
Self-Placement Guidance & Tools
MiraCosta College offers guided self-placement tools for Math, English, and ESL for students who do not have access to their high school transcript information or who attended high school outside of the United States. These tools can be assigned to your SURF Student Center. Please email us at testing@miracosta.edu for more information on this process. 
Other Alternatives to Placement

In addition to placement via multiple measures, students can use additional documentation to place into Math and English courses. 

If you have any of the following, please visit our webpage on Alternative Placement Options for information on how to submit your documentation:

  • Transcripts from another regionally accredited college showing “C” or better in a prerequisite English or Math course
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • English or Math assessment results from another California community college

English Alternative Placement Options

  • Advanced Placement (AP) English (language or literature) with a score of 3 or higher
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level English Examination with a score of 5 or higher
  • California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP) qualifying result
  • CSU system English Placement Test with score of 151 or higher

Math Alternative Placement Options

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus test with a core of 3 or higher
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Mathematics score of 50 or higher
  • CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) qualifying result
  • CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) exam score of 50 or higher

Visit our Alternative Placement Options webpage for more information and directions for submission.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What placements does MiraCosta offer?
For Math, English and ESL placement, we offer Guided Self-Placement Tools. Many students will be eligible for placement using Multiple Measures (high school GPA and coursework) submitted through the MiraCosta application. Students may also submit their High School Transcripts or complete a Multiple Measures Self-Report Form and submit this to testing@miracosta.edu
Can I complete the placement process remotely?
Yes! All placement services, including our guided self-placement tools and multiple measure placements are available to students remotely.  Please email testing@miracosta.edu or call 760-795-6685 for more information. To submit multiple measures information for placement, please email your high school transcript (official or unofficial) to testing@miracosta.edu or complete the Multiple Measures Update Form.We look forward to assisting you!
What if I am a student with a disability needing an accommodation for testing?
If you have a disability needing an accommodation, you may wish to contact the Student Accessibility Services Office (Rm 3006 at the Oceanside campus, x6658).
Are there any alternative placement options (i.e. AP, IB, prior credit)?
Yes! Please visit our Alternative Placement Options page for more information on using AP/IB scores, prior course credit, and other options for placement.
I already hold a college degree. Can I enroll in a course without completing the placement process?
Placement is not required for enrollment unless the course has a prerequisite that needs to be met via the placement process or prior coursework. For more information on submitting transcripts from other institutions, visit our Admissions and Records website.
What is AB 705 and what does it mean for me?

We are excited to share that California State Law AB 705 gives more students the opportunity to enroll directly in transfer-level (or transfer-level with support) math and English courses via the placement process. Visit our page on AB 705 for more information.

We are excited to share that California State Law AB 705 gives more students the opportunity to enroll directly in transfer-level (or transfer-level with support) math and English courses via the placement process. Visit our page on AB 705 for more information.