Transition Studies
Housed in the Learning Commons in the Dean B. Ellis Library, Transition Studies students have easy access to the writing center, general education tutoring as well as intensive advising services provided by the faculty/academic coaches and staff of the Transition Studies department.
Important Links
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation is required for all incoming first-year students. Signed up yet?
University Housing
Are you planning to live in on campus? Click on the following link if you need information or to complete an application through the A-State Housing Portal.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Do you plan to use financial aid to help you with college costs? Find out more here:
Financial Aid and Scholarships
How to fill out the FAFSA form
COURSE PLACEMENT Scores
For course scheduling purposes, A-State students need placement scores on file before enrolling in courses. New students are highly encouraged to have their scores submitted to the Office of Admissions by May 1 for academic advising and pre-registration purposes.
A-State accepts ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, and ALEKS for placement into gateway reading, writing, and math-based courses. Students may take one of these placement exams at a local testing center or contact A-State’s Testing Center for assistance.
Students who do not have the minimum requisite test score for core classes in reading, writing (English), or math are required to enroll in additional support courses during their first semester. If you do not have a test score on file or wish to challenge a placement score, please refer to the information below.
Required Cutscores
Find required cutscores to place directly into core courses
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION (NSO) - Mathematics Support Information
Improve your math placement score to save time and money! We understand that sometimes students need additional opportunities to demonstrate their mathematics ability. The ALEKS support program provides students with unlimited access to the prep & learning modules and up to five exam attempts (one practice, four proctored) to achieve their best placement.
We encourage students who desire to improve their math score or who still need a math placement score, to utilize the free materials provided via ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning Assessment prior to their NSO date and to sign up for a testing session during their NSO. Each assessment has up to 30 questions and takes approximately 60-90 minutes to complete.
The cost of the ALEKS package is $25.00; However, new students who sign up for A-State’s NSO along with an ALEKS testing session may be eligible for a FREE voucher.
Interested parties can contact Dr. Amanda Lambertus, alambertus@astate.edu, (870) 680-8136.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Transition Studies, the emphasis is on meeting the needs of students admitted through our program and helping them to be successful. We take a personal interest in you and work with you to make the most of your college experience. Your Making Connections instructor is also your academic advisor. He or she meets with you individually and monitors your progress during your first year. If difficulties arise, your academic advisor will work with the Transition Studies Student Services Coordinator to identify the resources and services that can best help you.
You must maintain a minimum grade point average of a 2.0 with a C or above in developmental courses (if your test scores require that you take them) for the two semesters that you are in Transition Studies. Failure to meet these requirements will result in probation or dismissal from the program.
You will be expected to meet the A-State attendance policy for freshmen and sophomores, meet with your advisor and instructors as requested and attend any required activities. If you are having difficulty in a class you will be expected to follow through on tutoring, supplemental instruction, study groups or other activities that may be employed to help you get back on track.
You are officially listed as undecided while you are in Transition Studies. However, your advisor will work with you to ensure that you are taking the correct courses for your planned major if you have one. All students at A-State take Making Connections their first semester. If you have below a 19 on your ACT or the equivalent in math, reading or English, you will be required to take developmental courses in those areas.
If you have one, two or no developmental courses to take, the rest of your schedule will consist of general education courses such as English Composition, US History, College Algebra, Psychology, etc in addition to Making Connections. Class enrollment hours and course selection are limited while you are in the Transition Studies program.
Transition Studies students take only one course that is not required for all other A-State students which is a two-hour continuation of Making Connections during second semester.
Transition Studies students are no different than any other freshman. You may live in any of the appropriate freshman residence halls and request any roommate that you wish. You are strongly encouraged to participate in campus activities, but obviously not to the extent that it has a negative impact on your academic life.
Even if you have already been admitted through Transition Studies, you can be regularly admitted if you meet the ACT composite of a 21 or equivalent and a 2.75 GPA. You will be notified by the Office of Admissions of your status change.
Transition Studies students pay the same tuition and fees as all other A-State students, but there is an additional one-time fee of $250 to help defray the cost of the extra services that are provided to students admitted through Transition Studies.
Connect with us!
Room: 133
Dean B. Ellis Library
Postal Address:
PO Box 1090
State University, AR 72467
Shipping Address:
Learning Commons
322 University Loop Circle
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Our Staff
