Placement Information for Calculus and Statistics
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Calculus Placement Information
Do I need to take Calculus?
Calculus 1 is required for several majors, including Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics. In addition, some majors may require Calculus 2, a statistics course, and/or other additional math coursework. (For more information about course requirements for a given major, visit the relevant department web page or use the What-If feature on Degree Works.)
Should I take the Calculus Placement Exam?
If you are interested in any of the majors listed above, you should may need to take the Calculus Placement Exam—however, there are some exceptions. You do not need to take the placement exam if:
- You received a qualifying score on an AP or IB exam (see section below)
- You have already taken a Calculus 1 or Calculus 2 course at another college or university (including dual enrollment courses).
Calculus AP and IB Scores
Students who have taken the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in calculus should refer to the charts below for placement. If you've taken more one exam, use the highest level exam to determine your placement.
|
Calculus AP Exam Score |
Placement |
|---|---|
|
AP Calc AB: 4 or 5 |
MATH 120 or MATH 128 |
|
AP Calc AB: 3 or below |
Take the ALEKS Placement Assessment |
|
AP Calc BC: 4 or 5 |
MATH 150, MATH 210, MATH 212, or MATH 214 |
|
AP Calc BC: 3 or below |
AB Subscore of 4 or 5: MATH 120 or MATH 128 AB subscore of 3 or less: Take the ALEKS Placement Assessment |
|
Calculus IB Exam Score |
Placement |
|---|---|
|
IB HL: 6 or 7 |
MATH 150, MATH 210, MATH 212, or MATH 214 |
|
IB HL: 5 |
MATH 114, MATH, 120, or MATH 128 (Contact the Math Department for guidance if you are unsure of whether to take a Calculus I or Calculus II course) |
|
IB HL: 4 |
MATH 110 or MATH 114 |
|
IB HL: 3 or below |
Take the ALEKS Placement Assessment |
|
IB SL: any score |
Take the ALEKS Placement Assessment |
Calculus Courses
The following are brief descriptions of Occidental's calculus courses. For a more detailed description of each individual course, please refer to the .
MATH 107: Data, Functions, and Graphs
Offered starting in 2026-27
This course presents concepts from four points of view: geometric (graphs), numeric (tables), symbolic (formulas), and written (verbal descriptions). The emphasis is on the mathematical modeling of real-life problems using linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Students that complete this course will be fully prepared for Math 110 or Math 114.
MATH 108-109: Unified Precalculus and Calculus
Discontinued after 2025-26
MATH 108-109 is a two-semester sequence that covers the material in Calculus 1 with additional study of elementary functions, algebra, trigonometry, graphing, and mathematical expression. Typically MATH 108 is offered only during the fall semester, with MATH 109 being taken in the spring. (Students must take MATH 108 in order to take MATH 109.) This two course sequence is designed for students who have studied only three years of high school mathematics or who are unready for the pace of calculus.
Successful completion of both MATH 108 and 109 will fulfill the Calculus 1 requirement for any major or minor; it will also allow students to register for any course that has Calculus 1 as a prerequisite.
MATH 110: Calculus 1
This course is intended for students with no prior experience in calculus, but who have studied algebra 1 and 2, geometry, and a fourth year of high school mathematics (such as Mathematical Analysis, Elementary Functions, or pre-calculus).
Successful completion of MATH 110 will fulfill the Calculus 1 requirement for any major or minor; it will also allow students to register for any course that has Calculus 1 as a prerequisite.
MATH 114: Calculus 1 (Advanced)
This Calculus 1 course is similar to MATH 110, but is Intended for students interested in more mathematical rigor. It is recommended for students who expect to take mathematics courses beyond calculus.
Successful completion of MATH 114 will fulfill the Calculus 1 requirement for any major or minor; it will also allow students to register for any course that has Calculus 1 as a prerequisite.
MATH 120: Calculus 2
This Calculus 2 course is commonly taken by students who have completed MATH 109, 110, or 114. It is also open to students who received an AP Calc AB score of 4 or 5, or an IB Calc HL score of 5, though students with qualifying AP or IB scores may wish to take MATH 128 instead.
Successful completion of MATH 120 will fulfill the Calculus 2 requirement for any major or minor; it will also allow students to register for any course that has Calculus 2 as a prerequisite.
MATH 128: Calculus 2 (Advanced Placement)
This course is similar to Math 120, but is intended primarily for students who have Advanced Placement calculus in high school and received a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calc AB exam. MATH 128 assumes mastery of the basic skills, including integration techniques and differentiation rules.
Successful completion of MATH 128 will fulfill the Calculus 2 requirement for any major or minor; it will also allow students to register for any course that has Calculus 2 as a prerequisite.
Statistics Placement Information
Occidental does not offer a placement exam for statistics. In most cases students interested in a statistics course can enroll in either COMP 146 or MATH 150. That said, if you received a score of 4 or 5 in AP Statistics, we will treat that as equivalent to having completed COMP 146 for the purpose of major and minor requirements, as well as prerequisites.
What's the difference between COMP 146 and MATH 150? While these courses are similar, we advise students who are interested in taking an introductory statistics course and who have a Calculus I background (either coursework or AP placement) to enroll in Math 150: Data Analysis rather than COMP 146: Statistics.
- COMP 146: Statistics. Comprehensive study of measures of central tendency, variation, probability, the normal distribution, sampling, estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. Introduction to use of technology in statistics. Real-life problems are used to illustrate methods. Weekly lab. Not open to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in Psychology 201, Biology 368, Mathematics 150, or any Mathematics course above 200.
- MATH 150: Statistical Data Analysis. An introductory course in statistics emphasizing modern techniques of data analysis. Exploratory data analysis and graphical methods; random variables, statistical distributions, and linear models; classical, robust, and nonparametric methods for estimation and hypothesis testing; introduction to modern multivariate methods. Students will make significant use of a computer application specifically designed for data exploration. The course is strongly recommended for students who are going to use graphical techniques and statistics for research in their fields. Weekly lab. Prerequisite: a Calculus 1 course or permission of instructor.