Frequently Asked Questions for Math Courses
Below please find a number of questions that are frequently asked in the Undergraduate Office of the Mathematics Department. If you have additional questions, please contact your advisor or the Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising in Mathematics.
Calculators
You do not need to purchase a calculator because a calculator is not required for any of the following courses: MATH 4, 21, 22, 26, 41, 110, 140, 141.
Tutoring
MATH 110
The Mathematics Department and Penn State Learning offer Guided Study Groups for students enrolled in MATH 110. During an GSG session,
you will meet with the GSG leader and other students in your class to discuss readings and lectures, ask questions, and share ideas. This program
is free for students. The meeting times and places for GSG can be found at the following website: http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/study-group MATH 2 - MATH 251 COURSES
The Penn State Learning provides free tutoring for mathematics courses from Math 2 - Math 251. This service is free and provided on a
walk-in basis. Drop-in hours and locations can be found at the following website: http://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/resources/meet-math-tutor
ALL COURSES
The Mathematics Department provides a list of names of people interested in tutoring. Students will be expected to pay for their tutoring session. The Private Tutor List can be found at the following website:http://www.math.psu.edu/UG/Fall2008/rptPrivateTutorstlc.pdf
The undergraduate Math Club offers free tutoring for certain mathematics courses.
Evening Exams
A conflict exam is given on the same day as a regularly scheduled evening exam, except the time of the conflict exam is 5:05-6:25PM.
A makeup exam is given the week after the regularly scheduled evening exam and usually on a different day of the week than the regularly scheduled exam. The makeup exam is given from 6:30-7:45PM.
You must pre-register for a conflict exam with your instructor in your class at least 48 hours in advance of the exam date. When you sign up for the exam, make sure that you obtain the location of the exam. After 3:00 PM every day a listing of the conflict and makeup exams for that day is posted on the Undergraduate Mathematics bulletin board (located at 104D McAllister Building).
After 3:00 PM every day a listing of the conflict and makeup exams for that day is posted on the Undergraduate Mathematics bulletin board (located at 104D McAllister Building).
Notify your instructor immediately (via email, for example). If the makeup exam has not been given, then you will be able to sign up for the makeup exam. With a valid verifiable reason, the makeup will be given with no penalty. Otherwise, a penalty may be imposed. If the makeup exam has been given, then the instructor and course coordinator will decide on how you will make up the missed exam. For email addresses of all department instructors, click here.
Grades
You can call the Undergraduate Mathematics Office (814-865-7528). A staff assistant will then put you in touch with the appropriate person.
Acquisition of Credit
When a student requests an examination as a substitute for completing all the usual requirements of a course, the credits received are described as "credits by examination". Such credits in courses offered by the University are accepted as fulfilling degree requirements. A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in the examination for credit to be awarded. A fee for each credit shall be charged. Authorization is required to acquire credits in this manner. Such authorization may not be granted for the purpose of acquiring credit for a course previously completed for which a quality letter grade has been assigned. Credit by examination may not be attained on the satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Senate Policy: 42-50.1, Credit by Examination
You will need to complete a PSU Department of Mathematics COURSE REVIEW FORMand bring the form to the Undergraduate Mathematics Office in 104 McAllister Building. Please include a course syllabus that was used in the course.
Course Substitution
The best recommendation for this is a two step process:
a) Go to the Admissions Office webpage at https://www.admissions.psu.edu/myadmissions/tas/. After walking through this process, if your course already appears in the Penn State system, then the course will transfer (assuming you complete the course successfully).
b) If your course does not appear in the system described in part a), then you will need to complete a COURSE REVIEW FORM and bring it to 104 McAllister Building. You will also need to supply the staff with a copy of the syllabus or course outline, so that enough information is available to evaluate whether the other course is equivalent to the desired Penn State course.
Course work completed at an accredited college or university may be evaluated for transfer credit if passed with a grade equivalent to A, B, or C. Course work completed on a pass-fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis normally cannot be evaluated for transfer credit.
Schedule MATH 232 (2 credits) because together MATH 231 (2 credits) and MATH 232 (2 credits) cover the material in MATH 230 (4 credits).
Schedule MATH 251 Section 101 (1 credit) because together MATH 250 (3 credits) and MATH 251 Section 101 (1 credit) cover the material in MATH 251 (4 credits).
None whatsoever.
Yes, the degree audit will handle this situation with no problems.
Course Availability
It may be possible to sign you into a section that has reached its full enrollment. However, there are two conditions: [1] There are available seats in the classroom and [2] The instructor agrees to accept students beyond the course enrollment limit. In such a case, the student needs to take a Drop/Add form (available in 104 McAllister Building and the registrar's web page to the instructor of the course. If the instructor is willing to sign the student into the class, then the student can bring the completed Drop/Add form (signed by both the instructor and the student) back to 104 McAllister Building for processing. If there are still seats physically available in the room (as deemed by the University, not the Mathematics Department), then the Undergraduate Mathematics Office in 104 McAllister Building staff will sign the student into the course.