Math Major Guide for Choosing First-Semester Courses
We know that choosing courses can be daunting, so below is a guide to assist you with the process. We will also talk through any questions you may have during your Math Department Virtual Academic Advising and Course Registration session. If you have questions, the mathematics summer advisors can be contacted at summeradvising@math.vt.edu.
The following courses will be preloaded in your Hokie Scheduler:
- MATH 1225 – Single Variable Calculus
- MATH 1454 – Intro to Math Programming
- MATH 1004 – Discovering Mathematics I
- ENGL 1105 – First-Year Writing
Below is a guide for making adjustments as needed based on documented transfer credit. Adjustments can also be made to your schedule during and after your academic advising appointment. In addition, you should choose other courses as necessary to have a total of 14-17 credits on your Fall 2023 schedule.
Math placement is generally done per the table below. Summer advisors will speak with each student individually during their Virtual Academic Advising & Course Registration session to ensure proper placement.
| Documented MATH Transfer Credit | VT MATH Course Placement |
| None | MATH 12251 |
| MATH 1225 | MATH 1226 |
| MATH 1225+1226 | MATH 2204(H)+2114(H) or MATH 2405H2 |
| MATH 1225+1226+others | placement on individual basis |
1 To stay on track to graduate in four years, math majors who do not have transfer credit for MATH 1225 (Calculus of a Single Variable) should take this course in their first semester. To be elibigle to enroll in the course, you must earn a score of 80 or better on an ALEKS Placement Assessment or have a qualifying score on a college-level examination shown on your record in Hokie Spa. Students who do not earn an "Eligible to Enroll" status for MATH 1225 must instead take MATH 1214 (Preparation for Calculus).
The VT ALEKS Placement Assessment is designed to determine what you know and what you need to work on; you do NOT need to review/study for the assessment. At the end of the assessment, you will have a much better sense of your strengths and weaknesses and have a chance to brush up on topics that may have been forgotten or haven't been practiced for some time. You will have three attempts to attain the score needed.
Take the assessment as soon as possible, one assessment is used to qualify students for eligibility in these courses. Access to ALEKS is available now and is offered free of charge for Virginia Tech students. All College of Science majors (except psychology majors) should complete the VT ALEKS placement assessment, regardless of anticipated AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, or other transfer credits.
2 If you have transfer credit for both MATH 1225 and MATH 1226 you have some choices outlined below. Discuss this with the summer advisors during your advising session.
- Enroll in MATH 2405H – Mathematics in a Computational Context. This course is the first semester of a year-long integrated sequence which covers MATH 2114 (linear algebra), MATH 2204 (multivariable calculus) and MATH 2214 (differential equations), with an eye to applications and algorithmic implementation of solutions.
- Enroll in MATH 2114 (linear algebra) and MATH 2204 (multivariable calculus), and possibly choose an honors section of one or both.
3 If you have transfer credit for at least one math course beyond MATH 1226, discuss your options with the summer advisors.
You should enroll in MATH 1454 if any of the following apply:
- you do not have transfer credit for any programming (CS) class or extensive previous programming experience AND you scored an 80 or higher on a VT ALEKS Placement Assessment
- you have transfer credit for MATH 1225 and do not have extensive previous programming experience
If you are unsure about your eligibility for MATH 1454, or have questions about programming course placement, contact the summer advisors.
This is the Math Department’s first-year experience course, and is taken by all first-year math majors. It is an introduction to the scope and applicability of mathematics and its many sub-disciplines. In this course, you will be introduced to the process of thinking, learning, and writing as a mathematician. If you are a transfer student, talk with a summer advisor about whether MATH 1004 is right for you.
English placement is generally done per the table below. Summer advisors will speak with each student individually during their Virtual Academic Advising & Course Registration session to ensure proper placement.
| Documented English Transfer Credit | VT ENGL Course Placement |
| None | ENGL 1105 |
| ENGL 1105 | ENGL 1106 |
| ENGL 1105 + 1106 | no first-year writing course needed |
If you are enrolled in any of these types of programs, you should hear from the program about the necessary courses. Contact the summer advisors if you have not heard from your program. You may also find information in the Resources section of math.vt.edu/summeradvising.
This document contains a first-year Pathways course list that includes Pathways course selections appropriate for first-year students. This will help you to find additional courses that you are interested in to complete your fall class schedule. Consider Pathways concepts for which you do not have transfer credit. Register for a total of 14-17 credits on your Fall 2023 schedule. The table below shows how many credits are required in each Pathways Concept by the time you graduate.
| Pathways Concept Number and Title | Required Number of Credits and Required Course(s) for Graduation |
| 1f: Foundational Discourse | 6 credits; ENGLISH 1105, ENGL 1106 |
| 1a: Advanced Discourse | 3 |
| 2: Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 6 |
| 3: Reasoning in the Social Sciences | 6 |
| 4: Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 6 |
| 5f: Foundational Quant & Comp Thinking | 6 credits: MATH 1225, MATH 1226 |
| 5a: Advanced Quant & Comp Thinking | 3 credits: MATH 2214 |
| 6d: Critique and Practice in Design | 3 credits |
| 6a: Critique and Practice in Arts | 3 |
| 7: Critical Analysis of Identity & Equity in the US* | 3 credits |
* Some courses may be used for Concept 7 plus one other Pathways Concept, but no other double-counting among Pathways courses is permitted.