Registration Tips for First-Year Mathematics Courses

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The following registration tips are for first-year Mathematics Courses.

Program and major/field of study restrictions are in place for Mathematics (MA) courses to ensure that you have the appropriate Grade 12U Mathematics pre-requisite course(s), which provides you with the mathematical foundation for success. Certain cohorts of students, such as Core Sciences students (“undeclared majors”) or BA program students, may encounter a major restriction when attempting to register for a Mathematics course of interest. A major over-ride for MA courses is at the discretion of the Mathematics department.

Complete Grade 12U Advanced Functions

If you do not hold credit in Grade 12U Advanced Functions (MHF4U), you should consider completing the course this summer. Consider any of these options:

  • Check with your local Board of Education (Ontario listing) for “summer school” courses.
  • Complete the high school course online through the Ministry of Education's partnership with tvo’s Independent Learning Centre, which offers flexible and affordable high school courses for credit.
  • Look into additional online institutions offering Ontario high school credits, such as Virtual High School.
  • Refresh your mathematics knowledge by taking not-for credit free upgrading through tvoLearn.

Complete the Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE)

The Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE) is a mandatory online test to register in most of Laurier's entry-level calculus courses: MA100, MA102, MA103; or in the precalculus course: SC101. If you are interested in requesting permission to register in one of the above courses, the first step involves completing the Calculus Preparation Evaluation (CPE).

Detailed information, including FAQs, for completing the CPE is found on the Calculus Preparation Evaluation webpage.

The Faculty of Science Academic Advising office team will not respond to questions related to completing the CPE as the webpage has comprehensive information.

 CPE Score Below 50%

Students scoring below 50% on the CPE will most likely have difficulty completing Year 1 MA courses and should seriously consider upgrading their skills beforehand. Here are some ways you can upgrade your skills:

  • Mathematics and Statistics Learning Support offers a non-credit course over the summer months, called TriAGe: Preparation for University Calculus, which can help students review prerequisite skills.
  • Enrol in SC101 in the fall (or winter) term.
    • This course has been created specifically for students who may not be adequately prepared for MA100 and are interested in enhancing their pre-university skills in algebra, trigonometry and functions.
    • Future MA course registration (including MA100), will depend on your SC101 final grade.

Major Restrictions During Registration

Certain cohorts of students, such as Core Sciences students (“undeclared majors”) or BA / BKin program students, may encounter a major restriction when attempting to register for a Mathematics course of interest.

 For any MA course restricted to specific majors:

  • Check the Registration Restrictions for the course.  As noted on the Math Course Override Form, Major/program restrictions for some MA courses are in effect until 11:59 PM on July 10, 2024. After this date, non-majors may register themselves. The Mathematics department will not provide routine major/program overrides prior to this date

 

“Repeat” error message

There are circumstances where you may receive a “repeat” error message when you have not completed the course of interest twice due to course “exclusions.” For example, if you complete MA100 twice and then attempt to register for MA101, you will receive a “repeat” error. 

To address the error, you must first request a “repeat override,” using the Math Course Override Form, to register yourself in the course.

Guidelines for selecting Year 1 Mathematics Courses:

 

  1. MA100 serves as the mathematics entry point for many BSc programs, including Biology, Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Honours Science, Water Science & Environmental Health, and Psychology.
  • The prerequisites for MA100 include Grade 12U Advanced Functions (MHF4U or equivalent), and a CPE score of 50% or better OR credit in SC101.
  • MA100 is the pre-requisite to MA101.
  1. MA103 is required for programs offered by the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Physics and Computer Science.
    • The prerequisites for MA103 include Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U or equivalent), and a CPE score of 75% or better.
    • If you score below 75% on the CPE and/or do not have credit for Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors, you will start with MA102 in fall term, followed by MA103 in winter term. If required in your program, MA104: Calculus II can then be taken in second year.

  1. MA122 is required for most programs offered by the Department of Mathematics. MA123 is recommended, over MA122, for most programs offered by the Department of Physics and Computer Science.

  2. MA120 / MA121 should be deferred until Year 2 of studies for students whose current program of registration does not require this course.
  3. MA170 is requirement of the Honours BA / BSc Financial Mathematics programs.