Foundational Mathematics Courses

Understanding and applying mathematics and learning mathematical skills and procedures is an important aspect of a student's education. Almost all college students need to complete a math course to fulfil a math requirement for their major or they need to take a math course to review or learn math skills needed to succeed in another higher level math course. The Department of Mathematical Sciences has an extensive math program for students who need to enroll in one hundred level math courses and Intermediate Algebra (the Foundational Math Program). 

The first step to the successful completion of these math courses is to make sure students have the appropriate mathematics background for their math course. To that end, the Math Placement Program​ assists advisors and students in making an appropriate enrollment choice. 

The sequencing of the Foundational Math courses is illustrated by the chart:

All students must have the appropriate math placement score in order to enroll. For example, if your major requires Math 221 but you have a placement score of 40 that places you into Math 010, you must take Math 010, Math 115 and then Math 221. Observe that Math 114 and Math 113 are terminal math courses so students who enroll in these courses would not be going on to other math courses.

For most students, this will be their first experience in a university mathematics course. High school and university courses are very different, especially in mathematics. Some of the differences usually include:

• Pacing of the course is considerably faster than most high school courses.
• Classes meet fewer times per week (for instance, three hours per week for a three-credit course) but cover more material then a typical high school class.
• Several out-of-class requirements. For example, some courses require additional time spent weekly in a tutorial center.
• During the fall and spring semesters when many sections are offered, common exams are administered.
• The grading scale is usually fixed – there is no "curving" or extra credit.
• Instructors cover the entire curriculum at a pre-determined pace.

Additional information for each course: Math 010, Math 113, Math 114, Math 115, Math 117​, Math 221, Math 241, Math 231/232​.

If you have any questions, please contact Pascale Larouche ​at math-questions@udel.edu