Math Placement Levels and Scores

Question: Do I need to take a math class at UWM?
Answer:

• All UWM students must satisfy the two-level Quantitative Literacy requirement in order to graduate: Quantitative Literacy Parts A (QLA) and B (QLB). Many departments offer QLB courses (ask your advisor which is right for you), but QLA is only satisfied by a Math curricular area course or equivalent placement exam score.
• If you earned a Math Placement Test Code of 30 or higher, you satisfied your QLA requirement via this test!
• Earning a grade of C or higher in Math 102 or 103 (or 105, 108, 175) will also satisfy QLA – and these courses also satisfy the L&S math requirement for the BA degree.

Question: Who can take Math 092/102 or Math 103 to satisfy their degree requirements?
Answer:

• • Primarily students in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Welfare can take 102 or 103, as they do not need to take any further math or science courses.
  • Most students in the School of Education who do not place directly into Math 175 are advised to take 103 or 092+102 first.
  • Anyone in a STEM, Business, or Health Sci program, or anyone interested in the BS in L&S, will need different math courses for their program, and should consult their advisor to find the right courses (Math 094, 098, 105, 115, 116, 117, 208, 211, 231, etc.).
  • All students should double check their program requirements and/or consult their academic advisor when choosing which math courses to take each semester.
  • Majors whose math requirement is satisfied by Math 103 or 92+102
    • Africology
    • Anthropology
    • Art
    • Art Education
    • Art History
    • Classics
    • Communication
    • Comparative Literature
    • Criminal Justice
    • Dance
    • English
    • Film
    • Film Studies
    • French
    • German
    • Global Studies (tracks other than Global Management)
    • History
    • Inter Arts
    • International Studies
    • Italian
    • Jewish Studies
    • Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies
    • Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies
    • Linguistics
    • Music
    • Music Education
    • Philosophy
    • Political Science
    • Psychology (BA)
    • Religious Studies
    • Russian
    • Social Work
    • Sociology
    • Spanish
    • Theatre
    • Women’s Studies

Question: Do I qualify for Math 103?
Answer:

• The prerequisite of Math 103 is either an ACT-math subscore of 18 or higher, or Math Placement Level 10—attained by earning a level 10 on the Math Placement Test, a grade of C or better in Math 90, or a grade of D or better in Math 94.

Question: When can I take Math 103?
Answer:

• Students are expected to complete QLA within their first 60 credits, so that they can complete their QLB course without delays to their graduation.
• Starting AY 17-18, Math 103 will primarily shift to Spring semesters.
• Math 103 will be offered in summer and UWinterm (if sufficient enrollment).
• There will be a limited number of sections of 103 offered each Fall (either online, in evenings and/or in early mornings), for students who couldn’t complete 103 earlier in their program due to special circumstances

Question: Should/Could I take Math/Philos 111 to satisfy my QLA?
Answer:

• Math or Philos 111 is a good QLA choice for students who intend to take Philos 211 as their QLB course. (Note: Philos 211 is a logic course and is NOT the same as Math 211 Survey of Calculus).
• Math 111 is “jointly offered” with Philos 111.  No matter which one you register for, it’s the same class and you’ll get QLA credit (as long as you get a C or better.
• Math/Philos 111 has the same prereq as Math 103.

Question: I don’t meet the prerequisite of Math 103. What math course should I take?
Answer:

• You should take Math 92 and Math 102, as effective Fall 2018 Math 092 has no prerequisite.

Question: When can I take Math 092 and 102?
Answer:

• Students must complete remedial course work (Math 9x) in their first 30 credits, basically the first year.
• Math 092&102 will primarily shift to Spring and be offered in paired co-requisite sections. For example, Math 092 Section 57 MW 11-12:15, and Math 102 Section 57 TR 11-12:15, will meet in the same room with the same instructor, and the courses will be paired in PAWS so that students must enroll in both. Students will work in 092 on Mon (or Wed) on the background needed for the 102 material for Tues (or Thurs).
• For students with extraordinary schedule restrictions: there will be a very limited number of freestanding 092’s each term, with enrollment by permission only. Contact Kelly Kohlmetz kellyk2@uwm.edu for permission to enroll.
• For students taking a paired 092+102, their 092 grade will not be lower than the grade they earn in 102.
• Starting Spring 2018, there will be a very limited number of freestanding sections of 102 offered each fall and spring. For example, for students who take the linked 092/102 and who pass 092 but not 102, or students who were given permission to take a freestanding 092.
• Starting Summer 2018, each of 092 and 102 will be offered in summers, not paired, likely both online, with 092 in first 6 week session and 102 in second 6 week session.
• Starting in Fall 2018, online versions of each of 092 and 102 will be offered, not paired, with enrollment by permission only (for permission contact Kelly Kohlmetz kellyk2@uwm.edu)

Question: Why must I take 6 credits of math in the same semester, if I’m not in a hurry to finish math since I have no more math requirements?
Answer:

• The short answer: We care about your success, and you’re more likely to pass both courses if you’re taking math every day–focusing more on math and having fewer other courses to keep track of.
• The traditional model of taking Math 092 in fall and 102 in spring is a “leaky pipeline.” Only about half of students who enroll in Math 092 in fall finish 102 in spring. This failure negatively affects student success and retention.
• The co-requisite model has been showed to significantly increase student success. For example, the entire Tennessee Board of Regents Universities and Community Colleges increased the percent of students who passed a credit-bearing math course in their first year from 59% to 75% by implementing co-requisite remediation!

Question: Why must I take 6 “credits” of math courses in one semester, if I struggle with math?
Answer:

• As stated above: We care about your success, and you’re more likely to pass both courses if you’re taking math every day–focusing more on math and having fewer other courses to worry about.
• Meeting four days per week allows the instructor to get to know your individual areas of strength and weakness – and to have the time and flexibility to address them in ways to help you succeed.
• PLEASE NOTE: You will be taking six-credits of math! Be sure that you are allowing yourself enough time in your schedule for homework every night, weekly tutoring and weekly meetings with your instructor. This will be the equivalent of TWO courses worth of homework and studying, which means about 12 hours of time is needed outside of class. We advise you not to load your schedule with more than two other courses.