1. Southern Connecticut State University
  2. Academic Placement
  3. Mathematics Placement

Mathematics Placement

Southern requires all students to complete a Math course (MAT 103 or higher depending on your major) to fulfill the general education Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Students may also be required to complete the Quantitative Reasoning Prerequisite (MAT 100 or MAT 100P) based on their placement level.

First-Year Freshman

First, please log into the MySCSU student portal to verify that you have a Math placement level:

  • Go to Banner Student
  • Select Record and Registration
  • Select Prior Education and Testing
  • In the testing section, if a Math Placement (MAT) score is present, you have a placement level
  • In the testing section, if a Math Placement score is not present, you do not have a placement level

If you do not have a placement level, please submit one or more of the following to admissions@southernct.edu, to help ensure you receive an appropriate schedule at orientation:

Advanced Placement Exam Scores (AP)

If you are taking an AP or Early College Math course but will not have your scores by your orientation session, your schedule will be adjusted when your official AP/ECE transcripts arrive later in the summer. If you have not requested your official AP/ECE transcripts to be sent to Southern, please do so as soon as possible.

High School Official Transcript

Placement Level Placement Criteria You are eligible to take...
MAT 095
  • Less than 3.25 HS GPA
 MAT 100P
MAT 100
  • 3.25-4.00 HS GPA
 Any course above plus MAT 100
MAT 112
  • Criterion 1: 3.40-4.00 HS GPA, and
  • Criterion 2: Completed full-year mathematics course your senior year, and
  • Criterion 3: Completed three or more years of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches (SL/HL), and/or IB Mathematics Applications & Interpretations (SL/HL), and
  • Criterion 4: At least one of the following course grades: Algebra II (B or better), Precalculus (C or better), Calculus (C or better), or AP Statistics (B or better)
 Any course above plus MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, or 112
MAT 125
  • Criteria 1-3 same as MAT 112 above, and
  • At least one of the following course grades: Precalculus (B or better), Calculus (B or better), AP Calculus (C or better), IB Mathematics Applications & Interpretations 2 SL (B or better), or IB Mathematics Applications & Interpretations 2 HL (C or better)
 Any course above plus MAT 122 or 125
MAT 150
  • Criteria 1-3 same as MAT 112 above, and
  • At least one of the following course grades: AP Calculus (B or better), IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches 2 SL (B or better), IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches 2 HL (C or better)
  • Note: May place at this level with the combination of Precalculus or Calculus (B or better) with trigonometry included, and SAT 600-800; see Standardized Test Scores table below.
 Any course above plus MAT 150

Standardized Test Scores (SAT or ACT)

Placement Level Placement Criteria You are eligible to take...
MAT 095
  • SAT Math 200-520
  • ACT 1-20
 MAT 100P 
MAT 111
  • SAT Math 530-560
  • ACT 21-23
 Any course above plus MAT 100, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, or 111
MAT 112
  • SAT Math 570-590
  • ACT 24-25
 Any course above plus MAT 112
MAT 125
  • SAT Math 600-800
  • ACT 26-36
 Any course above plus MAT 122 or 125
MAT 150
  • SAT Math 600-800 and Precalculus or Calculus (B or better) with trigonometry; contact math.chair@southernct.edu to see if your class qualifies.
 Any course above plus MAT 150

Mathematics Substitutions

Students with a documented math learning disability may be provided substitution course options through the Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services.

We strongly encourage you to complete the Mathematics Placement exam as soon as possible.  As such, we offer multiple opportunities to take the exam including our Next Step Days

  • Wednesday, April 10th
  • Monday, April 22nd
  • Wednesday, May 8th
  • Tuesday, May 21st
  • Wednesday, June 5th
  • Thursday, July 11th

Your initial Fall schedule will be based on your highest placement level, including any retakes of the math placement assessment, that have been completed at least two weeks prior to your NSO session.

Register Now

Transfer Students

You transfer in: You are eligible to take...
None/Lower than 095 MAT 100P
MAT 095 MAT 100, 100P
MAT 100 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112
MAT 103, 104, 105, 107 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 111
MAT 108 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 260
MAT 112 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111,112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 260
MAT 120 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 221, 260
MAT 124 or 125 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 260
MAT 122 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 150, 221, 260
MAT 139 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 178 (if the CSC 152/DSC 101 prerequisite is met), 221, 260, 300
MAT 150 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 150, 151, 178 (if the CSC 152/DSC 101 prerequisite is met), 221, 260, 300, 372
MAT 151 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 150, 151, 178 (if the CSC 152/DSC 101 prerequisite is met), 221, 245, 250, 252, 260, 300, 322 (if the CSC 152/DSC 101 prerequisite is also met), 372
MAT 178 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 178 (if the CSC 152/DSC 101 prerequisite is also met), 221, 260, or 300
MAT 221 MAT 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139, 221, or 260

You may also be required to complete the Mathematics Placement exam to obtain or improve your placement score. This should be completed prior to attending your Transfer Advising meeting if you would like to take a Math course during your first semester at Southern. 

There is no passing or failing of the assessment, as every student will be placed at some level. The assessment does not measure what you once knew or what you could do if you tried harder. The math placement assessment is used to place students into a mathematics course at an appropriate level so that, with reasonable effort, the student has a good chance of success.

Register Now