Q: How can I satisfy Southern's general education mathematics requirement?
A: The mathematics courses that satisfy that requirement are the following:

MAT 103, Mathematics for Liberal Arts
MAT 105, Mathematics for Elementary Education I
MAT 107, Elementary Statistics
MAT 108, Mathematics for the Natural Sciences
MAT 124, Quantitative Mathematics (We do not currently offer this course, but equivalent courses may be transferred in.)
MAT 139, Short Course in Calculus for Social Sciences
MAT 150, Calculus I  (Four credits)
MAT 178, Elementary Discrete Mathematics

Before registering for any of these courses, you must take the Mathematics Placement Exam or successfully complete the prerequisite mathematics courses here or at another college or university.

Q: Do I need to take the Mathematics Placement Exam?
A:Before registering for any mathematics courses at Southern, students must take the Mathematics Placement exam or successfully complete the prerequisite mathematics courses here or at another college or university. If you took the mathematics placement exam at one of the other CSU campuses, contact Dr. D'Amour about having your placement scores sent to Southern. Students who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) calculus in high school do not need to take the mathematics Placement Exam, but must contact Dr. D'Amour about placement. Students who are absolutely sure that they need to start their mathematics at Southern with MAT 95 Elementary Algebra (a non-credit course) may sign up for that course without taking the placement exam.

Q: What is the purpose of the Mathematics Placement Exam?
A: The purpose of the Mathematics Placement Exam is to place the student into mathematics courses at an appropriate level, so that with reasonable effort the student has a good chance of success.  There is no passing or failing of the exam, as every student will be placed at some level.  The Placement Exam is a diagnostic test developed to help you, the student.   By determining where your strengths and weaknesses are, we can recommend the best mathematics course for you - suited to your current abilities and to your educational goals. Depending on the placement level determined by your score on the Placement Exam, you may be approved to take one or more of the mathematics courses which will satisfy your University requirement or your program requirements.

Q: What is the format of the Mathematics Placement Exam?

A: The Mathematics Department has transitioned from the pencil-and-paper exam that was given in the past to a computerized placement exam (ACCUPLACER). The two main advantages for students of taking the ACCUPLACER exam rather than the paper exam are that they get their placement results immediately upon finishing the exam, and that the exam is adaptive in nature. This means that the level of difficulty of the questions that the students are asked to answer is dependent upon their mathematical background (as supplied by them) and upon how they are doing on the exam. Calculators are NOT permitted on the ACCUPLACER exam.

Q: When do I take the Placement Exam?

A: Check the University's main placement page for the schedule. Register for any date/time that is convenient for you.

Q: Can I use a calculator on the exam?
A: Calculators are not allowed.

Q: How do I interpret the results of the exam?
A: The results of the Mathematics Placement Exam are expressed in terms of placement levels that tell you which courses you are eligible to take.  The higher the mathematics placement level, the more courses for which a student qualifies. 

Q: What if I don't score high enough to take a required course or the course I would like to take?
A: If you do not meet the minimum standard on the exam for the course you want to take, you may enroll in a developmental course or other prerequisite course appropriate to your placement level.

Q: How should I prepare for the exam?
A: If you have not taken mathematics for some time or you are a high school senior who did not take any mathematics your senior year, we strongly recommend that you review before taking the exam. There is some review material, mainly various textbooks, available in Buley Library on Southern's campus; also you can buy review books for the various areas covered on the exam at most bookstores. You should review any of the material that you have previously studied, particularly if you are going on to higher courses such as calculus, since then the exam will give us a more complete picture of your ability. However, to place into our lowest group of college-level courses, (MAT 103, MAT 105, MAT 107 and MAT 108), you only need to show a working knowledge of the material in elementary and intermediate algebra (equivalent to Algebra I and Algebra II at the high school level).  This material includes, but is not limited to, the following topics: working with integer and rational exponents, factoring algebraic expressions, working with polynomials and rational expressions, solving linear and algebraic equations and inequalities in one variable, solving quadratic equations, finding the equation of a line, graphing linear functions, solving problems involving ratios and proportions, and solving word problems associated with the above material.

Q: Can I talk to someone in the Mathematics Departments about the exam?
A: Yes, the Mathematics Department placement coordinator at Southern Connecticut State University is:

Dr. Cynthia Gubitose
Mathematics Department
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT 06515

Office: Engleman Hall D114
Office phone: (203) 392-5582
Fax:  (203) 392-6808.
email: gubitosec1

The Chair of the mathematics department is:

Dr. Alain D'Amour
Mathematics Department
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT 06515

Office: Engleman Hall D115B
Office phone: (203) 392-5579
Fax:  (203) 392-6808.
email: damoura1