| Enroll in |
if student has completed this |
and one of these. |
MA090
|
|
ACT Math Sub-score 0-17
No high school algebra |
| MA095 |
At least one year
of high school algebra
|
ACT Math Sub-score 18-20
ACT Math Sub-score 0-17 and
MA090 placement score
11 - 25
MA090 with C or better
|
|
Logical Systems
[MA118, MA123, MA134 and MA155]
and above
[MA133, MA138, MA139 and MA140]
*See individual courses
below for additional
requirements |
Three credits (years)
high school mathematics
that includes two years
high school algebra
|
ACT Math Sub-score 21
ACT Math Sub-score 18-20 and
MA095 placement score
14 - 25
MA095 with C or better |
For mathematics placement based on Asset test scores, SAT scores, and old ACT scores (prior to 1989), click here to go to a different chart.
*Mathematics Courses in Logical Systems and Beyond
| Course |
Notes, additional requirements, prerequisites |
| MA118 |
It is strongly recommended that students complete one year of geometry and two years of algebra to prepare for this course. It is available only to students with a declared major in elementary education, early childhood education, exceptional child education, middle school education, or secondary mathematics education. |
| MA123 |
This course, a liberal arts approach to mathematics, is for students in degree programs for which MA134 is not required. Many majors are considering changing their mathematics requirements; do not assume MA134 is still required. |
| MA133 |
One year of high school geometry is strongly recommended, but not required.
This course does not meet the Logical Systems requirement. |
| MA155 |
This course, an introduction to statistical literacy, is for students in degree programs for which MA134 is not required. Many majors are considering changing their mathematics requirements; do not assume MA134 is still required. |
| MA138 |
MA134 with a grade of C or higher
OR
ACT Math Sub-score 21 and at least 4 credits of high school mathematics that include 2 credits of algebra and 1 credit of pre-calculus mathematics (or equivalent). |
| MA139 |
MA134 with a grade of C or higher
OR
ACT Math Sub-score 24 and at least 4 (preferably 5) credits of H. S. math that include 2 credits algebra, 1 credit geometry, and 1 credit of pre-calculus math (or equivalent).
Note: A student with an ACT Math sub-score from 21 to 23 may appeal to be placed into MA139 if he/she has completed 5 credits of high school mathematics (as above) with a high school GPA at least equivalent to a 3.5 on a 4-point scale. |
| MA140 |
MA134 and MA133 with grades of C or higher
OR
ACT Math Sub-score 24 and at least 4 (preferably 5) credits of H. S. math that include 2 credits algebra, 1 credit geometry, and 1 credit of pre-calculus mathematics (which includes trigonometry).
Note: A student with an ACT Math sub-score from 21 to 23 may appeal to be placed into MA140 if he/she has completed 5 credits of high school mathematics (as above) with a high school GPA at least equivalent to a 3.5 on a 4-point scale. |
| MA145 |
MA140 with a grade of C or higher. Note that MA139 is not sufficient.
|
| Note 1. |
Students who have college credit for MA134 or MA140 should be advised to take the next higher course and not repeat, since they will, in essence, lose their previous credit. If they desire a review before attempting the next course, they may opt to audit the course for which they have credit. |
| Note 2. |
In all courses in the Mathematics Department, it is required that students have a grade of C or better in the prerequisite course to enroll in the next course. |
| Note 3. |
A student should complete any required developmental courses (MA090 or MA095) within the first 60 semester hours of course work. The department no longer offers MA096; it was a combination of MA090 and MA095. |
| Note 4. |
The following mathematics course meet the Logical Systems requirement: MA118, MA123, MA134, MA155, MA138, MA139, MA140, and MA145. In addition, PL120 (Symbolic Logic) will meet the Logical Systems requirement. Comments and comparisons follow: |
MA134 College Algebra includes significant coverage of specific algebraic skills and understandings needed in higher courses, and involves a certain amount of abstract thinking. MA134 is a prerequisite for several other mathematics courses and for some courses in other departments – e.g., Accounting 221, Economics 215, Physics 120.
MA123 Survey of Mathematics is a liberal arts approach to mathematics. MA155 Statistical Reasoning is an introduction to statistical literacy. MA123 and MA155 are not prerequisites for any other course. MA118 Mathematics I is for certain education majors, and non-education majors are not admitted. PL120 Symbolic Logic I is taught in the Department of Philosophy.
MA134 is not designed to be a terminal course, but rather to prepare students for other courses; by contrast, MA123 and MA155 are designed specifically as terminal courses, to provide students with more immediate applications, more directly relevant ideas and less abstraction than MA134. Students who are very sure that they will take only one more mathematics course would do well, in general, to take MA155 or MA123 instead of MA134. MA134 is still the best course for people who are considering more mathematics courses, for those unsure of their major, for those who might be transferring to another university, or for those who may consider graduate studies in the future. The Mathematics Department recommends to students that they check with their major advisors before choosing MA123 or MA155 over MA134.
Finally, if a student places directly into MA138 Discrete Mathematics, MA139 Applied Calculus, MA140 Calculus I, or MA145 Calculus II, and earns a passing grade, that student has fulfilled the Logical Systems requirement.
The descriptions from the Undergraduate Bulletin of the five courses satisfying the Logical Systems requirement:
MA134. College Algebra. Includes the study of functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, and the binomial theorem.
MA155. Statistical Reasoning. Introduces statistical ideas to students, enabling student to deal critically with statistical arguments, and gain an understanding of the impact of statistical ideas on public policy and in other areas of academic study.
MA123. Survey of Mathematics. Provides a sampling of topics which mixes mathematics history, its mathematicians, and its problems with a variety of real-life applications.
MA118. Mathematics I. Provides an introduction to problem solving strategies, sets, whole numbers and their operations and properties, number theory, numeration systems, computer usage, informal geometry, and the historical significance and applications of these topics in the K-9 mathematics curriculum. For students who have declared an education major in elementary, early childhood, exceptional child, middle school, or secondary mathematics.
PL120. Symbolic Logic I. A formal study of argument and inference, emphasizing the application of symbolic techniques to ordinary language.
Other Advising Notes Related to Mathematics Placement
- There is a section on the Degree Audit Report (DAR) that will show if a student needs to complete any developmental courses. The title of the section, which is close to the top of the DAR, is “Courses which may be required based on writing placement test and ACT scores.” If a student needs MA090 or MA095 based on ACT or placement exam scores, these courses will show as minuses in this category. This category can be misleading for transfer students who have not taken any math and did not send Southeast their ACT scores (see note in later section about transfer students).
- To locate a student’s test scores for math placement on the student database, type in the student’s social security number on RG01, and then go to screen 10. If you hit enter, the first screen of test scores for a student will be accessible (if the student’s record contains more than one screen worth of scores, hitting PF1 will allow you to see the next screen). If you do not have access to this information, ask your department administrative assistant or someone in one of the advising centers to assist you. Below is a sample of what appears for ACT scores on screen 10. Based on the sample information, this student with a math score of 22 would be eligible for a math course in logical systems or above, depending upon his/her math background in high school. To access a student’s high school math course information, go to screen 05 on RG01. Then, type in PF1 for “Data Entry Units of Credit” to view the student’s high school credits. If a student has several ACT scores on the system, the highest math score is used to determine math placement.
002 - (ACT )
TEST T S ED ENGL USAG RHET MATH ALG GEOM
DATE P DPT C LV TRIG READ ART SSCI NSCI COMP
20010601 A 910 T 20 10 10 22 13 10
12 21 10 11 23 22
Below is a sample of what appears for Asset test scores on screen 10. This student scored 29 on the Elementary Algebra (EALG) section of the exam. Since the passing score (as indicated in the next column) is 44, the student will need to take MA090 (Developmental Algebra).
005 - (ASSET )
TEST T S ED WRIT PASS READ PASS NUM PASS
DATE P DPT C LV EALG PASS IALG PASS CALG PASS
20010410 A 910 C 2 30 34 39
29 44
Below are samples of what appear for math placement exam scores on screen 10. The math placement test information will show which test the student took (320 is the developmental algebra test, and 322 is the intermediate algebra test), and the test result. Look under the “PLCM” column for the correct placement for the student.
90 indicates placement into MA090
95 indicates placement into MA095
134 indicates placement into MA134 or another Logical Systems course,
depending upon the student’s major
A student who took the developmental exam, did not pass, and will need to take MA090:
320 - ( MATH DEV )
PLCM SCOR PASS
20010621 A 910 C 2 90 5 11
A student who took the developmental exam, did pass, and can take MA095:
320 - ( MATH DEV )
PLCM SCOR PASS
20020419 A 910 C 2 95 17 14
A student who took the intermediate exam, did pass, and can take MA134 or another Logical Systems math course:
322 - ( MATH INTR )
PLCM SCOR PASS
20020500 A 910 C 2 134 14 14
- Students who attend the First STEP Orientation program are given a chance to take a math placement exam to attempt to move to the next higher math course. Scores needed to place into MA095 and Logical Systems math courses via the math placement exam are indicated in the chart at the beginning of this section. If students score high enough to move to the next higher course (MA090 to MA095, or MA095 to a math course in Logical Systems) during orientation, the correct placement will be circled on the students’ green or orange advising summary sheets (and a box on the advising sheet will be checked to indicate that the student did take the math placement exam during orientation).
- A transfer student with no ACT score can start with MA090 (without taking any sort of math placement exam). If he/she wants to attempt to begin in a higher-level math course, he/she will need to contact the Department of Mathematics to take the math placement exam. If a student takes the math placement exam, the score is added to screen 10 on RG01.
- For students who have ACT scores but haven’t been in school for a while, advisors should discuss their backgrounds and feelings toward math. Even though students haven’t taken math in a while, their math skills are likely to come back based on the short review at the beginning of math courses. If students enroll in math courses and they are struggling or doing very well in the beginning, they should talk to their math professors, because it may be possible for the students to change math courses for the semester (whether that means moving to a higher- or a lower-level course).
- If an athlete’s placement score indicates the need for a developmental math course (or courses), he/she must complete the course(s) with a C or better in the first year. After the first year, developmental courses do not count for eligibility. The athlete and/or advisor should check with the Athletic Advisor if the student needs to repeat a course, to determine how the repeat will affect eligibility.
Any questions about math placement issues should be directed to the Department of Mathematics at 651-2164.
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