Math Pathways
Math Pathways at KU
In Fall 2026, KU is implementing Math Pathways. Instead of everyone taking the same math course, your “math pathway” is personalized with the math course that sets you up for success for your major and your future career.
All public 2- or 4-year Kansas colleges and universities are implementing Math Pathways in Fall 2026, creating a consistent, student-focused approach across Kansas.
Which Math Courses are included in Math Pathways?
At KU, the approved Math Pathways courses are:
- MATH 101: College Algebra
- MATH 105: Quantitative Reasoning (Contemporary Math or Essential Math elsewhere)
- MATH 107: Introductory Statistics
- MATH 115 or MATH 125: Calculus I (For STEM majors that require calculus.)
All Math Pathways courses satisfy the Math & Statistics goal for KU Core 34, KU's general education curriculum.
How do I know which course to take?
At KU, the math class you take depends on what you plan to study. If your major is in the humanities, arts, elementary education or music, you’ll take MATH 105. If you’re interested in social sciences like psychology, political science, or sociology, your pathway will be MATH 107. If you’re planning to major in business or a STEM field such as engineering, biology, or chemistry, you’ll start with MATH 101 (unless you place into a higher-level math course that's required for your degree.)
This table will show the Math Pathway course that aligns with your degree plan. However, the most accurate and up to date information will be listed in the 2026-2027 academic catalog published in April 2026.
Extra Math Support: Corequisite Workshops
KU is committed to helping you succeed in your math courses. Part of our commitment ensures you are adequately prepared to succeed in your Math Pathways course. Each Math Pathways course has a corresponding corequisite workshop for students who need additional assistance to be successful. These 2-credit-hour courses provide additional help in math while also helping you build your academic skills (e.g. time and stress management and study skills). There are two ways to determine if you need additional assistance:
- If your placement scores or high school grades show you need extra support, you are required to enroll in a corequisite workshop alongside your math class
- If you want extra support, you can choose to take a workshop even if it’s not required. Your advisor will guide you through placement and enrollment and help you determine the best fit.
You can also access free math support outside of the classroom through tutoring, supplemental instruction, and homework/exam help. Ask your academic advisor or math instructor for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many ways to earn college credit before enrolling at KU. Please see the resources below to determine how your credit transfers to KU.
Concurrent/Dual Enrollment Credit/Jayhawk Blueprint
Test Credit (AP/IB/CLEP)
Credit from a community college or university
Depending on your major, you may need to take additional math courses. Your academic advisor will help you determine if additional math coursework is needed.
Your high school counselors are fantastic resources for ensuring you are taking the appropriate math courses to prepare you for college. Visit them!
After you’ve been accepted to KU and selected your orientation date, complete the ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL). ALEKS PPL is an online assessment and learning tool that uses artificial intelligence to map your math strengths and weaknesses. ALEKS PPL ensures your readiness for math courses at KU. Visit our ALEKS PPL page for more information.
KU students are required to have some form of math placement score. You can choose to take the ALEKS PPL if you wish to place in a higher-level mathematics course than your ACT/SAT score places you or if you did not take the ACT/SAT.
You may take it as soon as you receive your KU Online ID (after being accepted) and should complete it by your orientation date.
Please see this webpage for more information about ALEKS.
Your academic advisor will help you determine which math course is the most appropriate for you based on your test scores and your degree plan.
It is important to take ALEKS, KU's math placement test, prior to orientation to ensure you are completing the most appropriate math course for your major.
Your academic advisors will discuss your goals and interests with you and help you choose the best option.
It depends on your major. For example, in general:
- If you started as a Biology major and completed MATH 101, you have satisfied the Math Pathways requirements for majors in the Humanities (e.g., English, History) and Social Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Political Science).
- If you started as an Art History major and completed MATH 105, switching to a Business or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) major would require completing MATH 101.
- If you started as a Political Science major and completed MATH 107, switching to a STEM major would likely require completing MATH 101. However, switching to a Humanities major would not require additional math courses.
The academic catalog, which is published every April, is the official record showing which Math Pathways courses are accepted by each degree program. Additionally, your academic advisor will be able to help you navigate the process of changing your major.
Maybe, if you choose a major that requires additional math, or develop an unexpected fondness for quadratic equations. Either way, your academic advisor can assist you.
KU is committed to helping students succeed in their math courses. Each Math Pathways course is paired with a corresponding workshop designed for students who need extra support. These 2-credit-hour workshops provide additional help with math concepts and personalized instruction while also strengthening essential academic skills such as time management, stress management, and effective study strategies.
If you want extra support outside of the classroom, KU offers free math resources to help you succeed.