Mathematics Course Placement

The University of Mary is committed to ensuring its students develop the basic mathematics skills necessary not only for advanced academic work in their university courses, but for successful careers after the completion of their undergraduate degrees. To this end, the university offers a sequence of mathematics skill-building courses to ensure students are able to be successful in the courses required of their major.

MAT 097 - Fundamental Concepts of Algebra  

MAT 102 - Intermediate Algebra  

Incoming students are placed into the appropriate entry-level math course based on their previous academic experience and ACT/SAT performance in the area of mathematics. Students must complete the sequence by working through math courses in order of progression, as defined in the course prerequisites (see Course Descriptions  for prereq listings). The sequence is complete once the student has successfully completed a math course numbered MAT 103 or higher. 

Starting Placement for Mathematics Courses

Statistics and other math: Some majors require MAT 180 - Elementary Statistics  (Business, others) or MAT 201 - Elementary Math for Teachers I , which require similar backgrounds to MAT 103  (MAT 102  as prerequisite). Some require MAT 204 - Applied Statistics  (Science, some health & behavioral science), which requires MAT 103  as a pre-req. MAT 204  is developed with SEBS majors in mind the fall semester and various other science majors for the spring. To help summarize, the statistic courses look like this:

Continuations:

1. A minimum grade of “C” in MAT 097 is required to advance to MAT 102.
2. A minimum grade of “C” in MAT 102 is required to advance to MAT 103 or MAT 153 and beyond.

Options:

• Undecided students with ACT Math scores of 24+ should be taking courses like MAT 153 - College Precalculus  instead of MAT 103 - College Algebra , and MAT 204 - Applied Statistics  rather than MAT 180 - Elementary Statistics . As a general rule, if College Algebra is required for a major or course, College Precalculus or Calculus should subsitute in place of College Algebra given that math naturally builds upon itself from elementary school level counting up through at least Calculus II.
• MAT 215 - Elements of Mathematics  may be taken in place of MAT 103 - College Algebra  or MAT 153 - College Precalculus  when appropriate and permitted by the major. Student should not take both MAT 103/153 and MAT 215.
• A CLEP exam is available for credit toward MAT 103  if permitted by the major.

Notes:

• MAT 097   is a remedial course. Credits for this course therefore do not fulfill the Liberal Arts Core or math requirement, but can be applied toward total credits earned toward the degree.
• MAT 102   can be applied toward Liberal Arts Core elective credits, but cannot be used to fill the math requirement for the core.

North Dakota Residents Completing
College Ready English and Math (CREAM) or College Lab for Math and English (CLEM)

An official record of the student’s test score in CREAM/CLEM must be requested by the student and sent to University of Mary Office of Admission by the officiating school or the test vendor, Pearson, to receive consideration. Upon receipt, the Office of Admissions shall forward these results to the math department for a recommendation on course placement, which shall be added to the student’s file for registration purposes.

All  continuations, options, and notes related to math placements based on ACT/SAT scores apply to students who are placed in a math course based on their CREAM/CLEM results.