The Frequently Asked Questions below covers a wide range of common questions on a diverse set of topics. If your question is not in this FAQ, contact the appropriate individual on the Advisor Contact Information list below based on the nature of your inquiry.

The department holds an annual Mathematics Information Session in March and maintains a page of material and links that are discussed at the session.

Frequently Asked Questions - Courses

1. Can I retake a class that I have passed to get a better mark?
   BSc and BA students may not repeat MATH courses for higher standing. Students in other faculties may, provided there is space in the course.
   (ID 57)
2. I can get credit for Math 100 (by AP scores or the Challenge exam). Should I do this or take a first term math course?
   This is really up to you. If you take credit for MATH 100, you can open up room for an additional course you are interested in or that would help you get ahead in your degree program (MATH 223 or 221 is a good option in first year if you follow this route). Some students prefer to take MATH 100 instead, to firm up their knowledge.
   (ID 58)
3. I switched between Applied Science and Science/Arts. Do I have to retake courses that I've effectively taken already? For example, do I have to take MATH 221 if I already took MATH 152?
   Applied Science students take similar mathematics courses to Science/Arts Mathematics students. Many of these are treated by the Mathematics Department as equivalent for the purposes of prerequisites (PQ) and/or program requirements (PR).

   APSC course(s) taken	Mathematics course(s) required	Equivalent wrt
   APSC 160 + CPSC 260	CPSC 111+CPSC 211	PR
   APSC 160	CPSC 111	PR
   MATH 152	MATH 221	PR, PQ
   MATH 217	MATH 200	PR, PQ
   MATH 255	MATH 215	PR, PQ
   MATH 256	MATH 215	PR
   Math 257	Math 316	PR, PQ
   Other courses	MATH course(s) required	Equivalent wrt
   STAT 302	MATH 302	PR, PQ

   These equivalences apply only to courses that are required for Mathematics specializations (PR) or are prerequisites for MATH courses. If you are an Ap. Sc. students wanting to make similar kinds of replacements (e.g. MATH 221 instead of MATH 152), you must contact the Applied Science Advising Center to get official permission to make any such changes. Similarly, this list does not apply to prerequisites for non-MATH courses (e.g. APSC 160 may not be a valid prerequisite replacement for CPSC 111 for a second year CPSC course - permission must be granted by a CS advisor).
   (ID 34)
4. What are the differences between the first year calculus offerings?
   Math 100/101, 102/103 and 104/105 all cover the same mathematics material but have different applications. Math 180 and 184 are equivalent to Math 100/102/104 but designed for students without high school calculus. Math 110 is a two-term course equivalent to Math 180/184 but designed for students with lower grades in grade 12 math. Math 120/121 is the honours version of first year calculus.
   
   Math 100/180/110/101 have physical applications. Math 102/103 have life science applications; they also have a computer lab (one hour every two weeks) that the others don't have. Math 104/184/105 have business and social science applications.
   
   Additional information is available on the department's website, in the Undergraduates tab, under First Year Calculus Choices.
   (ID 56)
5. What courses should I take to complete a Minor in Mathematics?
   Any courses at the 300+ level can be used toward the 18 credits required for the BSc minor except for a few whose descriptions in the Calendar rule them out (e.g. MATH 335). Math 200, 215 and 221 are the most common prerequisites for 300+ courses so it is almost certain that you will have to take some or all of these as well. These courses will also help you get a better sense of your interests. In general, talking to your peers, particularly those a year or two ahead of you, is the best way of finding out about courses that may interest you.
   (ID 35)
6. The calendar states that Math 302 and Stat 302 are equivalent. So can Stat 302 be used as one of the 6 courses for a math minor?
   Yes, these two courses are entirely equivalent.
   (ID 72)
7. Which MATH courses listed in the Calendar are typically offered in the winter/summer session? And are they offered every year?
   Note that some courses are typically offered only every two years. See the department's record of recent course offerings.
   (ID 38)
8. What math courses can I take to meet the three-credit requirement for elementary education?
   Students with a Grade 11 Math background (and no higher), can take Math 230 or Math 335.
   (ID 55)
9. What is the Credit Exclusion list? If two courses are consider "Credit Excluded", can I take either one?
   The Faculty of Science credit-exclusion list gives sets of courses for which credit may be claimed for only one. Credit exclusion does not indicate that the courses are interchangeable with regard to program requirements or satisfying prerequisites.
   (ID 36)
10. Are STAT 306 and ECON 326 equivalent in the sense that one can count ECON 326 towards the 6 credits in MATH, STAT or CPSC courses numbered 300 or higher?
    No. Exceptions might be made for students switching programs but, in general, no.
    (ID 64)
11. What courses are currently being offered by the Department?
    The UBC SSC has a list of currently offered MATH courses
    (ID 52)

Disclaimer: In all cases of inconsistencies between this FAQ and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar supersedes the material here.