ACC Math Advising

Phil Owens' Math Advising Main Page
Note: this is not the official Math Department advising page

For the new student, deciding what math course to take is a two-step process:

Step 1: Find out what sequence of math courses you need for your program
Step 2: Find out what course you are qualified to take right now

The following discussions will help you answer those questions.

If you have questions that these pages don't answer, please feel free to contact any member of the full-time faculty .

Table of Contents
Step 1: What math courses do I need?
Step 2: What math courses am I qualified to take right now?
Miscellaneous links
Quick links to all pages

Step 1: What math courses do I need?

The answer to this depends on your program of studies. Examine the following:

Math flow charts , which cover the sequences of math courses needed for:

mathematics, science, or engineering majors
business majors
elementary education majors

you will also see some requirements set by UT and SWTU teacher programs

non-science, non-business majors

These flow charts are color-coded, to indicate scores needed on TASP or COMPASS in order to enter those classes as a new student. This may be all some students need in order to complete Step 2 . More details of Step 2 will be provided below.

Alternatives to College Algebra

College Math ¹ College Algebra !!!!

If your program requires a college-level mathematics course (without specifying a course by name), don't make the mistake of assuming this means College Algebra. College Algebra is designed for students who are going on to Calculus. You should take College Algebra only if your program specifically mentions it by name. Click on the above link for suggestions for other college-level math courses.

Math department course page , with details on each of the courses we offer, including prerequisites, content, generic syllabi, schedules, etc. If you click on specific courses on this page, you will be able to link to the home pages of faculty teaching that course, including actual syllabi, schedules, and possibly even course notes.

Math courses required for various majors

See also ACC program information from the ACC Catalog.

Transferring to other schools

Info and links to other schools : UT, SWTSU, St. Ed's, Baylor, Concordia, Huston-Tillotson, Southwestern, etc.

Most programs you might consider transferring into require specific math courses, and you need to check carefully into the requirements of your specific program

ACC catalog descriptions of Math courses:

Developmental Math
College-level Math

Math courses offered by other departments:

Psychology Department - Statistical Methods for the Behavioral Sciences
Management Department - Business Statistics

Fast track sequence through developmental courses if

you need a fast intense review of high school math
you really want to move into more challenging science or technology courses quickly?

Step 2: What math courses am I qualified to take right now?

This depends on what courses (HS and College) you already have taken, and/or your scores on various tests, most importantly, the TASP test and the COMPASS assessment test. The SAT, ACT, and other TASP-alternative tests may also be used for qualification. These elements combine in various ways to determine qualification:

Assessment test alone
TASP test alone
Prior course alone
TASP and prior course

The bottom line: In order to increase your chances of being placed accurately,

take the COMPASS Assessment Test

Even if you scored 1000 on TASP, 800 on SAT, etc., COMPASS will take a snapshot of your specific, current, mathematical skills , which is of crucial importance to you. The primary cause of failure in Math courses is inappropriate placement.

Testing and placement

Evaluate your mathematics background takes you to a page that discusses the following:

Do you need to take the COMPASS assessment test?

If you did not pass TASP then you must take the COMPASS assessment test.
If you are exempt from TASP because of TAAS scores or previous college work.

then you do not need to take COMPASS, but you must have certain HS courses.
BUT you should take COMPASS anyway for accurate placement

If you have high enough scores from TASP, SAT, or ACT

then you do not need to take COMPASS, but you may need certain HS courses, e.g. Algebra II
BUT you should take COMPASS anyway for accurate placement

If you took a TASP alternative exam (ASSET, MAPS, CPT /ACCUPLACER)

then you may not need to take COMPASS
BUT you should take COMPASS anyway for accurate placement

Otherwise, you must take the COMPASS test.

Taking the COMPASS assessment test:

See the Assessment Office page
Prepare for it

One way is to study the departmental Prerequisite Review Sheets

Interpreting your COMPASS/TASP scores

Detailed placement information based on your COMPASS score
Summary of TASP/COMPASS scores needed for each Math course
Do you need to take Elementary Algebra before embarking on Intermediate Algebra?
Do you need to review HS Algebra by taking Intermediate Algebra?
TASP and Topics in Mathematics, Math for Measurement, and Statistics

TASP Policy Manual (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - THECB)

If you feel your placement test results do not reflect your true math skills

Prior course prerequisites and placement

Summary of the prerequisites for each Math course.

Miscellaneous links

The page you are currently viewing combines the navigational style of the two official "Math advising main pages":

Math Dept. advising main page
Math Dept. advising outline of pages , which contains most of the links to various pages all collected on one page

Time management to help ensure success

A summary of sources for prerequisite information

The current ACC course schedule

For advisors:

Quick links to all pages

You may remember going to a certain page, but can't recall how you got there. Here is a list of all the links on this page that you can peruse quickly and perhaps spot what you are looking for.

Math Dept Advising http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/

    Information about which math course to take http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/majors.htm

    Adequate mathematics background for the course http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/background.htm

    Making time http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/mathtime.htm

    Flow chart -- sequence of courses to take http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/flow.htm

    Placement Chart -- determines which course to start with http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/chart.htm

    Math Advising Outline of Pages http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/outline.htm

    Transferring to other schools http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/transfer.htm

    Interpreting COMPASS score http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass1.htm

    SAT (etc) http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/satetc.htm

    Did not pass TASP http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/tasp0.htm

    Exempt from TASP http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/exempt.htm

    Prerequisites (general) http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/prereq.htm

    Prerequisites (by course) http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/prereqlist.htm

    What does 2 yrs of HS Algebra mean? http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/hsalgebra.htm

    CPT test scores http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/cpt1.htm

    If your assessment test does not reflect your skills http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/inperson.htm

    Elementary or Intermediate? http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass3.htm

    Do you need to take Intermediate Algebra http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass2.htm

    Advising for Developmental Instructors http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/advmatd.htm

    Information for advisors http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/paper.htm

         PDF file 11/14 http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/advisors1.pdf

         Math Levels as achieved by courses taken http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/levelscourses.pdf

   TASP and Topics, Math for Measurement, Statistics http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/1332.htm

TASP - THECB http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/pdf/0425.pdf

Assessment Office http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/rss/assess/assessment.htm

Fast-Track http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/fastad.htm

Prerequisite Review Sheets http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/prereqd/

Courses available http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/

Alternatives to College Algebra http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/han1314al.pdf

ACC catalog references

     ACC catalog http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/

     Math-related Management http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmana.htm

     Math-related Psych http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descpsyc.htm

     Math http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmath.htm

     Developmental Math http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmade.htm

Full-time faculty http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/mathdept/ftfac.htm

Schedule http://www3.austincc.edu/schedule/

Math Dept Advising	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/
Information about which math course to take	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/majors.htm
Adequate mathematics background for the course	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/background.htm
Making time	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/mathtime.htm
Flow chart -- sequence of courses to take	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/flow.htm
Placement Chart -- determines which course to start with	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/chart.htm
Math Advising Outline of Pages	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/outline.htm
Transferring to other schools	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/transfer.htm
Interpreting COMPASS score	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass1.htm
SAT (etc)	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/satetc.htm
Did not pass TASP	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/tasp0.htm
Exempt from TASP	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/exempt.htm
Prerequisites (general)	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/prereq.htm
Prerequisites (by course)	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/prereqlist.htm
What does 2 yrs of HS Algebra mean?	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/hsalgebra.htm
CPT test scores	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/cpt1.htm
If your assessment test does not reflect your skills	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/inperson.htm
Elementary or Intermediate?	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass3.htm
Do you need to take Intermediate Algebra	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/compass2.htm
Advising for Developmental Instructors	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/advmatd.htm
Information for advisors	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/paper.htm
PDF file 11/14	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/advisors1.pdf
Math Levels as achieved by courses taken	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/levelscourses.pdf
TASP and Topics, Math for Measurement, Statistics	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/advising/1332.htm
TASP - THECB	http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/pdf/0425.pdf
Assessment Office	http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/rss/assess/assessment.htm
Fast-Track	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/fastad.htm
Prerequisite Review Sheets	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/prereqd/
Courses available	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/
Alternatives to College Algebra	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/han1314al.pdf
ACC catalog references
ACC catalog	http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/
Math-related Management	http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmana.htm
Math-related Psych	http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descpsyc.htm
Math	http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmath.htm
Developmental Math	http://www3.austincc.edu/catalog/descmade.htm
Full-time faculty	http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/mathdept/ftfac.htm
Schedule	http://www3.austincc.edu/schedule/