Manoa Color Seal

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
College of Natural Sciences

STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Manoa Color Seal

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa - College of Natural Sciences

STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Are you a current Natural Science Major?

Schedule with STAR Balance
Excluding appointments with Mathematics and Physics Major advisors

INCOMING STUDENT PLACEMENT EXAMS


PLACEMENT EXAM EVALUATION


Nearly every College of Natural Sciences undergraduate program requires chemistry and mathematics courses.

Placement exams are strongly recommended and are designed to place you into the courses that will give you the foundational knowledge you need to succeed. They should be completed before the start of your first semester.

There are practice questions for both exams on the Chemistry Placement Exam webpage and the Math Placement Exam webpage.

CHEMISTRY

Prep. for Gen. Chem. (CHEM 131)

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161)
- - -
Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 171)

To enroll in CHEM 131, 161, or 171, you MUST take the Placement Exam, or otherwise qualify to enroll in the course.

Click here to learn more

MATHEMATICS

Pre-Calc: Elementary Functions (MATH 134)*

Pre-Calculus (MATH 140X)

Applied Calculus I (MATH 215)
Calculus I (MATH 241)
Accelerated Calculus (MATH 251A)**


*Anyone may enroll in MATH 134. To enroll in MATH 140X, 215, 241, or 251A, you must take the Placement Exam, or otherwise qualify to enroll in the course.

**To enroll in Math 251A, please schedule an interview with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for MATH by emailing
office@math.hawaii.edu. Please include your first and last name, and UH ID number.

Click here to learn more
- - -
Need an Algebra or Trigonometry Refresher?
Register for the MATH Bootcamp(s) by August 1, 2024.

ASTRONOMY BA

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
ASTROPHYSICS BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
BIOCHEMISTRY BA or BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus I (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
BIOLOGY BA or BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus I (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
BOTANY BA

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)

REQUIRED EXAM
BOTANY BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus I (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
CHEMISTRY BA or BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
COMPUTER SCIENCE BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus I (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAM
INFORMATION & COMPUTER SCIENCES BA

Applied Calculus I (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAM
MARINE BIOLOGY BA

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Biostatistics (BIOL 220)

REQUIRED EXAMS
MARINE BIOLOGY BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus 1 (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
MATHEMATICS BA or BS

Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAM
MICROBIOLOGY BA or BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus 1 (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
MOLECULAR CELL
BIOLOGY BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Applied Calculus 1 (MATH 215) or
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAMS
PHYSICS BA or BS

General Chemistry I (CHEM 161/L)
Calculus I (MATH 241)

REQUIRED EXAM

SECOND LANGUAGE


Every College of Natural Science student must complete second language courses through the 202-level (intermediate proficiency). The University of Hawai’i system offers over 20 different language options for students to choose from.

If you have experience in a second language, you will likely be taking a second language placement exam at some point during your college career. Ask your academic advisor when in your academic journey would be most appropriate to begin second language courses.

To view the more common language placement exams, you can visit the university’s general Placement Exam webpage.

This exam is not as urgent as the Chemistry and Mathematics placement exams, so please focus on those first.

If you have AP credit, are fluent in a non-English language, or if you have other concerns, speak with your academic advisor.

EARLY START PROGRAM


The Early Start Program is a great way you to get started on the right foot and acquaint yourself with campus without a full course load. It allows you to take college-level courses before beginning your freshman year during the second half of summer.

If you placed into CHEM 131, MATH 134, or MATH 140, but are recommended to begin in a higher level course, this is a great way to begin your Fall semester in the recommended course for your major.

Did you place into the correct courses the first time around? Great! If you’re still interested in the Early Start Program, you can get a head start on your major coursework and ease into the college experience.

The registration deadline for the Early Start Program is May 15.

Visit the Early Start Program webpage to learn more and register.

ABOUT US

We provide academic advising services to all undergraduate students in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Hours of Operation
Hamilton Library 002K
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm