MATH PLACEMENT (Revised 11/10/2011)

Fall 2011


All degree programs at HSU require at least one General Education (GE) level mathematics course. As an incoming HSU student, you will have a “math placement category.” Your math placement category determines in which math classes you may (and may not) enroll. Your math placement category is determined by at least one of the following:

  • your score the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) test (determines if you are GE ready)
  • SAT or ACT scores (passing at a certain level waives the ELM)
  • the EAP portion of your 11 grade California STAR tests (“exempt” status waives the ELM)
  • high school coursework (used to place GE ready students)

If you do not demonstrate readiness for GE level math courses at the university level with SAT or ACT scores or the EAP, you must take the ELM for mathematics placement. Your performance on the ELM will classify you into one of three math placement categories:

  1. Eligible for General Education level math courses.
  2. Require 1 semester of a developmental math course.
  3. Require 2 semesters of a developmental math courses.

Developmental math courses (also called remedial math courses) do not count toward degree progress, but they do require text books and count toward university and financial aid unit caps. You can save a substantial amount of time and money by eliminating the need to take developmental math courses.

Click here to learn more about developmental math courses at HSU and the use of the ALEKS software package that can allow an entering student to improve their math placement category.


Being eligible for General Education (university) level math courses allows you to take an HSU mathematics or statistics courses that will satsify the HSU General Education requirement.

However there are some HSU general education mathematics and statistics courses that have a prerequisite mathematics background beyond the minimum required for a basic General Education level math course.

Also some major programs require specific courses that have a prerequisite mathematics background beyond that required for General Education level math courses.

At HSU this prerequisite mathematics content is covered in MATH 115, Algebra and Elementary Functions.  [For example, Math 115 is a prerequisite for courses such as calculus (MATH 105 or MATH 109), PHYS 106, CS 111,  ENGR 115,and STAT 109.]

Click here to learn more about further placement for those eligible for General Education level math courses that can allow a student to take courses with MATH 115 as a prerequisite by passing the HSU Math Diagnostic Placement Test.(MDTP)