1. Am I required to take the course into which I have been placed?

If you are getting a degree at UCSB, yes. You need to take these courses as part of your progress toward satisfying the Subject A and Writing requirements If you are an EAP student who has been told you are required to take ESL based on your TOEFL score, the answer is yes.

2. How do I enroll in a course?

You can enroll through GOLD as for other courses. See the ESL course schedules for enrollment code numbers.

3. I have a course conflict with an ESL course into which I have been placed. What should I do?

In most cases, you should take the ESL course now and the other course later. If you are not making progress toward satisfying the Subject A requirement, which includes taking any required ESL courses, you may be subject to dismissal from UCSB. If your placement is Linguistics 1, you must take this course fall quarter as it is not offered during the winter or spring quarters.

4. I had a bad day when I wrote the exam and the exam does not reflect my writing ability. Can I retake the exam?

You cannot retake the exam, but you will get another opportunity to write on the first day of class in the ESL course. If your first-day writing indicates that the course is not appropriate for you, we will consider a different placement.

5. I got placed into ESL from the Subject A Exam, but I am not an ESL student.

If you are a native speaker of English, please contact the Director of the ESL Program. Otherwise, please see question 4 regarding the first-day writing.

6. What is the sequence of undergraduate courses before Writing 1?

Linguistics 1, 2 and 3.

7. I am placed into Writing 1 (or Writing 2) from the ELPE Exam. What does that mean and how can I enroll?

If you have a placement in Writing 1 or Writing 2, it means you are exempt from ESL. Writing 1 fulfills the Subject A requirement. Writing 2 is the highest placement for this exam. To enroll in a Writing Program course, consult the schedule of classes or check the bulletin board on the first floor of South Hall near the elevators.

8. The Writing 1 class I want to enroll in is filled. What should I do?

You should consult with the Writing Program. We do not enroll students in Writing Program courses. You can try to "crash" the course (get on a waiting list in case someone drops) or wait until another quarter.

9. I am placed into a Writing 1 class from the ELPE, but I would prefer to take Linguistics 3. May I enroll in Linguistics 3 instead?

Yes.

10. I am placed into Writing 1 (or Writing 2) from the ELPE. I would like to take Linguistics 11 also. May I enroll in this course?

Yes.

11. I am placed into Linguistics 1, but I don't think that it is the right level for me.

Linguistics 1 is not a beginning ESL course. It is a university level reading and writing course. See also the response to question 4.

12. If I take Linguistics 1 this quarter, do I have to take Linguistics 2 and 3 after that?

At the end of every course, students are placed into the next course on the basis of a writing portfolio evaluation as well as class attendance and participation. Most students in Linguistics 1 get placed into Linguistics 2 the next quarter, but some may move from Linguistics 1 to Linguistics 3 if they have made a lot of progress.

13. What are Linguistics 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9? Do I have to take all those course before Writing 1?

No. Those are courses for graduate students.

This is official University of California, Santa Barbara information.