Placement Testing and Transfer Credit
Below you will find Frequently Asked Questions regarding placement testing and transfer credits in ASL at Ohio State.
For further questions regarding transfer credit, contact the transfer credit coordinator, Tia Jones, at 614 292-5392.
Placement Testing
What is a placement test?
A placement test is a tool that evaluates a student's ASL communication skills and knowledge of ASL linguistics. The placement test is only necessary if you have ASL experience that has not earned you credit on your transcript and you wish to have your skills evaluated for appropriate placement into our course series.
Who should take the placement test?
- Students who have taken two or more years of American Sign Language in high school and did not earn college credit, within the last 5 years. If you have received transfer credit (including CCP credit) for ASL from another higher education institution, you do not need to take the placement test. Please check the transfer credit FAQ for more information.
- Students who have ASL experience not identified on their transcript for ASL credit and who feel their skills may be appropriate for ASL 1102 or higher, have been admitted to the university unconditionally, and hope to begin the series higher than level 1101.
Note: No EM placement is awarded to native signers
When must the placement test be taken?
If you meet the criteria above, then you must take the placement test prior to enrolling in the ASL course series. Your test scores determine the most appropriate level of placement for you to start within the series.
Note: If you have no experience with ASL and want to enroll in our course series, you do not need to take the placement test. You are eligible to enroll in ASL 1101.
What is the format of the placement test?
The test evaluates the student's expressive and receptive signing skills – receptive (watching) and expressive (signing) – with vocabulary and grammar in context. Students will receive access to an ASL Placement Test Carmen page. On the Carmen page, there are 9 recorded questions (each its own video) and students will record themselves responding to the questions. The students responses will be a recording for each question.
How long will the placement test take to complete?
Students have 60 minutes to complete the test. At the end of 60 minutes the test will test will stop and only what has been recorded and uploaded will be evaluated.
Can I take the placement test if I have taken SPHHRNG 5714?
Yes, this is an option if you feel your skills may be appropriate for ASL 1102 or higher. However, SPH&HRNG 5714 is not a GE language course and is not designed as an equivalent to ASL 1101. Taking the placement exam does not guarantee that you will earn a placement.
Is there a cost for the placement test?
No, there is no cost.
Who do I contact to schedule?
Please contact the Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures for access to placement test here.
When will I get my results?
The test is not a computer graded test, your results will be emailed to you within 5 business days. If you have not received your results within 5 business days, please contact Tia Jones at jones.2246@osu.edu.
If I receive a placement, how long will it be until my results are posted on my transcript?
Up to 2 weeks. Once the results are posted on your transcript, you may register for the ASL course for which you are eligible. It is important to plan your schedule accordingly.
Can I register for the following semester as soon as I receive my results?
It may take up to 2 weeks for your results to be processed and posted to your transcript. You can register for class only after your results appear on your transcript.
What should I do after I get my results?
- If you do not test into level 1102 or higher and still wish to take ASL, you must register for 1101.
- Students who test into level 1102 or higher will be able to enroll in that level as soon as the placement is posted to their account.
- If you feel it would be in your best interest to take a class lower than the level you were placed, contact the test coordinator.
Can I retake the test if I don't like my results?
No. In accordance with University policy, no Credit by Examination test can be taken more than once.
What if I need test accommodations?
In the case of students who may have a learning disability, need special arrangements and/or petitions, contact the Student Life Disability Services office (https://slds.osu.edu/). We will provide accommodations to the best of our ability for students who are registered with ODS.
Transfer Credit
What is the first step in the transfer credit process?
You will need to send your transcript from the other college or university to the OSU University Registrar. The Registrar Office will determine what and how courses are approved for transfer credit equivalency to OSU. And, of course, you will need to enroll at Ohio State before you can register for classes.
I have taken ASL classes at another college or university and am transferring to Ohio State. Will my credits transfer?
This depends on where you have taken your coursework. Evaluation is based on course credit hours, course content and learning objectives, and the grade earned (C- or better is required for an evaluation and award of university transfer credit). Many ASL courses at colleges throughout Ohio have already been approved for automatic transfer to Ohio State ASL courses.
How long does it take for my transfer credit to get processed so that I can register for the next class at OSU?
This depends on where you have taken the course work and if the courses are approved as equivalent courses. If that is the case, then as soon as your course transfers to OSU the credit wil hit your degree audit and you will be eligible to take the next course.
If the ASL course you took is not an automatic equivalent, then the course will receive elective credit from the transcript and the course will have to go through the department for evaluation. This does take longer to process. It is up to the studnet to reach out to the ASL program to get the evaluation process started. See the FAQ for the steps on how to have a course evaluated.
Once my transfer credits are approved, how will they show up on my transcript?
The course titles used on OSU transcripts for American Sign Language courses are:
- ASL 1101
- ASL 1102
- ASL 1103.
You will see the course title(s) for which you have earned transfer credit on your transcript once they have been approved and processed.
I'm an OSU student taking an ASL course at another institution. I want to register for my next ASL class at OSU, but the system doesn't recognize that I've taken any ASL courses. Can an OSU ASL instructor sign a Course Enrollment Permission Form for me?
No. If the ASL course(s) at the other college/university automatically transfers to OSU for equivalent credit, then it (with a passing grade) will be recognized in the system after the Registrar has received and processed your official transcript. At that time, you may register for the appropriate OSU ASL course. This means that a student will be registering after the OSU registration period has opened and may have decreased chances of being able to enroll in a class.
Can I get special permission to register for an OSU ASL class before my transfer credits have processed?
No. You can only register for an ASL class once your course work from another college or university has been approved and processed by the Transfer Credit and Registrar's Offices.
What do I do if the ASL course I took at another college/university doesn't transfer as ASL credit?
If the ASL course at the other college/university does not automatically transfer to OSU for equivalent credit, then you will have to follow the steps below. Check the website first.
You will need to prepare the following information to submit to the ASL program transfer credit coordinator for ASL course evaluation.
- Your full name, osu.#, and student ID #
- College/university name and campus
- Previous school on semester or quarter system
- Department in which course(s) is offered
- Course title, number, credit hours, and meeting dates/times
- Course syllabus - including texts, assignments, and weekly schedule
Send all transfer credit materials for evaluation to:
Tia Jones
jones.2246@osu.edu
100E Hagerty Hall
1775 College Road
Columbus, OH 43210
Note: Evaluation may take up to three weeks after receiving all necessary materials.
What course materials are used in OSU's ASL classes?
We are using a unique curriculum that was specially designed for our ASL course series by our program team. Required course materials will be available on the Carmen course pages.
What can I expect in OSU's ASL classes?
Classes are capped at 24 students to ensure quality interaction with your classmates and your instructor, and are taught primarily in the target language and require that all students adhere to the "voices off" policy. Our classes provide a safe and positive learning environment for our students. Your attendance and participation in every class meeting is expected and highly encouraged for your success.