Instructions/Explanation:

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers two sequences for Math courses. One sequence is the Elements of Calculus Sequence and this sequence contains courses taken by students in the biological and social sciences. The other sequence is the Mathematics and Engineering calculus sequence. The above Mathematics Placement and Course Sequencing form will show the progression of courses in each of the Sequences and the ACT/SAT scores necessary to place into the beginning class of each sequence. Toward the bottom of the page you will note that there are two courses not in the sequence, but that do require ACT/SAT scores to place into those courses.

It is important to remember that once you begin a sequence you must proceed from that point forward and cannot change the sequence. The Department does offer the option of "Stepping Back" in the first few weeks of the semester. This occurs when a student begins a class and discovers that they are having difficulty with the materials in the class. This does happen especially when students are placed into higher level courses according to ACT/SAT scores and their math backgrounds are not as comprehensive as they need to be to succeed in a higher level course. To "Step Back" a student needs to come to the Coordinator, Program Advisement in the Department in the first three weeks of classes and merely ask to step back to a lower level class.

Some students who take AP Calculus and make the scores to place out of Math 163 occasionally choose to take Math 162 as a refresher course. Although the AP Calculus courses are stringent, they may not fully prepare students for Calculus II at the college level. Students may not receive credit for both AP Calculus and Calculus I, Math 162. The Coordinator, Program Advisement can help you make the decision of how to proceed in the Calculus track.

Every student may challenge the placement by ACT/SAT score by taking a COMPASS placement test for Math. COMPASS tests are offered in the UNM Testing Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Math COMPASS placement test costs $3.00 and may only be taken one time. For students wishing to place out of Math 123 which is our Trigonometry course, the Trig COMPASS placement test is free. This test may only be taken one time as well. Scores for placement tests are generally posted within 48 hours of taking the test and the prerequisite hold is lifted for those students. Students who wish to have the hold lifted earlier may bring the copy of the COMPASS exam scores directly to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Coordinator, Program Advisement can lift the hold.

On the Department's home page the pull down bar across the top of the page lists core courses. We often recommend that students go into Math 120, 121, and 123 and take some of the practice tests on those pages. We update the tests as they are given and at the end of the semester the finals and answers will be posted for practice purposes. Please take advantage of this practice and do not take the COMPASS without some type of review. You need to be aware also, that the COMPASS may place you in a 100 level course and even if you have an ACT/SAT score for a higher level course, once you take the COMPASS you will be placed by the COMPASS results not your ACT/SAT score.

We hope this information is beneficial in helping you make an informed decision on how to proceed in your Math sequences. If you do not need a sequence, you may take the Core Math course and whatever group course your program requires. Please be sure and check the prerequisites for the classes you must take. Math 123 and Math 150 which are both prerequisites for Math 162 may be taken concurrently.