Undergraduate Catalog

Mathematics

Phone: 845-257-3532
Location: Faculty Office Building Room E-2
Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/math Link opens in a new window

The Department of Mathematics offers undergraduate majors in Mathematics (BA or BS) and Adolescence Education: Mathematics (BA or BS) as well as Mathematics concentrations in Early Childhood & Childhood Education (BS) and Early Childhood Studies (BS). Also available is an accelerated BS Mathematics-MAT Adolescence Education: Mathematics program through which students may earn bachelor's and master's degrees in five years.

Graduates with the Mathematics major go on to do graduate work in mathematics and other fields requiring strong quantitative and reasoning skills. Those graduating from the Adolescence Education program have a depth of knowledge that underlies the courses they will teach. Early Childhood & Childhood Education majors go on to become mathematics specialists within the primary schools. (See Adolescence Education and Early Childhood & Childhood Education for details about these programs.) Minors in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics are also offered.

Those interested in any of these programs are invited to request a faculty advisor in the Department of Mathematics. Upon completion of Calculus I or Calculus II with a grade of B- or better, a student may declare the Mathematics or Adolescence Education-Mathematics major; to declare the Mathematics concentration in Early Childhood & Childhood Education, students must complete Calculus I with a grade of C- or better. A letter grade of at least C- is required to count a course toward any mathematics major or as a prerequisite for another mathematics course.

Math Placement Levels (MPLs): All incoming first-year students will receive a Math Placement Level (MPL) based on their ALEKS PPL assessment. All incoming transfer students will receive a Math Placement Level (MPL) as part of the admissions process. The transfer student MPL is determined by previously taken mathematics courses and, if applicable, standardized test scores including New York State Regents exams and SAT/ACT exams. Students will be notified of their MPL at their freshman or transfer orientation session. Math prerequisites are strictly enforced at SUNY New Paltz. Current students can raise their MPL by earning C- or better in specific math courses. See the table below for more detailed information.

Mathematics:

 

Summary of Math Placement Levels and What They Mean:

ALEKS % score Will assign an MPL of:
Math courses you are eligible to take1 (those with a prerequisite less than or equal to your MPL)
0-45 2

MAT120 College Mathematics - recommended if majoring in the liberal or fine arts

MAT121 College Mathematics with Supplemental Algebra Workshop - recommended if majoring in math, science, engineering or business

Courses at this level do not meet GE or major requirements but do raise MPL to 3.

46-60 3

MAT152 College Algebra - recommended if going on in math. A grade of C- or better will raise the MPL to 4.

MAT140 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I and MAT240 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II - for Early Childhood & Childhood Education students only

MAT142 Paths & Graphs, MAT143 Mathematics in the Modern World, MAT145 Statistics & Public Policy

Any of these courses will meet the GE Math requirement.

61-79 4

MAT171 Mathematical Methods for Business - for business majors only

MAT181 Precalculus - A grade of C- or better will raise the MPL to 5.

MAT241 Introduction to Statistics

80-100 5

MAT251 Calculus I - A grade of C- or better will raise the MPL to 6.

MAT260 Introduction to Proof

1Always consult your advisor to choose course(s) since many majors have specific requirements for mathematics.

Students can raise their MPL by earning C- or better in the math courses listed.