Transition to Salve Regina
The Center for Student Development assists students as they transition to their new learning environment at Salve Regina. This transition will challenge students’ ability to both think and act responsibly on their own. However, that does not mean that students are alone in the process.
All new students are placed in a New Student Seminar that introduces them to learning in a university context and to various services, and within which they build a supportive community to ease the transition to Salve Regina. Seminar instructors serve as transitional advisers until students designate areas of interest and are assigned a faculty adviser within their chosen academic program.
Transfer students are placed in a New Student Seminar designed to introduce them to the University’s academic core and the various campus services, as well as to ease the transition to Salve Regina. Students also learn about the mission of Salve Regina and participate in a minimum of 10 community service hours beginning in their first year at the University. Students are assigned a faculty adviser within their intended major.
Students are also introduced to the Feinstein Enriching America Program, which supports the University mission and familiarizes new students with the larger Aquidneck Island community.
Registration for the First Semester
Students will be pre-registered for courses based on the information provided on the course information form sent by the Office of Admissions. Students may also access the . In order to give adequate time to design students' academic schedules, this form should be faxed to the Office of Student Activities at (401) 341-2953 or sent via email to sruorientation@salve.edu. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their schedules with advisers during Orientation.
We use students' intended majors and other indicated interests to design schedules. Regardless of major, all Salve Regina students take courses from the Core Curriculum in subjects including anthropology, art, economics, foreign languages, history, mathematics, music, natural sciences, politics, psychology, sociology and theater. All new students complete both a common literature and a common Core Curriculum portal course during the first year. These courses will engage students’ intellectual curiosity in response to central questions about the human condition.
For transfer students, transfer credit is typically awarded for academic courses with a grade of "C" or above completed at other regionally accredited postsecondary institutions, when the coursework is comparable to that of Salve Regina and does not duplicate another course for which credit has been granted. Transfer students receive a preliminary transfer credit evaluation during the admissions process. Transfer credit evaluation will begin upon acceptance to Salve Regina and credit will be officially granted prior to the first semester. Transfer students will work with a staff member from the Center for Student Development to register for courses prior to Orientation.
Foreign Language Placement
Two courses in the same foreign language are required, without exception. Students with two or more years of high school foreign language who wish to continue studying the same language are placed in intermediate level courses, although they may choose to begin a different language at the elementary level. Salve Regina also offers a section of Spanish for students with documented learning disabilities in language acquisition.
Placement in mathematics courses is based upon a review of a student’s high school transcripts, intended major and standardized test scores, if they have been submitted.
Advanced Placement Exams and Dual Credit Courses
Students should indicate Advanced Placement (AP) exams and/or college-level courses taken during high school on the course information form. An AP score of 3 generally earns credit; however, some departments require a score of 4. Students must request official AP scores and official college transcripts be sent to the Office of the Registrar in order to receive academic credit and to avoid taking duplicate courses.
Click here for more information on AP courses/scores and academic credit.