Academic and Advising Services Mathematics Placement Policy

Mathematics Placement Policy

Success in any mathematics course depends on the student’s understanding of skills and information that was taught in previous mathematics courses. In order to ensure this success, we calculate the Math-Index score (100*HS-GPA Math-SAT) and use it to place the students as follows:

Math-Index < 850: The student may take MAT 095, 104

850 Math-Index <950 The student may take MAT 126, 131, 133

950 Math-Index: The student may take MAT 141, 191

If a student wishes to change this initial placement, the student can take a written placement test online which is used as follows:

11 Score on test: The student may take MAT 126, 131, or 133.

15 Score on test: The student may take MAT 141 or 191

Advanced Placement Exam A student will receive credit for MAT 191 with a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC Placement Exam. With a score of 5 on the BC Placement Exam, a student may receive additional credit to be determined by interview with the Department Chair. A student will receive credit for MAT 121 with a score of 3.

In order to complete the Common Core in the General Education Program, every student in the College of Liberal Arts must receive credit for one of the following mathematics courses:

Finite Mathematics (MAT 104)

Statistics (MAT 126)

Calculus (MAT 121, 141 or 191).

The Math Department will assess the student's level of preparation according to the policy described below. The student will then be placed into one of the classes listed above or into one of the following classes (none of which satisfies General Education requirements) to prepare the student for one of the Calculus or Statistics courses:

PreCalculus (MAT 133) teaches algebra and trigonometry and prepares a student to take MAT 191 Calculus.

College Algebra (MAT 131) teaches algebra and prepares a student to take MAT 141 Calculus for the Social Sciences.

Intermediate Algebra (MAT 095) teaches basic algebra skills and prepares the student to take MAT 126 Statistics, MAT 131 College Algebra, or MAT 133 PreCalculus (no college credit is given for MAT 095).

We recommend the following choices, but encourage you to talk to an academic advisor if you have any questions:

Physical Science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) majors, Mathematics majors, Computer Science majors, and PreHealth majors should take MAT 191 Calculus.

Social Science (Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology) majors should take MAT 126 Statistics or MAT 141 Calculus for the Social Sciences, but may take MAT 191.

Majors in the Humanities and Fine Arts should take MAT 104 Finite Mathematics, but may take MAT 126 Statistics or MAT 141 or 191 Calculus.

Undecided students should talk to their academic advisors about this choice, but might consider taking MAT 191 Calculus since it provides the most flexibility in terms of future choices.