Entry-Level Math Pathways

UCSD offers three entry-level pathways for students entering mathematics at UCSD

The Math 10 calculus series is the pathway for biological and social science majors.
- Math 3C (Precalculus) is the prerequisite for Math 10A designed to prepare students in the Math 10 pathway.
- Math 2 (Introduction to College Mathematics) is designed to prepare students for Math 3C.
The Math 20 calculus series is the pathway for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics majors.
- Math 4C (Precalculus for Science and Engineering) is the prerequisite for Math 20A designed to prepare students in Math 20 pathway.
- Math 3C (Precalculus) is the prerequisite for Math 4C.
Math 18 is an entry-level Linear Algebra course.
- Math 10A or 4C are prerequisite courses for Math 18.

The Math Placement Exam (MPE) places students from Math 2 through Math 20A.

Check your major to see which series you should enroll in.

Math 2: Introduction to College Mathematics

Math 2 is a highly adaptive course designed to build on students’ strengths while increasing overall mathematical understanding and skill. Math 2 is designed to prepare students for Math 3C.

Requirements:

Qualifying placement on the MPE.

Math 10 Calculus Series

This series meets minimum requirements for biology and social science majors and meets the general education requirements for many of the UCSD colleges. Check with your college and major to ensure this course meets the requirements.

Math 3C: Precalculus

Math 3C is the precalculus course for those intending to take Math 10A.

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Qualifying placement on the MPE.

Math 10A: Calculus I

Math 10A is a beginning calculus course for students in biological and social majors.

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 4 or higher on AP Precalculus Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 2 on AP Calculus AB Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 600 or higher on the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Exam, OR
MATH 3C or MATH 4C, OR
Qualifying placement on the MPE.

NOTE: Precalculus taken in high school, community college, or another university does NOT meet the prerequisite for any math course at UCSD.

You may not take Math 10A for credit if you already received credit by AP Calculus AB (score 3 or higher), if you have earned equivalent transfer credit, or if you have earned credit for Math 20A.

Math 10B: Calculus II

Math 10B offers student coursework in: Integral calculus of functions of one variable, with applications. Antiderivatives, definite integrals, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, methods of integration, areas and volumes, separable differential equations. (No credit given if taken after or concurrent with MATH 20B.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus AB (or equivalent AB sub-score on the BC exam), OR
MATH 10A or MATH 20A.

Math 10C: Calculus III

Math 10C offers student coursework in introduction to functions of more than one variable. (No credit given if taken after or concurrent with Math 20C.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus BC, OR
Score 5 or higher on the IB Higher-Level Mathematics Analyses & Approaches, OR
MATH 10B or MATH 20B.

Consult the course catalog for a description of these courses and their prerequisites or see the AP Calculus exam prerequisites.

Math 20 Calculus Series

The Math 20 series satisfies mathematics prerequisites for students in STEM majors and can be used to meet general education requirements for many colleges.

Math 4C: Precalculus for Science and Engineering

Math 4C is the precalculus course for those intending to take Math 20A. (Two units of credits given if taken after MATH 3C.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 4 on AP Precalculus Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 2 on AP Calculus AB Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 600 or higher on the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Exam, OR
MATH 3C, OR
Qualifying placement on the MPE.

Math 20A: Calculus for Science and Engineering

Math 20A is the first course in the Math 20 series for students in STEM majors and offers coursework in foundations of differential and integral calculus of one variable. (Two units of credits given if taken after MATH 10A.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 5 on AP Precalculus Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam (or an equivalent AB subgrade on the AP Calculus BC exam), OR
Score of 650 or higher on the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Exam, OR
MATH 4C or MATH 10A, OR
Qualifying placement on the MPE.

NOTE: High school and community college precalculus courses do NOT meet the prerequisite for Math 20A.

You may not take Math 20A for credit if you already received credit by AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5 or have earned equivalent course transfer credit.

Math 20B: Calculus for Science and Engineering

Math 20B is the second course in the Math 20 series for students in STEM majors and offers coursework in integral calculus of one variable and its applications, with exponential, logarithmic, hyperbolic, and trigonometric functions. (Two units of credits given if taken after MATH 10B or MATH 10C.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam (or an equivalent AB subgrade on the AP Calculus BC exam), OR
Score of 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam, OR
Score 5 or higher on the IB Higher-Level Mathematics Analyses & Approaches, OR
Grade of C- or better in MATH 20A or MATH 10B or MATH 10C.

Math 20C: Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering

Math 20C is the third course in the Math 20 series for students in STEM majors and offers coursework in vector geometry, vector functions and their derivatives. (Two units of credit given if taken after MATH 10C. Credit not offered for both MATH 20C and 31BH.)

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam. OR
Grade of C- or better in Math 20B.

Consult the course catalog for a description of these courses and their prerequisites or see the AP Calculus exam prerequisites.

Math 11: Calculus-Based Introductory Probability and Statistics

Math 11 offers student coursework in events and probabilities, conditional probability, Bayes’ formula, discrete and continuous random variables: mean, variance; binomial, Poisson distributions, normal, uniform, exponential distributions, central limit theorem, sample statistics, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and regression.

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus BC exam OR
Score 5 or higher on the IB Mathematics Analyses & Approaches Higher Level; OR
MATH 10B or 20B.

Math 18: Linear Algebra

Math 18 offers students coursework in: matrix algebra, Gaussian elimination, determinants, linear and affine subspaces, bases of Euclidean spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, quadratic forms, orthogonal matrices, and diagonalization of symmetric matrices.

Students must meet one of the following prerequisites:

Score of 5 on AP Precalculus Exam (Only valid for 2 years when used for math placement), OR
Score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam (or an equivalent AB subgrade on the AP Calculus BC exam), OR
Score of 650 or higher on the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Exam, OR
Score 5 or higher on the IB Higher-Level Mathematics Analyses & Approaches, OR
MATH 4C or MATH 10A or MATH 20A, OR
Qualifying placement on the MPE.

Note: The IB Higher-Level Math Applications and Interpretations and any IB Standard-Level Mathematics exams are not UC transferable; therefore, they cannot be used to meet the prerequisites to enroll in math at UCSD. Students who do not meet course prerequisites will need to take the MPE.