Elementary Education

You are exempted from the mathematics Core Curriculum requirement if you received a score of four or higher on either the Calculus AB or BC placement exam, and the result has been recorded on your transcript. Otherwise, you must complete at least one Mathematics core-level course.

Due to Massachusetts State Teacher Certification Guidelines, the Lynch School of Education recommends that " ... all elementary education students, except for those who want to major in mathematics, computer science, or physics, should take MT190 Fundamentals of Mathematics I to fulfill their mathematics Core Curriculum requirement."

Note

1. You may take other core-level mathematics courses - MT004 Finite Probability and Applications, MT005 Linear Mathematics, or MT007 Ideas in Mathematics or even a Calculus course - MT100 Calculus I or higher - to satisfy the mathematics Core Curriculum requirement. Please consult your advisor in the Lynch School of Education for specific information regarding the impact of taking any of these courses for purposes of meeting teacher certification requirements.
2. There's no particular "rush" to complete your math Core Curriculum requirement right away in freshman year. In fact, core-level (non-calculus) courses often fill up quickly with juniors and sophomores, so you may not even have a realistic registration opportunity to take a math course until sophomore year.
3. If you choose to take a calculus course -- and many students with strong mathematical backgrounds often wish to do so -- it is recommended that you complete it in freshman year. Be sure to visit the calculus area of our website if you are considering taking any calculus course.