Math Placement

Mathematics Placement

The Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania uses multiple data points and the student’s major to determine an individual’s math course placement. Students are placed into math courses based on their ALEKS assessment or meeting Foundational Math Course minimum requirements. Details regarding your math placement and whether you need to take ALEKS will be provided to you in your individualized math placement email letter.

We encourage you to contact MathPlacement@commonwealthu.edu with Math Placement questions.

ALEKS Math Course Placement

For some majors, Commonwealth University requires the ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning system as the mathematics ability assessment system that determines incoming student’s readiness for various math and science courses. Other students whose major does not require ALEKS may use the ALEKS assessment to better prepare for classes and provide greater access to particular math and science-related courses.

The result of your ALEKS assessment has no impact on your acceptance at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or acceptance into a major. ALEKS simply reflects your knowledge and math preparedness and is used to ensure you are placed in the appropriate math course. ALEKS is free for students and can be taken up to 5 times.

ALEKS Math Placement

Foundational Math Course Placement

For majors where ALEKS is not required, students are assessed and placed into Foundational math courses appropriate for their major. Students with a minimum High School GPA of 3.4 (numerical score of 89), or a Math SAT of 510 or a Math ACT of 19 are placed directly into a Foundational Math course appropriate for their major. Students not meeting the Foundational Math cutoff scores should take ALEKS to assess their mathematical skills and potential to be placed into a Foundational Math course without extra support (co-requisite course).

(no co-requisite math course requirement) must meet one of the following requirements

MATH SAT >= 510 or MATH ACT >= 19 or HS GPA >= 3.4 or ALEKS >= 46

If your academic credentials (first 3 criteria) are not met, you’re asked to take ALEKS in your individualized math placement email letter.

Foundational Math Course Placement with Co-Requisite Course

Students who don’t meet our Foundational Math cutoff scores or minimum ALEKS score for their specific Foundational Math course must complete their first math class supplemented with additional support.

At Commonwealth University, we provide additional support through a technique known as co-requisite classes. In this system, you will take the Foundational Math course appropriate for your major, augmented with extra support to help you overcome any hurdles you may encounter in your first math class. Our additional support will include extra class time with your instructor to sharpen your skills.

Foundational Math Courses and Classes with Extra Support