Recommended tracks through college algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus

There are several different programs on campus that require students to take a series of pre-calculus and calculus courses. Sometimes students switch programs midway through the typical course sequence and need to be advised how to finish. Here are some possible tracks to calculus for students who must start in one of the courses that precede calculus.  All course descriptions may be found together here.  Students must get a C or higher in each course in order to go on to the next course listed.

Routes to Math 126, Basic Calculus

130 - 126 for students who have had trigonometry and do well on placement test C.

128 - 126 for students who have had trigonometry and do OK on placement test C

122 - 126 for students who have not had trigonometry but have fairly good algebra skills

112 - 122 - 126 for students who need more time with basic algebra skills

095 - 112 - 122 - 126 for students with weak algebra backgrounds

Recommended routes to Math 131 or (134 and 135), Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

130 - 131 for the well-prepared student who does very well on placement test C

128 - 131 for the well-prepared, motivated, and mature student (these are both five-hour courses)

128 - 134 - 135 for the well-prepared student who needs a less intense calculus course spread over two semesters

122 - 130 - 134 - 135 for a student who does extremely well in 122 and is anxious to make an agressive run through precalculus (Math 130).

122 - 128 - 134 - 135 for the typical student who places into Math 122.  Math 128 is a five-hour course, but only three of those hours count toward graduation because of the overlap with 122.  For most students in Math 122, Math 128 will be a better choice than Math 130 because it covers roughly the same topics but meets two additional times per week.  It contributes the same number of hours toward graduation as 130.

112 - 122 - 128 - 134 - 135 for students who place into Math 112.  This is a long sequence of courses, but our experience has shown that skipping any course in the sequence works poorly.  Students who want to shorten this sequence of courses may choose to study independently or with a private tutor and re-take the placement test to try to skip over a course. 

095 - 112 - 122 - 128 - 134 - 135 for students who begin with weak algebra backgrounds.

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