Applicants for admission to the freshman class should submit their application materials as early as possible in their senior year of high school.
Applicants should request high schools to send transcripts including all semesters of high school credits as soon as grades are available. Applicants are requested to furnish supplementary records immediately following graduation from high school.
Students born after 1956 should submit proof of measles immunization taken after January 1, 1980. This information should be submitted with the admissions application.
Beginning fall 1989, all State Board of Regents Universities require that undergraduate freshmen have the high school subject units listed below for regular admission.
| Subject Area | Required Units |
| English | 4 |
| Visual and/or Performing Arts, including a survey course or participation in one or more of the arts (music, dance, theatre, visual arts) |
1 |
| Algebra I and II | 2 |
| Geometry or other advanced math course with geometry as a major component |
1 |
| Natural/Physical Sciences, including at least one unit, with lab, of Biology or Technology, chemistry, physics or Principles of Technology II |
2 |
| Social Studies, including world history, ancient history, modern history, world geography, European history |
1 |
| United States History | 1 |
| A single Foreign Language | 2 |
In addition to these, an additional unit in the arts, in mathematics, and in foreign languages is required. Different requirements may exist for some freshman applicants (e.g., GED, early admission, international students, or students who graduated from high school more than five years prior to applying for college admission).
ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT
The University will award advanced standing to entering freshmen based upon Advanced Placement Examination results. Scores of 3 to 5 will be awarded appropriate credit.
Official copies of the Examination scores must be submitted by the testing agency to the Office of Admissions and Records. Refer to the following chart for credits awarded:
| SUBJECT | SCORE | CRS | RELATED COURSE(S) |
| History of Art | 3,4 | 3 | Art 1012 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 1010, 1020 or 1030 w/lab |
| 4,5 | 8 | BIOL 1110 & 1120 w/lab | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | CHEM 1010 w/lab |
| Lang & Comp. | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | ENGL 1010 & 1020 | |
| French | 3 | 3 | FREN 1010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | FREN 1010 & 1020 | |
| Gov ’ t Politics | 3 | 3 | POLI 2010 |
| Comparative | 4,5 | 6 | POLI 2010 & 2040 |
| European Hist | 3 | 3 | HIST Elective |
| 4,5 | 6 | HIST Elective | |
| United States | 3 | 3 | HIST 2010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | HIST 2010 & 2020 | |
| Calculus (ab) | 3 | 3 | MATH 1830 |
| 4,5 | 6 | MATH 1830 & 114 | |
| Calculus (bc) | 3 | 3 | MATH 1830 & 114 |
| 4,5 | 9 | MATH 1830, 114 & 1710 | |
| Theory | 3,4,5 | 2 | MUSC 1010 |
| Listen & Lit. | 3 | 3 | MUSC 140 |
| 4,5 | 5 | MUSC 1010 & 140 | |
| Physics | 3 | 3 | PHYS 2010 w/lab |
| (B) Mechanics | 4,5 | 6 | PHYS 2010 & 2030 w/lab |
| 3 | 3 | PHYS 2010 w/lab | |
| (C) Elect/Mag. | 4,5 | 8 | PHYS 311 & 312 |
| Language | 3 | 3 | SPAN 1010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | SPAN 1010 & 1020 | |
| Computer Sci | 3 | 3 | COMP 1210 |
| CS (A) | 3 | 3 | COMP 1210 |
| CS (AB) | 4,5 | 6 | COMP 1210& 2110 |
| Economics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | ECON 2010 & 212 | |
| Spanish | 3 | 3 | SPAN 1010 |
| 4,5 | 4,5 | SPAN 1010,1020 | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 2010 |
| 4,5 | 6 | PSYC 2010 & 202 |
First-time Freshmen General Requirements
1. All students are required to submit an application for admission and a $15 non-refundable processing fee.
2. Any student desiring admission without conditions must have submitted an application, an application fee, and all documents (transcripts) at least 45 days prior to the semester of intent.
Regular Admission In-State
For regular admissions, an applicant must meet the following requirements for 2003-2005:
A. ACT Score of 19 or 900 and above on the SAT, or
B. Minimum grade point average of 2.25 on a 4.00 system and
C. Must pass the Tennessee Proficiency Examination, and
D. Must have completed 14 High School State Board of Regents Unit requirements.
NOTE 1: ACT or SAT scores are required of all students under 21 years of age for advisement and placement purposes.
NOTE 2: An applicant over the age of 21, who fails to meet the required grade point average may be admitted by attaining the required ACT score.
NOTE 3: Residency classification for fee-paying purposes determines whether the applicant is in-state or out-of-state. The children of graduates who live out-of-state are governed by in-state admissions requirements but are required to pay out-of-state tuition.
Regular Admissions Out-of-State
For regular admissions, an applicant must meet the following requirements for 2001-2003.
- ACT Score of 19 or 900 and above on the SAT, or
- Minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 system and
- Must have completed 14 High School State Board of Regents Unit requirements.
NOTE 1: ACT or SAT scores are required of all students under 21 years of age for advisement and placement purposes.
NOTE 2: An applicant over the age of 21, who fails to meet the required grade point average may be admitted by attaining the required ACT score.
NOTE 3: Residency classification for fee-paying purposes determines whether the applicant is in-state or out-of-state. The children of graduates who live out-of-state are governed by in-state admissions requirements but are required to pay out-of-state tuition.
Admission by Exception
1. Students who have a deficiency of no more than two high school units will be granted Admission by Exception, provided they meet the following criteria:
a. An ACT minimum composite score of 21 (or comparable SAT score of 970).
2. Students who have a deficiency of no more than two high school units but have an ACT score below 21 (or comparable SAT score) may be granted Admission by Exception upon review of the Admissions Committee, provided they meet the following criteria:
a. An ACT minimum composite score of 19 (or comparable SAT score of 900), and
b. A high school grade point average of at least 2.5
The Admissions Committee, chaired by the Dean of Admissions, will review students on an individual basis and grant Admission by Exception based on the record and application materials of each student.
All students granted Admission by Exception must remove any deficiencies within the first 60 hours of University work.
Regulated Admission
1. Applicants may be admitted on a regulated basis who meet the following requirements:
a. completed all State Board of Regents high school units but do not meet the required grade point average and/or test score,
b. lacks no more than two State Board of Regents high school units but meet and/or exceed an acceptable grade point average and/or test score.
2. Applicants admitted under regulated status must complete courses specified with grades of “C” or better. Such specified courses must be completed in the first two semesters and first summer of enrollment in order for the student to be continued in the University.
3. Such regulated admissions must have the approval of the Dean of Admissions and Records. The number of students permitted to enroll in this category will not exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of first-time freshmen admitted in any given term, or 100 students, whichever is greater.
Admission Based on GED Test
Any applicant desiring admission based on the General Education Development Test must meet the following requirements:
A. Be 18 years of age.
B. Submit a GED Report showing a composite score of 450 or above and an official High School Transcript.
C. Take the ACT/SAT. Applicants who are 21 years of age or older and meet the required GED score are exempt from taking the ACT/SAT.
D. Remove high school deficiencies within 64 hours after initial enrollment. (Applicants who received a GED in 1989 and thereafter are considered to have met all high school unit requirements except Foreign Language.)
E. GED recipients must take the COMPASS and/or ACT test for placement purposes.
High School Deficiency Removal
The following courses/tests may be taken for deficiency removal. Any course(s) taken to remove High School deficiencies cannot be used to meet General Education Requirements.
| High School | Requirements | TSU Deficiency Removal |
| English | 4 | Take COMPASS Test and abide by placement |
| Algebra I | 1 | Take COMPASS Test and abide by placement |
| Algebra II | 1 | Take COMPASS Test and abide by placement |
| Advanced Math | 2 | DSMA 099 |
| Nat/Phy Sci. | 2 | BIOL 1010 & Lab, Chem 101+100 Lab |
| CHEM 1010+1011, CHEM 1020+1021, | ||
| BIOL 1110 & Lab, BIOL 1120 & Lab, | ||
| BIOL 221 & Lab, BIOL 232 & Lab | ||
| (1 or 2 courses may be needed) | ||
| U. S. History | 1 | History 2010 |
| Social Studies | 1 | Enroll in HIST 1210, HIST 1220, |
| HIST 1211, HIST 1221 | ||
| Foreign Lang. | 2 | FREN 1010 & 1020, GR 1010 & 1020, |
SPAN 1010 & 1020 (1 or 2 courses may be needed) |
||
| Visual/ Performing Arts | 1 | ART 1012, ART 135O, HPER 1022, |
| THTR 1010 |
Must earn grade of “C” or better.