Department of Basic Studies offers alternative access

The Department of Basic Studies is Columbus State University's two-year college component. Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to Columbus State University may be considered for admission to the Department of Basic Studies. The department provides access to higher education for students in CSU’s nine-county Georgia service area who do not meet the admission criteria for a four-year college in the University System of Georgia. These students fall into the following categories:

• Students who graduated from high school five or more years prior to admission (non-traditional students) and whose COMPASS test scores indicate a need for refresher courses before being mainstreamed into regular classes.
• Students who graduated from high school less than five years prior to admission (traditional students) whose SAT or ACT test scores are too low for regular or limited admission into a four-year USG college.
• Traditional students who failed to complete college preparatory curriculum courses while in high school.
• Traditional students whose freshman indices are too low.

Admission Requirements

Learning Support Requirements

Progression and Exit Requirements

ENGL 0099. Developmental Writing 2 (4-0-4) Essay development in a variety of rhetorical patterns. Mechanics covered on individual basis. Non-degree credit.

MATH 0097. Developmental Math 1 (4-0-(4) Review of basic mathematics and introductory algebra with emphasis on applications, including linear functions and related topics. Non-degree credit.

MATH 0098. Developmental Math 2 (4-0-(4) Prerequisite: MATH 0097 or required COMPASS score. Review of essential topics of basic algebra with emphasis on applications, including linear and quadratic functions and related topics. Non-degree credit.

MATH 0195. Preparatory Algebra (4-0-(4) Prerequisite: Math Placement Test. A preparatory mathematics course for regularly admitted students (not assigned to Basic Studies) whose math placement test score makes them ineligible to take MATH 1101 or MATH 1111 until they have received remediation. Topics include operations with real numbers, equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, and systems of equations. Non-degree credit (Course fee required.)

READ 0099. Developmental Reading 2 (4-0-(4) Application of reading skills to the sciences, humanities, and current events. Non-degree credit.