Math Placement Advising Guide

In order to graduate, students must take ONE course from the following list, according to their math placement level, OR be given AP credit, IB credit, or transfer/dual enrollment credit by the Registrar:

MATH 104 (C placement) Algebra and Applications
MATH 135 (B placement) Calculus with Precalculus, Part 1
MATH 150 (A, B placements) Topics in Modern Mathematics
MATH 171 (A placement) Calculus I
MATH 189 (A, B, H placements) Games and Decisions
MATH 210 (A, B, H placements) Introductory Statistics
CS 100 (C placement or consent) Computer Concepts and Applications
CS 110 (A, B, H placements) Introduction to Programming with Visual BASIC
CS 112 (A, B, H placements) Programming I
PHYS 221 (Prereq:  Math 171) University Physics I

• AP credit is available for Calculus A/B placement, Calculus B/C placement, and Statistics.  AP credit satisfies the graduation requirement.
• IB credit is available for Mathematics (Math 171, Math 172). This IB credit satisfies the graduation requirement.
• Similarly, transfer and dual enrollment credits may apply.
• Students who want or need Calculus (Math 135, 171 or 172) should take the course as soon as it is offered.
• Math 210 Introductory Statistics and PSY 210 Statistical Analysis in Psychology are not open to first-year students.
• To challenge your mathematics placement, please contact Dr. Lydia Kennedy at lkennedy@vwu.edu
• To challenge your D mathematics placement, please contact Dr. Lydia Kennedy at lkennedy@vwu.edu or Ms. Kathy Ames at kames@vwu.edu.

Placement Levels

H placement level indicates the student has taken AP Calculus in high school.  Students with H placements should speak to a member of the Mathematics department regarding a course recommendation.  If the student has taken the AP exam and does well enough, AP credit is awarded and may be used to satisfy the math requirement.  Credit is also awarded for the IB exam.

A placement level indicates that the student appears to have sufficient academic preparation for Calculus I.
Not all students who have an A placement will need or want to take calculus.  There are other options:

• Math 150 Topics in Modern Mathematics
• Math 189 Games and Decisions (mathematical game theory)-- Spring odd numbered years
• Math 210 Introductory Statistics (after the first year)
• CS 110 Introduction to Programming with Visual Basic

B placement level is a broad category and indicates that the student has had success in Algebra 2 in high school (B or better) but does not have sufficient trigonometry preparation to be ready for Math 171 Calculus 1.  B placement students who are interested in or need to take a calculus course should take Math 135 Calculus with Precalculus, Part 1.
Not all students who have a B placement will need or want to take calculus.  There are other options:

• Math 150 Topics in Modern Mathematics
• Math 189 Games and Decisions (mathematical game theory)—Spring odd numbered years
• Math 210 Introductory Statistics (after the first year)
• CS 110 Introduction to Programming with Visual Basic

C placement level indicates a lack of success (B or better) in Algebra 2 in high school.  All C placement students need to take Math 104 Algebra and Its Applications

D placement level indicates a lack of success in math in high school.  All D placement students need to take Math 005 Algebraic Preliminaries (spring only) and then Math 104 Algebra and Its Applications

Recommended courses

Students who want to major in Business and have an H, A or B placement should wait until sophomore year and take Math 210 Introductory Statistics

Students who are math phobic or otherwise do not like math and have an A or B placement should be encouraged to take Math 150 Topics in Modern Mathematics

Students with A or B placement who do not like math should be discouraged from taking CS 110 to satisfy the math requirement.

Students who are interested in the pre-engineering program need to take Calculus 1 and Chem 120 in the first semester in order to fit all of the courses for the program in order to complete the program in five years.