Mathematics Department

The Department of Mathematics continuously revises its offerings to keep up with the ever-changing demands of program areas and advances in technology.

Penn College evaluates students' skills to ensure that they have the entry-level skills necessary for their majors and college-level coursework. The placement process should determine the highest level at which a student has the prerequisite knowledge to be successful.

The goal of the mathematics placement process is to identify the correct initial placement into the mathematics curriculum, so that each student can succeed in college mathematics.

A committee of mathematics faculty will consider the math placement that is appropriate for each student by reviewing a variety of measures, including:

• scores on mathematics placement exam;
• high school math courses that have been completed and the level of success in those classes;
• your SAT and ACT scores, if available;
• your Keystone testing scores, if available;
• the amount of time that has passed since completion of the last math course;
• study skills, anxiety, and attitude scores, as determined by an affective survey;
• your high school GPA; and
• your high school rank.

After careful consideration of each student's scores and background, the committee will assign the student a mathematics placement level. This level will determine a student's initial mathematics course-selection options.

Math placement test FAQs

Placement Testing

Calculator Requirement

The TI-84 Plus calculator is required for every math student at Penn College and will be used in all mathematics classes.

Faculty will use this calculator in class for all instruction and demonstration. 
Additional information about the TI-84 Plus can be found on http://education.ti.com.

TI Fyer 

If the instructor has indicated that a calculator may be used on a mathematics exam, students will be required to use the Testing Center’s TI-84 Plus calculators when completing the exam in the Testing Center.

Calculator Rationale

Penn College's Tutoring Services, located on the first floor of the Klump Academic Center, provides tutorial support from student and professional tutors in English, mathematics and a variety of other subject areas.

For mathematics, services include walk-in (no appointment necessary) tutoring for all math courses offered at the College. (Certain mathematics courses will require professional tutors; please ask for a schedule for advanced courses.)

Tutoring Services offers study group sessions and online tutoring for those in need of additional support. Tutoring Services also maintains a list of private tutors, who are paid by the student.

We also offer this list of mathematics websites as resources for learning and scholarship.

Vision

To assist students in acquiring a conceptual understanding of the nature and structure of mathematics, its processes, and applications.

Mission

To provide mathematical experiences, exploring and learning opportunities, and relevant applications in the study and understanding of quantities by examining relationships, patterns and structures, operations, and measurements, as expressed by numbers and symbols. To provide quality mathematics coursework which supports and enhances all programs at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Goals

Enable students with diverse academic, technical, and personal mathematical backgrounds to:

1. Apply critical and logical thinking to problem solving;
2. Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies, including technology, to investigate mathematical conjectures, to solve problems, and to judge the reasonableness of the results;
3. Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships;
4. Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics to interpret physical and social phenomena;
5. Use the language and symbols of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely;
6. Understand the role of mathematics in society;
7. Organize and consolidate mathematical thinking through written and oral communication;
8. Develop a relevant knowledge base in preparation for additional learning experiences in mathematics while enhancing their mathematical intuition;
9. Build individual confidence in their abilities to understand and apply mathematics.