Foundations
The Foundations curriculum area refers to all the pre-calculus math offered here at Grand Valley. To some extent all our faculty are involved in this area, and some work at it exclusively. Great efforts have been and are being made to make these courses as applicable and current as possible. Graphing calculators, other technology and cooperative techniques are all used in these courses. Three areas of interest to students taking these classes are below:
Mathematics Requirements at Grand Valley State University, the graphing calculator
clearinghouse and the
Math Lab.
Mathematics Requirements at Grand Valley State University
All undergraduate students graduating from GVSU must meet two mathematics requirements: the Basic Skills Mathematics requirement, and the General Education – Mathematical Sciences requirement.
The Basic Skills Mathematics requirement can be met by successfully completing MTH 110. It can also be met in one of the following ways:
- Receive an initial placement of “waive MTH 110”.
- Pass the MTH 110 proficiency test.
- Transfer credit for MTH 110, 122, 123, 125, 201, 202, 203, 225 or 302.
- AP credit for MTH 201 and/or 202. (Score of 3 or higher required.)
- CLEP credit for MTH 122 or 201.
The General Education – Mathematical Science requirement can be met by completing a course in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or philosophy, from the approved list: STA 215, CS 160, PHI 103, MTH 122, MTH 123, MTH 125, MTH 131, MTH 201, or MTH 221. This is separate from the Basic Skills requirement.
Selecting Your First Mathematics Course
It is important that incoming students enroll in the correct mathematics (or statistics) course. The correct course depends on your initial placement, your high school mathematics experience, your choice of major, and your initiative to demonstrate proficiency at orientation. Chosen correctly, this will improve your time to graduation and your success at GVSU.
Your Initial Placement
Math placement information will be included with your Orientation Confirmation letter.
First-Time College Students: Initial mathematics placement is based on your ACT mathematics subscore and other factors.
Transfer Students: Initial placement is based on mathematics courses you have successfully completed at other institutions. We do not accept placement results from other institutions.
Check your Transfer Equivalency Guide, as you may have received MTH 110 credit already. Math courses that transfer in as General math credit, statistics, and other math credit will not automatically waive MTH 110 and satisfy the Basic Skills Mathematics requirement.
Meaning of Your Initial Placement
As of May 2009, there are three options for initial placement. Course descriptions are below.
If Initial Placement is MTH 097 (Elementary Algebra)
- You should enroll in MTH 097, which is to prepare you for success in MTH 110 (Algebra).
- Students receive this initial placement due to a low ACT score in mathematics.
If the Initial Placement is MTH 110 (Algebra)
- This placement is due to an ACT score in mathematics that was not sufficiently high, or not enough high school mathematics credits.
- If you have had a great deal of mathematics in high school, such as an FST course (functions-statistics-trigonometry), and had a bad day on the ACT, you are strongly encouraged to take the MTH 110 proficiency test to see if you can test out of MTH 110. More information about the test is below.
If the Initial Placement is “Waive MTH 110”
- You do not need to enroll in MTH 110. You will eventually get a note on your transcript for MTH 110 with a “grade” of P, and no college credit.
- You should discuss with an advisor what mathematics course in the General Education program you will need. You may or may not need to enroll in MTH 122. For example, if the course you need is STA 215 (Introductory Applied Statistics), then you can enroll in that course directly. The same is true for MTH 221 (Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I), although you need to be a sophomore to enroll in that course. Each student has individual needs that cannot be listed here. We strongly encourage you to consult with an advisor to determine the correct path.
- If you want to enroll in MTH 123 (Trigonometry), you will need to demonstrate proficiency in the pre-requisite of MTH 122 (College Algebra). See below for information about the MTH 122 proficiency test.
- Similarly, if you want to enroll in MTH 201, you will need to complete both the MTH 122 and 123 proficiency tests to demonstrate proficiency.
- If you want to enroll in a science course that has MTH 122 and/or 123 as a pre-requisite, you should complete both proficiency test(s).
About the Proficiency Tests
- These tests are designed for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the mathematics in MTH 110 (Algebra), MTH 122 (College Algebra), and/or MTH 123 (Trigonometry).
- At summer orientation, if you decide to take one or more of the proficiency tests, arrive prior to your orientation start time as indicated in your confirmation materials. Results will be ready immediately after testing.
- Students can come back for another orientation session to take a test. Tests will also be offered at the beginning of Fall semester and other times. See http://www.gvsu.edu/testserv for more information. There are no individual appointments made for math testing.
- A practice test for MTH 110 is available on the Testing Services web site http://www.gvsu.edu/testserv. Practice tests for MTH 122 and MTH 123 are in development, but the actual tests are based on the course descriptions below.
- Students are allowed to take each test twice.
- No college credits are earned by passing a test.
- There is no fee for these tests.
- Passing a proficiency test does not waive a General Education requirement.
Course Descriptions for MTH 097, 110, 122, and 123
MTH 097 Elementary Algebra. Introduction to topics covered in MTH 110. Designed for
students who are unprepared for MTH 110. Credits earned for this course do not count toward the number of credits required for graduation. Four credits.
MTH 110 Algebra. A symbolic, numeric, and graphic approach to intermediate algebra with an emphasis on applications. Topics include operations, equations, and inequalities of linear, exponential, logarithmic, quadratic, rational, and radical functions. May not count toward a group science major or minor. Four credits.
MTH 122 College Algebra. A study of functions and their graphs, including polynomial,
rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic, and inverse functions; equations of circles; sequences and series. Emphasis on applications, problem solving, and using graphic, numeric, and symbolic methods to understand and solve equations, inequalities, and systems of nonlinear equations. Fulfills Mathematical Sciences Foundation. Three credits.
MTH 123 Trigonometry. A study of the trigonometric functions with an emphasis on graphing, identities, inverse trigonometric functions, and solving equations. Additional topics include solving triangles, vectors, complex numbers, and polar coordinates. Please see the Mathematics program for placement test details. Fulfills Mathematical Sciences Foundation. Prerequisite: MTH 122 (may be taken concurrently). Three credits.
The Graphing Calculator Clearinghouse
is a place for students to buy and sell their graphing calculators.
It is located on the bulletin board inside the Math Lab.
