English and Math Placement Guide

English and Math Placement Guide

Revised 3/31/20 – Effective Summer 2020

 

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Graphic Chart of English and Math Placement Guide

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English Placement

English placement based on high school GPA
HS GPA Placement Options
≥ 2.6 English 101A*
Expository Composition (4 units)
English 01AX is an option, but should not be recommended.
≥ 1.9 English 101A*
Expository Composition (4 units)
English 101A with English 01AX is recommended, but not required.
< 1.9 English 101A and 01AX
Expanded Expository Composition (4 units and 2 units)
English 101A and 01AX is required. A student must sign an informed consent to take stand-alone English 101A.

* An EAP/CAASPP test score of 4 or better (2718-2862) can also place a student here.

GPA through at least grade 10. Students without a transcript can self-report GPA.


 

 

BSTEM Major Math Placement

STEM Majors

Math placement for STEM majors based on high school GPA and additional requirements
HS GPA Additional Requirement Placement
None High school calculus or equivalent with C- or better both semesters Math 103
Calculus (4 units)
≥ 3.2 Precalculus or equivalent with B- or better both semesters and trigonometry with C- or better
≥ 3.0 Precalculus or equivalent with C- or better both semesters Math 101*
College-Level Precalculus II (4 units)
≥ 3.4 None Math 101A*
Trigonometry and Precalculus (6 units)
≥ 3.0 Algebra 2, Integrated Math 3, or equivalent with B- or better both semesters
≥ 2.6 Enrolled in high school calculus or equivalent
< 2.6 None Math 100 and 50X
College-Level Precalculus I with Corequisite Support (6 units)

Business Majors

Math placement for Business majors based on high school GPA and additional requirements
HS GPA Additional Requirement Placement
≥ 2.8 None BSAD 155
Business Statistics (3 units)
< 2.8 Algebra 2, Integrated Math 3, or equivalent with C- or better both semesters
< 2.8 None Math 118 and 18X – Finite Mathematics with Corequisite Support (6 units)
or
Math 122 and 22X – Statistics with Corequisite Support (6 units)

* An EAP/CAASPP test score of 4 or better (2718-2862) can also place a student here.

GPA through at least grade 10. Students without a transcript can self-report GPA.

A student can challenge his or her placement with an exam in the Learning Center.


 

 

STEM Sequence through Calculus

The STEM math sequence progresses from entry-level placement courses through upper-division calculus. Students enter the sequence based on their placement (see BSTEM table above) and progress upward.

Entry Points (by placement or challenge exam)

  • Math 100 & Math 50X – College-Level Precalculus I with Corequisite (6 units) → leads to Math 101
  • Math 101A – Trigonometry & Precalculus (6 units) → leads to Math 103
  • Math 101 – College-Level Precalculus II (4 units) → leads to Math 103
  • Direct placement into Math 103 (see BSTEM placement table)

Calculus Sequence

  1. Math 103: Calculus I (4 units)
  2. Math 104: Calculus II (4 units)
  3. Math 205: Calculus III (4 units)
  4. Math 207: Ordinary Differential Equations (4 units)

* Math 208: Introduction to Linear Algebra (4 units) is not required but is recommended for some STEM majors.


 

 

Non-BSTEM Major Math Placement

Education Majors

Math placement for Education majors based on high school GPA and additional requirements
HS GPA Additional Requirement Placement
≥ 2.8 None Math 115*
Structures and Concepts (3 units)
< 2.8 Algebra 2, Integrated Math 3, or equivalent with B- or better both semesters

Students who do not meet the criteria for Math 115 should follow the Math 110 track (see below) and then take Math 115.

Other Non-BSTEM Majors

Students can choose the Math 122 (Statistics) track or the Math 110 (College Algebra) track.§

Math 122 (Statistics) Track

Statistics track placement for non-BSTEM majors
HS GPA Additional Requirement Placement Option
≥ 2.8 None Math 122*
Statistics (4 units)
 
< 2.8 Algebra 2, Integrated Math 3, or equivalent with C- or better both semesters
≥ 2.3 None Math 122*
Statistics (4 units)
Math 122 and 22X
Statistics with Corequisite Support (6 units)
< 2.3 None Math 122 and 22X
Statistics with Corequisite Support (6 units)
Student can challenge the corequisite placement.

Math 110 (College Algebra) Track

College Algebra track placement for non-BSTEM majors
HS GPA Additional Requirement Placement Option
≥ 2.6 Algebra 1, Integrated Math 1, or equivalent with C- or better both semesters Math 110
College Algebra (4 units)
 
< 2.6 Algebra 2, Integrated Math 3, or equivalent with C- or better both semesters
< 2.6 None Math 110 and 10X
College Algebra for Liberal Arts with Corequisite Support (6 units)
Student can challenge the corequisite placement.

* An EAP/CAASPP test score of 4 or better (2718-2862) can also place a student here.

GPA through at least grade 10. Students without a transcript can self-report GPA.

A student can challenge his or her placement with an exam in the Learning Center.

§ The following majors require Math 122: Administration of Justice, Agribusiness, Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology. Advanced Information Systems majors can take Math 122 or BSAD 155.