Advising Entering Students into Area A Math Courses
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for placing students into an Area A math course. First, please note the relationship between two of our Area A courses (MATH 1111 and MATH 1113) and a variety of high school courses:
1. THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE EQUIVALENT:
- MATH 1111 College Algebra (Georgia College)
- Algebra II (high school)
- Math 3 (high school)
2. THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE EQUIVALENT:
- MATH 1113 Precalculus (Georgia College)
- Algebra III (high school)
- Trigonometry (high school)
- Precalculus (high school)
- MATH 4 (high school)
- Accelerated Math 3 (high school)
College Algebra is not equivalent to Precalculus. Precalculus is a more advanced course than College Algebra.
The prerequisite for Precalculus is a grade of C or better in College Algebra or the equivalent. By the equivalent, we mean a grade of B or better in one of the high school courses listed in (1) above.
The prerequisite for Calculus I is a grade of C or better in Precalculus or the equivalent. By the equivalent, we mean a grade of B or better in one of the high school courses listed in (2) above.
The following Area A courses on not identical, but they are at the same difficulty level:
- MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning. This course emphasizes quantitative reasoning skills needed for informed citizens to understand the world around them. Topics include logic, basic probability, data analysis, and modeling from data.
- MATH 1101 Math Modeling. This course is an introduction to mathematical modeling using graphical, numerical, symbolic, and verbal techniques to describe and explore real-world data and phenomena. Emphasis is on the use of elementary functions to investigate and analyze applied problems and questions, supported by the use of appropriate technology, and on effective communication of quantitative concepts and results.
- MATH 1111 College Algebra. This course provides an in-depth study of the properties of algebraic, exponential and logarithmic functions as needed for calculus. Emphasis is on using algebraic and graphical techniques for solving problems involving linear, quadratic, piece-wise defined, rational, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
These three courses are the most elementary math courses we offer. They have no prerequisite. Each of them provides good preparation for MATH 1401 Elementary Statistics, the prerequisite for which is a C or better in any Area A math course.
Calculus Track Placement
Students interested in the following majors, COAS - Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Mathematics and Physics; COBT - Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, and Finance, a math index score will be used by academic advisors to place students into appropriately selected 1000-level mathematics courses among Math 1111 College Algebra, Math 1113 Precalculus, and Math 1261 Calculus I.
The math index score is designed to ensure that students are best placed into calculus sequence that aligns with their mathematical preparation.
Math Index Score
H.S. G.P.A. * 100 + Math SAT Score = Math Index Score
Example: A student with a H.S. G.P.A 3.72 and 610 Math SAT has a 3.72*100 + 610 = 982 Math Index
Placement
980 and above - MATH 1261 Calculus
880-979 - MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus
879 and below - MATH 1111 College Algebra
Academic advisors will place students into one of these three courses based upon their math index score. Students will later have the opportunity to make adjustments to this placement with consultation with their academic advisor.