Math Placement and Skills Assessment
SLU-Madrid mathematics courses meet the needs of students with a wide variety of interests. The department offers several introductory courses to satisfy the core curriculum requirements, as well as courses that provide students in other disciplines with the mathematical and statistical background that they need for their chosen fields of study.
Depending on your major or academic program, you may need only one mathematics course at the university level. Our placement test helps identify if you need prerequisite work to succeed in this course.
If you are in a math-intensive program, such as a science and engineering program, you must take several mathematics courses. As the knowledge you gain across these courses is cumulative, it is essential you do well from the start.
While ambition is applauded, it's strongly advised that students be conservative and follow the advice of the Department of Mathematics when it comes to placement. This may mean students will take a course that reviews materials they may have studied in high school to build a strong foundation for success.
According to their performance on our placement test, business majors may need to enroll in MATH 0260 Intermediate Algebra, while science and engineering majors may take MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus.
Science and engineering majors should have already taken four or more mathematics units during high school, including algebra I and II, geometry and a course such as pre-calculus (or another mathematics course focusing on trigonometry. Algebra II with trigonometry is insufficient).
Business majors must complete MATH 1320 Survey of Calculus by the end of the sophomore year.
Mathematics Courses
These courses prepare students to take other courses specified by their degree requirements.
- MATH 0260 Intermediate Algebra. This course covers the basic foundations of math.
- MATH 1200 College Algebra. This course prepares students for more math courses. It includes the same material as standard Algebra II or Algebra II/Trigonometry in U.S. high schools.
- MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus. A basic course in trigonometry is equivalent to a yearlong high-school course in analysis or pre-calculus.
These courses are designed to cover specific content required by programs and departments.
- MATH 1320 Survey of Calculus.
- MATH 1660 Discrete Mathematics. This course covers discrete mathematics used in computer science, sets, sequences, strings, symbolic logic, proofs, mathematical induction, sums and products, number systems, algorithms, complexity, graph theory, and finite state machines.
- MATH 1510 Calculus I
- Basic Algebra
- Basic Functions 1
- Basic Functions 2
- Basic Functions 3
- Equations and Inequalities
- Equations and Inequalities 2
- Factorization and Powers
- Functions and Graphs
- Inequalities
- Intermediate Algebra
- Rational Functions
- Sample Final Exam: Intermediate Algebra
- Sample Final Exam: College Algebra
- Sample Final Exam: Precalculus
Math for Engineering and Natural Science Majors
Even if math is not your main career path, as an engineer or a science major it is useful to develop a solid mathematical background.it is useful to develop a solid mathematical background as an engineer or a science major Mathematics develops analytical skills and the ability to work in a problem-solving environment. Employers value these skills.
For example, several U.S. governmental agencies — such as the Air Force and the Navy, the National Security Agency or National Laboratories — hire graduates with a strong preparation in mathematics.
Engineering and Science Mathematics Course Path
- MATH 1200 College Algebra (You may be able to skip this course and take MATH 1400. Placement required.)
- MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus (You may be able to skip this course and take MATH 1510. Placement required.)
- MATH 1510 Calculus I (Placement required)
- MATH 1520 Calculus II
- MATH 2530 Calculus III (depending on your major)
- Upper division courses (depending on your major)
We strongly recommend following the sequence of math courses in a continuous way. Our experience shows that academic results fall significantly when this sequence is disrupted.
Math for Business and Social Science Majors
Even if math is not your main career path, as a business and social sciences major, developing a solid mathematical background is useful. Mathematics develops analytical and problem-solving skills that employers highly value.
Business and Social Sciences Mathematics Course Path
The following courses are recommended for those not pursuing a math minor:
- MATH 1200 College Algebra (Placement required. You might be able to skip this course and take MATH 1320 or be moved to MATH 0260 Intermediate Algebra if the placement advises so.)
- MATH 1320 Survey of Calculus (Placement required)
If further science or mathematics credits are needed:
- MATH 1220 Finite Mathematics
- MATH 1270 Math Media: Reading News with Mathematical Eyes
For those pursuing a math minor:
- MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus (You might be able to skip this course and take MATH 1510.)
- MATH 1510 Calculus I (Placement required.) This would replace MATH 1320 Survey of Calculus above.
- Further upper courses.
We strongly recommend following the sequence of math courses in a continuous way. Our experience shows that academic results fall significantly when this sequence is disrupted.
Math for Humanities and Arts Majors
If science or mathematics credits are needed, we strongly recommend courses with less algebra and technical content, such as MATH 1220 Finite Mathematics and MATH 1270 Math Media: Reading News with Mathematical Eyes.