Mathematics

The Mathematics Department offers college preparatory and college-level mathematics courses designed to prepare students for higher level mathematics and for liberals arts, STEM, and professional/technical pursuits. 

Initial assignment into mathematics courses is determined by performance on the Math Diagnostic test, ACT/SAT or Advanced Placement scores.  Students are allowed two attempts at each portion of the CWI Math Diagnostic test.  Students who wish to place as highly as possible in the college-prep/college-level mathematics sequence may use the following resources prior to taking or re-taking the placement test:

CWI Resources

External Resources:

• PurpleMath.com
• KhanAcademy.com

Pre-Transfer Mathematics

MATH 080:  College Readiness Math

College Readiness Math is a zero-credit course designed to prepare students to retake the math diagnostic test with the intention of testing into a higher level of mathematics than their original place­ment. This course is specifically targeted to students who would like to advance from an Adult Education placement to place­ment into MATH 095 or higher. This course may be repeated, will not appear on the student’s transcript, and is offered at no cost to the student. This course is not graded and requires satisfactory placement.

MATH 095:  College Prep Math

College Prep Mathematics is a variable credit course designed to prepare students for transfer level college math courses through mastery-based learning-lab instruction. Students who place below a transfer level course appropriate for their major may enroll in College Prep Mathematics in order to complete their preparation for their required mathematics course.  MATH 095 may be repeated for credit up to three times for a maximum of six credits. This course is graded as Pass/No Pass and requires satisfactory placement.

Math 095: College Prep Math

MATH 122, MATH 142, and MATH 152:  The Plus Courses

The Plus courses are 2-credit corequisite courses that are taken paired with a section of a 3-credit transfer-level course (MATH 123P, MATH 143P, or MATH 153P).  The Plus courses directly support the paired section of transfer math through additional mathematics instruction and practice a focus on strengthening student success skills.  These courses are graded and require satisfactory placement.

MATH 122 - Math in Modern Society Plus

This course provides additional instruction and support for MATH 123 in the form of hands-on work with real-world problems including problem-solving strategies, multiple numeration systems, solving and graphing algebraic equations, statistics, probability, and personal finance. This course requires satisfactory placement and concurrent enrollment in MATH 123P.

MATH 142 - College Algebra Plus

This course provides additional instruction and support for MATH 143, College Algebra. This course includes fundamental concepts of algebra; equations and inequalities; functions and graphs; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions; systems of equations and inequalities; conics; and the Binomial Theorem. This course requires satisfactory placement and concurrent enrollment in MATH 143P.

MATH 152 - Elementary Statistics Plus

This is a statistics course that provides additional instruction and support for MATH 153 in the form of hands-on work with probability and statistics covering descriptive statistics, binomial and normal distribution, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing using z, t, chi square, and f distributions. Correlation and regression are also introduced. This course requires satisfactory placement and concurrent enrollment in MATH 153P.

Which Pre-Transfer Options are best for you?

• Students may choose to complete a 5-credit plus course pair (122 and 123P, 142 and 143P, or 152 and 153P) in in order to reduce the number semesters spent completing their GEM 3 (Mathematical Ways of Knowing) degree requirement. This option may be appealing to students who have the flexibility in their school, work, and life schedule to accommodate a commitment to 5 credits of mathematics in a semester in order to shorten their path through their GEM 3 requirements by a semester.
• Students may choose to complete all of the units required for their GEM 3 (Mathematical Ways of Knowing) course in MATH 095 prior to enrolling in their 3 credit GEM 3 course (123, 143, or 153) in a subsequent semester. For MATH 123, a student may be able to complete MATH 080 in one semester and enroll directly into MATH 123 in the next semester. This option may be appealing for students who would like to concentrate on building their foundational skills first before enrolling in their GEM 3 course and have academic plans that can accommodate a multi-semester journey. This option may also appeal to students who are only able to take a small number of credits each semester due to their work or life schedule.
• Some students may utilize a combination of pre-transfer options in order to complete their journey. For example, a student who places into MATH 080 may complete that course, test out of Units 1 and 2 in MATH 095, enroll in MATH 095 to complete Units 3 through 8, then enroll in MATH 142 and MATH 143P.
• Please consult an advisor to determine which path best fits into your academic plan, schedule, and lifestyle.

Transfer Mathematics

Transfer mathematics courses are designed to support the needs of a student’s preferred educational path.  Each class promotes the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills.  In addition, the faculty is dedicated to keeping current with the uses of technology to enhance instruction.  CWI offers mathematics courses that will smoothly transfer to other Idaho four-year institutions and beyond.