Math Requirements
1. Major and prerequisite math requirements: If you need a math course for your major or as a prerequisite for any course, then the knowledge needs to be current. In brief, this is
SATISFIED by taking a math course at MIU
SATISFIED by passing a placement assessment or waiver exam
SATISFIED by transfer credit but only under special circumstances described below.
The major and prerequisite mathematics requirements need to be met by evidence of current mathematical knowledge and skill. Transfer credit for courses equivalent to MATH 051, 152, 153, 161 does not satisfy major and prerequisite requirements. In this case, the standing achieved on MIU’s mathematics placement assessment takes precedence over courses taken at other colleges and universities. For example, if you have transfer credit for a course equivalent to MATH 153, and then only place out of MATH 152 on the math placement assessment, and your major requires MATH 153, then the result of the math placement assessment takes precedence: you would have to take and pass MATH 153 at MIU.
Any of the following do satisfy major and prerequisite requirements in mathematics:
- Taking and passing the required MIU mathematics course, or
- Passing MIU’s mathematics placement assessment at the level of MATH 051, 152, 153, or 161, or
- Achieving 4 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Test in Calculus AB or BC at most three years prior to entry to MIU, or
- Achieving 60% or above in the CLEP Calculus Test at most three years prior to entry to MIU, or
- Transfer credit for a course deemed equivalent to the required MIU math course numbered 200 or above, with a grade of B or above, at another accredited college or university, taken at most 3 years ago, and taught by a mathematics department. A transferred course not satisfying all of these requirements cannot satisfy a major or prerequisite requirement. Students have the option in some cases to waive the required course by passing a waiver exam on entry to MIU.
- Transfer credit for a course deemed equivalent to MATH 162, with a grade of B or above, at another accredited college or university, taken at most 1 year before entry to MIU.
Note that if, through an assessment, you place out of a course that is required for the major, then the credits for that course count towards the total credits required for that major, although the credits will not count towards the overall total credits required for graduation.
2. The general education requirement in mathematics: Undergraduate students taking the BAAS who are not taking a specialization need to take and pass at least one course (4 credits) in mathematics. There is currently no such requirement for other majors, although students are encouraged to take some mathematics while at MIU.
The BAAS general education requirement in mathematics is not satisfied by passing a placement assessment at MIU, nor by passing a course in high school.
It is satisfied by taking and passing one of the courses
- MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life
- MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living
- MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist
- MATH 153 Intermediate Algebra or above
In some cases, it may be possible to use transfer credit from another university to satisfy this requirement. Please see page 73 of the 2025-2026 MIU Institutional Catalog.
You should consult your Academic Advisor when choosing one of the above options.
Popular courses that have no math prerequisites are MATH 130, MATH 140, and MATH 166. All three of these courses are available both online and on campus. See the course descriptions at the bottom.
3. Gaining Math Skills. Students who would like to gain some mathematical skills, even though not required, may choose courses at any level, so long as they fulfill the prerequisites. Courses without prerequisites that we recommend for each major are listed below.
Bachelor of APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES: Students taking a specialization: 8 credits from a list are required. See the Institutional Catalog for choices. If you choose math courses from this list, we recommend MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life or MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist. Students not taking a specialization: Students are required to take one of the following: MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life or MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, which have no prerequisite math courses, or any math course at or above the level of MATH 153 (all of these have math prerequisites).
BA and BFA in ART: MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended; other options acceptable.
BA in AYURVEDA WELLNESS & INTEGRATIVE HEALTH: MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended; other options acceptable.
BA in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: MGT 314 Statistics for Business and the Environment (provided the prerequisite MATH152 is met), or MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, recommended.
BA in CINEMATIC ARTS & NEW MEDIA: MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended.
BS in COMPUTER SCIENCE: Already contains math courses in the major itself.
BA in CONSCIOUSNESS & HUMAN POTENTIAL (Dept of MAHARISHI VEDIC SCIENCE): MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, or MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living, or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended.
BA & BFA in CREATIVE WRITING: MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended.
BA in ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP (Dept of MAHARISHI VEDIC SCIENCE): MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, or MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living, or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended (or any math course provided the prerequisites are met).
BA or BS in INDIVIDUALIZED MAJOR: MATH 130 Essential Math for Your Life, or MATH 140 Mathematics for Sustainable Regenerative Living, or MATH 166 Geometry for the Artist, recommended (or any math course provided the prerequisites are met).
BS in MATHEMATICS: Already contains math courses in the major itself.
BA in REGENERATIVE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE: MATH 140 Math for Sustainable Regenerative Living recommended.
BA in SUSTAINABLE & REGENERATIVE LIVING: MATH 140 Math for Sustainable Regenerative Living, recommended.
4. Course descriptions:
MATH 130 ESSENTIAL MATH FOR YOUR LIFE Developing Skill in Action
Elementary mathematics is a critical tool in the modern world for analyzing and interpreting numbers and graphs arising in your life, including managing personal financial issues such as budgeting, taxation, loans, investment returns, assessing the effects of inflation, and assessing the validity of numbers and graphs found in the media so that you can draw your own conclusions. Topics include estimation, units and unit conversion, ratios and percentages, basic geometry, simple descriptive statistics, constructing and interpreting graphs, and linear and exponential growth. Students also develop the ability to calculate and present meaningful information using spreadsheets.
MATH 140 MATHEMATICS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE LIVING Locating the Underlying Orderliness
Each lesson begins with a problem in a sustainable community that needs to be solved, then locates the rules of thumb and the formulas used to solve the problem and explains mathematically why the rules and formulas must give the right answer. Topics come from the issues involved in how we locate ourselves on Earth, water management, solar and wind power, building design, and climate change.
MATH 166 GEOMETRY FOR THE ARTIST From Point to Infinity
Artists recognize that geometry is essential to art. In this course, students use geometry to analyze the works of a variety of artists and to create their own artwork. Topics include symmetry, perspective, modern geometries, and fractals.