College Algebra vs Calculus 1: do you need both?

They ask for different things. College Algebra is about solving equations and working with functions; Calculus 1 builds on those functions with limits, derivatives and integrals. By the syllabi, College Algebra has 58 instructional hours across 10 chapters and Calculus 1 has 49 across 8.

The Calculus 1 syllabus lists no prerequisite, but from its first chapter it works with polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. College Algebra covers the first three; Pre-Calculus (MATH 115) adds trigonometry and lists College Algebra as its prerequisite.

That is your college's decision. NCCRS recommends College Algebra for 3 semester hours in Math, Business, Liberal Arts or as a General Education Elective, among other areas, and Calculus 1 for 4 semester hours in Calculus, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics or as a general education math elective.

College Algebra (Math 111) covers algebra: expressions and polynomials, equations and inequalities, systems, quadratics, functions, exponentials, logs and series. Calculus 1 (Math 165) covers functions, limits and continuity, derivatives and their uses, and integration up to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

College Algebra: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Math among other subjects. Calculus 1: NCCRS recommends 4 semester hours, upper division, in Calculus among other subjects.

College Algebra is longer by its syllabus. College Algebra: 10 chapters and 58 instructional hours. Calculus 1: 8 chapters and 49 instructional hours. Both are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

The format is the same in both: a final of 100 multiple-choice questions that counts for 25% of the grade.

College Algebra: Abramson, Jay, editor. College Algebra 2e. OpenStax, Rice University, 2021. Additional material for reference: Algebra and Trigonometry 2e. OpenStax, Rice University, 2021, with other references. Calculus 1: Hoffman, Dale. Contemporary Calculus. Bellevue College, Washington State Colleges, with other references.

No: neither is on the ACE list. College Algebra has an NCCRS recommendation for 3 semester hours in Math; Calculus 1 has an NCCRS recommendation for 4 semester hours in Calculus. Not being on the ACE list never means not recommended for credit.

Calculus 2. In the “The calculus sequence” order on the Math courses page, it follows Calculus 1. Your program may set its own order.

UPI Study sends it for you. Once College Algebra shows 100% complete, pay the $20 transcript on your Student Dashboard (www.upistudy.com/enrollments, "Get your transcript"); the dashboard then takes you straight to the transcript request, where you enter your college's address, and UPI Study emails it to them. Check spam for the confirmation email.

You get one free retake if you fail it. If you pass and retake it, your first score is the one that counts. College Algebra quizzes can be retaken as often as you like; the average of your first two attempts counts.

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which courses Math 111 and Math 165 would count as. It helps to name the subject: NCCRS recommends College Algebra in Math and Calculus 1 in Calculus.