Introduction


Mathematics Advising Office Information

The Department of Mathematics maintains an advising office that provides services to students, parents, faculty, and academic advisors pertaining to math department majors/minor information, honors information, transfer credit evaluations, math placement information, math proficiency testing, and difficulties in math.

Location: Room 250 of the old Mathematics Bldg,
231 W. 18th Avenue.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (M-R), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (F)
Phone Number: (614) 292-6994
Fax Number: (614) 292-0167

Currently three counselors are available on a daily basis:

  • Judie Monson, who has a Master's degree in Mathematics Education from The University of Minnesota
  • Diana Bevilacqua, who has a Master's degree in Mathematics Education from The Ohio State University
  • Rodica Barbu, who has a Master's degree in Mathematics from The Ohio State University.

The Counselors are available for assistance in the following areas:

  • Evaluation of Transfer Credit-- transfer students with "general" or "deferred?" credit need to bring, send or fax their transcripts, transfer credit evaluation, detailed syllabi, notes, and/or texts. (No appointment is necessary.)
  • Arrangements for proficiency Exam Credit -- syllabi provided, suggestions for self-study guides, and the referral slip which students present at the Testing Center.
  • Special course enrollment information -- Eligibility to audit, and permission to skip or concurrently enroll in math courses, when circumstances warrant.
  • Information on Math Placement and testing -- provide information on retesting and re-evaluation of placement levels.
  • Information on the requirements for the various programs in math -- the math major and minor programs, the actuarial science major, the applied math option, honors information, and graduation with distinction.
  • Other math-related questions -- sequences, special courses, course number changes, petitions, requirements for different degrees, and other issues.
  • Difficulties and Complaints -- discussion of difficulties with a particular mathematics course or with mathematics in general

General Information

A.  MATHEMATICS SKILL ASSESSMENT TESTS

There are two math skills assessments tests, B and D, which cover algebra and pre-calculus topics.  The test questions on both exams are multiple choice, with no partial credit.  Each test is 75 minutes long, and students may use any battery-operated calculator (including graphing calculators but not a QWERTY keyboard machine).  Topics and sample exam problems may be found here.

The Math D test is given to students with ACT math scores of 25 or higher (SAT math scores of 570 or higher).  It includes questions on intermediate and advanced algebra, geometry, and trigonometry and is designed primarily to indicate a student's readiness for calculus.  This 25-question test can place students at Course Code L, M, N, or U (undetermined), with the possible placement ranging from Math 148 (Algebra  & Trig with Applications) through 151 (Calculus I).

The Math B test is given to students with ACT math scores of 24 or less (SAT math scores of 560 or less).  It includes questions on arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.  This 40-question test can place a student at Course Codes N, R, S, T, or U (undetermined), with the possible placement ranging from Math 050 (Elementary Algebra) through 148 (Algebra  & Trig with Applications).

a) Most transfer students are required to take the B exam.  Evaluation of deferred or general credit prior to orientation may exempt students from this test.  Most international transfer students qualify to take the D test.  However, Canadian students are an exception, and they will take the test designated by their ACT/SAT scores.

b) Students with a raw score of 35 or higher on the B test qualify for the Math D test.   Advisors who observe this score on the Student Profile should direct students to the Math Counseling Office.


B.  MATH RETEST INFORMATION

Each year, prior to the start of classes Autumn Quarter, the Department of Mathematics provides students with an opportunity to advance their math placement by taking an exam similar to a final over the course of their original placement.  Students with scores of 70% or higher are permitted to move to a more advanced course.  History has shown, however, that very few students advance a level.

September retesting will be Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 17 and 18, in room Room 160 of the Eighteenth Ave. Building (209 W. 18th Ave.). Information and Registration forms are available at Orientation (in Student Packets) and at the Math Counseling Office.  Students will also be able to obtain all necessary information and register for the retest on-line at http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/counseling/au_retest.html.


C.  MATH 103/104 and MATH 140/141

No longer being offered.  T students take 050, S students take 050 or 075, and N students take 130 or 148.


D.  ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS

AB3 students that express concern for registering for math 152 may schedule for math 151 without special permission from the math counselors.  Duplicate hours for 151 will only count once toward graduation.

E.  PROCEDURES FOR SECTION CHANGES

Work Conflicts:  Students with work conflicts may request section changes beginning September 6. They need to bring a letter from an employer, on company letterhead, verifying their work hours, to the Math Course Office, room 113 in the Math Building.

Permission to Add/Change sections of filled classes:
Departmental permission to add or change sections will begin on Monday, September 24th in the Course Office, room 113 in the Math Building.  Please do not send students over to the Math Department before Sept. 24 to change sections or to add a closed class (unless it is to resolve a work conflict).  Prior to September 24, enter the student into the course via the computer or put the student on the waitlist if the course is full.

See Getting Into a Closed Math Course or Changing Sections of a Math Course handout for further information.  Each quarter, copies of these procedures are sent to college offices for distribution to academic advisors.


F.  MATH-STAT LEARNING CENTER

MSLC offers free tutoring on a walk-in basis weekdays during AU, WI and SP quarters (not available summer quarter) for lower level mathematics courses.  Separate tutor rooms are available for remedial mathematics (Math 050 and 075), Basic College Math (Math 104), Math Analysis for Business (Math 130, 131 and 132), Algebra & Trig with Applications (Math 148), Elementary Functions (Math 150), Introductory Calculus (Math 117, 151 and 161) and other Calculus courses (Math 152, 153, 162, 254, and 263).  Limited tutoring assistance is also available for differential equations (255, 415) and discrete mathematics (366). Tutor room locations and hours can be found on-line at www.mslc.ohio-state.edu.  Some hours may be available the weekend before and during finals week.  Be advised that the tutor rooms open Monday of the second week of classes.  In addition, many workshops, Mathway sessions and test review sessions are available to assist students in 104-152.  Students are notified by email of these sessions.

For more intensive and one-to-one tutoring assistance, students may hire a private tutor from the "Tutor Book" available at the receptionist's desk on the first floor of the Math Tower.