Math Placement

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Understanding Your Placement

Students are placed into a specific level in each of three categories based on their high school coursework, GPA, and state guidelines under AB 1705. Your placement level determines which courses you should take, depending on your major (pathway).

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Math Placement Categories

BusMath – Business Math

BusMath Placement Levels

Your **BusMath placement** depends on whether you completed Integrated Math 3 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher in high school.
BusMath Placement Level	Courses to Take	Notes
BusMath_2	MATH 340 or MATH 342	If you place into BusMath_2, you may still take the BusMath_1 courses.
BusMath_1	MATHS 40 + MATH 340 or MATHS 42 + MATH 342	N/A

Pathways/Majors That Use BusMath

We recommend you speak with a counselor to determine the best course(s) for your path. Majors that use the BusMath placement category may include those in the following areas:

accounting
business*
economics
management
marketing
real estate
other business-related majors

* Both MATH 340/342 and STAT C1000 are needed for this major.

SLAM – Statistics and Liberal Arts Math

SLAM Placement Levels

Your **SLAM placement** depends on your overall high school GPA.
SLAM Placement Level	Courses to Take	Notes
SLAM_2	STAT C1000 (formerly STAT 300) or STAT C1000H (formerly STAT 480) or MATH 300 or MATH 310	If you place into SLAM_2, you may still take the SLAM_1 courses.
SLAM_1	STAT 10 + STAT C1000 (formerly STAT 300) or MATHS 95 + MATH 300 or or MATH 310	N/A

Pathways/Majors That Use SLAM

We recommend you speak with a counselor to determine the best course(s) for your path. Majors that use the SLAM placement category may include those in the following areas:

administration of justice
anthropology
art
art history
communication
early childhood education
economics
English
fashion
film
foreign languages
gerontology
history
humanities
journalism
music
kinesiology
photography
political science
psychology**
sign language
sociology
theatre arts
other liberal arts or behavioral and social science majors

** PSYC 330 is required for psychology majors transferring to CSU Sacramento.
*** Elementary Education majors need MATH 310 or MATH 311 for teachers.

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

STEM Placement Levels

This pathway is for students whose majors are calculus-based (MATH 400 or MATH 355).
STEM Placement Level	Courses to Take	Notes
STEM_5	MATH 400 or MATH 355 or MATHS 60 + MATH 400 or MATHS 65 + MATH 355	Students at this placement level passed a math-based course higher than Intermediate Algebra in high school (such as trigonometry, pre-calculus, intermediate algebra 4, and so on). Per the state’s guidance regarding AB 1705, students at this placement level may only enroll in these courses; they may not enroll in the lower STEM_3 or STEM_1 courses.
STEM_3	MATH 375 or MATH 386 or MATHS 86 + MATH 386 or MATHS 60 + MATH 400 or MATHS 65 + MATH 355	Students at this placement level passed Intermediate Algebra or Integrated Math 3 (IM 3) as their highest class in high school. MATH 375 is a pre-calculus/trigonometry combination course and is six (6) units. MATH 386 is SCC's innovative course and is designed to be a conceptual introduction to calculus with a review of pre-calculus and trigonometry incorporated. It is four (4) units and its associated support, MATHS 86, is two (2) units. Per the state’s guidance regarding AB 1705, students at this placement level may only enroll in these courses; they may not enroll in the lower STEM_1 courses.
STEM_1	MATHS 70 + MATH 372 or MATHS 71 + MATH 373 or MATHS 86 + MATH 386 or MATHS 60 + MATH 400 or MATHS 65 + MATH 355	Students at this placement level never attempted or passed intermediate algebra (IM 3) in high school. Students are required to take the support course with any class they take. Per the state’s guidance regarding AB 1705, students at this placement level may only enroll in these courses; they may not enroll in the higher STEM_3 or STEM_5 courses.

Note: Per the State's most recent guidance on AB 1705, all STEM students have the option of MATHS 60 + MATH 400 and MATHS 65 + MATH 355.

Pathways/Majors That Use STEM

We recommend you speak with a counselor to determine the best course(s) for your path. Majors that use the STEM placement category may include those in the following areas:

accounting
astronomy
biology
biotechnology
business
chemistry
computer information science
economics
engineering
geography
geographic information systems
geology
health education
management
marketing
mathematics
natural resources
physical science
physics, science
real estate
other business- or science-related majors

Placement Options Across Los Rios Colleges

Each of the four Los Rios colleges offers placement options that align with state guidelines. While these options may vary slightly, you can compare placement levels across colleges:

Need to Update Your Placement?

If you completed a high school math course after applying to SCC, you may be eligible for a placement reevaluation. Submitting your final transcript could improve your placement. See placement reevaluation to learn more.

FAQ

What if my high school or college transcript is from a foreign country?

If you have a foreign transcript, please check your Los Rios Gmail and Apps Dashboard for an email with the subject of "How to Get Your English and Math Course Placements." This email contains a link to Guided Self-Placement. If you have not received that email, you can email admissions@scc.losrios.edu to request the link.

How do I know if I need to take classes listed in the STEM, SLAM, or BusMath placement table?

You will receive a placement in all three categories. The courses you end up taking will be determined by your educational goal, major, and desired transfer universities. We recommend you speak with a counselor to determine the best course(s) for your path.

You can also refer to the "Pathways/Majors" information under each placement category to see which majors generally fall into each category.

What if I have placed in STEM_5 but I don’t feel ready to take calculus?

We strongly recommend that you enroll in calculus with concurrent support. The content of the support course is designed to provide arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and learning skills support to students as they learn concepts in their calculus course.

If I took calculus and didn’t pass it and I now want to take a preparatory course, which course can I take?

This depends on your STEM placement level.

If you are placed in STEM_5, you may take MATH 400 + MATHS 60 (calculus with its concurrent support).
If you are placed in STEM_3, you may take one course to prepare you for calculus –either MATH 375 or MATH 386 (you may choose to take MATH 386 with support).
If you are placed in STEM_1, you may take up to two courses to prepare you for calculus; options are listed with your placement results. We recommend students take MATHS 70 + MATH 372, MATHS 71 + MATH 373, and then MATH 400 (or MATH 355).

Are there any resources to help me review topics needed to be successful in the course shown on my placement?

SCC Resources

Every semester we offer courses designed to help with math content (MATHS 10), and some math courses have an embedded learning assistant.

There are many tutoring and learning support options available to students, including:

The SCC Math Lab provides in-person and virtual math tutoring on a drop-in or appointment basis.
The SCC Tutoring and Learning Center provides scheduled and drop-in tutoring appointments.
The SCC MESA program offers tutorials and additional support for students in the STEM fields.

See tutoring and learning assistance for more information and resources.

External Online Resources

The following are external online resources you can utilize before starting your math sequence:

Adult Education Center Resources

Check out the following developmental math resources available through regional adult education centers:

Please note that these Adult Education centers are not Los Rios Community College District resources.

If my placement level is STEM_1, how do I know which of the course combinations to take?

You may enroll in any of the courses shown on your placement level. In STEM_1, it is assumed that you have not completed integrated math 3 (IM 3), intermediate algebra, or the equivalent during high school, so it is required that you take any of those courses with their provided support. Support courses are designed to provide arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and learning skills support to students. We highly recommend students take MATHS 70 + MATH 372, MATHS 71 + MATH 373, and then MATH 400 (or MATH 355).

If my placement level is STEM_1, do I have to take MATHS 70 + MATH 372 before MATHS 71 + MATH 373?

No, you may take those pairings in either order or both during the same semester.