General Education Courses
Purpose:
The Department of Mathematics’ general education courses aim to prepare
students to communicate logically, become proficient at quantitative reasoning,
and to think critically and analytically. The courses intend to enable students
to deal comfortably with the basic notions of number and chance and to acquire
mathematical tools to help reach their career objectives.
University Level Courses:
Mat 101, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, develops students’
understanding of the mathematics needed to teach elementary school. Topics
include sets, functions, logic, the real number system, number theory, and
problem solving. The course is mainly for early childhood, elementary education,
and special education majors.
Mat 103, Introduction to Mathematics, is a liberal arts introduction to the
nature and beauty of mathematics. Topics include logic, graph theory,
probability, and decision theory. An additional topic is chosen from finance,
geometry, and statistics.
Mat 105, College Algebra and Trigonometry, is a unified course in algebra and
trigonometry. Topics include the study of polynomial, exponential, and
logarithmic functions, systems of linear equations, and trigonometry.
Mat 107, College Algebra, is a thorough treatment of college algebra. Topics
include polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions, systems of linear
equations, and an introduction to linear programming.
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Developmental Courses
Many students find that the reasoning required in the above courses is quite
different from that of their high school courses and also find that their
arithmetical and/or algebraic skills need strengthening. We offer, therefore,
two courses, Mat 001 and Mat 000, described below, to help students prepare for
university level mathematics courses.
Mat 001, Fundamental Skills in Arithmetic, is designed to strengthen basic
arithmetic skills and to introduce the elements of algebra. Students, in
general, are placed in Mat 001 if their math SAT is less than 440. A student
(other than an Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education major) must
complete this course and the subsequent course Mat 000 with a grade of C- before
enrolling in a 100 level mathematics course. An Early Childhood, Elementary, or
Special Education major with an SAT math score less than 480 must complete this
course with a grade of at least C- before enrolling in Mat101.
Mat 000, Fundamentals of Algebra, aims at strengthening basic algebraic
skills. A student (other than an Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special
Education major) with a SAT math score greater than or equal to 440 and less
than 480 must successfully complete this course with a grade of at least C-
before enrolling in a 100 level mathematics course (see note
below).
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The Mathematics Placement Exam
Although students are placed into their mathematics courses by SAT score,
they are given the opportunity to ‘test-out" of their initial placement.
There are three different placement tests: Arithmetic, Basic Algebra, and
College Algebra and Trigonometry. All three tests are approximately 50 minutes
in length and have a multiple-choice format.
The Arithmetic Placement Test is for students who
wish to "test out" of Mat 001. It measures basic arithmetic and reasoning skills
pertaining to whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratio and
proportion, and some geometry. A passing score on this test allows students to
enroll in Mat 000 with the exception of Early Childhood,
Elementary, and Special Education majors who may enroll in Mat 101.
The Basic Algebra Test is for students who wish to
"test out" of Mat 000. It measures fundamental algebraic skills pertaining to
linear, quadratic, and rational expressions, factoring, exponents, and
inequalities. A passing score on this test allows students to enroll in Math
101, Mat 103, Mat105, Mat107, orMat 121.
The College Algebra and Trigonometry Test, is for
students who wish to "test out" of Mat 110. It measures more advanced algebra
skills and knowledge of basic trigonometry. Topics include polynomial,
exponential, rational, and logarithmic functions, graphing, and trigonometric
functions and identities. A passing score on this test allows students to enroll
in Math 161, Calculus I.
The Mathematics Placement Test is offered on the second day of the Summer
Orientation Program from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Additional times on which the
test is given are posted outside the Department of Mathematics office, Anderson
323. Test results are normally made available on the same day as the exam.
Scores are posted at the same site and are forwarded to advisors and others
responsible for scheduling.
Advanced Placement Policy
Course credit for success on AP exams in mathematics is
awarded as follows:
AP Test Score on AP Test
3
4
5
Calculus AB MAT 108 MAT 161 MAT 161
Calculus BC MAT 161 MAT 162 MAT 162
Statistics MAT 121 MAT 121
MAT 121
If placed in a calculus class because of an SAT score, the
student must still pass a departmental examination administered during the first
day of classes before being allowed to continue.
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Dr. Peter Zimmer, Director of the Department of Mathematics’ Developmental
Education Program can answer questions or provide additional information
regarding the testing program. He may be contacted at (610-436-2696) or by
e-mail (
pzimmer@wcupa.edu).
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Summary of the Placement and Testing Program
Department of Mathematics
First-Year Students:
Students with SAT Math scores of 440 or below are placed in MAT 001; those
with scores greater than 440 and less than or equal to 480 are placed in MAT
000. A score above 480 entitles a student to enroll in a 100 level mathematics
course. For those students who require MAT 101, i.e., early childhood,
elementary, or special education majors, the remedial mathematics course is MAT
001 for students with an SAT math score of 480 or below.
Students are not placed in remedial math in the same semester as remedial
English. Those that require both remedial English and remedial math will first
be scheduled for remedial English and placed in remedial math the following
semester.
Students have the opportunity to "test out" of remedial mathematics courses
by taking the required placement exam.
Students who intend to take Mat161, Calculus I and have an SAT math score of
590 or less are placed in Mat110, Pre Calculus. Students who wish to "test out"
of this placement must pass the College Algebra and Trigonometry placement
test.
Transfer Students:
Students who receive transfer credit for a 100 level mathematics course are
not required to take a remedial mathematics course. Those who did not receive
such credit are required to pass the appropriate mathematics placement test
before enrolling in any mathematics course.
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NOTE: A recent University study has shown those
students with SAT Math scores of 530 or below tend to do better in university
level mathematics courses if they first satisfactorily complete the appropriate
remedial math course. We therefore encourage students whose SAT math score is
above 480 but below 530 to take the recommended mathematics placement exam.
After assessing their own individual performance on the exam, students may
choose to take the recommended remedial math course to help assure
success in university level mathematics courses.
