Freshman Course Selection
Selecting first-semester courses can be daunting. Incoming freshmen will speak with their pre-major advisors during the summer to discuss their approach to course selection. In preparation for that conversation, it is wise to view the Freshman Videos and the Registration Tutorial, identify and confirm any advanced placement credit, and plan to take any appropriate departmental placement tests during New Student Orientation.
The first few semesters are an excellent opportunity to be adventurous and request courses that arouse intellectual curiosity. It is also wise to keep potential major interests in mind, but not be limited to a single potential field of study. Browse the list of entry courses to majors recommended by the College's departments and programs. The Course Search and Mock Schedule screens on Penn InTouch can help you search for courses using a variety of criteria.
List of Seminars >> See policies >> See past seminars >>
While not required, freshman seminars are an excellent introduction to academic life in the College, and are highly recommended for first- or second-semester students. The primary goal of the freshman seminar program is to provide every freshman with the opportunity for a direct personal encounter with a faculty member in a small class setting devoted to a significant intellectual endeavor. Freshman seminars also fulfill College General Education Requirements.
Placement Diagnostic Exam for First-Year Math
The Mathematics department is introducing an online placement diagnostic exam to help incoming freshmen choose the math course most suited to their previous exposure to math and academic ambitions. Incoming freshmen should take this exam in the summer as part of Advance Registration.
See more information and a link to the diagnostic exam. >>
Guidelines for Selecting a Math Course
Students should first complete the online math placement diagnostic exam and work with their academic advisor to determine which math course is appropriate, given their previous math exposure and the results of the exam.
MATH 101 is a half-credit online course that provides students with the necessary foundation in algebra and trigonometry. Students whose high school curriculum and score on the math placement diagnostic exam that indicates Math 101 as an appropriate placement should consult with the Math department before enrolling.
MATH 103 prepares students with little or no calculus in high school or need to strengthen the foundations of their calculus skills.
MATH 104 is the next course in the calculus sequence. Students may receive credit for MATH 104 with a 5 on the BC Math AP exam or a 7 on the Math with Higher Math IB exam. Students with MATH 104 credit may choose to continue in the calculus sequence for their major or intellectual interest. Some majors (such as Biochemistry, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics) specifically require MATH 104 and 114; otherwise students who need a second semester of calculus may take either 114 or 115. Not all students will need to take a second semester of calculus; when in doubt, consult a pre-major or department advisor.
MATH 114 and more advanced math courses will be appropriate for students with MATH 104 credit and placement through the diagnostic exam. Students who are interested in math or science might also want to consider a more challenging honors version of Calculus, Math 116 and Math 260 (the analogues of MATH 114 and MATH 240). These courses will cover the material more in depth and involve discussion of theory as well as computations.
Note: Students who request a math course may not get the exact lecture or recitation section they want. It may take some persistence to get into the course. The department never turns a student away because a course is full. The student can always be fit in somewhere, although not necessarily in the section or at the time the student prefers. Students who need help getting into a course should contact the Math department.
Advanced Placement
A student may receive credit for MATH 104 (1 c.u.) by earning:
- A score of 5 on the Advanced Placement (A.P.) Calculus BC exam
- A score of 7 on the International Baccalaureate (Mathematics [Higher Level] plus Further Mathematics).
No credit is given for the A.P. Calculus AB exam regardless of score.
The Math department does not give credit for foreign examinations, such as the German Abitur, the French Baccalaureat, and the English A-Level.
Departmental Exams for Credit
All students are eligible to take the Math department's internal exams for credit, which are offered at the beginning of the fall semester. Near the end of the summer, the times and dates of the exams will be posted near the top of the department's undergraduate web page.
Anyone who has studied calculus should consider taking these exams. The department keeps no record of those who do not pass; thus, students who take the exams and fail have lost nothing. The exams are open to all without charge. More information is available on the Math department website.
See list >> Choosing the right seminar >>
Students should satisfy the Writing Requirement by taking a writing seminar sometime in their first year. Writing seminars are offered through the Critical Writing Program.
It is recommended that students begin to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement in their first semester and continue to take courses without break until the requirement is fulfilled. Students planning to continue with a language that they have studied previously should read about language placement. Students who decide to start a new language at Penn should anticipate that it will require four full semesters of course work to achieve competency in the language and to fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement.
Students may be able to determine placement at a particular level in a variety of different subjects, either by means of an exam taken before matriculation (A.P., I.B.) or by taking a placement exam offered by a Penn department at the beginning of the semester.
In either case, students should consider the issue of placement very carefully. Determining the proper level at which to begin the study of a subject gives a student the best chance of success in that course. Placement exams are offered at Penn by language, science and the Mathematics departments. Browse the sections below for more detailed information on these exams.
