Every student in a 4 year program must take a mathematics course in order to graduate. Which course this is depends upon a student’s major and high school (or previous college) background.
For example, if prepared:
·
Elementary and Special
Education majors start in MATH110 (Mathematical Reasoning I), and then continue
on to MATH210 (Mathematical Reasoning II).
Please note that MATH110 is very similar to MATH104. A student cannot take both 104 and 110.
·
Mathematics (BAMA) and
secondary mathematics (SEMA) majors start with MATH211 (Calculus).
·
Most science majors take
MATH107 (Precalculus).
· Chemistry majors take MATH211 (Calculus)
· Computer Science Applications majors start
with MATH105 (College Algebra) and Theoretical majors start with MATH107 (Precalculus)
·
Nursing majors take MATH260
(Elements of Statistics).
·
Business Administration majors
take MATH105 (College Algebra) (Note: this course was formerly
numbered MATH204).
·
MOST other students, and all
General Studies/ Undeclared students, take MATH104 (Finite Mathematics).
(Students should consult their advisors to determine which course to take. Students who wish to substitute a harder
course in place of MATH104 should CONSULT THEIR ADVISORS and seek permission
from the appropriate Dean.)
Assuming a sufficient high school background (a satisfactory knowledge
of Algebra II), students may proceed directly to their required course.
Those without an adequate mathematical background will be assigned to
our developmental service course, MATH020 (Basic Algebra), or to the
appropriate prerequisite course (MATH105, 107,…)
before they may take the required course.
Placement
Procedures
Students are placed
in a course based on their major and on their mathematics ability. In the past this was assessed by high school
(or college, if applicable) background.
In our constant effort to fit
students in the correct class and reduce failure rates, starting March 2006, we
are beginning to use a nationally recognized technology to help us with
placement. All students will be required
to take an online Accuplacer placement exam to determine
their current arithmetic and algebra knowledge.
The test takes as little as 10 minutes to take as it adapts to your
current skill level in the questions it asks.
The test will be offered at the required freshmen orientations and at
scheduled times throughout the year prior to registration times.
Current
testing times for 2006—all in
For current
students:
Tues. March 21,
8-9:30 am
Fri. March 24,
3-4:30
Or by appointment
in Doucette 200
For freshmen and
transfers:
Sat April 22 and
Sat May 6, 10-11:30
Tues. June 6, 2-7
pm
Mon June 19, Wed
June 21, Fri June 23, Mon June 26, Wed June 28, Fri June 30—all 10-11:30
Tues Aug 1, 2-7 pm
Fri Aug 25,
10-11:30 am
Enrollment/
Scheduling
Although we “place” you into a
certain class, this just means that we are permitting your enrollment. You need to actually schedule the particular
section yourself.
For those: who get a “prereq” flag from Banner:
Either you have not been placed yet
or you have been placed in a course other than the one you want. (Those
planning on taking 107 may be placed in 105 or 020. Those planning on taking another course may
be placed in 020). If you are seeking
admission into one of our introductory courses (104, 105, 106, 107, 110, 260,
208), please do not bring a pink prereq waiver to the
Math/CS Department. We want you to take
the Accuplacer placement exam. If you have questions or are interested in a
more advanced course, please call (732-2760) or email the department at quinna@edinboro.edu. Please make sure you get placed as soon as
possible, so that you do not delay your graduation.
Appeal Procedure:
Please take the Accuplacer
exam again during a scheduled time.
Please bring questions or concerns to Dr. Quinn in the Math/CS office
and/or e-mail Dr. Quinn at quinna@edinboro.edu
if you have concerns.
All of our skill courses satisfy the following objectives:
Objective 1: Identify and apply mathematical formulas
to solve specific problems.
Objective 2: Identify sound and unsound reasoning.
Objective 3: Identify relevant information and then
develop a plan to solve a problem using an appropriate technique, such as:
drawing pictures, considering simplified versions of the problem, organizing
the given information into a table, writing down all known relevant formulas or
relationships among the given information.
Objective 4: Perform previously developed, multiple
step procedures to solve a given problem.
Objective 5: Build a mathematical vocabulary in
several content areas.
Depending on your major,
your advisor may suggest you take either MATH 104 (Finite Mathematics) or one
of the following courses. Each of these
satisfies the above objectives and may be used instead of MATH104 (however,
consult your advisor). They are all
considered harder than MATH104 and may be taken instead. Descriptions can be seen in your catalog:
Clearly, an algebra background is necessary for courses
such as: MATH105, MATH106, MATH107, MATH204, MATH208, MATH211, or MATH260. In addition, an algebra background is
necessary for MATH104. Algebraic formulas
are used in MATH104 in the following ways:
· solving story problems,
· deductive reasoning,
· compound interest,
· standard deviation,
· z-scores,
· deriving Fahrenheit from Celsius,
· deriving present value from compound interest, and
· deriving x-scores from z-scores.
Algebraic
thinking is required in MATH104 to do:
· dimensional analysis,
· scientific notation,
· order of operations,
· similar triangles, and
· square units.
MATH020
Exceptions:
If you are placed in 020 and wish to avoid taking the class, you may study on your own and take the Accuplacer exam again. Studying some of the following topics would be helpful: arithmetic, simplifying, solving for x, factoring, graphing lines, and algebraic story problems. Call or email with concerns.
MATH104
Exceptions/ Receiving Credit by Examination:
The
Placement Director will automatically waive most eligible students. However, if a student feels that he or she
should have been waived and wasn’t, please fill out a placement form.
Student wishes to take a harder course than MATH104: Aside from MATH020, MATH104 is considered one of our more basic courses. Many majors require this course. As far as the Mathematics Department is concerned, even if a major requires MATH104, a student may take a harder course (105, 106, 107, 211, 260, 270,…) instead of 104 to satisfy the skill requirement. Of course the students should first CONSULT THEIR ADVISORS AND DEANS about this change in program.
Knows Material and Gets Credit by Passing Final Exam: As with any course, a student may get credit for MATH104 by exam. Please stop by the Math/ CS Department to pick up a syllabus or course description. Then go to Records and Registration to pay the appropriate fee (currently $75 for a 3 credit class). Then bring proof of payment to the Chair of the Math/ CS Department, and arrange to take the final exam.
Last revised: March 8, 2006