Frequently Asked Questions

What is changing? 

Every math course is being revised or replaced and courses numbers are changing.

Why are we making these changes? 

We have worked with all Virginia Community College System (VCCS) institutions and most four-year institutions in the state to design a course structure that:

1. 1. aligns with statewide informed pathways
2. 2. increases transferability,
3. 3. should improve student success.

When do the changes take effect? 

The new math courses will be offered for the first time in Fall 2018.

How will the class changes affect NOVA’s degree and certificate programs? 

Every degree and certificate program has been updated to reflect the new math courses. Students placed into the 2018-2019 catalog year will take the new math courses to fulfill their math requirements. Students who have completed their mathematics coursework under an old catalog will not need to take more math. Students who are in an old catalog year and have not completed their math requirements will complete a mix of old and new math courses.

What if students want to replace their grades in a class that is being eliminated? 

Some courses are only being revised. For these courses, a grade in the new equivalent course will replace the grade in an old course.

Some courses are being eliminated and replaced with different courses. Others are changing credit hours. Grades in these courses will not be replaced by grades in the corresponding new courses. For courses that do not have suitable grade replacements, we will offer one last section in Fall 2018 in the Annandale Campus, and one last section through NOVA Online. These sections will only be open to students who are repeating the course.

What else do I need to know? 

In order to move to the next math course, students must earn a grade of C or higher in the prerequisite course. In other words, students taking math this semester must earn a grade of C or higher if they are to take the next math course in Fall 2018.

What if a student started their math sequence and needs to finish it? What class should they take to finish the sequence? 

If a student has not completed all of the courses in any of the lists in the first column, then the replacements in the second column will be acceptable. 

Original Course Group	May Be Substituted With
MTH 151, MTH 152	MTH 151, MTH 154  MTH 152, MTH 154
MTH 152, MTH 241	MTH 152, MTH 245
MTH 163, MTH 164	MTH 163, MTH 162
MTH 181, MTH 182	MTH 181, MTH 245
MTH 241, MTH 242	MTH 241, MTH 246
MTH 271, 272	MTH 271, MTH 262
MTH 173, MTH 174, MTH 277	MTH 173, MTH 264, MTH 265  MTH 173, MTH 174, MTH 265
MTH 291, MTH 292	MTH 291, MTH 289

How do new courses apply to old catalogs? 

Current College Catalogs (2017-18 and older) will not include the new courses. New courses in the second column may substitute for the corresponding course in the first column.

Original Course	May Be Substituted With
MTH 151	MTH 154
MTH 152	MTH 154
MTH 157	MTH 245*
MTH 163	MTH 161
MTH 164	MTH 162
MTH 166	MTH 167
MTH 181	MTH 161, MTH 245
MTH 182	MTH 161, MTH 245
MTH 241	MTH 245
MTH 242	MTH 246
MTH 271	MTH 261
MTH 272	MTH 262
MTH 173	MTH 263**
MTH 174	MTH 264**
MTH 277	MTH 265
MTH 285	MTH 266
MTH 200	MTH 281
MTH 286	MTH 288**
MTH 291	MTH 267
MTH 292	MTH 289

 

*MTH 157 is four credit hours, but MTH 245 is three credit hours. Students may need to make up that lost credit hour with an additional math elective depending upon their program of study

**New courses are reduced by one credit hour. Students may need to make up that lost credit hour with an additional 200-level math elective depending upon the program of study.

How do old courses count for programs in the new (2018-19) College Catalog? 

Future College Catalogs (2018 – 19 and later) will not include the original (“old”) courses. Original courses in the first column may substitute for the corresponding course in the second column.

So, if you are program placed in a program of study in the 2018-19 College Catalog and you have already taken the “old” classes at NOVA, they may still count as one of the new courses.

Original Course	May Substitute in the Catalog for
MTH 151	MTH 154
MTH 163	MTH 161
MTH 164	MTH 162
MTH 166	MTH 167
MTH 181	MTH 165
MTH 182	MTH 154, MTH 155
MTH 241	MTH 245
MTH 242	MTH 246
MTH 271	MTH 261
MTH 272	MTH 262
MTH 173	MTH 263
MTH 174	MTH 264
MTH 277	MTH 265
MTH 285	MTH 266
MTH 200	MTH 281
MTH 286	MTH 288
MTH 291	MTH 267
MTH 292	MTH 289

How can I replace my grade in an "old" math course? 

If you need to retake MTH 151, 152, 157, 173, 174, 181, 182 or 286 for grade improvement, Fall 2018 will be your last opportunity to do so. For all other math courses, you can take the renumbered course for grade improvement.

NOTE: If a math class requires a math prerequisite, you must have earned a C in the prerequisite in order to enroll, even if it is the “old” math course. For example, if you plan on taking Calculus I in the Fall, you must have earned a grade of C in the prerequisite course.

The grade in a course in the second column may replace the grade of the corresponding course in the first column.

Original Course	Grade May be Replaced by
MTH 151	last chance to repeat MTH 151 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 152	last chance to repeat MTH 152 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 157	last chance to repeat MTH 157 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 163	MTH 161
MTH 164	MTH 162
MTH 166	MTH 167
MTH 181	last chance to repeat MTH 181 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 182	last chance to repeat MTH 182 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 200	MTH 281
MTH 241	MTH 245
MTH 242	MTH 246
MTH 271	MTH 261
MTH 272	MTH 262
MTH 173*	last chance to repeat MTH 173 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 174*	last chance to repeat MTH 174 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 277	MTH 265
MTH 285	MTH 266
MTH 286*	last chance to repeat MTH 286 for grade improvement is Fall 2018
MTH 291	MTH 267
MTH 292	MTH 289

*Grades for MTH 173, MTH 174 and MTH 286 may not be replaced by grades for MTH 263, MTH 264, and MTH 288 because each of these new courses is reduced by one credit hour.