As part of the university advising program, the department makes recommendations for each freshman student concerning the preparatory mathematics and statistics courses they are required qualified to take. These recommendations are based on the ACT sub score in mathematics and/or the department placement tests. Placement tests are offered to incoming freshmen during the summer orientation sessions. They may also be taken at almost any time by arrangement with the department chair.

Math Competency:
The university has a mathematics competency requirement for graduation from Saint Mary’s University.

If a student has an ACT math sub-score of 20 or below, then the student is required to enroll in one of the following courses:

• Math 100 – Elementary Mathematical Ideas – This course is intended for non-science majors.
• Math 102 – Intermediate Algebra – This course is intended for science majors (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics).

If Math Competency is Satisfied:
Depending on a student’s field of interest, a student whose math competency is satisfied will be placed into one of the following courses:

Non-Science Majors

• Elementary Education Majors
• Fall, Math 109 – Mathematical Concepts II: Geometry
• Spring, Math 108 – Mathematical Concepts: Number Systems
• Business Majors
• Math 145 – Finite Mathematics
• Other Majors
• Statistics 132 – Reasoning with Statistics or
• Statistics 232 – Introduction to Statistics (ACT sub-score of 26 or higher).

Science Majors (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics)

• A prospective science major whose ACT math sub-score is between 21 and 25 with be placed into the following courses:
• Math 115 – College Algebra
• Math 116 – College Trigonometry (which may be taken at the same time or after Math 115).
• A prospective science major whose ACT math sub-score is 26 or higher will be placed into the following course:
• Math 151 – Calculus 1

Placement Exams:
The department offers placement exams to students who wish to place out of the following courses: Math 100, Math 102, Math 115 and Math 116. These exams are given during the summer orientation sessions and by arrangement with the department chair. Practice materials for these exams are available through the following .PDF links:

(Math 100/Math 102) Intermediate Algebra Practice Placement Exam

(Math 115) College Algebra Practice Placement Exam

(Math 116) Trigonometry Practice Placement Exam

The department also offers a Saint Mary's University Advance Placement Calculus Test for those students who wish to place out of Math 151 – Calculus 1.