ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
KHAN ACADEMY AND SCHOOLHOUSE CERTIFICATION
Demonstrating "Calculus-Ready" status via Khan Academy with Schoolhouse.world certification (Free)
Admitted students who are not calculus ready based on their application materials but are admitted to OSU will be invited to enroll initially as an undeclared student in the University Exploratory Studies Program or another non-Engineering major of their choice, but will still have available pathways to study Engineering at OSU and OSU-Cascades.
One of the ways to show a student in this situation may show they are ready to take Calculus when they enroll at OSU and therefore may be directly admitted into their Engineering major of choice is to take Khan Academy’s free online coursework in Pre-Calculus, then score a 90% or higher on the free Schoolhouse.world Pre-Calculus certification test. This must be done prior to registering for courses at OSU or OSU-Cascades.
Students wishing to demonstrate they are ready for Calculus in this way should follow these steps:
Step 1
Take the free Precalculus course offered by Khan Academy to learn the content and take practice quizzes. You will need to show mastery of the topics in all 10 units.
Important Details:
- The Course Challenge option in Khan Academy's Precalculus course is NOT the same as the Schoolhouse.world Course Challenge for certification! While Khan Academy Course Challenge is a good way to practice and get an indication of your level of mastery, only the Schoolhouse.world's Course Challenge certification is accepted by OSU.
- If you feel confident that you will achieve 90% or higher on the Schoolhouse.world precalculus Course Challenge without taking the Khan Academy precalculus course, you may jump straight to the Schoolhouse.world Course Challenge to earn your certificate.
Step 2
Sign up for a free Schoolhouse.world account.
Step 3
Access free precalculus tutoring from Schoolhouse.world if needed to help you learn the content in the Khan Academy Precalculus course.
Step 4
Access the Schoolhouse.world Precalculus Course Challenge.
Step 5
Click the Course Challenge "Get Certified (+50 SP)" button to get started. You only need to complete this topic under Pre-Calculus and not other topics.
Note: As part of the certification process, you will need to reason out loud as you complete the test to verbally explain how you derive your solutions. To record your verbal reasoning and for proctoring purposes, Schoolhouse.world will require access to your webcam during the Course Challenge.
Step 6
Achieve 90% or higher on the course challenge and submit your certification for review. Schoolhouse.world will review your verbal explanations. Repeated attempts to achieve 90% will not be recorded or penalized.
Step 7
Once your video explaining your reasoning for solving the problems in the course challenge has been approved and you have achieved 90% or higher, you'll get an email with a publicly shareable link to your Schoolhouse certification transcript.
Step 8
Complete the Calculus Ready Status Update in your Beaver Basecamp portal and upload your Schoolhouse certification transcript. The Calculus Ready Status Update is in your To-Do List as an optional checklist item.
Once we have received your certification showing you have achieved 90% or better, we will send you an email letting you know how you can change your major to your desired Engineering major.
How does OSU initially determine if I am “Calculus-Ready” for Admissions?
Using transcripts and information provided in your admissions application, we look to see if you have taken or is planning to take a Pre-Calculus or Calculus course prior to graduation. If you've already taken the course, you need to have a C- or better each semester/term. You are also determined "Calculus-Ready" if you have taken or are taking a college coursework if the course or courses are the equivalent of OSU’s MTH 111/111Z and MTH 112/112Z (Pre-Calculus courses at OSU).
Should I wait until I have completed my Pre-Calculus course to apply?
No. On your application you are able to report that Pre-Calculus is in progress. If you haven't taken Pre-Calculus or Calculus and are not currently taking either course, you can be admitted to OSU as an undeclared student initially and get yourself calculus-ready - either before you enroll or after you enroll, at which point you may change your major to Engineering.
What do I do if OSU said I wasn’t ready to take Calculus but I believe I am?
When you are admitted, you'll have a form that you can fill out in your Beaver Basecamp admissions portal to provide information about your readiness for Calculus. That will trigger a re-review of your status.
What are the different ways I can get calculus-ready prior to enrolling at OSU?
- Complete high school coursework equivalent to Pre-Calculus or higher
- Take college coursework equivalent to OSU’s MTH 112 with a C- or better
- Provide CLEP, AP or IB scores that demonstrate pre-calculus proficiency (where OSU awards credit for MTH 112 or higher based on student score)
- Take Khan Academy’s free, online coursework and score a 90% or higher on the free Schoolhouse.world Pre-Calculus certification test.
What if I've prepared myself to take Calculus in a way not outlined by OSU in this policy?
When you are admitted, you'll have a form that you can fill out in your Beaver Basecamp admissions portal to provide information about how you've become ready for Calculus. One of the options there will be to outline any alternative ways you've become Calculus ready and a way to upload any supporting information/documentation. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
How can I get calculus-ready once I enroll and change my major to Engineering?
If you enroll at OSU and are not ready to take Calculus right away, you can meet requirements to declare an Engineering degree by successfully completing MTH 111 and MTH 112 with a C or better at OSU and maintain a 2.50 OSU GPA or higher. Once MTH 112 is completed, you may work with your advisor to change your major to Engineering.
You may also choose to enroll at an Oregon community college through the Degree Partnership Program and take MTH 112 in preparation for enrollment at OSU when you are ready here.
What if I was unable to take a Pre-Calculus or Calculus course in high school?
We understand that some students don't have access to Pre-Calculus or Calculus coursework. Our goal is to help you get caught up in math as quickly as possible using OSU resources so that you will succeed and earn a highly desired Engineering degree here.
What if I fail to get a C- in an Pre-Calculus course that I am currently taking?
We assume that you will get a C- or better in the Pre-Calculus or Calculus course that you report as in-progress on your application. If you end up with a lower grade you could be asked to begin as an undeclared student (or another non-engineering major of your choice) until you have met the requirements outlined above to declare a major in Engineering.
I know I’ll have to take a Math Placement Exam prior to getting advised and signing up for courses. How does the score on that exam factor in to my admission status in Engineering?
As outlined above, we determine your calculus-ready status at the time we review your application for admission. If you are deemed calculus ready, later take our ALEKS Math Placement exam (just prior to new student orientation) and don't place into Calculus, your admission into Engineering will not be affected. However you will still need to take the necessary math courses based on your placement, which may delay your ability to take Calculus right away and thus impact when you are able to take other Engineering courses in your major. Bottom line: get Calculus ready and stay Calculus ready so that you can start off on the right foot when you enroll!
What if I want to change from another major into an Engineering major?
If you have been admitted in a non-Engineering major and wish to change to Engineering, you will only be able to do so if you are Calculus-ready. The change of major form in Beaver Basecamp will only display Engineering majors if you have been determined Calculus-ready. If you believe you are calculus-ready and trying to change into Engineering but cannot do so, please contact the Office of Admissions.
Who can I talk to about this requirement and my situation?
You should begin by reaching out to your assigned Admissions Advisor. You can find this person's contact info in your Beaver Basecamp under the Resources tab.