Beginning in fall 2022, American River College removed the majority of below-transfer MATH courses (that is, courses with a course number below 300). The default MATH placement for all incoming students will be a college-level MATH course.
B-STEM Placement Grids
The following placement grids display the measures that are used to determine a Business, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (B-STEM) student's initial math placement. The specific measures that determine math placement are the highest course completed in high school and high school GPA.
All students – regardless of GPA or highest math completed – are eligible to take MATH 333: Introduction to College Algebra with the accompanying MATHS 33 support course. Students who are interested in taking MATH 333 without support or one of the other MATH courses listed need to meet the GPA and/or highest math completed requirements for that specific course as listed on the rubrics.
Students who did not complete high school or who have been out of high school for 10 years or more should use the Guided Self-Placement tool.
American River College B-STEM Placement Grid
| High School GPA | High School Math | ARC Math Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4 or higher | Has not passed Intermediate Algebra | MATH 333 |
| 3.4 or higher | Passed Intermediate Algebra with C- or higher | MATH 340, MATH 342, MATH 372, MATH 373, or MATH 375 |
| 3.4 or higher | Passed Trigonometry with C- or higher | MATH 355 |
| 3.4 or higher | Passed Precalculus with C- or higher | MATH 355 or MATH 400 |
| Lower than 3.4 | Has not passed Intermediate Algebra | MATH 333 and MATHS 33 |
| Lower than 3.4 | Passed Intermediate Algebra with C- or higher | MATH 310, MATH 311, MATH 320, MATHS 45 + MATH 340, MATHS 45 + MATH 342, MATHS 72 + MATH 372, or MATHS 73 + MATH 373 |
| Lower than 3.4 | Passed Trigonometry with C- or higher | MATH 355 |
| Lower than 3.4 | Passed Precalculus with C- or higher | MATH 355 or MATH 400 |
FAQ
Why and when is this placement change happening?
On November 18, 2021, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) issued a memo directing colleges to only permit enrollments of most students into Math or English classes at the transfer level. These changes are to be made effective in Fall 2022.
Who is affected by this change?
All incoming students will now be placed in transfer-level math. The MATH placement for Statistics and Liberal Arts (SLAM) students will not change – students will continue to be placed into Statistics (STAT 300, PSYCH 330, ECON 310) or Introduction to Mathematical Ideas (MATH 300, 310), with or without support, based on the current placement rubric.
The lowest level MATH placement for students pursuing programs in Business, Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (B-STEM) disciplines will be shifting to a new course, MATH 333: Introduction to College Algebra.
What MATH and MATHS classes will students take?
Incoming students pursuing a program in Business, Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (B-STEM) disciplines will be placed into a transfer-level math course, based upon the results from the multiple measures of assessment. B-STEM students will retain the existing options to place into math courses beyond College Algebra. Students who would have been placed in MATH 120: Intermediate Algebra will now be placed into MATH 333: Introduction to College Algebra. Some of these students will be required to take MATH 333 with the accompanying co-requisite, MATHS 33: Support for Introduction to College Algebra.
What class(es) will continuing B-STEM students who have already begun their math sequence at below transfer level take?
B-STEM students who have successfully completed MATH 120: Intermediate Algebra with a “C” or better will retain their catalog rights’ access to all courses where MATH 120 was a prerequisite. Students who have not successfully completed MATH 120 will be directed to take MATH 333: Introduction to College Algebra.
Does MATH 333 meet CSU’s B4 Quantitative Reasoning requirement?
MATH 333 will not meet the B4 Quantitative Reasoning requirement for the 2022-23 academic year. Enrollment in MATH 333 should therefore be limited to B-STEM students who will meet B4 through an alternate, currently approved B4 course. American River College will be seeking approval for MATH 333 to receive B4 approval for the 2023-24 academic year.
Adult Education Resources
In-Person Resources
| Service Area | Organization/Program |
|---|---|
| ARC | Twin Rivers Adult School – GED Preparation |
| ARC | Highlands Community Charter School – HS/GED |
| CRC | Elk Grove Adult and Community Education – GED and HiSET Test Preparation |
| CRC | Galt Adult School – High School Equivalent Diploma |