Math Placement

Page Content

Contents

• MAT 100 or MAT 101
• Course Descriptions 
  • MAT 100, 100S, 101, 101S
  • MAT 102, MAT 103, MAT 114, MAT 167
• Credit by Examination (AP, CLEP, IB)
• Transfer Credit
• Accuplacer Placement Test
• GEC Mathematics Advising Guide: MAT 101 or MAT 100
• Questions? 

MAT 100 or MAT 101

MAT 099 has been replaced by a corequisite model in which students take MAT 101 + 101S or MAT 100 + 100S. Students who need support in MAT 101 should take MAT 101 + 101S concurrently. Students who need support in MAT 100 should take MAT 100 + 100S concurrently.

Check bulletin for information on whether a student's major requires MAT 100 or MAT 101.

All students who are not required to take a support course (i.e., MAT 101S or MAT 100S) are welcome to enroll in a support course concurrently with their 101 or 100 if they would like extra help.

The table below shows which courses are required, optional or not required. 

MAT 100 or MAT 101
students who have ALREADY takeN (or are currently enrolled in) mat 99
	REQUIRED	OPTIONAL	NOT REQUIRED
Students with a C or higher in MAT 99	MAT 100  OR  MAT 101	MAT 100S  OR  MAT 101S
Students without  a C or higher in MAT 99	MAT 100 + 100S  OR  MAT 101 + 101S		repeating MAT 99
new students with act scores
New students with a math ACT score below 20	MAT 100 + 100S  OR  MAT 101 + 101S
New students with a math ACT score of 20 or above	MAT 100  OR  MAT 101	MAT 100S  OR  MAT 101S

 

Course Descriptions 

MAT 100 or MAT 101

MAT 100 or 101 satisfies the GEC math requirement. Students who need to more math courses after they complete the GEC must take MAT 101. 

• MAT 100 - Quantitative Reasoning (3 hrs.)
  

Prerequisite(s): ACT Math subscore ≥ 20 or C or higher in MAT 99.
Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in MAT 100S waives the prerequisite. 

Logic, probability, finance. Satisfies no prerequisite for any other mathematics course

• MAT 100S - Quantitative Reasoning Support Class (1 hr.)
  Content supplementing MAT 100 including set theory, logic, counting, probability, statistics and financial management.
• MAT 101 - College Algebra (3 hrs.)
  

Prerequisite(s): Math ACT ≥ 20 or a grade of C or better in MAT 99 or MAT 101S.
Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in MAT 101S waives the above prerequisite. 

Functions and graphs, linear equations and inequalities, non-linear equations, including exponential and logarithmic equations.

• MAT 101S - College Algebra Support Class (1 hr.)

Arithmetic operations, operations on polynomials, solving linear and quadratic equations and graphing linear and quadratic functions with additional support for MAT 101.

MAT 102, MAT 103, MAT 114, or MAT 167

MAT 102, 103, 114, and 167 are the appropriate starting points for students with a strong background in mathematics. Any of these courses satisfy the GEC math requirement.

• MAT 102 – Brief Applied Calculus (3 hrs.)

Prerequisite: MAT 101 or a mathematics ACT score of 24 or higher

This is a one semester overview of calculus, primarily designed for students majoring in business, finance and related disciplines. The concepts of instantaneous rates of change (the derivative) and aggregation of small quantities over time (the integral) are introduced in the context of applications in business.  

• MAT 103 – Plane Trigonometry (3 hrs.)
  

Prerequisite: MAT 101 or a mathematics ACT score of 24 or higher

This is a one semester introduction to the study of triangles and periodic functions. After explaining the fundamentals as well as the connection between the two, the course focuses on trigonometric functions by analyzing their applications, graphs and identities and by solving equations involving these functions.

• MAT 114 – Calculus for the Arts and Sciences (3 hrs.)
  

Prerequisite: MAT 101 or a mathematics ACT score of 24 or higher

This is a one semester overview of calculus, primarily designed for students majoring in arts and the life sciences. The concepts of instantaneous rates of change (the derivative) and aggregation of small quantities over time (the integral) are introduced in the context of applications in biology and other life sciences.

• MAT 167 – Calculus I with Analytic Geometry (3 hrs.)
  

Prerequisite: MAT 103 or a mathematics ACT score of 26 or higher

This is a thorough one semester introduction to the many ways in which instantaneous rates of change (derivatives) are useful in mathematics, the sciences, and indeed any disciplines that rely data that can be represented by a function. Applications include a thorough analysis of the graphing of functions, optimization and an exposition of Newton’s method as first look into how computers are programmed to assist with mathematics. This course is the first in the four-semester calculus sequence for mathematics and science majors. 

Credit by Examination (AP, CLEP, IB)

For information on Advanced Placement, College-level Examination Program, or International Baccalaureate credits, please visit Southern Miss Admissions. 

Transfer Credit

Visit the Mississippi Articulation and Transfer Tool website to learn transferring credit between Mississippi public universities. 

Accuplacer (Placement Test)

The Accuplacer is a national standardized test that can be used to determine which mathematics course is the best fit for students to be successful in the course and progress toward their degree. Accuplacer is often (but not exclusively) used by students who took the ACT or SAT years ago or those who live in areas where the ACT or SAT is unavailable.

Placement Testing on the USM campus

The most recent version of this test is known as 'Next Generation Accuplacer,' and it offered at the USM Hattiesburg campus.  For more information on how to take the Accuplacer at USM, visit Mathematics Placement Testing. 

Placement Test: Cutoff Scores

Note: All students should now take the ‘Advanced Algebra and Functions Test’ for placement. Next Generation scores range from 200-300.

Math placement based on Next Generation ‘Advanced Algebra and Functions Test’ compared to ACT and SAT:

Mathematics Course	Accuplacer Score (Advanced Algebra & Functions)	ACT Math Score	SAT Math Score
Concurrent enrollment in MAT 101 + 101S  or MAT 100 + 100S	under 235	under 20	under 490
MAT 115, 101, or 100	235-260	20 or above	490 or above
MAT 102, 103, or 114	261-275	24 or above	560 or above
MAT 167	above 275	26 or above	600 or above

 

GEC Mathematics Advising Guide:  MAT 101 or MAT 100

Download printable advising guide.   

Does my advisee need MAT 101 or MAT 100?

Will the student have to take more math classes after their GEC requirement?

• If YES, student must take MAT 101.
• If NO, student can choose between MAT 101 or MAT 100.

If my advisee has a choice, how do I know which course they should enroll in?

NOTE: MAT 100 is not easier than MAT 101. It is just different. Hard work is required in both classes.

Use the sample content information below to help a student decide:

MAT 101

MAT 100

By the end of MAT 101, students will know how to answer each of the following: Sally is working as a salesperson and has the option of being paid a monthly salary of $1800 or of being paid a monthly salary of $1500 with 10% commission on her sales. For what amount of monthly sales will the two options be equal? A ball is thrown directly upward from a height of 4 ft with an initial velocity of  48 ft/sec. The function s(t)=16t2 + 48t + 4 gives the height of the ball, in feet, t seconds after it has been thrown. When will the ball reach its maximum height? In 2012, a town had a population of 18,970. In 2015, the population had grown to 21,340. Predict the population in 2020.

By the end of MAT 100, students will know how to answer each of the following: A bag contains 3 blue marbles, 7 red marbles, and 9 yellow marbles. A single marble is drawn from the bag. What is the probability that the marble is yellow? One semester, a student earns the following grades in her courses. Calculate her GPA for the semester. Course Credit Hrs Grade MAT 100 3 A BSC 103 3 C BSC 103L 1 B ENG 101 3 A A man invests $1,500 today into an account earning 2.7% annual interest compounded monthly. How much money will be in the account in 2 years?

 

What about the 101S and 100S classes?

• These are support courses that are one credit hour each taken in the same semester as their GEC counterpart course. It is a separate course with a separate grade. Students must attend both.
• Any student taking MAT 101 or 100 can enroll in MAT 101S or 100S, respectively.
• In MAT 101S, students will be learning in an active learning environment. This will allow students the opportunity to learn not only from the instructor but from one another as well.
• In MAT 100S online or MAT 101S online, students will be engaged with one another via regularly-posted discussion boards and online active learning activities.

Is MAT 101S offered online?

Online MAT 101S is reserved for fully online students or students who have classes already scheduled at all offered 101S times.

Questions?

For more information, contact Emileigh.McCardleFREEMississippi (HBG) or Kalyn.LameyFREEMississippi (GP).