Mathematics Options for New Students at UH-Manoa

UHM students are required to take an approved course to satisfy the Symbolic Reasoning Requirement. The approved mathematics courses are Math 100, 112, 140, 203, 215, 241, and 251A. These mathematics courses are described below. The University Catalog maintains the official list of all courses by all departments that are currently approved to satisfy the Symbolic Reasoning Requirement.

Math 140, 203, 215, 241, 242, 243, 251A, 252A, and 253A are restricted courses and all students must obtain approval from the Mathematics Department before registering. An assessment exam is required for students who wish to enroll in Math 140, 203, 215, 241, or 251A. The exam is waived for certain students; see the Mathematics Department's web page for details.

Math 100: Survey of Mathematics
Credit Hours: 3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Assessment Exam: Not required
Description: This class covers selected topics designed to acquaint nonspecialists with examples of mathematical reasoning. It is neither a prerequisite nor a preparation for other courses offered by the Mathematics Department.

Math 112: Math for Elementary Teachers II
Credit Hours: 3 credits
Prerequisite: Math 111
Assessment Exam: Not required
Description: This course covers symmetry, classification of figures, metric geometry, coordinate geometry, probability, statistics, and data analysis. This is the second course in a sequence for prospective elementary majors.

Math 140: Precalculus
Credit Hours: 3 credits
Prerequisite: 2 years of high school algebra, 1 year of plane geometry
Assessment Exam: A score of 17 or better on the assessment exam
Description: This course provides an introduction to functions: polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic, and the trigonometric, as well as inverse functions. Further topics are trigonometric identities, trigonometry, analytic geometry and conic sections.

Math 203: Calculus for Business & the Social Sciences
Credit Hours: 3 credits
Prerequisite: 2 years of high school algebra, 1 year of plane geometry
Assessment Exam: A score of 17 or better on the assessment exam
Description: This course is a non-trig based introduction to differential and integral calculus. Applications will be chosen from business and the social sciences. Math 203 satisfies one requirement for students applying to the College of Business Administration.

Math 215: Applied Calculus I
Credit Hours: 4 credits
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in Math 140, or a score of 22 or better on the assessment exam
Assessment Exam: A score of 22 or better
Description: This course is an introduction to calculus especially intended for students majoring in the life sciences, such as biology, botany, microbiology and zoology. It is recommended that BA life science majors take Math 215 to satisfy their one-semester calculus requirement and that BS life science majors take the sequence Math 215/216 to satisfy their two-semester calculus requirement. Math 215 is also an appropriate course for students in pre-med, pre-vet, pre-dental, or other programs with a one-semester calculus requirement.

Math 241: Calculus I
Credit Hours: 4 credits
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in Math 140, or a score of 25 or better on the assessment exam
Assessment Exam: a score of 25 or better
Description: This is the first course in the standard trig-based calculus sequence Math 241/242/243/244 for engineers, science and mathematics majors. It is also the standard introduction for students who want to study the calculus for its own sake.

Math 251A: Accelerated Calculus I
Credit Hours: 4 credits
Prerequisite: A grade of A in Math 140, or a score of 30 or better on the assessment exam and consent
Assessment Exam: a score of 25 or better and consent of the instructor
Description: This is an accelerated version of Math 241, designed for academically stronger students. The sequence of Math 251A/252A/253A covers the material in the standard calculus sequence in three semesters instead of four.

To acquaint yourself with the math assessment exam, go to assessment exam.

Rev. 04/06