Five mathematics courses have no prerequisites: MAT 111 Statistics, and MAT 121 Applied Calculus, MAT 125 Precalculus, MAT-195 Mathematical Thinking, and MAT 197 Modelling Contest Workshop. Also, the mathematics Core class, COR 314 Mathematics and Human Nature, has no prerequisites. Thus, any of these six courses can be taken at any time by any Oglethorpe undergraduate student, although junior standing (or higher) is strongly recommended when taking COR 314.
All other mathematics courses have prerequisites. The first couple of these are:
| Course | Prerequisite (Earning a grade of C- or better) |
|---|---|
| MAT 131 Calculus I | MAT 125 Precalculus |
| MAT 132 Calculus II | MAT 131 Calculus I |
Like all prerequisites, these can be satisfied in a variety of ways, including:
- Passing the specified prerequisite course at Oglethorpe with a grade of C- or better, or
- Taking a materially equivalent course at another regionally accredited post-secondary institution and transferring the credit to Oglethorpe (see Sec. 6.8.2. through Sec. 6.8.6. for additional details), or
- • Exempting the prerequisite via test scores, such as those from specific Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests (see 6.8.1. for additional details).
Another option is the student’s standardized test results (SAT-M or ACT-M). While Oglethorpe does not currently require students to take the ACT/SAT, it can be helpful in this case. College Board and ACT Inc provide data that students meeting a certain level on the mathematics part of their (SAT or ACT) exam can be placed as follows:
- An ACT-M score of 28 or SAT-M score of 700 gives the student non-credit equivalency (NCE) in MAT 125 Precalculus, enabling them to register for any introductory science course or Calculus I
The final option for satisfying some of these prerequisites is taking the Math Placement Exam online. This exam is currently available online; students should contact Admission or Student Success for access.
A student may be placed into MAT 131 if they obtain a 3 on the AP Calculus AB examination. This does not provide the student with any credit (just like the math placement exam explained above).