What Mathematics Course Should Your Advisee Take?

The Universal MATH Requirement.

All students receiving a bachelor's degree at Boise State and most students receiving an associate's degree are required to take at least one core mathematics class. The list of approved core mathematics classes can be found in the catalog in the chapter on "Obtaining a Degree" or in the Directory of Classes. The current approved list is: MATH 124, MATH 130, MATH 143, MATH 147, MATH 160, MATH 170, MATH 175, MATH 187, MATH 254, and MATH 257:

MATH 25 Elementary Algebra (0 credits) Remedial. Requires 3 credits of effort.
MATH 108 Intermediate Algebra (4 Non Core credits) More information
MATH 124 Math for Liberal Arts (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 130 Finite Mathematics (4 credits) CORE
MATH 143 College Algebra (3 credits) CORE More information
MATH 147 Precalculus (5 credits) CORE More information
MATH 157 Structure of Arithmetic for Teachers (4 Non Core credits) More information
MATH 160 Survey of Calculus (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 170 Calculus I (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 175 Calculus II (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 187 Discrete Mathematics (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 254 Applied Statistics with Computers (4 credits) CORE More information
MATH 257 Geometry and Probability for Teachers (4 credits) CORE More information

Most students fulfill their mathematics requirement as a part of their major, e.g., MATH 143 is required for business majors, MATH 170 for engineering majors, etc. Students and advisors in majors which do not require a mathematics class will have to pay particular attention to ensure that they choose an appropriate class well in advance of graduation. The Mathematics Department is not sympathetic to arguments of the nature "I was putting it off and now that I want to graduate, it is too late to take mathematics."
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MATH 108

MATH 108, Intermediate Algebra, is not and never will be a core course. Thus, students should not be advised to take it in order to "fulfill the MATH core requirement." MATH 108 should only be taken by students who do not place into required MATH courses.

Also, students should be advised that MATH 108 requires a commitment of approximately 15 hours per week of study time and lab time in addition to the 1 hour of scheduled class time.
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MATH 124

MATH 124 is a core course which attempts to give students a conceptual understanding of the nature of mathematics; what do mathematicians mean by knowledge and how do we obtain it. Its only prerequisite is a score of 45 on the Algebra part of the Compass exam, at least the 48^th percentile on the ACT or SAT (19 or 460) math, or MATH 25.

MATH 124 is not the prerequisite for any other MATH course. It should not be considered to be the "easiest" mathematics core course simply because it has a low number; students find it challenging, but doable. It is most frequently taken as a mathematics core course of choice, or by elementary education majors who wish to add a minor endorsement in mathematics to their elementary teaching certificate.
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MATH 130

MATH 130 has the same prerequisites as MATH 124 and is of approximately the same level of difficulty.
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Elementary Education.

The required course path for elementary education majors is

MATH 157 -> MATH 257 (Note that only MATH 257 is Area III core.)

MATH-157 Prerequisites: Proficiency in high school algebra, as measured by a score of at least 61 on the Algebra part of the Compass exam, at least the 70^th percentile on either ACT or SAT (23 or 540) math, or MATH 108. Thus some elementary education students do

MATH 108 -> MATH 157 -> MATH 257

MATH 25 -> MATH 108 -> MATH 157 -> MATH 257

College of Business and Economics.

The minimum required course path for students in the College of Business and Economics is

MATH 143 -> MATH 160

However, proficiency in high school algebra, as measured by a score of at least 61 on the Algebra part of the Compass exam, at least the 70^th percentile on either ACT or SAT (23 or 540) math, or MATH 108, is required for entry into MATH 143 and thus some students who are weak in algebra may do

MATH 108 -> MATH 143 -> MATH 160

MATH 25 -> MATH 108 -> MATH 143 -> MATH 160

The College of Business and Economics also permits its students to take

MATH 147 ->MATH 170 or MATH 147 ->MATH 160.

Note that MATH 147 contains exactly the same content as MATH 143 and MATH 144 combined.
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Engineering

Engineering and many science students enter mathematics somewhere along the path

MATH 25 -> MATH 108 -> MATH 147 -> MATH 170 -> MATH 175 -> {MATH 275 or MATH 333 in either order}

Where they enter is determined by a combination of placement test results, ACT, or SAT scores, and previous experience; where they finish depends on their specific major. At that point, a student should consult an advisor in his or her major field.
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MATH 254

MATH 254 is a non-calculus based statistics class taken primarily by biology majors. Proficiency in high school algebra, as measured by a score of at least 61 on the Algebra part of the Compass exam, at least the 70^th percentile on either ACT or SAT (23 or 540) math, or MATH 108, is required for entry into MATH 254.
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MATH 187

MATH 187 is designed primarily for mathematics and computer science majors.
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