Math summer
orientation
Help for students in
mathematical majors
planning the
Fall 2013 schedule.
Your adviser today
You will be advised by one of
• Alison Champion, Math &
Actuarial adviser
• Robert Muncaster (Dr. Bob),
Director of Undergraduate
Studies in Math
• David Unger, Statistics adviser
• Steve Herzog, Computer
Science Coordinator of
Academic Programs
Placement Exams
• A placement exam helps us
choose courses for you.
• You should have taken the
ALEKS Math placement
exam already and
placement exams for
languages, Chemistry, or
Physics if you plan or need
to take those courses here
on campus.
Proficiency tests
• A placement exam helps us choose courses; a
proficiency exam can earn you college credit.
• Note that on THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1-2:30
PM, 314 Altgeld Hall, is a Calculus I proficiency
exam for new students. No sign-up needed. If
you have learned calculus but do not already
have official University of Illinois credit for Math
220, please sit for this exam. There is no penalty
if you do not pass. Calculators are not permitted,
but the exam is multiple-choice, so you may be
able to pass even if you don’t have time to study
before the test. Please bring your i-card and a
pencil to the exam. Results are available in 313
Altgeld Hall from 1-4 pm on Friday, August 23, in
person.
• There is another proficiency exam date available
for almost any math class, but you must sign up
online by 5pm Monday, August 26, to take the 3hour long-answer exam from 7-10 pm on
Wednesday, August 28. No calculators. Only
one exam may be taken on that date. Register at
• http://go.illinois.edu/mathproficiency
Composition I
• Several different ways to
complete this freshman writing
requirement
• ESL 114 or 115 composition
courses, based on English
Placement Test score
• Rhetoric course, depending on
ACT English score
• CMN 111/112 (strong English
skills and strong ACT English
score). Short speeches +
writing.
Rhetoric courses
Students must take the
sequence they were placed in to
fulfill the requirement!
• Rhet 101 (+100) followed by
Rhet 102 (+100)
• Rhet 103 followed by Rhet 104
• Rhet 105 (fall if UIN is even,
spring if UIN is odd) – very
intense 4 credit course
• Students placed in Rhet 105
may also choose CMN
111+112.
ESL Composition
• Students who complete ESL
do NOT need to take Rhet
courses; ESL 112 or 115
completes the Comp I
requirement.
• ESL instructors have special
training to help with writing
issues of non-native speakers
of English AND general
composition.
• Rhet instructors are NOT
qualified or trained to help nonnative speakers of English
ESL Composition
• Some students are required to
take the English Placement
Test (EPT)
• Other students may choose to
take the EPT, even if they are
not required to do it.
• ONLY students who take the
EPT may take ESL
composition courses.
English Placement Test
• If English is not your native
language, you can sign up for
the EPT at
http://go.illinois.edu/ept
Advanced Composition
• Must be done AFTER Comp I
• Learn to write well in a specific
discipline
• Math majors with Calculus II
credit might like Math 348
• Actuarial science students
often choose BTW 250
• Usually NOT done in freshman
year.
Language Other
Than English
•
•
•
•
•
Ways to fulfill this requirement
are…
4 years’ study in high school
(one language)
4 semesters’ study in college
(one language)
Reach 4th level another way
Reach 3rd level of two
languages
Proficiency exam here on
campus
• If English is not your native
language but you studied in the
U.S. for part of high school,
you can also submit middle
school transcripts (6th/7th/8th
grade) from your home country
to help cover the 4-year
requirement.
Language Other
Than English
• Not exempt if you are a native
speaker of another language
• Proficiency exams available
• EALC department offers
Japanese, Korean, Chinese
exams in August (23rd)
• Spanish offers exam in August
• Many other departments
arrange individual exams
Language Other
Than English
• If you wish to continue with a
language you started in high
school, you MUST take the
placement exam.
• You MUST start with the
course you’re placed in, even if
it’s lower than you expect
• Example: Placed in Span 103
after 4 years of Spanish in high
school. Cannot jump to 4th
level Spanish.
Language Other
Than English
• Note that beginning Spanish is
NOT available.
• Parkland College teaches
beginning Spanish, but tuition
is not included in U of I tuition.
• Many, many other languages
are available at U of I.
General Education
• General education gives you
breadth in your studies
• Gen ed courses can be spread
throughout your time here, but
it’s good to cover most of them
before junior year
General Education
Requirements
• 6 hours of Humanities & Arts
(Historical/Philosophical and
Literature & Arts)
• 6 hours of Social & Behavioral
Sciences
• 6 hours of Natural Sciences &
Technology (Physical Science
and Life Science)
General Education
• 1 Western/Comparative
Cultures course
• 1 Nonwestern or U.S. Minority
Cultures course
• These two courses may
“double-dip” with the previous
18 hours if chosen carefully
• Courses listed for both
Western and Nonwestern may
be counted for one, not both!
(You choose which one.)
General Education
• Many general education
classes fill up quickly
• Some general education
courses have sections
reserved for special groups.
Those sections are not
available unless you’re in the
special group.
• Please identify many courses
which you might like to take!
General Education
• Econ 102/103 are
recommended for actuarial
science majors (social science)
• Psyc 100 is required for
teaching programs, but not
recommended for first
semester freshmen (behavioral
science)
Electives!
You must complete 120 credits
to graduate. Your major and
general ed courses use less
than 90 hours, so you MUST
take some courses just for fun!
Consider a minor, learning a new
language, exploring courses
which look fun or interesting…
Teaching
• Interested in teaching middle
school or high school (grades
6-12)? Even just as your backup plan?
• Teaching programs have
special requirements, including
courses which should be done
freshman year.
• Tell me if you might want to be
a teacher!
Computer Science
• CS 100: orientation (1 hr)
• CS 101: Programming for
science/engineering (3 hrs)
• CS 103: Programming for
informatics minors (3 hrs)
• CS 125: Programming for CS
majors, Math/CS, Stat/CS, CS
minors (4 hours)
• CS 105: Computing for
Business (3 hours)
Computer Science
• CS 101 recommended for
math majors. Weekly labs, two
major programming
assignments. Currently uses
Matlab and C.
• CS 125 required for Math/CS,
Stat/CS, CS majors. Weekly
labs, 7-8 major programming
assignments. Uses Java.
• CS 103 can be used by math
majors. Uses Python.
Computer Science
• CS 105: counts only for
actuarial science majors, not
other mathematical majors.
Uses Visual Basic & Excel.
• See
https://agora.cs.illinois.edu/disp
lay/undergradProg/Intro+Cours
es+Explained for more info on
intro CS courses.
• Stat majors take Stat 200 or
212 instead of a CS course.
Math Courses
• Math 220: Calculus for
students who have not taken
calculus before
• Math 221: Calculus I for
students who have taken
calculus previously
• Math 231: Calculus II
(background of Math 220 or
221)
• Math 241: Calculus III,
multivariable calculus
Math Courses
• Math 012 Algebra (expects
ALEKS score of at least 30%)
• Math 115 Preparation for
Calculus (requires ALEKS
score of at least 50%)
• Math 220/221 require ALEKS
score of at least 70%
Math Merit Workshop
• Available for Math 115, 220,
221, 231, 241
• Students in Merit Workshop
sections attend the regular
lecture but have 2-hour-long
discussion sections.
• Discussions are spent doing
hard worksheets in groups of
4-6, not watching the TA solve
problems.
• Hard work pays off at test time!
Math prerequisites
• You may retake ALEKS more
than once. Each test costs
$3.50.
• For $35 you can buy the
ALEKS Learning Module as a
refresher.
• Learning Module gives you
access to unlimited retests and
practice problems, for a limited
number of weeks.
Advanced Placement
• AP Calculus AB: score of 4 or
5 gives credit for Math 220.
• AP Calculus BC: score of 4 or
5 gives credit for Math 220 &
Math 231.
• AP Calculus BC score of 3, AB
subscore of 4 or 5 gives credit
for Math 220.
• Lower scores give no credit
Advanced Placement
• If you don’t see credit for AP
scores in your Illinois records,
check your score report to see
whether you sent your score to
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign
• College Board will send scores
for a fee. Priority/rush service
is NOT necessary.
Advanced Math
• Math 347: Intro to Proofs (Math
231 prerequisite, Math 241
even better). Intro to reading
advanced math and to writing
proofs in a variety of areas of
math. Transition from calculus
to advanced math.
• Math 348: same thing with
Advanced Composition
Advanced Math
• Math 416, Applied Linear
Algebra
• Required for math majors
• Prerequisite: Math 241
• Math 347 also good prereq
• Honors section available (now)
to extremely good students
Advanced Math
• Math 441, differential
equations for math majors
• Math 453, number theory
• Math 402, non-Euclidean
geometry
• Math 461, Probability Theory
(actuarial science majors only)
• Stat 400, Stat & Probability I
(stat majors only)
• Math 210, Theory of Interest
(actuarial sci)
Actuarial Science
• Math 210 covers most of Exam
2/FM, financial math
professional actuarial exam.
• Math 408, Actuarial Stat I,
covers Exam 1/P, probability.
• May substitute Math 461 for
408.
• Math 409, Actuarial Statistics II
• Math 469, Methods of Applied
Statistics
Finance 221
For actuarial science students
only, prerequisites are
• a Statistics course
• Accy 200, Accy 201, or a
course in Financial Accounting
• CS 105 or ability to use Excel
• PLEASE ignore prerequisites
on course catalog.
Actuarial Science
For loads of information, see the
Advising Notes link from
http://math.illinois.edu/~gorvett
This website has a 4-year
schedule, course info, exam
info, and answers most
advising questions (including
office hours for Rick Gorvett).
Actuarial Science
• Director of the Program
Prof. Rick Gorvett
gorvett@illinois.edu
See him by appointment during
the semester—online sign-up
linked from his webpage.
Freshman/sophomore advising
Ms. Alison Champion
abc@illinois.edu
Mathematics major
• All students do “Core” courses
• Also choose a Concentration
• Supporting coursework
Math Concentrations
• General Math: most flexible,
most popular choice
• “Graduate Prep”: actually PhD
prep for students who wish to
go directly to a doctoral
program after completing B.Sc.
Most intensive option.
• Note that any option will
prepare you for a master’s
program.
Math Concentrations
• Applied Math: engineering
oriented
• Operations Research:
business/optimization
• Teacher Education: for those
who wish to teach grades 6-12.
Only U.S. students may enter
the teaching program.
• Choose a concentration within
1-2 semesters of completing
Math 347/348
Supporting Coursework
• Required of all math majors
• Purpose: specialize in an area
outside of math
• 3 choices: second major, ANY
minor, or 12 credit hours of
supporting coursework
Supporting Coursework
• “Supporting coursework” is a
single math-related area
outside of mathematics.
• Must take at least 12 credits in
the area
• At least some of the courses
must be advanced (300-level
or 400-level)
Supporting Coursework
•
•
•
•
Examples:
Physics
Economics
Philosophy (logic or scienceoriented Phil courses)
• Another science
• Computer Science (CS
101/125 not counted and
courses listed both in Math and
CS not counted)
Supporting Coursework
• Other areas possible if you can
justify how they’re related to
math.
• Supporting coursework
requires adviser approval.
Math Advisers
mathadvising@illinois.edu
• Ms. Alison Champion
• Mr. Chris Cunningham
• Prof. Robert Muncaster
(Dr. Bob)
• TBA: 3rd adviser to be hired
soon.
All in 313 Altgeld Hall, which is
the Math Undergrad Office.
Math/CS & Stat/CS
Adviser
Dr. Steve Herzog
1210 Siebel Center
smherzog@illinois.edu
Stat couses
• Stat 400, Stat & Probability I
• Stat 410, Stat & Probability II
• Stat 420, Methods of Applied
Statistics
• Stat 200, Statistical Analysis
(learn R among other things)
• Stat 212, Biostatistics (similar
to 200 but with bio focus)
Statistics
Adviser
David Unger
103 Illini Hall
dunger@illinois.edu
David answers e-mail quickly
and has weekly office hours,
schedule varies by semester.
http://publish.illinois.edu/dunger/
Helpful websites
• http://courses.illinois.edu
Information about current
courses, general education, all
majors/minors, and link to
register!
• http://las.illinois.edu
Helpful information and forms
• http://registrar.illinois.edu
Financial info, transcripts, DARS
audit
Deadlines
• September 9: Last day to add a
semester-long class. You can
change your schedule between
August 23-September 9.
• October 18: Last day to DROP a
class. Before this date you can
drop any class as long as you have
at least 12 credits. After this date
you must petition to the College of
LAS and have documentation of
extenuating circumstances such as
extended illness, mental health
issues, or other outside problems.
A committee will review the petition
but may force you to stay in the
class and not drop/withdraw.
Schedule
• You must register for 12-18
hours. 14-16 is recommended
for your first semester.
• You must have at least 12
credit hours by the first day of
the semester.
• Final exams run December 1320. Plan to be on campus
through December 20!! There
is an exam 7-10pm that day.
Schedule
• For students taking calculus, 1
math class is enough.
• For students beyond calculus,
2 math/stat classes are
recommended.
• Students who take 3 math/stat
classes in one semester
usually earn very poor grades.
If you wish to try this, wait until
you have completed a
semester with A or A+ grades
in two tough math classes.
Registration
• Have a long list of classes
which interest you—math
AND general education AND
electives!!
• Have your passwords set,
including Enterprise
password!!
• Read up on the classes you
want at the CLASS
SCHEDULE at
http://courses.illinois.edu
Registration errors
• ALWAYS check the Class
Schedule when you get a
registration error.
• Registration program has little
helpful information. Class
Schedule has MUCH detail not
found anywhere else!
• Error messages mean that
there’s an error, but the
messages themselves may be
wrong!
Scheduling
• You can add or drop classes or
change sections any time up
through September 9.
• Please stay with the schedule
recommended by your adviser!
Scheduling
• Many classes which are full
now may have seats available
later when other students
change their schedules.
• Keep trying!
• If you add a new class after the
semester begins, it is YOUR
job to contact the instructor to
ask about material and
assignments/quizzes you have
missed and how to catch up.
Math advising
• General math advising is
available at
mathadvising@illinois.edu
• dunger@illinois.edu is helpful
with Statistics questions.
• smherzog@illinois.edu is
helpful with Computer Science
questions.
• See the actuarial website for
actuarial help!