(c) Mathematics

Additional information on honors policy for Mathematics Honors Course

Three units (equivalent to three one-year courses) of college preparatory mathematics are required. Four units are strongly recommended.

Elementary Algebra
Geometry. Courses must include topics in two- and three-dimensional geometry.
Advanced Algebra

NOTES:

This requirement may be met by completing three one-year courses in algebra, advanced algebra, and geometry.
Alternatively, this requirement may be met by completing a three-course sequence in integrated mathematics (e.g., Integrated Math Program - IMP). If a student has completed only part of the sequence, the following combinations are acceptable:
1. IMP I + Geometry + Algebra II
2. IMP I + IMP II + Algebra II
3. Algebra I + IMP II + Algebra II
4. Algebra I + IMP II + IMP III
5. Algebra I + Geometry + IMP II
One-year mathematics courses (e.g., algebra) taken over three or four semesters are acceptable to meet the "c" Mathematics requirement, but credit will be granted for only one year (two semesters) of work. For students utilizing this pattern, all grades awarded by the school are averaged in the GPA calculation.

Validating Requirements with Advanced Work. Completion of advanced course work in areas of sequential knowledge, specifically language other than English and specific mathematics courses with a grade of "C" or higher validates an earlier grade of "D/F" as specified below:
1. Algebra II (Intermediate Algebra) validates Algebra I
2. Trigonometry validates Algebra I, II and Geometry
3. Algebra II/Trigonometry (year course) validates Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry. If only the first semester is completed – Algebra II – then only Algebra I is validated.
4. Statistics validates Algebra I and Algebra II (but not Geometry)
Although only three years are required, four years are strongly recommended. Among regularly admitted freshmen, most complete a mathematics course in each grade from 9th through 12th.
The 1997 version of the Statement on Competencies in Mathematics Expected of Entering College Students can be downloaded from the UC Academic Senate's web page at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/reports/mathcomp.html.
Traditionally, most entering college freshmen have taken pre-calculus and often calculus; however, other advanced courses such as statistics and discrete mathematics can also deepen students' understanding of mathematics.
The Calculus Readiness tests of the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) provide a good indication of the skill attainment upon completing a pre-calculus course. Most UC campuses use these tests to determine student placement into calculus. MDTP also provides diagnostic readiness tests for other college preparatory secondary mathematics tests to California teachers and schools. The MDTP website includes an online Calculus Readiness test for students to take and immediately see a detailed score report at any time. For more information on MDTP, visit the MDTP website at http://mdtp.ucsd.edu or contact Donna Ames at (858) 534-4519.
Students who take calculus in high school are encouraged to take one of the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus Examinations in order to place out of the comparable college calculus course.
College prep courses in mathematics taken in 7th and 8th grades with grades of "C" or higher may be counted toward the subject requirement. However, the principal of the high school from which a student graduates must certify on the transcript that the 7th and 8th grade courses are comparable in content to those offered at the high school. This certification is indicated by the high school awarding grades and credits on the transcript for the 7th and 8th grade courses. Alternately, when an applicant has successfully completed advanced work in an area of sequential knowledge (mathematics, language other than English) with a grade of "C" or higher, the student is presumed to have completed the earlier course work even if the earlier courses do not appear on the student's academic record.