Common Transfer Credit Issues

Calculus

Calculus at UT Austin

UT Austin offers three parallel calculus sequences:

Two Course Accelerated Sequence

  1. M 408C Differential & Integral Calculus
  2. M 408D Sequences, Series, & Multivariable Calculus

Three Course Traditional Sequence

  1. M 408K Differential Calculus
  2. M 408L Integral Calculus
  3. M 408M Multivariable Calculus

Three Course Science Sequence

  1. M 408N Differential Calculus for Science
  2. M 408S Integral Calculus for Science
  3. M 408M Multivariable Calculus

See the General Information catalog for course descriptions.

  • The accelerated, traditional, and science sequences are comparable in content and, when completed, interchangeable for purposes of satisfying degree and course prerequisite requirements at UT Austin.

  • Specialized calculus courses are offered in residence that combine differential and integral calculus with business or life science applications.

  • A discontinued business/economics sequence of calculus is still awarded as transfer credit.

  • Some institutions may offer four-course calculus sequences which present special problems in transfer.

Accelerated Two-Course Sequence

M 408C+408D are fast-paced courses that cover, in two semesters, the topics of a traditional three-semester sequence. The two-course sequence is an unusual format, and course-for-course equivalents are offered at only a few institutions in Texas:

course title credit hours UT evaluation
University of Houston (main campus)
MATH 1450 Accelerated Calculus I 4 M 408C
MATH 1451 Accelerated Calculus II 4 M 408D
UT Dallas
MATH 2417 Calculus I 4 M 408C
MATH 2419 Calculus II 4 M 408D

For out-transfer purposes (from UT Austin to other institutions), credit for M 408C+408D should be equated with completion of a traditional three-course differential, integral, and multivariable calculus sequence.

In the Texas Common Course Numbering (TCCN) system used by Texas public community colleges, MATH 2417+2419 correspond to M 408C+408D but were retired in 2016, making the traditional three-course sequence the only transfer credit option.

Traditional Three-Course Sequence

M 408K+408L+408M are structured more traditionally than 408C+408D. Except for students in the College of Natural Sciences, virtually all calculus courses from other institutions transfer as, or as variants of, 408K+408L+408M.

  • M 408K+408L+408M normally carry four semester credit hours each, but the first digit of a transfer evaluation may be modified (e.g. 308K or 508K) to reflect three or five semester hours earned at the original institution. Such transfer credit is functionally identical to UT Austin's four-hour courses for degree and prerequisite purposes.

  • Transfer credit for M 408K+408L+408M substitutes for 408C+408D on a whole-sequence basis but not course-for-course. To cover topics comparable to those in 408C, two courses equivalent to 408K+408L must be taken; to cover topics comparable to those in 408D, two courses equivalent to 408L+408M must be taken.

In the TCCN system MATH 2413+2414+2415 correspond to M 408K+408L+408M.

Science Sequence

M 408N+408S are Calculus I & II courses reserved for students in UT Austin's College of Natural Sciences. The courses are interchangeable with 408K+408L for degree and prerequisite purposes. Both pairs, 408N+408S and 408K+408L, lead to 408M.

  • Students classified as Natural Science majors at the time coursework transfers receive M 408N+408S credit in lieu of 408K+408L.

  • Transfer credit for M 408K+408L automatically substitutes for 408N+408S in Natural Science degrees, and 408N+408S transfer credit substitutes for 408K+408L in non-science degrees. In both circumstances the substitution is performed within the student's degree audit, and the transfer credit evaluation remains unchanged.

  • M 408N+408S normally carry four semester credit hours each, but the first digit of a transfer evaluation may be modified (e.g. 308N or 508N) to reflect three or five semester hours earned at the original institution. Such transfer credit is functionally identical to UT Austin's four-hour courses for degree and prerequisite purposes.

In the TCCN system MATH 2413+2414 correspond to M 408N+408S as well as 408K+408L.

Specialized Single-Semester Courses

M 408Q Differential and Integral Calculus for Business and M 408R Differential and Integral Calculus for the Sciences each combine traditional Calculus I & II topics in a single course with business or life science applications. These courses are not awarded in transfer. External transfer students can substitute a traditional Calculus I & II sequence (transferred as M 408K+408L or 408N+408S) for either 408Q or 408R.

Business/Economics Sequence (discontinued)

UT Austin's retired business/economics calculus sequence, M 403K+403L, was last taught in residence in autumn 2002. Students pursuing business or economics degrees are expected to select coursework from the 408C+408D or 408K+408L+408M sequences.

  • For Economics, M 408C+408D, 408K+408L, or equivalent credit is required. The discontinued 403K+403L sequence or equivalent transfer credit is not applicable toward the Economics major and cannot be used as prerequisites for Economics courses.

  • For Business, M 408K+408L or equivalent credit is required in all majors; the Science & Technology Management major further requires 408M or equivalent credit. The accelerated 408C+408D sequence fulfills the calculus requirement in all Business majors, but equivalents are uncommon at other institutions.

    Completion of two calculus courses comparable to M 408K+408L or 408C+408D is required for transfer admission consideration in UT's McCombs School of Business.

    While M 403K+403L are retired, the course numbers are still used for transfer credit. They cannot be combined with non-business calculus courses, but together they count for admission and to fulfill the BBA calculus requirement (except in the Science & Technology Management major). However, 403L equivalents are uncommon (see below) and prospective transfer students normally should choose non-business calculus courses.

In the TCCN system MATH 1325 or 1425 transfer as 303K or 403K (three- or four-hour version). There is no equivalent TCCN designation for 403L, and only a few institutions in Texas offer a second business calculus course:

*303L is a 3-hour version of 403L
course title credit hours UT evaluation
Collin College
MATH 1376 Calculus for Business & Economics II 3 M 303L*
UT Dallas
MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II 3 M 303L*

Four-Course Calculus Sequences

Calculus may be taught in a four-course sequence, in contrast to the traditional three-course or accelerated two-course formats, though the pattern is uncommon today:

  • Del Mar College (discontinued in 2008) MATH 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M (previously MATH 305, 613A, 613B, 317)

  • East Texas Baptist University (discontinued in 2013) MATH 2301, 2302, 3303, 3304 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

  • Northeast Texas Community College (discontinued in 2006) MATH 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

  • Sul Ross State University (discontinued in 2004) MATH 1320, 1321, 2320, 2321 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

  • Texas A&M University–Commerce (discontinued in 2004) MATH 191, 192, 225, 314 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

  • Texas Woman's University (discontinued in 2001) MATH 2013, 2023, 3103, 3113 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

  • Trinity Valley Community College (discontinued in 2007) MATH 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 308L, 608MA, 608MB (previously MAT 1320, 1321, 2314, 2315)

  • Tyler Junior College (discontinued in 2003) MATH 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M (previously MTH 213A, 213B, 223C, 223D)

  • UT–Pan American (discontinued in 1996) MATH 1360, 1370, 2342, 3347 …transfer to UT as M 308K, 608LA, 608LB, 308M

Such coursework does not readily fit in UT's instructional patterns for calculus and, to assign meaningful transfer credit, course numbers must be modified almost beyond recognition. One UT course is altered in credit value (e.g. M 408L becomes 608L) and halved (608L becomes 608LA and 608LB) to create a fourth number, conveying that topics of the UT course span two courses at the sending institution. Other courses in the sequence usually also transfer with modified credit values (e.g. 408K and 408M become 308K and 308M).

Four-course calculus sequences are still seen from some out-of-state institutions.

In the TCCN system MATH 2313+2314+2315+2316 formerly accomodated a four-course treatment of calculus (three semester hours per course, twelve semester hours for the sequence), but MATH 2316 was retired in 2016 and no Texas public community college currently uses this configuration.