Math Placement for Incoming CNSM First-Time, First-Year Students

For Incoming Spring 2024 Science and Math First-Time, First-Year Students (Freshmen)

General math placement information for the University can be found in Mathematics Placement - Mathematics and Statistics Department.

Students majoring in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics are required to complete calculus as part of their degree. Many of these degrees require a sequence of calculus courses.

We use CSULB Algebra and Calculus Placement Multiple Measures to place incoming first-time first-year students into an appropriate first-semester mathematics course. Please see CSU General Education Placement Estimator for more information about Multiple Measures.

Math Course Schemes

Below are the overall mathematics course schemes for calculus. Please see the table appropriate for your major.

Math Course Schemes By Semester For Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geology/Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Engineering Majors
CSULB Multiple Measures 1st Sem. 2nd Sem. 3rd Sem. 4th Sem.
Calculus AP BC, score of 3 or greater MATH 224*
(for some majors)		 (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major)
Calculus AP AB, score of 3 or greater MATH 123 MATH 224*
(for some majors)		 (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major)
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • Calculus AP score of 2.
  • ALEKS Math placement score of 80 or greater.
  • MATH SAT score of 680 or greater.
Note: year-long high school precalculus course required, high school calculus course highly recommended.		 MATH 122 MATH 123 MATH 224*
(for some majors)		 (additional courses if required by major)
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • Ready for General Education Mathematics (See: CSU Placement).
  • ALEKS Math placement score of 60 to 79.
Note: if high school GPA 3.5 or lesser, must also enroll in MATH 93, high school year-long pre-calculus course highly recommended.		 MATH 113 and MATH 111 MATH 122 MATH 123 MATH 224*
(for some majors)
Ready for General Education Mathematics with Additional Support (See: CSU Placement) MATH 112A MATH 112B and MATH 111 MATH 122 MATH 123

*Note that MATH 224 is only required for Chemistry B.S., Mathematics (all options), Statistics, Physics (all options), and some Engineering degrees.

Math Course Schemes By Semester For Biology (all options) and Environmental Science & Policy B.A. Majors
CSULB Multiple Measures 1st Sem. 2nd Sem. 3rd Sem.
Calculus AP BC, score of 3 or greater calculus requirement complete
(additional courses if required by major)		 (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major)
Calculus AP AB, score of 3 or greater calculus requirement complete
(additional courses if required by major)		 (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major)
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • Calculus AP score of 2.
  • ALEKS Math placement score of 80 or greater.
  • MATH SAT score of 680 or greater.
Note: year-long high school precalculus course required, high school calculus course highly recommended.		 MATH 119A (additional courses if required by major) (additional courses if required by major)
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • Ready for General Education Mathematics (See: CSU Placement).
  • ALEKS Math placement score of 60 to 79.
Note: if high school GPA 3.5 or lesser, must also enroll in MATH 93, high school year-long pre-calculus course highly recommended.		 MATH 113 MATH 119A (additional courses if required by major)
Ready for General Education Mathematics with Additional Support (See: CSU Placement) MATH 112A MATH 112B MATH 119A

Importance of Correct Placement

It is important that we place you in the highest-level math course in which you will be successful. We do not want to place you in a course that is too advanced, as you may struggle with the material. Conversely, we do not want to place you in a course that too low, as it may add unnecessary courses to your degree.

Please note that all math and science bachelor degrees (120 units) start with Calculus 1: either MATH 119A for life sciences or MATH 122 for physical sciences and mathematics. Starting your math sequence in MATH 113/MATH 111 or in MATH 112A will add 1 or 2 semesters to your degree, increasing both completion time and cost.

math course scheme

For all science and math (CNSM) majors, MATH 112A, 112B, 111, and 113 do not count towards degree progress.

Some Biology majors require MATH 119A - Survey of Calculus I. All other majors require at least MATH 122 - Calculus I.

Sequence for Biology Majors Requiring MATH 119A

If the courses that do not count towards degree progress are included, the calculus course sequence is as follows:

  1. MATH 112A - Essential Algebra A
  2. MATH 112B - Essential Algebra B
  3. MATH 119A - Survey of Calculus I

MATH 113 - Precalculus Algebra can replace MATH 112A and MATH 112B.

Sequence for All Other CNSM Majors

If the courses that do not count towards degree progress are included, the calculus course sequence is as follows:

  1. MATH 112A - Essential Algebra A
  2. MATH 112B - Essential Algebra B and MATH 111 Precalculus Trig
  3. MATH 122 - Calculus I (required for Biology majors)
  4. MATH 123 - Calculus II (required for Biochemistry and Geology majors)
  5. MATH 224 - Calculus III (required for Chemistry, Physics, and Math majors)

MATH 113 - Precalculus Algebra can replace MATH 112A and MATH 112B.

Science and math freshmen who do not qualify for at least Calculus I (MATH 122, or MATH 119A for some Biology majors) based on AP/CLEP/IB exams or SAT/ACT scores are required to complete ALEKS Mathematics Placement online before summer orientation.

ALEKS Mathematics Placement

The purpose of ALEKS Mathematics Placement is to assess your individual mathematics skills and place you into an appropriate college mathematics course for success. ALEKS Mathematics Placement accurately measures your math foundation and creates a personalized learning module to review and refresh knowledge that may have grown stale.

Deadline Reminder: you must complete the Mathematics ALEKS Assessment by December 3, 2023.

For more information, including how to register, please see ALEKS Mathematics Placement.