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You may have earned academic college course credit by scoring well on Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, or by receiving credit at a college or university that has transferred to CU. The information on this website is meant to guide you in making the decision on which math class to begin with at CU Boulder.

AP/IB Score Information

• Once you have your AP and/or IB exam scores, review the Ìýand look for the exam you took to see if your score corresponds to a CU Boulder Course Equivalent.
• Don't know your AP or IB examination scores?ÌýFor AP exams, you should receive an AP Score Report by mail that lists your cumulative AP Exam scores. You may also contact theÌýÌýto obtain your scores by telephone beginning July 1. For IB exams, results are sent out in July for the May session and in January for the November session. Students may alsoÌý.

College Credit

• Sometimes first-year freshmen come to campus having earned college credit by taking college-level courses while enrolled in high school (see "").
• You may have done that by taking community college courses, courses at one of the CU campuses, or perhaps by completing a "CU Succeed" course (which shows up as CU Denver coursework on the CU transcript).
  • Did you know?ÌýThe University of Colorado has a combined transcript.Ìý That means that courses taken at CU Boulder, along with the CU Denver and CU Colorado Springs campuses, all show up on the CU transcript.Ìý So you may have established a CU transcript already if you took a CU Succeed class.

General Information Â鶹ÊÓƵ Math Courses

• Consider repeating the last math class you received credit for
  • Even with earned calculus creditÌýmany students find it helpful to repeat the last math class for which they have received college credit to make their transition to CU Boulder engineering smoother.Ìý
  • We recommendÌýthat you . This way you make sure you have sufficient mastery of the material before moving on to the next level. These exams should be taken without the help of notes or calculators. Consult with your advisor once you're done, they can help you finalize your decision.Ìý
  • If you do choose to repeat a course for which you already have college credit, your previously earned college credit will not be counted. This also means you cannot go back and use that previous grade since CEAS'Ìýrepeated course policy allows only the most recent instance of a course to count towards your degree. ÌýBe sure to talk with your advisor if you have questions about what this means for you!ÌýÌý
• There may be a math class on your schedule before your enrollment window begins
  • If you are starting in the fall, TheÌýCollege of Engineering places a math course on your schedule before we recceive AP/IB/college transfer credit as a placeholder. You can change this course when your enrollment window opensÌýif needed.
  • Students starting in the spring or summer terms will not have a math course pre-loaded on their schedule. You should talk with your academic advisor about which course is right for you after reviewing the materials on these pages.Ìý
• At CU Boulder, there are two departments which teach the Calculus sequences. One department is the Applied Math Department (APPM)Ìýand the other is the Math Department (MATH).
  • Based on the performance of engineering students in their upper-division courses, most engineering students will benefit from taking APPM calculus courses instead of MATH calculus courses. ÌýWhile students can be successful in either of these departments, and both APPM and MATH courses will apply towards engineering degrees, the College of Engineering & Applied Science strongly recommends students take the APPM Calculus sequence, as these courses are designed for the engineering curriculum. ÌýIf you have questions about which sequence would be best for you, please contact your academic advisor.

Which Math Class Should You Take?

• If you have earnedÌýcollege credit for Calculus 1:

  • Take one or moreÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å/´Ç°ù to see if you fully understand the full range of material from the course.Ìý To accurately assess your skill and knowledge level do not refer to reference books, do not use a calculator, and give yourself aÌý2.5 hour time limit.
    • If you are fully comfortable with this material, enroll in APPM 1360 (Calculus 2 for Engineers) or MATH 2300 (Calculus 2).Ìý
    • If you are not comfortable with the full range of material on the old exam, enroll in APPM 1350 (Calculus 1 for Engineers) or MATH 1300 (Calculus 1).
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• If you have earned college credit for both Calculus 1 and Calculus 2:

  • Take one or moreÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å/´Ç°ù , to see if you fully understand the material. To accurately assess your skill and knowledge levelÌýdo not refer to reference books, do not use a calculator, and give yourself aÌý2.5 hour time limit.
    • If you are fully comfortable with the exam material, consult with your academic advisorÌýto determine an appropriate math class.
    • If you are not comfortable with this material, enroll in APPM 1360 (Calculus 2 for Engineers) or MATH 2300 (Calculus 2). ÌýIf you would like more of a refresher, you are alternatively welcome to start in Calculus 1 by enrolling in APPM 1350 (Calculus 1 for Engineers) or MATH 1300 (Calculus 1).Ìý

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• If you have earnedÌýcollege credit for Calculus 1, Calculus 2, and Calculus 3 or Differential Equations:

  • Consult with yourÌýacademic advisorÌý²¹²Ô»å/´Ç°ù Professor Anne Dougherty in the Applied Mathematics Department to determine an appropriate mathematics class.

More Questions?

If you have any questions about your choice of first semester math classÌýyou may contact yourÌýacademic advisorÌýor Professor Anne Dougherty (303-492-4011 orÌýanne.dougherty@colorado.edu).