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Math Placement

Undergrad Majors & Programs Department of Math & Computer Science

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Math & Computer Science

Math placement for new students

Bethel is committed to helping students start in the right math course based on their major and background:

  • Several majors do not require students to take a math course in their first semester. Most students in these majors will not need to take a math placement exam. If a student elects to take Calculus 1, they will need to take a math placement exam (see “Do I need a math test?” below). Students exploring majors in math, science, and computer science are encouraged to take Precalculus or Calculus 1 in their first semester (see “Placement for Math, Science, and Computer Science Majors” below).

  • Some majors, especially those in math, science, and computer science, do require students to take a math course in their first semester. Usually students begin with Calculus 1, which requires a math placement exam. Students who have already completed college-level Calculus courses may begin in a more advanced math course. Check the catalog to see if your major requires Precalculus or Calculus: click “College of Arts & Sciences” in the menu, then click “Academic Programs” and select your major. See below for more information about math placement if you plan to major in one of these areas.
  • Elementary Education majors will have a math course as part of the curriculum for their major, usually taken in the second year. Transfer students majoring in Elementary Education should use this flowchart for details about math placement.

Placement for math, science, and computer science majors

New students who select a major that requires Precalculus or Calculus on their Academic Registration Information Form will be required to:

  • Take the math placement exam if you plan to take Calculus 1; the placement exam is recommended, but optional, if you plan to take Precalculus.

  • Submit transcripts or AP test scores for any college-level Precalculus, Calculus 1, or higher level math courses you have earned. Note: If you have previously earned college credit for Precalculus, you will still need to complete a Math Placement Exam before enrolling in Calculus 1 at Bethel.

See “Do I need a math test?” below for more details.

Students who have not yet completed one of the actions listed above may see one or both of the following indicators:

  1. A red “X” on the “Math Placement” portion of the enrollment checklist

  2. A temporary “GES004 Math Placement” course on your class schedule

These indicators remind students that they need to take action before their first semester schedule can be completed. Once a student completes the math placement exam or submits transcripts or test scores, the enrollment checklist “Math Placement” requirement will be changed to a green checkmark and the student schedule will be completed.  

If students change their major to a major not requiring Precalculus or Calculus 1, they can notify the College of Arts and Sciences Registrar’s office at cas-registrar@bethel.edu to have them remove the math placement requirement from the enrollment checklist. For other questions, please contact the Director of Math Testing at: mathcs-testing-manager@bethel.edu.

Do I need a math test?

Special registration requirements exist for three Bethel math courses: Precalculus, Calculus 1, and Math for El. Ed. 1. Testing may be required to make sure students enroll in the right course and are prepared for these courses. Your academic advisor, instructor, and personnel available at Welcome Week and registration times will also help you in your course decision.

  1. Students planning to take Calculus 1 (MAT124M) must take a math placement exam to enroll in the course. See the complete policies for Precalculus/Calculus Placement.  Students planning to take Precalculus (MAT121M) may take the same exam to diagnose the proper entry point and whether extra review is recommended.

  2. There are no placement test requirements for Calculus 2 (MAT125) or higher-level math courses. Transfer credit for Calculus 1, or the appropriate AP exam score, are the required prerequisites for Calculus 2. This AP scores document (pdf) explains how AP scores relate to Bethel math courses.

  3. Students planning to be elementary education majors and who take Math for El. Ed. 1 (MAT201M) must have completed one of these options:

    1. Those with ACT or SAT scores, must:

      • have scored 24 or higher on the math portion of the ACT, or

      • have scored 560 or higher on the math portion of the SAT score, or

      • successfully complete Bethel's ALEKS Math for Elementary Education Prep course

    2. Those without ACT or SAT scores must:

      • successfully complete Bethel's ALEKS Math for Elementary Education Prep course (recommended) or

      • scored at or above the 80% level on the Math for El.Ed. Pretest

Students having fewer than 15 semester credits are not generally admitted to MAT201M (See policies). See the complete policies for Math for El. Ed. 1 Pretests.

Placement testing & accommodations

The requirements, testing times, and procedures are specific to the class you intend to take.

Bethel University is committed to creating access to all students, therefore for those students who may need accommodations for placement tests because of a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at 651.638.6833 or email disability-services@bethel.edu.

For additional questions, please contact the Director of Math Testing at: mathcs-testing-manager@bethel.edu.