Frequently Asked Questions

(Other information may be found at The Undergraduate Homepage)

Grades and Credits

1. Determining transfer credit
2. What are the requirements for becoming a math major?
3. What does it mean if I'm on probation?
4. How does Q-drop/Grade Exclusion work?
5. Grades for KINE 198/199

Teacher Certification

6. How do I get certified to teach high-school math?
7. What is the MASS program?
8. How/When do I fill out a Teaching Field Plan?

Minors

9. How do I minor in Math?
10. I am a math major. How do I go about adding a minor?
11. On my degree audit, one of my minor courses has "meets no requirements" beside it. What does this mean?
12. Can I transfer courses for my minor?
13. How do I undeclare a minor?

1. Determining transfer credit:

  • From a Community College in Texas, use ccn.tccns.org/tccns/ (the "Compare Institutions" link is especially helpful).
  • If the above does not apply, the student needs to take a description of the course to Dr. Stecher (math major) or Dr. Hobbs (math course for another major) for subsitution approval.

    2. Minimum requirements for becoming a math major:

  • As an incoming freshman, no requirements
  • As a transfer student, a 3.0 overall and at least Cal I and Cal II with a 3.0 average and no D's or F's.
  • From another major at A&M, a 2.5 overall and 2.5 in applicable MATH/STAT/CPSC courses
  • As a double major, 3.0 overall and 3.0 in applicable MATH/STAT/CPSC courses

    3. Academic Probation:
    You must keep at least a 2.0 overall and a 2.0 in applicable MATH/STAT/CPSC courses. If not, you will be on probation. If you fall at least 8 grade points below a 2.0 (example: after 28 hours you have only 48 grade points), you will have to find another major outside the College of Science.

    4. Q-Drop and Grade Exclusion:

  • Grade Exclusion only applies to students who make a D or an F in a course their first year of college IF it was at A&M. Transfer students are not eligible. The grade stays on the transcript, but is not calculuated in the GPR.
  • 3 Q-drops are allowed your entire college career. The grade is removed from the transcript, replaced with a 'Q', and is not calculated in the GPR.
  • To Q-drop or Grade Exclude, go to the Registrar's Homepage to download the form and take it to your advisor. The advisor signs and performs the Q-drop, but the Grade Exclusion form goes to the Dean's office (Blocker 514) after the advisor. Read the Grade Exclusion form carefully as you may require other signatures as well.

    5. Grading for KINE 198/199:

  • KINE 199 must be taken S/U. This is the default when you sign up for it.
  • KINE 198 may be taken S/U or for a grade
  • If you want to change the grading status of your KINE 198 or 199, you can do so at MyRecord up to the Q-drop deadline.

    6. Becoming a High School Math Teacher:

  • To receive your certification as an undergraduate, you need to take the education courses described on our Undergraduate Homepage. The easiest way to do this is to get a BA in MATH with Certification. You can get certified with any of our degree plans, but it will take more than 128 hours to do so.
  • There are other ways to become certified after you graduate, including Post-Baccalaureate, Accelerated, and Temporary Certification. For a list of places in the state which offer these certification methods, see the State Board for Educator Certification website.

    7. MASS program

  • The MASS (Math and Science Scholars) Program is the only way a student can receive Teacher Certification as an undergraduate. There is no difference in the courses you take, but there are scholarship awards available for students pursuing certification in this program.
  • For more information or to sign up for the MASS program, see Jennifer Parrott in Blocker 514.

    8. Teaching Field Plan

  • Before taking TEFB 324, a student must formally apply to the Teacher Certification Program at A&M
  • The first step in doing this is to have a Teaching Field Plan filled out by Dr. Vince Schielack (MILN 211, vinces@math.tamu.edu), which lists the math courses required for certification
  • After completing the Teaching Field Plan, take it to the Education Advisors in Heaton Hall to fill out a Certification Plan. They will instruct you on what needs to be done to formally apply to the certification program.

    9. Minoring in Math

  • No paperwork is required. For details on specific course requirements and an Honors Minor, see http://www.math.tamu.edu/ugs/minorFrame.html
  • Not sure what 400-level course to take? See This PDF file (NOTE: Lower Level requirements are now only 151/171 and 152/172)

    10. Minors for Math Majors

  • See the Undergraduate Homepage for details

    11. "Meets no requirements"

  • If you see this phrase in your degree audit, it means that the course is not counting toward any requirements in your major. The course still counts for your minor.

    12. Transferring courses for a minor

  • Transfer courses may apply toward a minor. See Determining transfer credit in this document for more information.

    13. Undeclaring a minor

  • If you have a minor declared and want to remove it, see the advisor in your major to have it removed.
  • Failure to remove a minor for which you have not met the requirements will block you from graduating.