Transcript Math summer orientation
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 person.
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 • 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 3 hour 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 non native speakers of English
ESL Composition
• • Some students are
required
take the English Placement to 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 4 th level another way • Reach 3 rd languages level of two • 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 (6 th /7 th /8 th 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 4 th 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 back up 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 Urbana Champaign • 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 [email protected]
See him by appointment during the semester —online sign-up linked from his webpage.
Freshman/sophomore advising Ms. Alison Champion [email protected]
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 science oriented 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
• Ms. Alison Champion • Mr. Chris Cunningham • Prof. Robert Muncaster (Dr. Bob) • TBA: 3 rd soon.
adviser to be hired All in 313 Altgeld Hall, which is the Math Undergrad Office.
Math/CS & Stat/CS
Adviser Dr. Steve Herzog 1210 Siebel Center [email protected]
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 [email protected]
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 • October 18 : Last day to add a semester-long class. You can change your schedule between August 23-September 9.
: 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 13 20. 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 [email protected]
is helpful with Statistics questions.
is helpful with Computer Science questions.
• See the actuarial website for actuarial help!