Freshman Orientation and Registration
An orientation/registration program (Bama Bound) is provided for all new freshman students to assist with the transition to college. Information about orientation and registration is sent to admitted students.
For all new undergraduate students, initial math placement will be based on ACT or SAT math score or previous college mathematics credit. If a student does not have one of these or wishes to try to improve his or her placement, the student may take the online math assessment. Foreign language placement is determined by several factors. These factors include the following: the number of high-school units completed; language placement examination scores; or, for those with native or heritage competency, faculty evaluation. Students with more than two high school units of French, German, Spanish, or Latin should take a placement examination by logging in to their mybama account, under Admissions/Scholarships tab, in the box titled Undergraduate Admissions, look for “Foreign language assessment." All assessments should be completed one week prior to Bama Bound.
Each orientation session gives students the opportunity to learn about the University, as well as academic programs and services offered to students. Students also enroll in classes for their first term at the University. Several orientation sessions are provided each year. For more information, visit orientation.ua.edu.
Distance Learning students should contact UA Online at online@ua.edu for registration information.
Preparation for College-Level Work
The University of Alabama Core Curriculum, required of all graduates, provides the foundation of every undergraduate degree program at the University. In addition to providing a solid understanding of the subjects covered, the core curriculum acquaints students with the ways knowledge is created.
The core curriculum includes academic courses in writing, humanities, fine arts, social sciences, natural sciences (including laboratory experience), and mathematics; it also requires knowledge of a language other than English. To prepare for the core curriculum, applicants are encouraged to take maximum advantage of their high school experiences by accumulating as many academic units as is practical.
Minimum Requirements for Admission
In terms of educational preparation, the college preparatory curriculum minimum unit requirements for regular admissions are:
| English | 4 units |
| Mathematics | 3 units, including algebra I, algebra II, and one unit of either geometry, trigonometry, or calculus |
| Social Studies | 4 units |
| Natural Science | 3 units, including 2 units with a laboratory |
| Foreign Language | 1 unit, if foreign language is not a graduation requirement or there is not a foreign language program in your school system, UA will accept courses that reflect an enhanced understanding of global and cultural perspectives. |
| Other academic courses | 5 units (courses recommended are in fine arts or computer literacy, with additional courses in mathematics, science and foreign language) |
The course/unit requirement also applies to transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college-level courses.
The University of Alabama will not require standardized ACT or SAT scores from students applying through the Fall 2023 Semester. The presence of a score will not create an unfair advantage or disadvantage to students applying for admission. If you are unsure whether or not to submit a standardized test score, contact your high school counselor or UA recruiter.
For students who do not wish to submit a score:
- If you indicate that you do not want your test scores included in the review of your application for admission, you may still submit test scores for automatic merit scholarship consideration.
For students who wish to submit a score:
- If you indicate that you want your test scores included in the review of your application for admission, your application will remain incomplete until official test scores are received from ACT/SAT.
- For admission consideration UA will use the highest section score from any test dates of the same exam.
- For automatic merit scholarship consideration UA will use composite scores only.
For students applying for the spring, summer and fall of 2023, The University of Alabama currently plans to allow students the option to submit standardized test scores as part of the test optional pilot program. All updated undergraduate admission requirements for the future cycles, including policies on standardized tests, will be announced when finalized.