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Testing, Assessment, and Advising

      Standardized Test Requirements
      Exemptions to Test Requirements
  Assessment
  Counseling and Advising Services
      Advising
      Advisors

Standardized Test Requirements
In support of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), Del Mar College requires students be tested for reading, writing and mathematics skills to determine their readiness for college-credit courses prior to registration. Del Mar College uses the THEA, THEA QT and the COMPASS as assessment instruments. International students whose primary language is other than English who are taking only English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes will take the Comprehensive English Language Test (CELT) to determine their placement into ESOL classes.

Applicants should request that an official report of test scores be sent to Del Mar College well in advance of the registration period. Performance on assessment tests will not be used  as a condition of admission. An assessment level chart is found in the Course Descriptions section of the College Catalog to assist advisors in determining placement in coursework.

The test fee will be paid by the student. A few fee waivers are available through Financial Aid Services for qualified students.

Exemptions to Test Requirements:

  • Students who have previously taken the TASP test.

  • Students with recent qualifying ACT, SAT, SAT1, or TAKS scores may be exempt from additional assessment testing. To prove exemption, students must submit official test scores to the Office of Admissions and Registrar.

  • Students who have already graduated with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or who are transferring from a private or independent institution of higher education, or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework in English and math. Official college transcripts must be provided to the Office of Admissions and Registrar to prove exemption.

Assessment
The College has established placement levels which are used to govern admission into every course at the College. The College is committed to helping students succeed. Assessment of basic skills is essential because it helps students know their strengths and weaknesses. Any assessment below Level III as identified in the credit class schedule will require enrollment in developmental courses.

All college-level courses at the College require specific assessment levels as shown in the Course Descriptions section of the College Catalog.

Counseling and Advising Services
Counseling services are available to assist each student in making the most of his or her college experience. Del Mar College East and West Campuses offer a variety of counseling services. Professional staff is available on a walk-in basis to help students plan and meet personal, academic and career goals. 

Services include pre-admission counseling, academic advising for undecided and liberal arts students, transfer information, career testing for students undecided about a career direction, information about job placement and planning for academic success. All counseling is voluntary and confidential.

In addition, counselors and advising professional staff offer a number of personal development workshops including handling test anxiety, stress management, career decision making, self esteem, learning styles and transfer information.

Advising
Del Mar College recognizes the importance of academic advising and the College supports a program whereby students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members in their major department. Undeclared and liberal arts majors are advised by the Counseling and Advising Center.

Other students are responsible for calling the department of their major to schedule an advising appointment. See the following page for a list of advisors’ telephone numbers. Students intending to transfer should bring a copy of the catalog of their transfer institution with them to advising.

Advising is required prior to online registration for students who have earned 24 credits or fewer. Students with more than 24 credits also are encouraged to meet with an advisor. Advising is available to all students who wish to talk to a faculty member about course prerequisites, graduation requirements, career opportunities in their major and suggestions for doing well in class.

  • Prior to the appointment, students should think about their goals and reflect on previous academic progress. If students are currently enrolled, they should consider how they are doing in their classes. They need to think about their other commitments (work, family, etc.) and how those impact the time available for classes. Then, advisors and students can discuss how to turn goals into reality by following their degree plan. A copy of the degree plan, given to the student, will show the specific courses needed.

  • Each student has the responsibility to insure that the courses selected will meet degree requirements. Students can utilize the Del Mar College Catalog to confirm which courses will meet degree requirements. Failure to obtain correct information will not exempt students from having to meet degree requirements. Students should bring a tentative list of the classes they want to take to the advising appointment.

  • Courses should be selected with attention to prerequisites and sequences. Students who preregister for classes for which they lack the prerequisites can be dropped from those classes by the chairperson of the department offering the course in order to release those spaces to students who have satisfied the prerequisites. Students who wish to take courses for which they lack prerequisites will be protected from such removal only if they secure permission of the chairperson of the department offering the course prior to registering.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to know specific transfer requirements of the college or university to which they plan to transfer. This responsibility includes knowing course requirements, number of credit hours accepted and grade-point average required for admission.

  • Students are expected to keep a copy of their degree plan, signed by both themselves and their advisor. Each time students meet with an advisor, the students should bring their most recent degree plan with them for updating.

Advisors
Call for advising appointment or more information. Note: These numbers are not for admissions. For admissions information call (361) 698-1255 or (800) 652-3357. Advising assistance for the Virtual College of Texas is available at (361) 698-1290. All numbers are area code 361.

Accounting
698-1372
Addiction Option/Human Services
698-2809
Administrative Assistant
698-1411
Advertising/Public Relations
698-1939
Air Conditioning Applied Technology
698-1701
Architectural/Drafting Technology
698-1725
Art
698-1216
Auto Body Applied Technology
698-1701
Automotive Applied Technology
698-1701
Aviation Maintenance
698-1725
Baking/Pastry Specialization
698-2809
Banking and Finance
698-1372
Basic Peace Officer
698-1706
Biology
698-1240
Building Maintenance Applied Technology
698-1701
Business Administration
698-1372
Chemical Laboratory Technology
698-1725
Chemistry
698-1240
Child Development/Early Childhood
698-2809
Child Dev./Early Childhood Administrator
698-2809
Child Dev./Early Childhood Education Assistant
698-2809
Computer Information Systems
698-1299
    Computer Forensics
698-1299
    Computer Programming
698-1299
    Information Systems Security Associate
698-1299
    Microcomputer for Business/Geographic
698-1299
    Multimedia-Internet Developer
698-1299
    Network Support Specialist
698-1299
    Computer-Network Electronic Technology
698-1299
Cosmetology
698-2809
Court Reporting
698-1372
Criminal Justice
698-1706
Criminal Justice Technology
698-1706
Culinary Arts
698-2809
Dental Assisting
698-2858
Dental Hygiene
698-2858
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
698-2858
Diesel Applied Technology
698-1701
Digital Media
698-1508
Drama
698-2255
Education Majors (Associate of Arts in Teaching Degrees)
Early Childhood to Grade 4
    Art
698-1216
    Bilingual Generalist
698-1534
    Deaf Education
    Interdisciplinary Transfer degree to
    Texas A&M University-Kingsville only)
698-2809
    Early Childhood Only
698-2809
    Generalist
698-1534
    Special Education
698-1241
Early Childhood to Grades 4 - 8
    Art
698-1216
    Bilingual Generalist
698-1534
    Deaf Education
    Interdisciplinary Transfer degree to
    Texas A&M University-Kingsville only)
698-2809
    English/Language Arts
698-1234
    Generalist
698-1534
    Mathematics
698-1238
    Science
698-1290
    Social Studies
698-1228
    Special Education
698-1241
Early Childhood to Grades 8 - 12
    Art
698-1216
    Deaf Education
    Interdisciplinary Transfer degree to
    Texas A&M University-Kingsville only)
698-2809 
    English/Language Arts
698-1234
    Foreign Language
698-1534
    Generalist
698-1534
    History/Social Studies
698-1228
    Journalism
698-1241
    Mathematics
698-1238
    Music
698-1211
    Science
698-1290
    Special Education
698-1241
    Speech
698-1241
Electrical Engineering 2+2
698-1238
EMS Professions
698-1724
English
698-1234
Fire Science
698-1724
Foreign Languages
698-1534
General Office Clerk
698-1410
General Secretary
698-1410
Geography
698-1228
Geology
698-1240
Health Information Technology
698-2844
Health Studies
698-1334
History
698-1228
Hotel/Motel Management
698-2809
Human Services
698-2809
Industrial Machining Applied Technology
698-1725
Intergeneration/Human Services
698-2809
Interpreter Preparation
698-2809
Journalism
698-1241
Kinesiology
698-1334
Legal Secretarial Specialty
698-1372
Liberal Arts
Advising for Liberal Arts majors is on a walk-in basis
in the Counseling Center. No appointment is needed.
698-1290
Management Development
698-1372
    General Management Specialization
698-1372
    Leadership Development
698-1372 
    Logistics and Supply Chain Management
698-1372 
    Marketing Specialization
698-1372
    Production and Logistics Management Specialization
698-1372
    Professional Sales
698-1372
    Quality Assurance/Control Management
698-1372 
    Quality Assurance/Control Management Specialization
698-1372 
    Small Business Management
698-1372
Management Information Systems
698-1372
Mathematics
698-1238
Medical Laboratory Technology
698-2820
Medical Secretary
698-1410
Nuclear Medicine Technology
698-2858
Nursing Education
698-2860
Occupational Safety and Health Technology
698-1724
Occupational Therapy Assistant
698-1846
Paralegal Specialty
698-1372
Pharmacy Technology
698-2820
Physical Therapist Assistant
698-1847
Physics
698-1238
Police Science
698-1706
Political Science
698-1228
Pre-Chiropractic
698-1240
Pre-Dental
698-1240
Pre-Engineering
698-1238
Pre-Medical
698-1240
Pre-Medical Technology
698-1107
Pre-Nursing (B.S.)
698-1320
Pre-Pharmacy
698-1240
Pre-Physical Therapy
698-1240
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
698-1240
Process Technology
698-1725
Psychology
698-1228
Radio and Television
698-1508
Radiologic Technology
698-2858
Real Estate
698-1372
Recreational Leadership
698-1334
Respiratory Therapy
698-2820
Restaurant Management
698-2809
Social Work
698-1228
Sociology
698-1228
Speech
698-1241
Surgical Technology
698-2820
Techniques in Oral Interpreting
698-1109
Undeclared

Advising for Undeclared majors is on a walk-in basis in the Counseling and Advising Center. No appointment is needed.

698-1290
Welding Applied Technology
698-1725