College Advising Center FAQ
Confusing? We have a whole page dedicated to the Graduation Audit Process.
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What are L.A.S. / general education codes?
Students that started Fall 2005 or after - Questions and answers regarding the L.A.S. Core requirements are coming soon. In the meantime, check out our Registration Tools section for a list of requirements and recommended courses.
Students that started enrollment between Fall 2001 and Summer 2005 ONLY - General Education requirements are listed on this Fall 2001 Worksheet.
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Is there a placement test for Spanish classes?
There is no longer a placement test for Spanish courses. There are no prerequisites for Spanish I. If you register for Spanish I, your instructor will offer a placement test on the first day of class to see if you should move up to Spanish II. If you've taken a college level Spanish course at a different institution and would like to register for Spanish II, talk to someone in the Liberal Education department.
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Do I need to take FIT or FOCA?
The answer depends on when you started your career at Columbia.
If you started BEFORE Fall 2005 , you are required to take Foundations of Computer Applications (FOCA 35-1100). FOCA is one of your general education requirements. If you have significant computer application skills, you can take the FOCA Proficiency exam offered in the Interactive Arts & Media department. If you pass the FOCA exam, you will not be required to take the course. The FOCA Exam is typically offered once or twice per month and there is a fee to take the exam. If you pass the FOCA Exam, you are still required to take a general education elective to meet the graduation requirement.
If you started in Fall 2005 or after , you must meet the Fluency in Technology (FIT) requirement. You can fulfill this requirement by taking the FIT Assessment in the New Student Assessment office. The FIT assessment measures your knowledge in three different categories; word processing, spreadsheets, and basic computer knowledge. If you are "fluent" in each area, you have met the FIT Requirement. Otherwise, you will need to take a one credit course to fulfill each category, or a three credit course to fulfill all three categories. If you have not fulfilled the FIT Requirement, you should make arrangements to take the assessment as soon as possible.
What courses are considered Advanced Writing?
If you placed out of Writing & Rhetoric I in the New Student Assessment, then you will need to take an advanced writing course besides Writing & Rhetoric II to fulfill your English requirement. Students needing an advanced writing course are allowed to take ANY 2000 or 3000 level English Department course, with the exception of the Poetry Workshop courses. If you have questions about advanced writing courses, contact your college advisor.
NOTE: This is not the same thing as Writing Intensive. You are required to take one writing intensive course at Columbia to graduate. Writing Intensive courses have a "WI" code in the OASIS course catalog.
What math class should I take?
Use this grid (along with your assessment/ACT scores) to find out which math class is best for you.