What mathematics course should I take? Many students who arrive at BYU have difficulty deciding which mathematics course to start with. We will discuss the mathematics requirements at BYU, and describe some of the standard paths that students take to fulfill them.
All students at BYU are required to complete a quantitative reasoning requirement as part of the University Core. Many students fulfill this requirement with an ACT math score of 22 or higher, or an SAT math score of 540 or higher. For students who do not achieve these scores, a good option to fulfill this requirement is Math 102. Math 102 is a quantitative reasoning course in which students learn how to work with numbers in practical ways. Unit conversion, financial mathematics and some basic statistics are covered in the course. Math 102 has no prerequisites–in particular it is not assumed that students taking the course have had algebra. Note that if you need to take a higher level mathematics course for your major, you should not take Math 102–any higher level math course automatically fills the quantitative reasoning requirement.
The University core also contains a Languages of Learning requirement. This can be fulfilled with a mathematics course or with a foreign language course. Courses that fulfill the mathematics option include Math 112 or Math 113. The prerequisite for Math 112 is Math 110 and Math 111 or equivalent courses. If you have taken a precalculus course in high school, this would count as equivalent to Math 110 for the purposes of prerequisites.
Students planning to major in Accounting, Management, or Information Systems (in the Marriott School of Management) are required to take Math 116 and Math 118. Both of these courses have Math 110 as a prerequisite. If you have credit for Math 112, this should fulfill the Math 116 requirement (check with your major department). If you have taken a precalculus course in high school, this would count as equivalent to Math 110 for the purposes of prerequisites.
Students who are planning on mathematics intensive majors, such as physics, chemistry, or engineering, will want to take calculus (Math 112 and 113). The prerequisite for Math 112 is Math 110 and Math 111 or equivalent courses. If you have taken a precalculus course in high school, this would count as equivalent to Math 110 for the purposes of prerequisites. If you have taken (and passed) the AP calculus exam, you should get some credit for calculus. A 4 or a 5 on the AB exam or a 4 on the BC exam earns credit for Math 110 and Math 112, and a 5 on the BC exam earns credit for Math 112 and 113. Some students who pass the AP exam and get college credit for calculus still choose to take Math 112 or 113 in order to gain a better understanding of the material. If you have credit for calculus but are uncomfortable enough with calculus that you still want to take Math 112 or Math 113, it is recommended that you e-mail ugradassistant@mathematics.byu.edu to make an appointment with an advisor.
| If you have: | You should take: |
|---|---|
| ACT math below 22 or SAT math below 540 and do not need any other mathematics courses | Math 102 |
| Passed precalculus in high school or Math 110 at BYU | Math 112 (if needed for your major or GE requirements) |
| Not Passed precalculus in high school or Math 110 at BYU | Math 110 (if needed for your major, or if you wish to take calculus) |
| Taken calculus in high school but did not receive college credit | Math 112 (or Math 116 and Math 118 if required) |
| Received college credit for calculus but are not comfortable with the material | Math 112 or Math 113 (or Math 116 and Math 118 if required) |
| Received college credit for calculus and need to take further mathematics | Math 290 (for math majors, math ed majors, or minors) Math 213 Math 191 (math majors or prospective majors only) |
| Taken mathematics beyond calculus in high school | E-mail ugradassistant@math.byu.edu to receive advising. |