Which math course should you take?
Getting Started
Welcome to Lane! Most of Lane’s degree and certificate programs have a required math course. To get started on your math pathway, first determine the math course(s) that are required for your program by accessing myGradPlan or checking with an academic advisor.
Transfer Students: myGradPlan does not show what math or other specific requirements university programs require. Check with an advisor for your specific requirements.
- Undecided about your program? An academic advisor can help!
- Decided, but have questions about our placement process? Contact us at mathoffice@lanecc.edu or 541-463-5446.
- Quick Look - Mathematics Placement Guide
- Math by Term Chart
Which Math Pathway is for Me?
The math pathway you should take will depend on your program at Lane and/or your transfer school.
- The Quantitative (non-STEM) Pathway is generally appropriate for students intending to transfer in humanities, arts, or social science disciplines; it is also appropriate for many students intending to enter dental assisting/hygiene or nursing programs. Most courses in this pathway do not require taking a placement test, and students may directly register for them.
- The Career Technical Math Pathway is generally appropriate for students pursuing applied career-oriented programs. Courses in this pathway do not require taking a placement test, and students may directly register for them.
- The Algebra to Calculus (STEM) Pathway is appropriate for students intending to transfer in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as business and elementary education. If you are planning to take a course or courses in our Algebra to Calculus Pathway, course placement is necessary to ensure that you are successful in your classes.
Read on to find the best fit for your education goals or learn more about Course Placement at Lane.
Quantitative (non-STEM) Pathway
“The heart of quantitative literacy is real world problem solving–the use of mathematics in everyday life, on the job, and as an intelligent citizen.” - Henry Pollak
This pathway helps you develop quantitative literacy skills for career and life. Depending on your program of study, these courses may meet your math requirement.
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this course. If you have successfully completed a math course in the past two years and had a high school GPA of at least 2.6, we recommend you register for MTH 105Z. Others may choose to take MTH 098 first or to register for the MTH 199A support course concurrently with MTH 105Z.
Why take it:
- Satisfies the math requirement for the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree
- Meets the math requirement for some AAS programs, such as Criminal Justice or Accounting (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
- Serves as a prerequisite for STAT 243Z, Elementary Statistics 1
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this 5-credit course. If you haven’t taken a math course in over two years, or had a high school GPA below 2.6, you may prefer to take MTH 098 before taking MTH 105Z.
Why take it:
- Helps students who plan to take MTH 105Z ease into college-level math
- Meets math requirement for some programs, such as Multimedia or Graphic Design, Nursing, or Human Services (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
Eligibility to enroll: Any student who is registered for MTH 105Z may enroll in this 1-credit course.
Why take it:
- Provides extra practice, review of prerequisite skills, and study skills to help students be successful in MTH 105Z
Eligibility to enroll: This course is open to students who have successfully completed MTH 105Z or MTH 111Z. Alternatively, you can complete the ALEKS placement process to place into STAT 243Z.
Why take it:
- Approved elective course for students to earn extra points when applying to the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
- Recommended for students pursuing degrees in business, psychology, and other areas of social science
- Required for the Associate of Science Oregon Transfer in Business (verify first your specific transfer requirements with your academic advisor)
Career Technical Math Pathway
These courses satisfy the math requirement for many of Lane’s AAS programs, including some Advanced Technology and Health Professions programs.
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this course.
Why take it: Meets math requirement for some AAS programs, such as Dental Hygiene or Paramedicine (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this course.
Why take it: Meets math requirement for some AAS programs, such as Drafting and Aviation Maintenance Technician (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this course.
Why take it: Meets math requirement for some AAS programs, such as Automotive or Diesel Technology, Construction Technology, or Fabrication/Welding Technology (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor)
Algebra to Calculus (STEM) Pathway
These courses prepare you for transfer programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as business and elementary education. They also meet the math requirement for some of Lane’s AAS programs.
Students may place into courses in the Algebra to Calculus pathway by completing the ALEKS Placement Process, with prior college math credit on a college transcript, or with a high-school test score such as AP, IB, Smarter Balanced, GED, SAT, or ACT. Please contact the math office at mathoffice@lanecc.edu for more information about using high-school test scores or prior college credit for placement. Open the links below to learn more about courses in this pathway.
Interested in building basic math skills before committing to a credit math course? Lane ABSE offers noncredit, tuition-free math classes to help students prepare for credit math courses in the algebra to calculus pathway. Note: Because ABSE classes are non-credit and tuition-free, they do not count towards meeting minimum credit or other requirements for federal financial aid.
Courses: MTH 020, Math Renewal focuses on arithmetic skills.
MTH 060 & MTH 065, Beginning and Elementary Algebra are roughly equivalent to high-school Algebra 1.
MTH 095, Intermediate Algebra is roughly equivalent to high-school Algebra 2.
Purpose: To develop arithmetic and algebra skills needed for your AAS program or for transfer courses in the STEM pathway.
Eligibility to enroll:
- Complete the ALEKS placement process to place into one of these courses.
- Alternatively, you may register for a non-credit, tuition-free ABSE math course, or increase your ALEKS placement by working independently in ALEKS learning modules or enrolling in the one-credit CG 123, Amplify My Math Preparation course.
Why take it: There are several reasons to take these courses.
- MTH 095 is a prerequisite for MTH 111Z, Precalculus 1 and for MTH 211, Fundamentals of Elementary Math.
- MTH 060, Beginning Algebra, MTH 065 Elementary Algebra, or MTH 095 Intermediate Algebra meet math requirements for some AAS programs (verify first with myGradPlan or your academic advisor).
Eligibility to enroll: Any student may enroll in this one-credit course. It is designed for students who plan to take a course or courses in the Algebra to Calculus pathway.
Why take it:
- Improve your math placement with structured support while working in the ALEKS learning modules
- Strengthen your study skills, problem-solving abilities, and previously learned mathematical skills before taking a course in the Algebra to Calculus pathway
Eligibility to enroll:
- Passed MTH 095, Intermediate Algebra with a grade of C- or better
- High-school test scores such as AP, IB, Smarter Balanced, GED, SAT, or ACT that allows placement into this course. Please contact the math office at mathoffice@lanecc.edu for more information.
- Complete the ALEKS placement process to place into this course.
- Prior College Now or other college math credit on a college transcript with a grade of C- or higher that allows placement into this course
Why take it:
- Satisfies the math requirement for the AAOT in Elementary Education
Eligibility to enroll:
- Passed MTH 095, Intermediate Algebra with a grade of C- or better
- High-school test scores such as AP, IB, Smarter Balanced, GED, SAT, or ACT that allows placement into this course. Please contact the math office at mathoffice@lanecc.edu for more information.
- Complete the ALEKS placement process to place into this course.
- Prior College Now or other college math credit on a college transcript with a grade of C- or higher that allows placement into this course
Why take it: There are several reasons to take this course.
- Serves as a prerequisite for MTH 112Z, Precalculus 2: Trigonometry
- Serves as a prerequisite for MTH 241, Elementary Calculus 1 (for some business majors)
- Satisfies the math requirement for the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree
Eligibility to enroll:
- Passed MTH 111Z, Precalculus 1: Functions with a grade of C- or better
- High-school test score such as AP, IB, Smarter Balanced, GED, SAT, or ACT that allows placement into this course. Please contact the math office at mathoffice@lanecc.edu for more information.
- Complete the ALEKS placement process to place into this course.
- Prior College Now or other college math credit on a college transcript with a grade of C- or higher that allows placement into this course
Why take it: There are several reasons to take this course.
- Serves as a prerequisite for MTH 231, Discrete Mathematics 1
- Serves as a prerequisite for MTH 251, Calculus 1
- Serves as a prerequisite for PH 201, General Physics