Mathematics

• Information for Transfer Students

Mathematics
Academic Bulletin

Area of Study: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Programs: Major and Minor

A Guide to First Year Advising in Mathematics

In general, students who will need a Mathematics course, or who are interested in Mathematics, should be encouraged to take a Mathematics course in the fall.

Mathematics Placement Assessment Policy for 2026

• The Mathematics Placement Assessment (formerly called the Math Placement Test) determines a student’s readiness for certain Mathematics courses at Allegheny. It does not let students bypass Mathematcis courses that might be needed for their major or minor, it merely helps students to start in the right course.
• All entering first-year and transfer students are required to take the Mathematics Placement Assessment if they are planning on enrolling in a Mathematics course, with the exception of students who have already received Allegheny transfer credit for PRERQ*MAT.
• All other first-year students (including those students who took an AP Calculus Exam in Spring 2026) and transfer students should take the Mathematics Placement Assessment. 

Students who took an AP Calculus Exam in Spring 2026

• Unless Allegheny has received the official results for the AP Calculus Exams, students should be enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 140 or MATH 151 based on their placement score.
• However, once the official results for the AP Calculus Exams have been received, students with AP Calculus credit should be moved to the appropriate calculus course as described in the following table.

Students with transfer credit (regardless of placement score, if they took the Mathematics Placement Assessment):

• Unless Allegheny has already processed incoming transfer credit, these students should be enrolled in MATH 100, MATH 140 or MATH 151 based on their Mathematics Placement score.
• However once incoming transfer credit has been processed, students with transfer credit should be moved to the appropriate calculus course as described in the following table.

Pathways to the Mathematics Major:

For all students majoring in Mathematics:

• Ideally, a Mathematics major should begin in MATH 151 or above. Students who do not place in MATH 151 should begin in MATH 140. 
• MATH 205 is a prerequisite for most upper-level courses and should be taken as soon as possible, in the second year.
• The course MATH 211 is offered every fall and occasional springs. The course MATH 205 is offered every spring and occasional falls. The courses MATH 280, MATH 325, and MATH 340 typically are offered every fall. The courses MATH 320 and MATH 585 are typically offered every spring. The course MATH 270 is usually offered once per year, usually in the spring.
• Most of the other 200-, 300-, and 400-level electives are offered once every two years; the exceptions are MATH 345, which is offered every fall, and MATH 346, which is offered every spring.
• It is recommended that students consult with a faculty member in Mathematics by the middle of the second semester of the first year in order to discuss a plan for courses in the second year.

Suggested Sequence of Required Courses for the Mathematics Major placing in Math 151:

Suggested Sequence of Required Courses for the Mathematics Major placing in MATH 140:

• Establishing an advisor: Simply ask a professor.
• Junior Seminar: Should be taken in the Spring of the Junior Year. 
• Senior Project: One semester project taken either Fall or Spring semester of the senior year.

Pathways to the Mathematics Minor:

For all students minoring in Mathematics:

• The Mathematics minor requires 20 semester credit hours of Mathematics courses numbered above MATH 151. At least 4 semester credit hours must include a Mathematics course numbered 300 or above. 

Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Mathematics Minor placing in Math 151:

Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Mathematics Minor placing in Math 140:

Information for Transfer Students

Suggested Sequence of Required Courses for the Mathematics Major for Transfer Students with credit in MATH 151 and MATH 270, and wanting to finish in three years:

• Ideally, a transfer student considering a Mathematics major with one year of experience elsewhere will already have transfer credit for at least two courses in calculus, typically MATH 151 and MATH 270.

Suggested Sequence of Required Courses for the Mathematics Major for Transfer Students with credit in MATH 151, MATH 270, and MATH 211 and wanting to finish in two years:  

• Ideally, a transfer student considering a Mathematics major with two years of experience elsewhere will already have transfer credit for three courses in calculus, typically MATH 151, MATH 270, and MATH 211, as well as transfer credit for either MATH 280 or MATH 320.  For these students, MATH 270 serves as a substitution for MATH 152, making MATH 280 required.

Additional Notes:

• Academic Advisor: Simply ask a professor.
• Junior Seminar: Students should plan to take the Junior Seminar in the Spring semester of the junior year. 
• Senior Project: Mathematics Senior Project is a one semester project taken either Fall or Spring semester of the senior year.