How to Choose a Course

1. Use the description of courses by subject to identify the courses that you are interested in.

2. Examine the prerequisites carefully. You must complete the prerequisites before you enrol in a course (or if you are currently registered in the prerequisite, you can request an override from the department advisor). Even then, if the prerequisite material does not seem familiar to you, chances are that you will not succeed in the course.

        In some cases, you are allowed to take a prerequisite for your chosen course concurrently, but if you subsequently withdraw from the prerequisite, you will also be required to withdraw from the course for which it is a prerequisite (for example, you can take MATH 1174 and STAT 1181 concurrently, but if you decide to withdraw from Math then the system will want to drop you from Stat too - talk to the department advisor).

        If you are a recent BC high school student, please refer to the document What Math and stat courses can I take at Langara. Note - if you are completing a prerequisite course at another institution, then contact the Math advisor to see if you can get a temporary override to register.

3. Take the diagnostic test early. As part of our diagnostic process, you will discuss your results with a Math advisor immediately after writing the test and before registering in a course. The advisor will be able to give you advice about a course which best suits your needs and current ability. For additional information, you can consult with the Math Student Advisor by contacting math.info@langara.ca or 604-323-5583.

4. The diagnostic test identifies your strengths and weaknesses. The test will show if you need to brush up on any math topics which are unfamiliar to you, or which you may have forgotten, before registering in a math course.

5. Don't get in over your head. It is better to take an extra semester to get the course you need, rather than withdraw from or fail a course that is beyond your ability level.

6. Students who require first year science credits must eventually take first year calculus, but be wary of jumping in before you're ready.  WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY STUDIED CALCULUS CONSIDER TAKING MATH 1153 & 1253 INSTEAD OF MATH 1171 OR MATH 1173/1183.

If your algebra skills are weak, or if you haven't recently completed Grade 12 math (or a higher level course), then you may need to start with Math 1150 (or even Math 1100 or 1101). In our calculus courses, we are not able to stop to teach you the necessary algebra - you must have very strong algebra when you begin to study calculus.

IMPORTANT:  MATH 1170 students must obtain B- or better to qualify for Math 1171, and must obtain C+ or better to qualify for Math 1173, and must obtain C or better to qualify for Math 1174. Students with a lower grade will either repeat Math 1170 or take the sequence of courses Math 1153 then Math 1253 to complete first semester calculus. Math 1171, Math 1173/1183, and Math 1153+1253 all carry the same transfer credit to UBC and SFU, and any of these can be used to meet the science "calculus I" requirement.

(Note - click here to download a pdf of this flowchart)

NOTE: Your performance on the Math Diagnostic Test (MDT) may allow you to start at a higher course than your grade 11 or 12 math grades suggest. Be sure to prepare for the MDT - do not write it without doing some review. A low MDT result will not affect your ability to use your high school math grade.

7. Students aiming for a university commerce or business or economics program should take the Math 1174 calculus course; some options (economics, finance) may require Math 1274 as well, or Math 1274 can be used as an elective.

8. Most programs which do not require first year calculus will accept any 6 units of Mathematics courses. At Langara we offer several combinations of Math & Stats courses which may meet these requirements (check with the University that you plan to attend):

a) Math 1153/1253: Elementary Calculus
b) Math 1162/1262: Finite Mathematics [Note: these courses are not presently offered]
c) Math 1171/1271: Calculus
d) Math 1173/1273: Calculus with Computer Explorations
e) Math 1171/Stat 1181: Calculus and Statistics
f) Math 1171/Stat 1124: Calculus and Statistics
g) Math 1170/1171: Precalculus and Calculus I

For more information regarding the entrance requirements to specific programs, students are advised to talk with the counsellors, student advisors, or the coordinator of their specific program.

9. Career students are advised to be especially careful in choosing the appropriate courses for their program. The following chart may be useful - but you should always confirm with your program coordinator and/or counselor that the course you have chosen is appropriate.

10. It is pointless to take courses with substantially overlapping content because, according to Department and College policy on mutually exclusive courses, credit will be given for only one in each of the following sets of courses:

1. Math 1153/1253, Math 1171, Math 1173/1183, Math 1174
2. Math 1271 , Math 1273/1283, Math 1274
3. Stat 1123, Stat 1124, Stat 1181
4. Stat 1224, Stat 2225, STAT 3223, STAT 3222
5. Math 1118, Math 1119

11. Final course selection should be made in consultation with a Math/Stat advisor (after the student has completed the Math Diagnostic Test, if this is the case) or with a College Counsellor.

STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF CANADA must take the Math Diagnostic Test if they did not study any mathematics at a university or college (however - see AP Calculus and IB Math below). Subject to diagnostic test results, it can be expected that:

1.  
   1. From countries which use the "O" and "A" level system:
      "O" level: Students will normally enter Math 1152 or Math 1170; Math 1190 if planning to teach elementary school. Students must write the MDT
      "A" level: Students will normally enter Math 1153 or Math 1173 or Math 1171 or Math 1174.
      Students must write the MDT. The choice of course will depend on the student's plans, record, and performance on the Diagnostic Test.
   2. Students from countries which use other systems should see the Math Department Student Advisor if wanting advice as to what placement to expect from the diagnostic test.
   3. Students who have taken some post-secondary math courses at a university outside of Canada should see the Math Department Student Advisor to discuss how they should proceed.

     2. AP Calculus and IB Math

Advanced Placement Calculus

If you took an Advanced Placement Calculus course at your high school, then you may be able to use that course to obtain credit for calculus.

AP Calc AB – if your grade is “4” or better, then you can get credit for Math 1171. If your grade is “3”, then email a copy of your AP grade to the department advisor (math.info@langara.ca) to request a prerequisite override for calculus (1171 or 1173 or 1174). If your grade is lower than “3”, then you must write our Math Diagnostic Test to see if you qualify to take calculus at Langara. If you took and passed the AP course but did not write the AP exam, then send an email copy of your school mark to the department advisor to see if you qualify for a prerequisite override by using that school AP grade in lieu of BC Calculus 12.

AP Calc BC – if your grade is “4” or better, then you can get credit for Math 1171 and Math 1271. If your grade is “3”, then email a copy of your AP grade to the department advisor to request a prerequisite override for calculus (1171 or 1173 or 1174). If your grade is lower than “3”, then you must write our Math Diagnostic Test to see if you qualify to take calculus at Langara. If you took the AP course but did not write the AP exam, then send an email copy of your school mark to the department advisor to see if you qualify for a prerequisite override.

International Baccalaureate Mathematics

IB Mathematical Studies SL – this course cannot be used to meet any prerequisites. You must write our Math Diagnostic Test

IB Mathematics SL or IB Mathematics HL – If your grade is “5” or higher, then email a copy of your IB grades to the department advisor to request an override to take Calculus.

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Throughout the registration period, please be sure to check your waitlisted courses regularly -- if you miss an "offer to register" then that space will be given to the next student on the waitlist and you will be dropped from the waitlist. If you will be unable to access the web for some time, then you must find someone to access it for you -- missed offers cannot be re-issued to you.

Registration is a process that requires your timely attention. Check the registration guide and use the dates listed there to check that you are still registered in your courses -- important dates include (1) Tuition Payment Due Date and (2) Final Grades Processed Date. Be sure to pay your tuition by the published date, and be sure to carefully read the information about waitlists.

If you have not managed to get into a math course by the end of the first week of classes, then you will not be able to register in a Langara math course until the following semester.

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ONCE YOU ARE IN THE COURSE:

1. Keep up with your assignments. The best way to learn Math is to do as many problems as you can. In Stats, be sure to practice your explanations and interpretations.
2. Spend about two hours on homework for each class hour.
3. Buy the textbook. Substitutes don't work. The dollar saving isn't worth it.
4. Assume your responsibilities. It is up to you to keep up, to fill in background material, to attend classes regularly, to fill in missed material if you are forced to miss a class, to turn in assignments on due dates, to review for tests, and to present yourself for tests and for the final examination. You should not expect your instructor to make exceptions for you.
5. Get help when you need it. If you are making a sincere effort, instructors and student tutors in the Math Activity Centre (located in room C209) and your instructor in his or her office hours will be happy to assist you. You will get the best benefit if you are very specific about your difficulties; it makes it easier to help you and shows that you have tried to work out your questions yourself.
6. Do the best you possibly can on the final exam.
7. If you decide to withdraw, do so officially (online) or your grade point average will be lowered.