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Undergraduate Calculus Requirements

In addition to FIU’s general admissions requirements, the College of Engineering & Computing has undergraduate program-specific admission and math placement requirements.

To major in Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or the BS in Computer Science, incoming students must place into MAC 2311 (Calculus I) or higher.

  • If you do not place into Calculus I, you will start in the Supported Transition to Excellence Pathway (STEP). You can declare one of these majors after completing Calculus I.
  • Students who want to major in Electrical and Computer Engineering may declare the major after completing Calculus I with a C or higher.
  • Students who want to pursue the BS in Computer Science but do not place into Calculus I will be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science. These students must also have at least a 2.0 GPA.
  • All students planning to study Construction Management will begin in STEP.

Placement Requirements for Calculus I

FIU students study calculus in an active learning environment

You must complete all required math prerequisites before you can be fully admitted to an Engineering major or the BS in Computer Science. You must earn a C or higher in each of the following pathways.

Once you meet these requirements, an academic advisor will help you declare your major.

Pathway 1

  • MAC1105 – College Algebra
  • MAC1147 – Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (must have completed College Algebra)

Pathway 2

  • MAC1105 – College Algebra
  • MAC1140 – Precalculus Algebra (must have completed College Algebra)
  • MAC1114 – Trigonometry (must have completed College Algebra)
  • First Time in College Students

    FIU uses a Math Placement Model to predict the highest math course you can take. It looks at your high school GPA, SAT Math or ACT Math score, and the level of your highest completed math course.

    To place into Calculus I, you must have a Math Placement Score of 45 or higher.

  • Transfer Students

    If you previously attended another college or university, you may be admitted into your major if you have:

    • Transfer credit that meets the math placement requirements
    • Transfer credit for Calculus I or higher
    • Approved test credit from Advanced Placement, Cambridge AICE, International Baccalaureate or CAPE

    You must submit official transcripts and score reports. Transcripts must be sealed and mailed directly to FIU Admissions. You may also need to provide course descriptions to verify your credits.

    Once your credits are reviewed, an academic advisor will help determine which Engineering or Computer Science majors you can enter. If you cannot be placed into Calculus I, you will start in STEP.

    You can declare your major only after completing Calculus I and having at least a 2.0 FIU GPA.

  • Dual Enrollment Coursework

    The following dual enrollment pathways meet the Calculus I placement requirements:

    Pathway 1

    • MAC1105 – College Algebra
    • MAC1147 – Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (must have completed College Algebra)

    Pathway 2

    • MAC1105 – College Algebra
    • MAC1140 – Precalculus Algebra (must have completed College Algebra)
    • MAC1114 – Trigonometry (must have completed College Algebra)
  • Credit By Exam

    You can also earn credit for Calculus I through standardized exams. After submitting your official scores, FIU will review them to determine your math placement.

    • Advanced Placement (AP): Score a 3 or higher on the Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam
    • Cambridge AICE: An A-level score in Further Mathematics or Mathematics
    • International Baccalaureate (IB): Score a 5 or higher in Mathematics
    • Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE): Pure Mathematics Unit 1 or Unit 2 with scores of I, II, III, IV or V

    For more information on AP, Cambridge AICE, IB and CAPE credit equivalencies, visit Credit-By-Exam.