2024-2025 Catalog

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Advising Information

The Mathematics major requires all students to complete Calculus I (MATH 110 or MATH 114) and Calculus II (MATH 120 or MATH 128). Students who have already completed Calculus 1 or Calculus 2 (see Placement Information below) should proceed to courses in the fundamental sequence: MATH 210: Discrete Mathematics, MATH 212: Multivariable Calculus, and MATH 214: Linear Algebra.

Placement Information

Most students who are interested in majoring in Mathematics should take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if any of the following are true:

  • You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam;

  • You received an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;

  • You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university.  

An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5, or an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above, fulfills the major’s Calculus 1 requirement. An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement. Students should make sure that their official score reports are sent to the Registrar’s Office for processing. 

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall

Spring

Year 1

  • Fall FYS course

  • Calculus 1 (CPMS)

  • Foreign Language

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • Spring FYS course

  • Calculus 2 (CPMS)

  • Core Requirement (4 units)

  • Core Requirement (4 units)

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

  • MATH 400

  • Advanced MATH Course

  • Advanced MATH Course

  • General Elective

  • MATH 400

  • Advanced MATH Course

  • General Elective

  • General Elective

Mathematics Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Mathematics:

  • Junior transfer students 

    • Should have completed Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, and Multivariable Calculus prior to transferring.

    • Should have completed most of their Core requirements prior to transferring. It will be possible to get at most one or two more core requirements while at Occidental.

  • Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year:

  • Should have completed 4 of the 5 courses: Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus.

  • Should have completed at least four Core requirements from among the Culture, Arts, Language requirements 

  • Sophomore transfer students

    • Should have completed 3 of the 5 courses: Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus.

    •  Should have completed at least two Core requirements prior to transferring

General advice for transfer students wanting to major Mathematics:

  • The following courses must be taken at Occidental: MATH 300, MATH 310 or MATH 320, 4 units of some combination of MATH 395, MATH 397, MATH 400, MATH 497.

  • Those interested in minoring in mathematics must take a minimum of 8 units at Occidental.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

  • Junior transfer students must enroll in MATH 300, and MATH 310 or MATH 320. Students starting in the spring must enroll in MATH 300 during their second semester if it is not offered in their first semester.  

  • Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year must take whichever course they have not yet completed from Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, and Multivariable Calculus.

  • Sophomore students must take whichever two courses they have not yet completed from Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, and Multivariable Calculus.