Prerequisite and Corequisite Requirements
While admission to Rockingham Community College is open to all adult citizens, some programs of study require students to meet certain standards or to have taken specific courses before being accepted into the program. Additionally, some courses require completion of or enrollment in another course in order to take the course.
Prerequisites and corequisites serve as safeguards to successful course and program completion to ensure proper knowledge and background for higher level courses. Course prerequisites and corequisites are identified in the course description. If a program or course denotes a required prerequisite, the course must be taken before entering a program or taking the course. If a course denotes a required corequisite, the course may be taken with or prior to another course(s).
Students are expected to adhere to prerequisite and corequisite requirements and are prevented from enrolling in a course if the prerequisites/corequisites are not met. However, in certain circumstances (e.g. completion of a similar course, work experience, etc.), a student may request waiver of a local requisite; state requisites cannot be waived.
Documentation for waiver of a local prerequisite or corequisite may include the following:
- A student’s RCC academic record;
- A transcript from another accredited college indicating that the student successfully completed a course with similar objectives and content; or,
- Employment history demonstrating the student has been employed in a position that already utilizes the skills taught in the prerequisite/corequisite course.
Requisite Waiver Procedure
If seeking a local prerequisite or corequisite exception, the student must obtain permission prior to the end of the drop/add period for the course in which the student wishes to enroll. To request a prerequisite or corequisite waiver, students must meet with their advisor to discuss the request.
If the advisor approves, the advisor completes the Local Requisite Waiver Request form, attaches the supporting documentation for the request to the completed form, and, routes the completed request to the Division Dean of the discipline for approval. The final authority to waive a local requisite rest with the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Upon approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Records Office applies the waiver and registers the student for the course. Documentation for all requisite waiver approvals is kept on file in the Records Office.
English Corequisite and Math Prerequisite Courses
Successful completion of gateway English and math courses is important for student success across all academic programs. Students whose placement indicates a need for academic support and further development of academic skills may be required to take an additional corequisite or prerequisite course.
English Corequisite Course
Depending on their program of study, students may be required to take one of two gateway English courses, ENG 110 or ENG 111. All students are eligible to enroll directly into ENG 110 regardless of their high school GPA. Placement into ENG 111 is determined by high school GPA.* Students with a high school GPA below 2.8 will enroll in ENG 111 and ENG 045, English Skills Support. This corequisite course provides contextualized support and instruction designed to help students succeed in ENG 111. Students with a high school GPA of 2.8 or above will enroll into ENG 111 without a corequisite support class.
Math Prerequisite Courses
Depending on their program of study, students may be required to take one of six gateway math courses (MAT 110, MAT 112, MAT 121, MAT 143, MAT 152 or MAT 171). All students are eligible to enroll directly into MAT 110 or MAT 112 regardless of their high school GPA. Placement into the other gateway math courses is determined by high school GPA.* Students with a high school GPA below 2.8 will enroll in one of two prerequisite math courses, MAT 025 or MAT 035, depending on their program of study. Students with a high school GPA of 2.8 or above will enroll into their gateway math course.
Students who place into prerequisite math courses will have the opportunity to develop foundational math skills before taking their gateway math course. Concepts of Essential Math (MAT 025) and Concepts of Algebra (MAT 035) are offered as credit courses during each semester.
Grading Criteria
Students taking ENG 045, MAT 025 or MAT 035 will earn a grade of A, B, C or F. A grade of C or higher in MAT 025 or MAT 035 is required to progress to a gateway math course.
The “F” grade is considered a non-punitive grade and is not included in the computation of the academic GPA. However, for financial aid purposes, a grade of “F” means that a student has not made satisfactory academic progress. Financial aid will be affected by a grade of “F.”
*Placement for recent high school graduates may vary depending on ACT/SAT scores.
Students with no high school GPA will take a placement test.
Students with a high school GPA below a 2.8 will have the option to take a placement test for English and math.
For more information about placement and how it applies to specific situations, or to schedule placement testing, contact the admissions office at 336-342-4261 ext. 2333 or email admissions@rockinghamcc.edu.