Embedded Files
Course Search Tips
Course Search Tips
Common subjects that count for high school math requirements are MATH and STAT.
Search Schedule Builder > Liberal Education Requirements > Mathematical Thinking
Reminder: Always check with your high school counselor to see which PSEO courses your high school will accept for each graduation requirement. (4 college credits is equivalent to one year of high school instruction in a subject area.)
Placement
Placement
You may not need a math placement test if you've had prior college math credits! See our AP/IB/Transfer Credits guide to learn how to use your prior college credits for placement or to bypass prerequisites.
Placement test with AP Calc: Even if your AP score grants college math credit, it's recommended to take the math placement exam to confirm if you should brush up on particular math fundamentals before progressing.
Our math courses require a U of M math placement exam score or prior college credit.
Caution: Schedule Builder sometimes says “3 years of high school math” is sufficient, but this is incorrect.
If you've taken UMTYMP, check this UMTYMP equivalency guide to determine which courses you've earned credit for and which courses are next.
The U of M uses its own placement exam and does not accept Accuplacer scores from community colleges.
The test is 65 minutes. For the most accurate score, you should not use a calculator.
If your computer crashes during the test, you may contact fouryear@umn.edu to explain the issue and request that your test be reset.
Retakes are not permitted.
After the Placement Exam
After the Placement Exam
You will not be able to view your scores directly so contact your advisor after taking the test and they can share your results with you.
Don't feel the results accurately reflect your knowledge? You may contact molshelp@umn.edu to request a follow-up "Qualifying Exam" to try placing one course higher than your initial placement. This may only be done once.
Core Math Sequence
Core Math Sequence
Check Schedule Builder for full course descriptions and prerequisites.
This is the main order in which to take U of M math courses, but each student starts at a different place.
Carefully review the math placement section above to see where you should start in this sequence.
One of these two courses:
MATH 1031, College Algebra & Probability (3 credit)
MATH 1051, Precalculus 1 (3 cr)
They cover very similar material, except that 1031 has a probability component while 1051 will focus a bit more on algebra.
MATH 1151, Precalculus 2 (3 cr) [offered online]
MATH 1271, Calculus 1 (4 cr) [offered online]
MATH 1272, Calculus 2 (4 cr) [offered online]
After calculus 2 for students in math-heavy majors, it's common to next take either of the following:
MATH 2243, Multivariable Calculus (4 cr)
MATH 2263, Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (4 cr)
Note that Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra & Differential Equations all have "CSE" variants, which are not available to PSEO students. See below for details.
Supplementary "Skills" Courses (1 credit)
Supplementary "Skills" Courses (1 credit)
Overview
Overview
Sometimes, when students just barely place into a math level, they may be allowed to take that more advanced course only if they also take a 1-credit course that helps strengthen their skills from the prior math level.
Example: Bill's math placement test score places him near at the borderline between Precalculus 1 (MATH 1051) and Precalculus 2 (MATH 1151). However, his advisor tells him that his score only lets him take MATH 1151 if he also takes MATH 1149 alongside it to shore up his algebra foundations needed for success in Precalculus 2.
Supplementary Courses
Supplementary Courses
MATH 1049, Intermediate Algebra Skills: Supplements MATH 1031 or 1051.
MATH 1149, College Algebra Skills: Supplements MATH 1151.
MATH 1269, Precalculus Skills: Supplements MATH 1271.
Who Should (And Shouldn't) Take These
Who Should (And Shouldn't) Take These
These courses are just intended for students whose placement score requires them to take it alongside another course. If your placement doesn't require it but you feel like your foundations in the prior course's topics are shaky, you may choose to take it.
You should not take the course just to get a fourth math credit for a high school graduation requirement if you were not otherwise going to take it.
Uncommon Math Courses
Uncommon Math Courses
MATH 1001, Excursions in Mathematics (4 cr): Elective course for students who are interested in math but who will never need more than one math course. Not an easy way out of taking math.
MATH 1042, Mathematics of Design (4 cr): Specifically for students in the U's Construction Management major. Does not serve as a prerequisite for Calculus 1. Closed to PSEO.
MATH 1142, Short Calculus (4 cr) [offered online]: Covers some material of precalculus 2 and calculus 1, but skips some material too. Not recommended because it does not count towards most majors.
MATH 1155, Intensive Precalculus (5 cr): An intensive combination of the material from Precalculus I and II. Not recommended because of its pace and challenge.
MATH 2142, Elementary Linear Algebra (4 cr): An alternative to MATH 2243 that covers linear algebra in more depth but does not cover differential equations. Not appropriate for students pursuing engineering or other science fields.
PHIL 1001, Intro to Logic (4 cr): Many high schools may not accept this, so check with your high school counselor if the course interests you.
Common Statistics Courses
Common Statistics Courses
STAT 1001, Intro to the Ideas of Statistics (4 crs): No prerequisites. Not used for many majors.
STAT 3011, Intro to Stat Analysis (4 crs): No prerequisites. Can be used for CBS majors and many social science majors, such as psychology.
STAT 3021, Intro to Probability & Stats (4 crs): Prereq = Calculus 2.
Which Math Do You Need?
Which Math Do You Need?
It often depends on the major you plan to study. Check the requirements for majors you're interested in to see which math and statistics your planned majors may need, but here are a few general guidelines to start with.
Just need 4 credits of high school math and no plans to take a major needing math? Consider one of the following introductory math courses:
A single 4 credit intro course, such as Stat 1001, Math 1001, or even (if your high school accepts it) Phil 1001.
Multiple 3 credit courses, such as taking Math 1031 (3 cr) one semester and Math 1151 (3 cr) the next.
College of Science & Engineering majors:
Often need through at least calculus 2, multivariable calculus, and linear algebra & differential equations.
Sometimes need Stat 3022.
Biology-related majors: Often need to take at least two math courses:
Calculus 1
Some further math such as calculus 2 or certain computer science or statistics options.
Social Science major (like psychology or political science): May need Stat 3011.
Restrictions
Restrictions
Students may not take both Math 2263 and 2243 (or their equivalents) in the same semester due to exam time conflicts.
MATH 1241, Calculus and Dynamical Systems in Biology (4 crs): Terminal calculus course for students admitted to CBS who do not plan to continue to Calculus 2. Not equivalent to Calculus 1. Not available to PSEO students.
College of Science and Engineering math courses (MATH 1371, 1372, 2373, 2374):
Not available to PSEO students, but non-CSE versions still count towards CSE majors!
Very comparable material to the non-CSE versions, though they utilize applications like Matlab and Mathematica that can be helpful for CSE majors.
Please note that typically, one online section (~30 seats) is offered per math course, per semester. PSEO students may have difficulty enrolling in these limited sections, especially during their first fall semester in PSEO.
Find a course that you want to take but the section you are interested in is full or wait listed? Check out the Getting Into Closed Courses page to learn how to get into closed courses.
Report abuse