Placement in Mathematics
A First-year student without Advanced Placement calculus credit or previous college mathematics credits will take one or more of the following mathematics courses as determined by the placement criteria explained below:
- UCOR 1200 Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
- MATH 110 Functions and Algebraic Methods (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 118 College Algebra for Business (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 120 Precalculus: Algebra (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 121 Precalculus: Trigonometry (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 130 Calculus for Business (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 131 Calculus for Life Sciences (spring, winter)
- MATH 134 Calculus I (fall, winter, spring)
- MATH 141 Statistics for Life Sciences (fall, spring)
The course in which you will enroll depends upon your intended major as well as your SAT or ACT mathematics score, or Mathematics Placement Exam score.
To determine math course selection: use the SAT or ACT column to find the range that includes student score; check first column for eligible courses; then, based on major and personal preference, determine which course to take.
[Note: if the SAT or ACT test has been taken more than once, use the highest math score.]
| Math Courses |
SAT score |
ACT score |
S.U. Math Placement Scores |
| UCOR 1200, 110 |
450 to 530 |
18 to 22 |
Algebra score 4 to 14 |
| 118, 120 |
540 to 630 |
23 to 27 |
Algebra score 15 to 24 |
| 121, 130 |
620 or higher |
27 or higher |
Algebra score 23 or higher |
| 131 |
620 or higher and Trig score 4 or higher* |
27 or higher and Trig score 4 or higher* |
Algebra score 23 or higher and Trig score 4 or higher* |
| 134 |
640 or higher and Trig score 6 or higher* |
28 or higher and Trig score 6 or higher* |
Algebra score 25 or higher and Trig score 6 or higher* |
(*Corequisite for MATH 134 and 131 is MATH 121 or indicated score on trig. placement exam)
Mathematics Department Placement Exam
You are placed in
mathematics based on your SAT or ACT score. If you do not like where you
are placed based on this score, you can take the SU placement exam.
Students in majors in the College of Science and Engineering, Albers
School of Business, Sports and Exercise Science and BS Criminal Justice
with a specialization in Forensic Science are best served by placing
into MATH 118/120 or above.
Math Placement Exams will be offered at Summer in Seattle sessions and welcome week.
Note: There is no charge to take the Mathematics Department Placement Exam.