Steps to determine your first math class
After you have been placed in your mathematics course under the AB 705 guidelines, carefully review your individual goals, transfer plans, and Math Course Sequences, and choose the sequence that best meets your needs. If you are not happy with your math placement and believe is does not accurately reflect your skill level, you may challenge your placement with the Math Department.
View Your Placement Eligibility
The charts below contain the most typical scenarios and guidelines combining placement eligibility and the math sequence needed. Below are the new suggestions based on AB 705 and the new rules for placement which will take effect summer 2019, scroll down to see the previous placement rules.
Liberal Studies
| Pre-Collegiate Course Needed | Term 1 |
|---|---|
| Math 50 (Pre-Statistics), Math 18 (Intermediate Algebra for Statistics and Finite Mathematics) | Math 21 (Finite Mathematics) or Math 54 (Statistics) The recommended placement can include the Co-requisite course. Math 54C Math 21C |
This sequence is appropriate for students who intend to major in the liberal arts or the social sciences and will need only Math 21 or Math 54 for transfer.
Non-trigonometry based Calculus Sequence
| Pre-Collegiate Course Needed | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Math 20 Math 1 (Bridge to College Mathematics) |
Math 26 (Functions and Modeling for Business and Social Science) The recommended placement can include the Co-requisite course. |
Math 28 (Calculus 1 for Business and Social Science) |
Math 29 (Calculus 2 for Business and Social Science) |
This sequence is appropriate if you intend to major in economics, business or one of the social sciences at CSU and some private colleges that do not need trigonometry-based calculus. Not all colleges will require all three courses and some have an additional requirement of Math 54 (Statistics).
Traditional College Trigonometry based Calculus Sequence
| Pre-Collegiate Course | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 and 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Math 20 (Intermediate Algebra) or |
Math 2 (Pre-calculus) Or Math 3 (Trigonometry) and Math 4 (College Algebra) The recommended placement can include the Co-requisite course. Math 2C Math 3C, Math 4C |
Math 7 (Calculus 1) |
Math 8 (Calculus 2) |
Math 10 (Discrete Structures), Math 11 (Multivariable Calculus), Math 13 (Linear Algebra) or Math 15 (Differential Equations) |
This sequence is appropriate for students who intend to major in computer science, engineering, mathematics, one of the physical/natural/life sciences, or most UC-bound Business majors. The Mathematics Department recommends that Math 11 and Math 15 are completed prior to Math 13. What, if any, courses in terms 4 and 5 need to be completed is dependent on the student's major and transfer institution.
Placement rules that were in effect prior to summer 2019
Initial Placement is Transfer Level: Math 2, 3 , 4, 7, 21, 28, 26, 41, 54
Placement is Math 21, 26, 41, or 54
| Sequence needed | Course to Take First |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 26 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 20 and Math 32 followed by Math 2 or Math 3 & Math 4 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 28
| Sequence needed | Course to Take First |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 32 followed by Math 2, or Math 3 & Math 4 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 2, 3 or 4
| Sequence needed | Course to Take First |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 2, or Math 3 & Math 4 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 7
| Sequence needed | Course to Take First |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 7 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 21 or Math 54 |
Initial Placement is non-transfer level
The path will depend on your major some possibilities are:
Placement is Math 18, 20, 32
| Sequence Needed | Courses to Take after 18, 49, 50 |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 20 then Math 26 then math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 20 and Math 32 then Math 2 or Math 3 & Math 4, then Math 7 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 20 then Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 18 then Math 21 or Math 54 You also have the option of taking Math 50 then Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 31
| Sequence Needed | Courses to Take |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 31 followed by 20 then Math 26 then Math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 31 followed by Math 20 and Math 32 then Math 2, or Math 3 & Math 4, then Math 7 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 31 then followed by Math 20 then Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 50 then Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 84
| Sequence Needed | Courses to Take after 84 or 85 |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 84 followed by Math 31 then Math 20 then Math 26 then math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 84 followed by Math 31 then Math 20 and Math 32 then Math 2, or Math 3 & Math 4, then Math 7 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 84 followed by Math 31 then Math 20 then Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 50 then Math 21 or Math 54 |
Placement is Math 81, or 85 or 50
| Sequence Needed | Courses to Take after 84 or 85 |
|---|---|
| Non-Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 85 (or 81 then 84) followed by Math 31 then 20 then Math 26 then Math 28 |
| Trigonometry based Calculus | Math 85 (or 81 then 84) followed by Math 31 then Math 20 and Math 32 then Math 2,
or Math 3 & Math 4, then Math 7 |
| Elementary School Teachers (selected schools) | Math 85 (or 81 then 84) followed by Math 31 then Math 20 then Math 41 |
| Liberal Studies | Math 50 then Math 21 or Math 54 |