Can anyone explain college math classes to me?

[LisaR]

Two math classes are needed. If the student is NOT a math person at all (and the intended major will not require any extra math classes) which ones would you take:

College Algebra (hated high school algebra but passed with an A due to round the clock tutoring).

Math for Liberal Arts 1 & 2 (no clue what these are but they sound like they would be designed for the non-math person possibly).

College Trig (can't even imagine that going over well)

Precalculus Algebra (see above ^)

Those are the only 1000 level classes. After that, they move up to the 2000 level and I don't see that happening.

I've googled the liberal arts math class and can't get a good feel for what it covers. My other option is to wait for the books to come out in 2 weeks and go thumb through them (assuming they aren't hermetically sealed like they seem to do with many books now).

 

[chisnpeke]

From a non math person, Math for Liberal Arts sounds the safest to me. Would it be possible to call the college and ask what that course covers?

 

[cabanafrau]

Yep, call the math dept. & ask.

 

[minkydog]

I don't know about you, but I really suck at math. If I could graduate without taking Algebra I'd jump for joy. Unless you are going into a Math or Science major, you'll probably never use Algebra again.

 

[HeatherH]

Oh DEFINITELY Math For Liberal Arts! It's typically a course designed for Liberal Arts majors (or the like) who are just fulfilling the math requirements. There isn't a course catalog online that gives you a more detailed description?

If not, agree with the others, call...but I can pretty much guarantee you that if you are not a math person, this is your best choice.

 

[LisaR]

They have a blurb on their website but it just says that it "covers an array of math topics and ideas." DD asked the adviser about the math classes when she was there last week and she claims his words were, "oh come on. I have confidence in you. You can take college algebra." Since he had just met her 2 minutes earlier, I am thinking he didn't have the full picture. I didn't think about having her call the actual math department. Duh!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Do you mean 100 and 200 level classes?

 

[LisaR]

Do you mean 100 and 200 level classes?

These are 1000 & 2000 level classes. The liberal arts math class is listed as MGF 1106.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

I would also recommend asking the Math Department. Ask them to tell you what specific topics are covered as well as HOW those topics are covered.

I'm sure Math for Liberal Arts are classes designed specifically for the type of student you are talking about BUT I have found that sometimes classes like that are not the best choice for the non-math person. At my school, our Math for Liberal Arts-type class is an applied math class (communication networks, tallying different types of voting, etc...) which means that it ends up being a lot of word problems. I have had a few non-math majors who REALLY struggle with that type of math and instead did better in straight Algebra.

 

[DISdreamin']

This question would be hard to answer if you plan on transferring to another school, as the transfer institution may not have equivalent courses.

If it's for a degree at your current college, I'd call your academic advisor or the math department and double-check what the appropriate courses would be. It would be a shame to self-advise and find out the course(s) weren't applicable to your degree program.

Personally, if it were just based on choice, I'd go with what others have said and do the liberal arts ones if I weren't into math!

ETA: Your DD should call her advisor and ask specifically if those courses will fulfill her degree requirements. I can't believe the response she got when she asked before - sheesh! (shakes head)

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

These are 1000 & 2000 level classes. The liberal arts math class is listed as MGF 1106.

Hm... weird. I've never heard of them before but when I googled MGF 1106, I got all Florida schools (as far as I looked) so maybe it's a regional thing.

But, when I googled it, I saw some syllabuses in there, maybe you should try that to see the type of material covered.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I would also recommend asking the Math Department. Ask them to tell you what specific topics are covered as well as HOW those topics are covered.

I'm sure Math for Liberal Arts are classes designed specifically for the type of student you are talking about BUT I have found that sometimes classes like that are not the best choice for the non-math person. At my school, our Math for Liberal Arts-type class is an applied math class (communication networks, tallying different types of voting, etc...) which means that it ends up being a lot of word problems. I have had a few non-math majors who REALLY struggle with that type of math and instead did better in straight Algebra.

That's a good point. And a tangent from that would be that it would be much easier to find help with a "regular" class rather than a specified one.

 

[Imzadi]

I would also think the Math for Liberal Arts 1 & 2.

You should also check to see if these required 2 courses have to be consecutive courses like 1 & 2. What would be the course after the College Algebra?

I didn't know I had to take two consecutive required courses, so I took, using your examples: College Algebra, then the following term the Math for Liberal Arts 1, thinking I had fulfilled my requirement.

An advisor who was paying attention, finally looked at my course load the following year said, I was supposed to take Math for Liberal Arts 1 & 2, OR College Algebra 1 & 2. I wasted a whole semester plugging away at a course I didn't even need. Plus the wasted money on the credits.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

This question would be hard to answer if you plan on transferring to another school, as the transfer institution may not have equivalent courses.

If it's for a degree at your current college, I'd call your academic advisor or the math department and double-check what the appropriate courses would be. It would be a shame to self-advise and find out the course(s) weren't applicable to your degree program.

Personally, if it were just based on choice, I'd go with what others have said and do the liberal arts ones if I weren't into math!

ETA: Your DD should call her advisor and ask specifically if those courses will fulfill her degree requirements. I can't believe the response she got when she asked before - sheesh! (shakes head)

YES. I 100% agree with this, including the head shake at the advising. Your DD should be sure to ask about ALL majors she is considering.

 

[TerryKitten]

Did she not take a math placement test? Most likely she'd take college algebra.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Did she not take a math placement test? Most likely she'd take college algebra.

Another good point. If she's not good at math, she probably wouldn't be placed in 100+ level class. I know plenty of people like that and they started off at Math 20, 60/70 or 95.

 

[dollydell]

you really have to be careful if there is any possiblity at all of changing schools or majors, I took the lowest math required for the degree I was taking at the time and when I switched majors had to take another math class as they had wanted one I could have taken but didn't

 

[LisaR]

Another good point. If she's not good at math, she probably wouldn't be placed in 100+ level class. I know plenty of people like that and they started off at Math 20, 60/70 or 95.

She passed the CPT math portion with the lowest math score possible without needing the prep class. I have to throw out there that she passed the English portion with honors so nobody thinks this is an all around problem.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Just wanted to chime in with a "GOOD LUCK" from another mathematically challenged individual.

I wouldn't have my degree if it wasn't for LOGIC I.

 

[bumbershoot]

Does the college have any "get to know a student" type program? If so, can she call that person, have them ask around?

Can she start taking a class and drop it before midterm with nothing lost but some money? My university allowed that, and it didn't show on the transcript, as long as you met that requirement.

I never really thought I was a math person, but my uni didn't have any of those types of classes (OK well Geology was *called* Rock for Jocks, but everyone knew that it was actually quite challenging and interesting, and wasn't just an easy A...plus, all the jocks at my school had to actually get in on merit, not just athletic ability, so it was all silly to begin with). I took the required, then just kept going, and got a math minor. Surprised everyone, myself most of all!