Computer Science starting at Pre-Calc

Good Morning,

So after taking a break from math during my Senior year of High School I left High school with Pre-Calculus being my highest math class taken in the 11th grade. I took my math placement exam for UT Arlington, and I did terrible on the Pre-Calc part, and well on the Algebra part, and I will now be put into Pre-Calc which if I am correct is a two semester class, which means I wouldn’t touch Calc-1 until my 2nd year of College. Will that hurt me being a Computer Science major very bad? Should I drop the major and do something else since I am going to be very behind? I like CS but after forgetting some of my past math knowledge and being placed into a lower math class, I am starting to doubt if its worth it. And if you do think I should drop it, does anyone know any other good majors? I was thinking accounting, but I always look for good paying majors with job security

Which course were you placed in? http://catalog.uta.edu/coursedescriptions/math/

If MATH 1421 (Preparation for Calculus), then you can take MATH 1426 (Calculus I) in your second semester.

http://www.uta.edu/engineering/_downloads/degree_plans/2015-cs-f.pdf shows the following critical sequences:

(MATH 1421) → MATH 1426 → MATH 2425 → IE 3301 co-> CSE 3320 → CSE 4316 → CSE 4317 (6-7 semesters long including MATH 1421)

(MATH 1421) → ENGR 1300 → CSE 1320 → CSE 2312 → CSE 3320 → CSE 4316 → CSE 4317 (7 semesters long including MATH 1421)

I will actually be going to orientation Monday-Tuesday, and then is the time where I will figure out what class I will be placed in. I am just assuming Pre-Calc since my scores didn’t meet the Calc-1 requirements. I do not know which Pre-Calc I am going to be enrolled in yet. If I am put in 1421, am I going to be very behind other students? Or can I do just fine on a regular graduation timeline? Since some classes require Calc-1 in orden to be taken like Physics 1 etc.

Doesn’t the placement test result tell you what math course you need to start in?

Since the CS flowcharts start at MATH 1426 (Calculus 1), starting in MATH 1421 is behind. However, since the long sequence is 7 semesters long, then you may be able to finish in 8 semesters if you schedule very carefully and take essential courses in these sequences promptly. You would have no more than 1 semester of delay possible in a 7 semester sequence, so you may have to be less picky about time of day, instructor, etc. when choosing your courses.